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Page 38
WATER SIGHT The apartments offer great views over the River Ness and the city
Live it up in the city
on Highland escape
PICTURE a cosmopolitan city with
stunning views, a fabulous vibe and
superb restaurants, a place thats perfect
for a fantastic break all year round.
Welcome to the Highlands and its
vibrant urban jewel Inverness.
Throngs of tourists use Inverness as a
base to explore the delights of northern
Scotland. But it has all the credentials for
a fabulous and stylish city break.
Its just a three-hour trip from the
central belt and it is affordable too even
staying in a spectacular city centre
apartment overlooking the gorgeous
River Ness.
Presented by Highland Apartments by
Mansley, a stylish one-bedroom deluxe
serviced apartment offers luxury, quality
and affordability.
It gets 10 out of 10 for location,
location, location as its in the very heart
of Inverness.
XXXXXX xxxxxxhas luxury furnishings
The apartment
Xxxx hardwood floors, works by
throughout,
local artists on the walls and and a top of
the range kitchen and dining area.
It also has a huge riverside balcony big
enough to host a diplomatic reception.
The bedroom has a top-quality finish
and feel with a bed big enough to lose
yourself in.
As well as a glorious view of the city,
you can relax and take in the countryside
vista to the west and the possibility of
beautiful sunsets which can be enjoyed
inside as well thanks to the floor-to-
ceiling windows and French doors in the
lounge and bedroom.
On arrival, guests are personally
greeted whether arriving by car in the
secure basement car park or making the
short walk from the train station.
The one-bedroom apartment is ideal
for couples for a city break but others
offer extra bedrooms for families or
friends sharing the cost.
The apartment is such that you could
spend all your time in it. But then you
would miss out on the vibrant buzz of
this lovely city.
Scores of restaurants are within an
easy five-minute walk of the apartment
and the same is true for bars and shops.
The Inverness of today has a truly
cosmopolitan feel to it.
American and Canadian tourists,
maureen collins
reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk
European travellers and workers from
across the continent combine to offer a
truly eclectic mix, while the quality of the
restaurants, most championing local
produce, rivals many
Late deals
larger cities.
Traditional pubs
offering live music remain
buoyant and popular but
now share the space with
stylish wine bars and
cocktail lounges.
As a small city, most
sights are within walking
distance. Or you can take
the bus to shop at the
retail park or to catch a
flight at the airport which
is six miles to the east,
near the historic Culloden
battlefield.
As a tourist destination, and December 17, seven
Inverness can have few
rivals for its size. Its
always been popular but
now has new style and a
confidence which is a
credit to the city.
If you thought you
knew the Highlands, it
may be time to think
again. Inverness is better
than ever.
IMPRESSIVE Lounge in apartment
Facts
Maureen stayed courtesy of Highland
Apartments, Bridge Street, Inverness.
For reservations and information, call
0800 304 7160, email Inverness@
bymansley.com or visit bymansley.com.
A deluxe one-bedroom apartment
costs from 110 per night.
with sally mclean s.mclean@dailyrecord.co.uk
STUNNING
Le Puy en
Velay, one of
the historic
towns in
Auvergne
Frances best kept
secret is a pretty
place where you
can eat and drink
the finest food
and wine to your
hearts content
graham miller
reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk
IF you enjoy good food, fine
wine, stunning scenery and
heartfelt hospitality, then
Auvergne could be your dream
destination.
Situated slap bang in the centre
of France, this ancient province is
the countrys best kept secret
despite being chosen as one of the
top 10 regions in the world to visit
by Lonely Planet.
