Cancelled booking! 6-person cottage, in a secluded setting, with a private, secure garden - yet just five minutes' walk from Richmond Market Place. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? 

Garden Cottage is available for seven nights from Friday 7 May. Every other self-catering property in the area is pretty much booked solid, so if this is a terrific opportunity, and you need to move fast. Take a look at the details here. Click the 'Email the owner' button; the price would normally be £850, but we'll bet you can get a discount.

We don't normally do this kind of thing, and we don't plan to make a habit of it, but we hate to see a lovely property sitting empty when people are gagging for somewhere to stay.

Our latest book of walks, 'Pootling round Richmond and Swaledale', has been flying out the door, mainly through online sales. Now that we're cautiously peeking out of lockdown, high street sales have started again, and today we received this lovely endorsement:

"I bought ‘pootling around Richmond/swaledale’ yesterday when visiting. It is absolutely brilliant and exactly what I’ve been looking for for years. I can’t wait to use this book. I just wanted to say how brilliant I think it is, and thanks to those that have made the time and effort to make it. Kate N "

Isn't that nice? Completely unsolicited, and out of the blue.

You can pick up a copy at Meynells and the Post Office in Finkle Street, at Castle Hill Bookshop, at Mocha coffee shop and at our own Info Centre pod (all in Richmond), at the Dales Bike Centre in Grinton, the Post Office in Reeth or online through the Shop link above. For just £2.50, it's a brilliant way to prepare your visit to Richmond.

One of our very favourite local attractions is welcoming visitors again.

Kiplin's wonderful walled garden, parkland and lake-side walk have re-opened. It's a lovely place to enjoy the spring sunshine. No need to bring a thermos and sarnies - you can get light meals and hot and cold drinks at the new Tea Room, collect them from the serving hatch, and find your perfect picnic spot anywhere in the 90 acres of grounds. Pizzas too!. The grounds are open 10-5 daily (closed Thursdays), and no booking is needed. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Find the details here.

OK, 17 May is still a month away, but how wonderful that the cinema has made it through this period.

Please visit the Station Cinema website, add yourself to the mailing list so you know what's coming up on the three screens, and show your support for this wonderful facility.