Blanchland

Stayed last night in a wonderful old hotel, the Lord Crewe Arms in Blanchland, County Durham. It is housed in a medieval priory, with rooms extending into a square of historic lead miners' cottages. It may be June, but it was chilly in the rural north last night, so I was grateful to have a wood-burning stove in my hotel room to keep me cosy.

The local scenery is spectacular, with some amazing switchback roads that are huge fun to drive on. This was the reason for the trip, Mazda's newest model.