The Auvergne is a dramatic
region of forests and extinct
volcanoes. Its also home to
Europes largest regional
park and a host of
picturesque villages and
towns including its
Flying from Glasgow on
impressive capital
October 6 or 20, seven
nights half board at the 4* Clermont-Ferrand and
Grand Flora, Sorrento, Vichy, a genteel spa
from 459pp. resort that was installed
Flying from Glasgow as Frances seat of
between October 28 and government for most of
November 21, seven
World War II.
nights all inclusive (adults
We flew into Lyon and
only) at the 4* Levante were driven to
Club, Benidorm, from
449pp. Clermont-Ferrand
Flying from Glasgow courtesy of the Flexibus
between November 25 Company.
We checked into the
nights half board at
the 4* Elba Lanzarote
recently renovated Htel
Le Lion and embarked
Royal Village Resort, from on a tour of the
469pp. surrounding landmarks.
Flying from Glasgow on
Soaking in the citys
December 4 or 11, seven
nights half board (adults history and the suns
only) at the 4* Enotel rays on a balmy evening
was blissful.
Quinta Do Sol, Madeira,
from 439pp. As well as being the
For these deals and more, regions industrial hub,
see stewarttravel.co.uk,
Clermont-Ferrand is
visit your nearest Stewart a tourist-friendly
Travel store or call 0800
091 2757.
destination with lots to FRENCH FEAST Visit tempting patisseries and appreciate the architecture
see including a majestic
Gothic cathedral.
All that sightseeing worked up
quite an appetite so we visited
rustic family restaurant Le Kitchen
for a hearty bowl of the local
speciality truffade sliced
p
otatoes, garlic and fresh tomme
cheese from Cantal.
The next morning, we headed to
the world-famous Aventure
Michelin interactive exhibition.
Much of Auvergne s economy
has been dependent on the
tyre manufacturers based in the
city, who once employed 30,000
people. We were treated to a
captivating showcase of the
companys past, present and future.
Daily Record Saturday, September 30, 2017
Then we were off to LOstal, a
recent addition to the citys
impressive array of restaurants,
where we had a wonderful lunch of are moved to descend the summit
gourmet French cuisine courtesy of by parajumping.
chef Emmanuel Hebrard.
We took the chance to escape
from the city to explore some of the comfortable but still scenic
regions natural landmarks.
In the Massif Central range of 80
dormant volcanoes that dominate
the Auvergne skyline sits the
magnificent Puy-de Dme a
dormant volcano which last
erupted around 5760BC and one of
only 33 grand sites of France.
Viewed panoramically from the
MORE AT DailyRecord.CO.
spectacular 4800ft peak, the
regions landscape is so
awe-inspiring that some visitors
Others, myself included, took
the less exciting exit option a
10-minute train ride.
Later we dropped in on
Randanne Farm, where Jean Valere
demonstrated how he produces
the distinctive St Nectaire cheese
with a little help from his
Montbliarde and Abondance cows.
Full-flavoured fromage sampling
was followed by a short car
Daily Record Saturday, September 30, 2017
auvergne
the moon
GASTRONOMIC DELIGHTS From Michelin-starred to friendly family-run restaurants, the food in Auvergne was fantastic
journey to Vichy where we checked
into the impressively elegant Htel
de Grignan.
We rounded off a perfect day with
dinner and another example of
exquisite Auvergne cuisine at La
Table dAntoine restaurant.
Chef Antoine Souillat certainly
makes the most of the abundantly
available local produce to come up
with some delectable dishes.
Early the next morning we headed
for Charroux, which is touted as one
of Frances most beautiful villages.
A bold claim, given some of the
stunning destinations we had already
visited on our trip, but thoroughly
deserved. Among the sculpted stone
faades dating to the 15th century lay
the home of the finest mustard Ive
ever tasted.
The family business of Oils and
Charroux Mustard is directed by
Simone Maenner and each year a
new variety is created.
The Maenner family have single-
handedly revived the production of
mustard in the Auvergne and in the
process won the patronage of top
chefs all across France.
And Im delighted to say some
made its way back to Scotland.
Magnificent mustard was followed
by fine wine and a pitstop tour of
Page 39
News
Stay cool
in Toronto
THERE are some holiday destinations
that come alive in the winter, and
Canada is one of them.
