Turner painted two oil paintings of Plumpton Rocks following his first visit to Yorkshire in 1797.  They were commissioned by the 1st Earl of Harewood, who owned the estate of Plumpton Rocks at that time and he paid a little more than £32 for the pair.  Not a bad investment!! 

Plumpton Rocks is a fantastic place to visit – and not just because of its historic and artistic connections.  Open at weekends and bank holidays between 11 00 am and 6 00 pm for a small fee.

Stay in one of the many Harrogate Holidays properties close by – click here and here.

View the 18th century originals of Turner’s paintings here.

Painting 1    Painting 2

Woo Hoo!!  The route of the Olympic Torch has been announced and it’s being carried through not one, but three of the district’s towns of Knaresborough, Ripon and Harrogate!  A once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a piece of the Olympics at first hand.  Click here to see where the torch travels.

The route has been 2 years in planning and consultation and travels through 1019 communities, passing within 10 miles of 95% of people in the UK.

The flame’s journey lasts 70 days, starting on 18th May  with 8000 torchbearers, all of whom have a personal story to tell – the youngest is 12 and the oldest is 99 (she says her secret is eating chocolate every day!!).

The torch passes through our towns on 19th June – and Harrogate Holidays will definitely be there to cheer it on.  Catch it at 13.30 on Knaresborough High Street, 14.05 in Harrogate and on to Ripon at 16.10.

Plans are well under way to make it a celebration day to remember for the region’s residents old and young – watch this space for more details.

The keenly awaited Osborne Development has now been completed in its prime Harrogate location and Harrogate Holidays is delighted to be able to offer Apartment 8 the Penthouse in its portfolio – arguably the finest serviced apartment currently available in the town.

It’s difficult to do justice to this property in print – but we will try!  A penthouse in the true meaning of the word – at the pinnacle of this new building and enjoying an elevated panoramic view of Harrogate with windows on three sides of the lifestyle room.

The penthouse has a prime position, tucked away in a quiet but spacious site with gated parking, within walking distance of the town centre yet very close to the 200 Acre Stray park.

A high speed lift from the spacious entrance hall leads directly to the apartment front door and secure video entry system, with easy access for disabled guests from the car parking area. The accommodation comprises two king sized bedrooms each with luxury en suite and an open plan living space all on one level with state of the art kitchen and dining area.

Every whim has been catered for – with styling to the height of good taste.

There are not many opportunities in life to experience luxury and comfort on this scale – so call Harrogate Holidays on 01423 523333 or visit here to find out how you can have your own bite of the cherry!

Locals in Knaresborough have been stumped (!!) by the mysterious appearance of intricate tree carvings by the banks of the River Nidd in Knaresborough.  They were first sighted about 2 months ago, although no one spotted the elusive sculptor at work – hence his/her being dubbed “the Banksy of the North”.  They are 10 – 20 feet high and take weird and wonderful mythical forms, such as a dragon, a kingfisher and a human-like creature with a plumed headdress.

The sculptor has now been revealed as Durham-based Tommy Craggs who was working to a private commission.  What a fantastic feather in Knaresborough’s cultural cap!!  Stay with Harrogate Holidays nearby at The Old Cottage – our newest addition to the Harrogate Holidays portfolio.

The good news for the holiday maker?  Gone are the days of a lick of magnolia on the walls and any old spare furniture out of the attic!

Owners are responding the the high standards now demanded by the modern holidaymaker by providing chic, comfortable and exceptionally well appointed properties – free WiFi, Ipod docks and flat screen TV often the norm.

Squeak Cottage, the Mistal and the Spring are just two fantastic examples of brand newly developed properties with Harrogate Holidays where no expense has been spared in transforming rural properties to offer comfort and good taste to the most demanding visitor.

So – there are some upsides in a downturn – it’s just about knowing where to look!

The figures are up 10% on last year and come at a welcome time for Harrogate International Centre as it faces challenging business conditions.

Robert Anslow, director at HITF, said: “We work hard all year to ensure high quality attendance at the show and I’m delighted we are seeing the results of our hard work with a significant year on year increase in attendance.”

Angus Houston, director at HIC, said: “The increase in visitor numbers is great news. It’s a win for one of our most important clients and a win for the town.  More visitors to the exhibitions and events here at HIC means more customers for the bars, restaurants and shops in town.”

Well done Harrogate!

Stay at a Harrogate Holidays properties nearby – Buchanty House, Greystone Cottage, Fern Bank Mews, Liberty Hall, The Mistal and The Spring, Well Barn Cottage, Rose and Daffodil Cottages and Rayner’s Barn.

For the truly young at heart, X Factor finalists are performing live every Friday night from 11th November to Christmas at Harrogate’s no 1 night spot, the Viper Rooms, with tickets from just £5.  Harrogate Holidays has apartments just a few minutes walk away.

Harrogate Holidays Festive Breaks are not available online, so call us today  on 01423 523333 to book, but hurry as demand is high.