The pulling power of Donald Campbell’s famous jet hydroplane Bluebird has made the village of Coniston one of this year’s hottest Lake District destinations says Cumbria Tourism Visitor numbers to Coniston’s Ruskin Museum have rocketed to record levels since the iconic craft, which crashed on Coniston Water in January 1967, returned to its spiritual home.

Radisson Hotel Group has announced the debut of its luxury lifestyle brand, Radisson Collection, in India with the opening of Radisson Collection Hotel & Spa, Riverfront Srinagar.

Radisson RED Belgrade has opened its doors as a new upscale lifestyle hotel, marking the debut of the Radisson RED brand in Southeast Europe. Located on Takovska Street near the House of the National Assembly in Serbia’s capital, Radisson RED Belgrade offers a unique blend of tradition and contemporary style, following a complete renovation and rebranding of the existing hotel building.

The bedroom suites at Oulton Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort on the outskirts of Leeds, West Yorkshire, have been upgraded as part of an improvement programme. Seven suites, including the up-market Richmond Castle Suite, famed for its modern glamour, have been given a makeover.

"Are you OK?" said the Frenchman to his daughter as she skied down the nursery slope at Les Esserts in Verbier, Switzerland. "Oui," said the tiny tot moving a dummy to the side of her mouth so that she could reply. Shortly afterwards a tantrum followed as the child, rolling on the ground in the freezing snow, demanded to be carried back to the top of the slope!

The Brackenrigg Inn overlooking Ullswater in the Lake District will re-open on April 22nd as the first step in a three-year makeover transformation. The hostelry is just five minutes’ walk from its ‘sister’ outlet: Another Place, The Lake.

If the guilt of Christmas over-eating becomes too much to bear after December 25th, then prepare to purge at the Coniston Hotel near Skipton in North Yorkshire! Here are some New Year / Winter deals that might help ease your mind or even (marginally) reduce your calorie intake!

Jet2holidays has launched ‘Smashing Through the Snow’, a very merry online competition giving travellers the opportunity to win one of 13 festive holidays. Between now and Christmas Day customers have a daily chance and just 30 seconds, in which to smash through Santa’s presents and amass as many points as possible, avoiding point deducting ‘coal’ on the way!

The founder of iconic Whisky Magazine, Damin Riley-Smith, is throwing open the doors of his castle to……you’ve guessed it: lovers of the world’s finest single malts. Rothes Glen – ‘The Luxury Castle for Whisky Connoisseurs’ – is situated in the heart of Speyside, located in the north west of the Scottish Highlands and famed for its whisky heritage.

Independent family-owned coach holiday group, Daish’s Holidays has strengthened the management team at its Esplanade Hotel in Scarborough with three new appointments. The new recruits have more than 40 years’ hospitality experience between them, including global experience in Egypt, Italy and India. Joe Devassy joins as general manager and will oversee a 36-strong team at the 73-bed hotel.

The Wyndham Grand Crete Mirabello Bay Hotel in Greece has unveiled its latest raft of renovations, promising “opulence and sophistication.” The property is debuting a new seaside laguna and is also introducing Crete’s largest privately owned marina with direct ocean access to the Aegean’s crystal-clear waters: an ideal destination for yacht-fanatics and sailors alike.

If Paris is passé and Hurghada’s history then perhaps the next girlie trip should be to the lost horizons of Shangri-La and Asia? While many might not immediately think of the Far East as their first choice for a girls getaway, this enchanting continent holds a treasure trove of hidden gems waiting to be explored.