And its more than just ski slopes
and polar bear migration the cities
also take on a new magical life.
Take Toronto theres free
ice-skating with DJs at
Harbourfront and fantastic
Latedeals toboggan hills Downtown.
Then in January and February
Flying from Glasgow on December 5, seven you can stroll around the city
nights half board at 3* Ambassador Playa,
Benidorm, 269pp
looking out for the public
sculptures that are part of the Ice
Flying from Glasgow on December 9, seven
nights all inclusive at 4* Sunconnect HD Beach
Breakers exhibition.
If you need some hearty food
to warm you up, two of the citys
Resort, Lanzarote, 465pp
Flying from Edinburgh on January 23 & 30, most renowned food festivals
take place in the cooler months.
seven nights all inclusive at 3* AI Globales,
Costa Tropical, 359pp First off is Winterlicious. This is
Flying from Glasgow on May 26, 10 nights all the granddaddy of all food
inclusive at 4* Grand Bahia Principe Tulum, festivals and brings together
220 of Torontos best restaurants
Mexico, 1299pp
as they create their own
dedicated set menus for two
weeks from January 26 to
Latedeals
February 8, 2018.
There is also the Evergreen Winter
Flying from Glasgow Village with weekend farmers markets
on October 8 (return to and street.
Glasgow via London), Nobody can talk about Toronto
without mentioning Niagara Falls.
three nights B&B at the
The winter months bring a new
3* Marconi Hotel,
Venice, from 397pp
including gondola ride.
Flying from Glasgow
on October 8, seven
nights all inclusive at 3*
Villamarina Club, Salou,
from 397pp.
Flying from Glasgow
on December 16, seven
nights all inclusive at the
3* Smartline Playa Park,
Fuerteventura, from
397pp.
For these offers
and more, visit www.
barrheadtravel.co.uk or
call 0141 222 2223.
SPECTACULAR The CN Tower at sunset
dimension of beauty to the famous
Facts landmark, as nearby lampposts,
ornamental walls and buildings turn
into organic ice sculptures with the icy
Graham was a guest of
spray from the falls.
Atout France and Auvergne
Tourism. Revellers can even see in the New
Year at a free outdoor event with
For more information
about the area, visit www. entertainment for all ages.
Toronto is only seven hours from the
auvergne-tourism.com
UK and, over the winter period, Air
For hotel information and
prices, see www.hotelde Transat will be running two direct
flights a week from Glasgow.
grignan.fr and www.hotel-
The award-winning airline offer
le-lion-clermont.fr/en/
a complimentary hot meal on board as
well as a generous 32kg luggage
allowance.
another family-run success story architecturally eclectic and steeped For a limited period, Barrhead Travel
and Air Transat are offering an
the vineyards at Cave des Brioles, in history including some it would exclusive Christmas shopping
where Jean Teissdre produces an no doubt rather forget but is best
package.
array of wonderful whites and known for its thermal baths. Departing on December 7, you can
remarkable reds. In Vichys heyday health pilgrims have three nights in Toronto with
Another highlight of a trip over- flocked from all over Europe to flights and accommodation included
laden with them was lunch at the relieve their aches and pains by all starting from 619pp.
Michelin-starred Maison Decoret
restaurant, owned by acclaimed chef
taking the water. And while whats
on offer will never rival Perrier or
Call Barrhead Travels dedicated
Canada team on 0141 250 7920 for
more information or to book a break
and local hero Jacques Decoret. Evian for taste, who am I to question
this winter.
He pulled out all the stops to its healing qualities?
provide us with a tasting menu that Our Auvergne adventure ended
was nothing short of sublime. with an evening at Vichy racetrack
A tour of the great mans kitchen and the fun of a few flutters. But we
was followed by a tour of his were already big winners getting the
tranquil home town. Vichy lies on the chance to explore this hidden gem in
banks of the Allier river and is the centre of France.