Northumberland National Park Authority is celebrating the first anniversary of the award-winning Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre with a summer of fun-filled events.Since The Sill opened its doors to the public 12 months ago, the Centre has rapidly become one of the region’s leading visitor attractions, welcoming over 170,000 visitors and providing an iconic gateway for people to learn about and explore Northumberland National Park.Glen Sanderson, Northumberland National Park Authority Chairman, said: “We are delighted with the success of The Sill and the fantastic level of support it has received from the public.“The response from visitors has been very positive. Prior to opening we could never have imagined more than doubling our original visitor numbers in just 12 months. I’d like to congratulate the team at the National Park Authority and our fantastic partners for their hard work and dedication in helping to make this a truly magnificent first year for The Sill.“We are thrilled the Centre is fulfilling its purpose of connecting people with our wonderful county and we are looking forward to welcoming more visitors as we host a summer jam-packed with events and adventure throughout the Park.”Named after the nearby Great Whin Sill, The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre is the result of an innovative partnership between Northumberland National Park Authority, YHA (England & Wales), and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through a £7.8 million grant made possible by National Lottery players.In May, the Centre was presented with a RIBA North East Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for architectural excellence. The Sill offers exhibition, learning and event spaces, a café, business hub, YHA accommodation and a shop packed with local produce, arts and crafts. The building also features a world-first; fully accessible Whin Sill Grassland roof which provides a perfect spot for people to take in the iconic views of Hadrian’s Wall. The Sill also works with schools, community organisations and businesses to provide educational workshops, activity days and other opportunities.To celebrate its first anniversary, the National Park Authority has teamed up with a host of local partners to deliver a range of special events and activities designed to suit all ages and abilities.Tony Gates, Chief Executive at Northumberland National Park Authority, explains: “As the UK’s first dedicated National Landscape Discovery Centre, The Sill is designed to excite, inspire and enable people of all ages to understand and explore the landscapes, history, culture and heritage of Northumberland.“What has been particularly pleasing is to see three generations of the same family visit, exploring together and sharing their landscape stories. Our visitors range from school groups and university students learning in our classrooms to four generations of one family enjoying our accessible roof walk together, proving The Sill is providing a perfect gateway to engage people with our unique landscape. It has even been providing further inspiration to many well-seasoned landscape explorers.“As part of our first anniversary celebrations we want to share the magic and encourage visitors to return to the National Park or to join us for the first time. Whether you’re seeking adventure or something more chilled, we have activities for everyone throughout the summer.”Over the coming weeks visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in virtual reality at The Sill’s state-of-the-art ‘Digital Landscapes’ exhibition which uses pioneering interactive technologies to bring treasures of the National Park to life, making its wild and beautiful landscapes accessible to all.Running until 30 September, Digital Landscapes is an innovative exhibition and events programme that showcases how digital technology can be used to gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment of landscape and the natural world. The exhibition demonstrates the benefits that new technologies such as 3D modelling, drone surveys and digital mapping have had on tourism, leisure, land management and conservation.The Digital Landscapes exhibition is supplemented by a series of exciting public events from Minecraft on the Wall using a Raspberry Pi to discover how Roman architects constructed Hadrian’s Wall to guided walks and bike rides. There’s also nature hunts, hidden history tours, star gazing, mammal monitoring and action packed family shows including ‘Rock n' Stroll’, which is storytelling, theatre, comedy and music at its best. Rock n’ Stroll takes visitors travelling through the tropical deserts, swamps and Ice Age to leave you with a brain full of new scientific facts and a big smile.

