Category: Columns

This is a walk of wide views and quiet valleys. After climbing high onto the Wolds from Bishop Wilton, where there are far-reaching vistas over the Vale of York, the walk arrives at the hamlet of Great Givendale with its picturesque church. The route then traverses typical Wolds country, dipping into a deep valley before […]

This walk explores the countryside south of Harrogate. The route crosses Crimple Valley to Follifoot then skirts Rudding Park to return to the start with a walk along the valley through woodland and fields. The walk is 7 miles long and should take around 3 hours. Getting there The starting point is Hornbeam Park station […]

Sometimes it seems lettuce is losing out to other leafy salads. When I began growing, it was just about the only leafy salad vegetable gardeners cultivated. Salad leaves like rocket, mizuna or lamb’s lettuce were almost unheard of – rocket wasn’t for eating, it was either something that went to the moon or was let […]

For free advice and help, email: jcp@magepublishing.co.uk ARIES March 21 – April 19 Boys play with new toys while girls get fed up with boys playing with new toys and decide to play a few games of their own! Sometimes this isn’t going to be a problem, but there are flashpoints around the 3rd and 4th […]

Resident sports writer and York City F. C. fan, Simon Pattinson, pays tribute to the late Billy McEwan.  Since the last time I wrote this column, the sad news of Billy McEwan passing away reached us and so it feels only right that I start this month’s column about him. For me, and many fans […]

The circular loop around Nunnington and Caukleys Bank is one of the best walks in the Howardian Hills. This version follows most of the standard route but adds a visit to Stonegrave with its ancient Minster and a longer extra stretch alongside the River Rye.  Distance 7 miles, approximately 3.5 hours. Getting there The recommended […]

Resident sports writer and York City F. C. fan, Simon Pattinson, gives us the lowdown on sport in York this month. As I write this last column I feel like the last one jinxed the great period City had over Christmas.  What with the delays due to covid and games being called off, the momentum […]

For help and advice, email jcp@magepublishing.co.uk ARIES March 21 – April 19 Quite a bright and entertaining month for the majority of Arians who will be taking particular pride in their achievements as a couple of ambitions fall into place. Lots of social activity from the 14th/15th onwards, with some interesting travel plans being made towards month’s […]

Instead of a typical pastry crust, the base of this quiche is made with grated sweet potato, pressed into an oven dish and baked until crispy and magnificent. Kale, chives and feta fill the centre, bathed in rich eggs and cream. Leftovers are delicious for brunch the next day too. For more sweet potato recipes, […]

This month, Kerry Lakey from Savannah Travel, gives us the low down on Mauritius. In October 2021, just days after they re-opened their borders, I travelled to the Indian Ocean Island of Mauritius. Like many travelling since the pandemic, I was apprehensive, but as soon as I arrived all my concerns faded and I was […]

I’ve just dined on homegrown quince. Not in slices with mince and not aboard a pea-green boat (like the owl and the pussycat in Edward Lear’s nonsense poem) but buttered and lightly cooked as a dessert in the comfort of the dining room. It says a lot about quince that many people know of it […]

Itching to get back in the garden? There are plenty of seeds to be sown. Sweet Peas  Sow sweet pea seeds in cardboard tubes or biodegradable pots in a cold frame, a cool room in the house or an unheated greenhouse.  When ready to plant, keep them in their containers to keep root disturbance to […]

Resident sports writer and York City F. C. fan, Simon Pattinson, is cautiously optimistic about the future. So far, as we get into 2022, it feels like John Askey is starting to put his stamp on a side that seemed to be struggling to get its act together when he took over. You cannot deny […]

AROUND AND ABOUT ALLERTHORPE COMMON This is an easy walk, ideal for a short winter stroll. The first half traverses Allerthorpe Common, a mix of mainly coniferous woodland and more open areas managed by Forestry England. The woodland has a network of paths which can also be explored if you want to extend or vary […]

Horoscopes by James Christie… For details of private readings phone 01423 339770 or email: jcp@magepublishing.co.uk ARIES March 21 – April 19 It’s an awkward month for Arians who need to untangle a few strings (a) just to make life easier, and (b) to define a few priorities. Other people aren’t much help at this time because they’re […]