An 18th century walled garden, with fabulous views of Richmond Castle and Culloden Tower, will open briefly to the public on Sunday 30 August.

The garden was built by John Yorke, who lived in a mansion by the River Swale. The mansion was demolished in the early 19th century, and the Walled Garden became a market garden. The owners, Dennis and Marcia McLuckie, have restored the garden over the last eight years or so, adding shrubs, trees, lawns, herbaceous borders, roses, ponds and a vegetable garden around the existing trees and pathways. New this year is a stream that bubbles between ponds, a reminder of the underground streams that flow under the garden.

The opening will benefit local charity, Just the Job, with proceeds going towards its Big Green Build project.

Admission, from 1 to 5:30 pm, costs £5 (free for under-16s). Teas and cakes will be available for sale. A one-way route will aid social distancing, and if there are too many people in the garden visitors may be asked to wait. Just the Job will be selling plants and crafts so use your waiting time to browse and buy!

The garden is on a hill, and while the main grass paths are accessible with a wheelchair, they are quite steep. Note that there are no toilet facilities this year (because of C****).

Why not order our two best-selling guidebooks before your visit, so you can make best use of your time when you get here?

​For just £3, plus £1.50 UK p&p, you can enjoy Richmond Walks, an illustrated guide to four of the most popular circular rambles from Richmond, and The Little but Wondrous Guide to Richmond, a hilarious hotchpotch of historical facts, almost-facts and pure invention about our characterful old town. For more detail, and to order, click PUBLICATIONS. 

If you don't want to order in advance, you can find the booklets in a number of shops in town, and at Richmond Information Centre itself. We're in the old Market Hall, and open daily from 10:30 to 15:30.

Is anywhere open? How do I book? Will I have to wear a diving suit and welder's gloves to go in?

The answer to the first question is "Yes - lots of places are open". To the second question, it's "Easily". And to the third question - Look, you're not being serious, are you?

​Richmond's favourite online food guide, the Eat Richmond website, has been updated with opening hours and serving conditions of nearly 40 restaurants, pubs, cafés and food outlets in and near Richmond. It also shows which are taking part in the Government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, and it's regularly updated.

The comments we hear most often from people who've eaten out in recent weeks are: "So enjoyable", "Utterly relaxed", "I didn't have a moment's worry", "Just like it was before lockdown". Still not persuaded? Head over to Eat Richmond, find somewhere you like the look of, treat yourself, and possibly save some money. You'll be glad you did. 

Just in time for summer, here comes a free audio guide to twelve of Richmond's historic locations, produced by members of the Original Richmond Business and Tourism Association. Previously available as an app, the guide has now been published as a collection of simple audio files, which can easily be enjoyed on your phone as you walk round town. The guide brings history alive, with  voices and sound effects, to tell a story of Richmond, its traditions and some characters from its past. 

Yet another way to discover our quaint and quirky old town!

The Wensleydale Heifer in West Witton has come sixth in TripAdvisor's list of the top ten fine-dining restaurants in Britain.

Well done, the Heifer!

​The restaurant is open, and the owners stress that their anti-COVID precautions have not affected the usual warm ambiance. Visit their site here: wensleydaleheifer.co.uk.

Cool woodlands - just the thing for a hot day, when the kids turn fractious. Foxglove Covert is a great place to spend two or three hours. Our local nature reserve has 100 acres of woodland, heathland, flower-rich grassland, streams, ponds and paths. It also has a wide range of wildlife, friendly and informative rangers, and a field centre with seating, snacks and drinks, and the all-important loos.

Foxglove Covert is just two miles from Richmond. Access details are at foxglovecovert.org.uk.

Good news from the Georgian Theatre Royal: its very popular guided tours will re-start on 1 August, hourly from 10:00 to 16:00, Monday to Saturday. No need to book, but if there are more than four in your group then please call 01748 825252.

​The theatre "will be maintaining the highest levels of health and safety".

If you're in Richmond to walk (or stroll, or hike, wander, ramble, bimble, pootle or plodge) then walk round to Richmond Information Centre, in the old Market Hall, for a great selection of maps and guidebooks. Best-sellers include:

• Richmond Walks: four circular walks to suit all tastes and abilities, in a beautifully illustrated all-colour booklet, priced at just £1.
• Yellow Maps: magnified from the Ordnance Survey 1:25000 series, so footpaths are even easier to read; waterproof (because you never know...); supplied in a convenient pocket-sized transparent map-wallet. We stock the maps which are centred on Richmond, on Reeth, and on Keld. A really good deal, at £3.99. 

Not far from Richmond, in bucolic County Durham countryside, stands an enormous château, which has obviously got lost on its way to the Loire valley. This remarkable building is the Bowes Museum, a memorial to the love of John Bowes and his French-born wife Joséphine. It now holds an astounding collection of art-works. 

The Bowes re-opens on 1 August - you can find details and advance booking information on the Museum's website.