Some of the finest locally produced food and drink will take centre stage in a special showcase event in the Houses of Parliament.MPs and government ministers will be able to find out more about the fantastic local businesses and top quality produce that is being promoted under the Produced In Northumberland brand.Produced in Northumberland is run by Northumberland County Council that highlights and promotes the local businesses that make, sell or serve foods produced within the county. The scheme guides residents, visitors and holiday makers towards authentic Northumberland delicacies to experience and take home.On Wednesday 13 June, eight local businesses will head to Westminster with the council, to exhibit and present an array of food and drink produce to tantalise the taste buds.Leader of Northumberland County Council, Peter Jackson said: “Northumberland is proud to be home to a fantastic variety of businesses that make, serve and sell a diverse range of high quality foods and beverages that are produced within the county.“It’s vital that we use our influence and continue to make an impact where we can to have our voices heard, and we’re determined to shout about all that’s great about Northumberland. This event will provide a great opportunity to raise our profile as a leading visitor destination of choice for visitors to our county, with a food and drink offer second to none.”Following prime-time food television programmes, consumers are developing a higher expectation over the quality of what they eat and drink. Hairy Biker Si King is an ambassador for the scheme, highlighting the importance of knowing the source of our food, right down to the raw ingredients.With the ever-growing popularity of food tourism, and the increased importance of food provenance to the consumer, the scheme provides customers with the confidence that the origin of the food is directly from Northumberland.During 2016, 9.7 million people visited Northumberland contributing £852m to its economy, supporting employment of 14,152 people. The food and drink sector plays a crucial part in Northumberland’s tourism offer - food and drink contributed £307m to our local economy in 2016, accounting for 36% of the overall economic impact.Produced in Northumberland also has the backing of the Prime Minister who has recently tasted some of the produce.“I was delighted to sample some of the products and to learn more about this excellent scheme which follows the production process from farm to shelf. By doing so, it lets consumers know that the food and drink they're buying is locally sourced, ethically produced, and of a high quality,” Mrs May said.Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure, Culture and Tourism at Northumberland County Council, Cath Homer, said: “The food and drink sector plays a crucial part in Northumberland’s tourism offer, which contributed over £300m to the local economy in 2016.“We hope this opportunity to network on a national stage will raise awareness of our food and drinks industry among key decision makers, and highlight the importance of buying local produce which will help these local businesses to develop and grow.”Hosting some of the nation’s finest manufacturers, Produced in Northumberland includes some of the highest quality brands, like Lindisfarne Mead and Alnwick Rum, whilst Marlish Water supplies Michelin star restaurants in the North, combined with Hepple Gin who were this year’s finalists for the BBC Best Drinks Producer. And Doddington Dairy won Gold in the BBC Food and Farming Awards for their Darling Blue Cheese last year.Alongside, Kitty's Homemade Ginger and family-run Turnbull Butchers of Alnwick, the exquisite Carrolls Heritage Potatoes, and the Northumbrian Bakehouse, as well as award winning Old Boathouse Food Group, this forms the eight-strong delegation heading to Westminster with the county council on 13 June.

New life is breaking through in Northumberland with the year's first new Kielder ospreys having hatched.While the ospreys' breeding season at Kielder Water & Forest Park has been delayed slightly by weather conditions, such as the Beast from the East, a flourish of hatchings have now begun with the first two chicks breaking through within two hours of each other - on the same nest!Over the weekend, the final egg on that nest also hatched, while there were three other hatchings on other nests.The new additions to the Kielder osprey family continue Kielder's ‘soap opera in the sky', following a flurry of ‘cast' changes earlier in the season. While one regular, a male osprey that normally makes its home on nest three, failed to return, he was replaced by a new arrival that has quickly settled in with the usual female.Three eggs have been spotted on each of the four nests, leading to optimism that 2018 -the tenth year that ospreys have bred at Kielder- will be a bumper year for young osprey hatchings.Kielder osprey expert volunteer Joanna Dailey said: "We should see a flurry of activity now as the eggs start to hatch, bringing another year of new life to the Kielder osprey story. The time between the first two chicks is possibly a UK record for the shortest interval between hatches, although eggs have hatched within 24 hours on a number of nests, including Nest 4 last year."The new arrival and his mate have done very well, as have the returning ospreys, in gifting us a dozen eggs, with the promise of continuing the growth of the Kielder osprey family."Now comes the tough part for the chicks, as they strengthen and prepare to fledge, so that they can hopefully thrive and be ready for their migration at the end of the summer."Kielder Osprey Watch runs on weekends and bank holidays until mid-August, with additional Wednesdays from July.The Kielder Osprey Project is a partnership between Kielder Water & Forest Park Development Trust, Forestry Commission, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumbrian Water and Calvert Trust Kielder. The partners are working hard to ensure that the ospreys are here to stay by maintaining a high quality habitat in Kielder Water & Forest Park and safeguarding and monitoring the nest sites.

Northumberland restaurant bidding for third restaurant of the year winThe Old Boat House in Amble, Northumberland have been nominated for the prestigious title of ‘Coastal Fish Restaurant of the Year’ in the 2018 Fishing News Awards, having scooped the prize in both 2016 and 2017.The Awards celebrate outstanding achievements, expertise and innovation in the coastal and fishing industries. Last year the restaurant was commended for its use of local produce and friendly service and the owners are hoping to win the 2018 prize so they can continue to raise Amble’s profile and see it’s coastal community thrive. The Old Boat House Food group was founded in 2014 by husband and wife duo Martin and Ruth Charlton who now run four venues in Blyth and Amble, employing 32 staff. Their initial offering, The Old Boat House Amble has since become a nationally renowned destination for seafood fans. Mr Charlton believes this is partly due to their previous award wins.“Last year’s award gave us the confidence to open a new venue in Amble, La Famiglia creating a further 6 full time jobs. We also launched Northumberland Restaurant Week to give people far and wide a chance to experience what the region has to offer with great value deals. We hope this proves our continued support in growing the local economy and providing employment opportunities in the area”.To coincide with the award bid the food group plan to expand and modernise The Old Boat House which will create eight more jobs and draw more people to Amble Harbour Village, helping to further establish Amble as a growing tourist destination. Ruth Charlton added, “We’re dedicated to engaging with our local community in a number of ways; from supporting apprentices through Northumberland College to using a range of local suppliers and fisherman. We hope this commitment shines through when people are deciding whether to vote for us”.The restaurant group will be running a range of competitions and giveaways to celebrate the nomination and thank it’s customers for their support. For more info visit boathousefoodgroup.co.ukVoting in the Fishing News Awards 2018 closes on midnight Friday, 27th April 2018. Voting forms are available through the link tiny.cc/amble or via the Fishing News website fishingnews.co.uk/awards

Embargo Tuesday April 17thNew research reveals nature’s beauty increases happiness30 Days Wild connect peoples with natural beauty Northumberland Wildlife Trust13 April 2018The countdown has begun to The Wildlife Trusts’ annual nature challenge - 30 Days Wild which encourages people to do something wild every day for the month of June, and last year 250,000 people took part.This June’s 30 Days Wild challenge from The Wildlife Trusts will encourage thousands of people across the UK to make their neighbourhoods wilder - to help wildlife and get communities sharing the joy of the wild.Academics at the University of Derby who have monitored the challenge since it began in 2015 have discovered that spending time in nature makes us feel good. 30 Days Wild encourages people to notice nature on their doorsteps every single day and gives them a multitude of exciting and fun ways of doing it.The University’s evaluation* of 30 Days Wild 2017 included new measures and reveals that people’s perception of beauty in the natural world is a key ingredient to unlocking the benefits of well-being and happiness experienced by participants in the challenge.Dr Miles Richardson, Director of Psychology, University of Derby explains: “Over the past three years we’ve repeatedly found that taking part in 30 Days Wild improves health, happiness, nature connection and conservation behaviours. Now we have discovered that engagement with the beauty of nature is part of that story.“Tuning-in to the everyday beauty of nature becomes part of a journey which connects us more deeply to the natural world. As people’s appreciation of natural beauty increases, so does their happiness. We respond to beauty - it restores us and balances our emotions. This, in turn, encourages people to do more to help wildlife and take action for nature.” The latest set of results from the study of 30 Days Wild also confirms that the benefits of the challenge last well after the month has ended. There are indications that the beneficial impact of taking part could last an entire year.Mike Pratt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Chief Executive said: “Northumberland Wildlife Trust is urging everybody to do get behind 30 Days Wild which is a lovely way to get closer to nature and marvel at the everyday wildlife that lives all around you. Sit quietly and enjoy watching dragonflies dance over a pond or take a moment to sow a window box of wildflowers to help bees.“Get together with your neighbours to create hedgehog highways or sow front-garden meadows along the length of your street. No matter how small the action, it all counts!”Anybody interested in 30 Days Wild can register at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild and receive a free pack with a booklet of inspirational ideas for Random Acts of Wildness, a recipe for wild strawberry and thyme ice cream, wildflower seeded paper to sow, a wall chart to record your activities and wild stickers.There is also a 30 Days Wild app which is available at www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild/AppThis year’s 30 Days Wild theme is all about helping wildlife in your neighbourhood and our pack has inspiring ideas for sharing the challenge locally. See great ways to green-up your street from carving hedgehog holes in fences to putting up bird and bat boxes and doing a local litter pick.As part of the 30 Days Wild campaign, the first ever Big Wild Weekend of wildlife events will be held across the whole of the UK on the 16 - 17 June, and in this region, a series of events will be held at the wildlife charity’s Hauxley and Northumberlandia reserves. For more information visit: www.nwt.org.uk/whats-on

It’s happy days for festival fans as Lindisfarne Festival announces alt-rock legends Happy Mondays as their Friday headliner for the 3 day summer music festival which takes place from 30thAugust-2ndSeptember 2018 on Beal Farm, Northumberland. The announcement is made alongside plans to raise much needed funds at the festival for UK homelessness charity Crisis through the Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) initiative.One of the most famous bands to emerge from the 1980s Manchester scene - with a slew of hits includingStep On,Kinky Afroand24 Hour Party People– Happy Mondays will join Brighton folk-punk band the Levellers at the top of the bill for the popular Northumberland festival.Plans for the 4thannual festival, which crowdfunded £75k in 6 weeks last October are going from strength to strength, with organisers confirming record ticket sales for the 2018 event so far.Happy Mondays are avid supporters of the grass roots rock music movement (MAH), which has already raised more than £100,000 for UK homelessness charities since the project launched in 2016, backed by patron Alan McGee.Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder commented:“We're all really looking forward to headlining Lindisfarne Festival on 31st August. It’s going to be a great party!! Love that the festival supports Musicians Against Homelessness too - a great cause!”A regularly shortlisted finalist at the UK Festival Awards, Lindisfarne Festival 2018 will showcase 150+ acts over its 8 festival stages, with live music & DJs until 4am over the weekend.Other acts already announced for the over 18’s festival include The Showhawk Duo, Ferocious Dog, Colonel Mustard & the Dijon 5, Bombskare, Detroit Social Club, Bessie & the Zinc Buckets, Hip Hop Hooray, and local music sensation 13 year old singer-songwriter Tom ‘Mouse’ Smith.Conleth Maenpaa, founder of Lindisfarne Festival commented:“We are absolutely thrilled to add Happy Mondays to what is undoubtedly our biggest and best line up to date. This year we are stepping things up in every way imaginable and with ticket sales currently exceeding all our expectations, we know that this year is going to be the most incredible party the North East has ever seen!”As well as a new dedicated rock & blues bar, this year the festival will also see the addition of a new acoustic busking stage, which will give up & coming musicians the opportunity to expose their talents to the festival’s anticipated 4000 attendees, whilst encouraging charitable donations for the MAH campaign.Festival organisers are working closely with Musicians Against Homelessness to curate a strong lineup of unsigned talent for the new stage and maximise fundraising opportunities both at the event and in the months leading up.Conleth added:“We are exceptionally proud to be supporting Musicians Against Homelessness again in 2018. The organisation is a true inspiration and its dedicated volunteers are not only a huge credit to the music industry but to humanity! Last year our festivalgoers helped raise a substantial amount for the campaign and this year we’re committed to doing everything we can to support both their fundraising efforts and their mission to create opportunities for more unsigned musicians.”Independent, affordable and unpretentious, Lindisfarne Festival has become revered for being the perfect value for money party festival – offering a boutique festival experience without the expensive festival price-tag.Tickets with camping are currently priced at £59 - £95 and can be bought athttps://lindisfarnefestival.comA range of glamping options are also available.Photo credit - Paul Husband

March 2018 marks the 60th anniversary of the designation of the North Northumberland Coast as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Throughout the year the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership will be organising a number of events so everyone can join in to discover more about our beautiful coast and learn how to look after it for future generations.To launch the celebrations, the team will be spending the day on the Coast! OnFriday 23rd March, the Partnership, guests and volunteers will be be planting 60 hedgerow trees near Bamburgh, before heading back to the village for afternoon tea and birthday cake. In the evening, John Grundy, local historian and TVpresenter, has been invited to give a talk. He is a passionate enthusiast for the history and architecture of the North East, bringing stories vividly to life with his unique and engaging style. His talk - "Castles to Cowsheds: the extraordinary buildings of the Northumberland Coast" - will be perfect for anyone who shares his love of the area. The talk is free of charge and bound to be popular, so tickets need to be booked early to avoid disappointment.The Partnership have also been awarded a grant of nearly £900 from The Pen and Palette Club to help them stage further events. Over the summer months, the Partnership will be hosting a written word competition for people from Northumberland and beyond to reflect on and write about the Northumberland Coast, with stories that reflect on local people and places encouraged.The competition will be open to three age categories: 7-11 years, 12-16 years and adults. Entries could be short stories, poem or verse, as long as they meet the terms of entry. The winning entries will be published on the Northumberland Coast AONB website and used in other displays and presentations as part of our diamond celebrations.The Finale will be in the autumn, with a concert featuring song, music and drama celebrating the cultural heritage of the Northumberland Coast. There will be an award ceremony and prize giving for the written word competition winners and a performance of the winning entries.Jeff Watson, Chair of the AONB Partnership said: ”Sixty years is a significant milestone and it deserves to be acknowledged. We hope that people will share their energy and enthusiasm for the area with us but at the same time, be mindful of the responsibility to preserve it for future generations”.Catherine Gray, Funding and Communications Officer for the AONB Partnership said: “There is an extraordinary amount of talent within the AONB and we wanted to find as many different ways as possible to celebrate that. We hope to add to these events throughout the year and would welcome any suggestions people might have. We’d particularly like to see any photos of the area from the 1950s”.

CLOSURE NOTICE!Due to extreme weather conditions, The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre will be CLOSED on Wednesday 28th February and Thursday 1st March.For emergency shelter, go next door to The Twice Brewed Inn, Bardon Mill, Hexham, NE47 7AN. For more visitor information and updates, please call 01434 611521 (9am - 5pm) or check the website www.thesill.org.uk Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens and Warkworth Castle To celebrate the release of Oscar®-winning Nick Park’s upcoming film EARLY MAN, English Heritage is teaming up with award-winning animation studio Aardman, creators of Wallace & Gromit, Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep, to bring a brand-new half term quest to its sites at Belsay Hall and Warkworth Castle this half term.Set at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures and woolly mammoths roamed the earth, Early Man tells the story of how plucky caveman Dug (Eddie Redmayne), along with sidekick Hognob unites his tribe against the mighty Lord Nooth (Tom Hiddleston) and the Bronze Age to save their home.Visitors to English Heritage sites can take part in a special trail, following clues to reach the end, and receive an Aardman Model Making kit, as well as entry into a special competition to win tickets to a VIP screening of the film at Stonehenge. Early Man is released in UK cinemas on 26 January by Studiocanal.Find our more the EarlyMan Quest at Belsay: http://bit.ly/EMQuestBelsayFind our more the EarlyMan Quest at Warkworth: http://bit.ly/QuestWarkworthImage courtesy of Aardman/Studiocanal

If the runaway success of ITV’s Britain’s Favourite Walks has inspired you to dust off your walking boots, then head for an Inn Collection Group pub and enjoy some of the UK’s best walks on your doorstep.A trailblazing nine routes close to the group’s pubs with rooms, made it into the programme’s top 100, with the North – and especially coastal walks – coming out top among voters. Around 8,000 people voted for their favourite walks for the programme, presented by Julia Bradbury and Ore Oduba, with famous faces and keen hikers profiling their own favourite paths.The Inn Collection Group’s operations director Sean Donkin said: “It’s no surprise that people love to walk in the North. We have the best beaches, more castles than any other county in England, rugged hill country and showstopper viewpoints – all interspersed with amazing local history and attractions. “Our inns, which span the North of England, including Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire, pride themselves on welcoming in walkers. Our staff are keen hikers themselves. Myself, along with general managers from the whole group have just walked the route from Dunstanburgh to Craster – the very route which made the show’s final ten in the whole of the country.“We welcome muddy boots, have wash down facilities, help with drying wet gear – and staff are always happy to share local knowledge of nearby routes, facilities, accessibility, public transport and what people can see and do along the way – they will even drop off and collect walkers from their routes, if they can.”To celebrate the wealth of walks around their inns, the group has introduced Walk Inn breaks at several walking hotspots.Including bed and breakfast, a welcome drink on arrival, dinner, a pack of 20 waterproofed O/S walks around the inn of your choice, and a packed lunch, Walk Inn start from £40 per person on top of standard room rates.Walk Inn breaks are available at the following Northumberland inns:The Bamburgh Castle Inn at Seahouses, Northumberland The Lindisfarne Inn at Beal, near Holy Island, NorthumberlandThe Hog’s Head Inn at Alnwick, NorthumberlandThe Commissioners Quay Inn at Blyth, Northumberland See walks from ITV’s Britain’s Favourite Walks – Top 100 here.

WOMEN in Northumberland are being urged to pull on their hiking boots and join the fight against cancer as Cancer Research UK launches an exciting new event in the county.The Race for Life Hike at Hadrian’s Wall, Brampton, will take place on Saturday 10 June for second ever time. Just eight iconic locations in the UK have been selected to hold Race for Life Hike events, which take place between June and September.Race for Life Hike is a series of one-day, long-distance walking events open to women of all ages and abilities. It offers participants an ideal opportunity to get out in the fresh air, take on a new challenge and help raise money for life-saving research.The Hadrian’s Wall event offers a challenging and technical hike starting at the ancient remains of Brocolitia Fort and finishing at the stunning Lanercost Priory. The route takes in iconic sections of the wall, including Sycamore Gap, with impressive views across the Northumberland Country Park throughout. Cancer Research UK is calling on women in Northumberland to join like-minded ladies committed to the cause and sign up right now at www.raceforlife.org. Money raised will help Cancer Research UK scientists find new ways to treat cancer and save more lives.With each route offering stunning scenery and breath-taking views - from the unspoilt Sussex coastline to the dramatic backdrops of the Peak District - participants will be able to explore the great outdoors whilst raising money for a worthwhile cause. Each route is between 20 and 26 miles, involving a mix of challenging terrains, with an expected walking time of 8 to 12 hours. The routes are fully planned with maps provided at registration. Participants will also be treated to a hot meal, glass of bubbly and a medal at the finish line.Laura Taylor, Cancer Research UK’s Event Manager, said: “We’re so excited to bring Race for Life Hike to Northumberland for the second year. The route promises to take in stunning local landscapes so it’s the perfect opportunity for ladies to make the most of the great outdoors, right on their doorstep. We’re calling on women to put their best foot forward and sign up now. We’ve no doubt that they’ve got the motivation to go the distance and help beat cancer.“Participants will have access to training guidance and fundraising advice before the event, and there’ll be plenty of support points along the route offering tea, coffee and snacks to help keep them going. The atmosphere on the day promises to be electric as women come together to join the fight against the disease.”Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy, Marathon and Hiking events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer sooner by funding vital research.Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work relies on the public’s support. Thanks to the generosity of its supporters, the charity was able to spend over £4 million last year in the North East on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research - helping more men, women and children survive. One in two people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in their lives, but the good news is more people are surviving the disease now than ever before. Survival rates have doubled since the early 1970s and Cancer Research UK’s work has been at the heart of that progress.Laura continued: “Race for Life Hike has all the fun and camaraderie of our much loved 5k, 10k and Pretty Muddy events. Whether participants plan to ramble along the route or charge their way around the course, every step they take will help to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.“Every week, around 40 people are diagnosed with cancer in Northumberland*. That’s why we’re calling on women to sign up right now. By taking part in Race for Life, they can make a real difference. Together, we can stop this devastating disease in its tracks.”The entry fee for Race for Life Hike is £30 and there’s a suggested fundraising target of £200. Women who sign up will be given a Race for Life Season Pass, offering free entry into unlimited 5k and 10k events to support their training.To enter Race for Life Hike today go to raceforlife.org or call 0300 123 0770. BOX OUT:Race for Life Hike will take place at the following locations:• Hadrian’s Wall - 10 June 2017• Jurassic Coast - 24 June 2017 • South Downs Way - 2 September 2017• North Norfolk Coast - 2 September 2017• Peak District - 9 September 2017

St Valery in Almmouth, Northumberland has been awarded the title of Waggiest Welcome PetsPyjamas 2017 Dog-Friendly Travel Awards, as part of the UK’s leading pet-friendly holiday company’s recognition for the special destinations, who lead the way by offering a truly pet-friendly experience for customers and their Very Important Pets. With the Guide Dogs Great British Dog Survey 2017 revealing that 70% of pet owners like to take their dog on holiday, the Year of the Dog is most certainly set to be the Year of the Holiday Dog, with St Valery and the other 11 award-winning dog-friendly hotspots to choose from. Setting their standard of excellence to be met by all their travel partners - from five-star hotels to cottages, country houses and stylish pub inns with rooms, PetsPyjamas’ travel awards recognise only the very best, so St Valery and the 11 other winners were judged on the following criteria: 1. Super dog-loving atmosphere and staff at all times; 2. Three or more dog-friendly rooms available to book; 3. Dogs have access to some communal areas and are able to dine with their owners – a special doggie menu would be a bonus!; 4. Dogs are provided with beds, bowls and treats in the hotel room or cottage; 5. Nearby dog-friendly attractions, for example fabulous long doggie walks or a dog-friendly beach. Described by customers as a dog lover’s paradise, St Valery’s resident dog Roxy welcomes every canine and makes sure there are treats waiting in their room. Furry friends are also provided with beds, bowls and towels to dry off after walks on their neighbouring heritage coast and designated National Landscape. St Valery owner, Harvey Roberts says: “Having a dog of my own, I completely understand how difficult it can be sometimes to find good quality accommodation when you are away with your dog, so being dog-friendly was really important to me when I was setting up the business nearly two years ago. Northumberland is such a dog- friendly county and the beach we have here in Alnmouth is dog-friendly all year round, which we love sharing with other dog owners.” Commenting on their win he adds: “I’m really proud of what the team here at St Valery has achieved in less than two years since we first opened and winning the Waggiest Welcome award is absolutely brilliant. Clearly most (if not all) the credit has to be placed firmly at the paws of the most important member of the team – Roxy the resident house dog. Well done Roxy, and keep wagging that tail!” Co-founder of PetsPyjamas, Karen Hanton comments: “Having sent thousands of dogs and their owners on getaways since the launch of our dog-friendly division in 2014, we understand exactly what is needed to delight canine guests and their owners. We work closely with accommodation partners to create exclusive packages, all-inclusive deals and extras just for the dog, and our awards celebrate this new level of customer service and understanding in the hospitality industry. We believe dogs are very much part of the family and that holidays are much more fun when Fido comes too. The properties we work with share this ethos and have proved themselves to be truly dog-welcoming, going that extra mile with special touches to excite our two and four-legged customers.” She adds: “We’re thrilled to share and reward those properties that have particularly excelled this year with their own unique brand of dog-friendliness, and St Valery are such deserved winners of the Waggiest Welcome award.” A who’s who of dog-friendly hotspot, the other winners of The PetsPyjamas 2017 Dog-Friendly Travel Awards winners include Best Dog-friendly Pub with Rooms – The Fontmell, Dorset; Best Luxury Dog-friendly Hotel Award - Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire; Pampered Pet Award - The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Skipton, North Yorkshire; Best for Walkies Award - The Arundell Arms, Devon; Home from Home Award - Moat Cottage at Wilderness, Suffolk; Fido’s Family Award – Fowey Hall Hotel, Cornwall; Best Unique Stay Award - Scamper Holidays, Swansea, Wales; Gourmet Hotel Award - Cliveden House, Berkshire; Best Dog-friendly European Destination - Abbaye de la Bussiere, France; Best Newcomer - Widbrook Grange, Wiltshire and Top Resident Dog - Ston Easton Park, Somerset. PetsPyjamas is Europe’s number one online pet lifestyle destination where people who love their pets can book from 1,500 truly pet-welcoming hotels, cottages, manor houses,cosy inns and stylish B&Bs around the UK and Europe, with new properties signing up almost every day. With a net promoter score of 77, PetsPyjamas is the leading pet friendly holiday bookers with something for every breed and budget from just £60 and unique dog-friendly weekend break packages you won’t find anywhere else. Pets go free and a complimentary pet travel kit worth £20 are standard for all stays, and all breaks are bookable via PetsPyjamas’ expert Pet Concierges - a dedicated pack of dog lovers and experts, who help their furry customers and owners find the perfect break for them. PetsPyjamas also offers a fabulous collection of over 10,000 pet accessories – all handpicked by in-house pet stylists and curated by breed. For more information on a pet friendly Northumberland stay, visit our dog friendly adventures page.