The team behind Harrogate estate agents Feather Smailes Scales has raised more than £5,000 for charity by taking on The Yorkshire Three Peaks.

In total, 13 staff took on the mammoth challenge, which covers 24 miles and 1,585 metres of ascent on Friday, April 8.

FSS Property chose to support Maggie’s Cancer Charity with the hike. Maggie’s has centres across the UK where people with cancer and their families can access support.

Daniel Brumfitt, a partner at FSS, said:

“Maggie’s Cancer Charity is an organisation close to the team’s hearts. So many of us have seen loved ones lose the dreadful battle of fighting cancer.

“Our Just Giving campaign hopes to give back something to a group that does such fantastic work. The least we could do was hike the beautiful Yorkshire Three Peaks!

“Reaching the top of Ingleborough is a fantastic feeling; the view over the moors is even more breathtaking than the hike itself.

“Everyone finished in good spirits without any injuries, aside from a few blisters and some sore legs!”

Three Peaks Challenge

The iconic hike is recognised as one of the UK’s best walks. It is often chosen for charity hikes for its difficulty level and stunning views of the North Yorkshire Moors.

It takes in the peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen y Ghent with stunning views of the surrounding Yorkshire Dales skyline.

Everything went to plan on the day the team at FSS put on their walking boots.

They aimed for 12 hours and managed to complete it well under that, punching in a cool 10 hours and 30 minutes.

You can still donate by clicking or tapping here to help those impacted by cancer take back control of their lives.

FSS are one of the area’s only comprehensive estate agents and know the Harrogate district like the back of their hands. So the community where they are based is key.

Help FSS raise money for Maggies Cancer Charity by supporting their Just Giving page.

The ferry which links Nun Monkton to National Trust property Beningbrough Hall will open once again on good Friday.

It had been temporarily closed by the pandemic.

The boat crosses the River Ouse, making one stop on the Moor Monkton bank of the Ouse.

It will operate every weekend during the warmer weather, up until the end of September. The service remains open for business on Good Friday, Easter Monday, and other bank holidays.

Started up six years ago, the ride began as a charitable endeavour. Now, it is a paid-for service run by a team of volunteers and operates regularly from 11am to 4pm.

Volunteers are trained to drive the boat in preparation for the summer season.

Wally Grout, who has been leading the training, said:

“All the skippers and crew have been out on the water to prepare for the opening weekend.

“We’re a good, friendly team and there’s no better way of spending a morning or an afternoon pottering about on the River Ouse. At the same time, we’re providing a service that people really value and enjoy.”

At Beningbrough Hall, children can enjoy an Easter egg hunt and nature trail as part of the Easter celebrations. A collection of paintings from the National Portrait Gallery are also displayed at the Hall.

Read more:

• Boroughbridge walled garden opens as wedding venue
• Six free or low-cost family Easter holiday ideas in the Harrogate district

Many of us whip out the mint sauce for our lamb roast over Easter but if you are on the hunt for something extra special this year then these three Harrogate restaurants have got you covered.

Get your chops around these – some of our featured restaurants have a more traditional offering while others have used inspiration from cultures around the world for their own take.

Spice Culture: Patiala Shahi Lamb Chops

Shahi Jeera (Royal Cumin) flavoured lamb chops marinated with ginger, garlic, yoghurt, mace and cardamom.

Spice Culture marinates its lamb chops for more than eight hours before cooking them in the Indian Clay Oven (The Tandoor) at a very high temperature.

The chef then serves the sizzling lamb with a salad mix and mint yoghurt chutney. This popular dish is a winner with the chef’s own mix of special Indian spices which he blends and grinds in the kitchen.

This Shahi Jeera is Spice Culture’s best selling dish – a real customer favourite perfect all year round but particularly at Easter.

West Park: Slow Cooked Leg Of Spring Lamb

Served with Tomato, Mint & Pea Fricassee, Creamed Potato, Spinach, Lamb Sauce.

West Park Hotel’s Leg Of Lamb dish is part of its seasonal spring menu that helped win it the ‘Best Food Offer’ at The Publican Awards 2022.

Freshly made to order, the flavours of this mouthwatering lamb are enhanced by creamed potato and fresh spinach. This is the perfect spring dish.

Papa’s: Lamb Souvlaki

Onion, garlic, oregano and a touch of mint marinade with side salad.

Papa’s Lamb Skewers are a real taste sensation. The chef marinates them for hours in herbs and spices before chargrilling them for that signature smokey flavour.

Enjoy the skewers with flatbreads, Mediterranean salad, or any other their other authentic dishes. This is not a dish to be missed.

This post is sponsored by the food app Deliveree

Great food and a welcoming atmosphere make Hustle and Co one of Harrogate’s best eateries.

Jo Bradshaw and Nici Routledge set up Hustle and Co cafe to fulfil their lifelong ambition of running a sustainable and ethical café in central Harrogate.

Staff are famously welcoming and often greet regulars by their first names. If you are having a coffee to go or sitting upstairs for a meal the atmosphere is friendly and warm. The outside space at the back has plenty of seating, including undercover for those wet days. If you are a bit chilly, don’t worry, the staff will happily provide you with a cosy blanket!

Located on the fashionable Prince Albert Row on Station Parade, the café is the ideal location for a bite to eat or for a delivery to enjoy at home.

Ethically sourced food

Hustle and Co’s menu is ethically sourced from local high-quality providers. The kitchen’s offer changes often, so there is always something new to experience. Seasonal dishes are a speciality and take advantage of the freshest ingredients all year round.

Café favourites such as Golden Waffles and French Toast are served alongside Build-Your-Own Mezze Salad Bowls and Prime Beef Burgers for a menu that is as varied as it is mouth-watering.

Side Hustles

You can customise plenty of orders with added extras and “side hustles” for your perfect dining experience. For those with special dietary requirements or anxiety, staff are there to reassure and talk you through the menu.

This personal touch and a desire to make your experience as enjoyable as possible are the hallmarks of Hustle and Co’s attitude.

Get Jo and Nici’s Hustle and Co delights delivered to your door today with the local foodie app Deliveree.

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly profile of rescue animals in and around the Harrogate district, searching for their forever family home. This month, Batman, Lux, and Cheeky Pekey are three furry friends looking for someone to adopt them.

Batman

Age: 2 to 5 years

Batman’s Story: Batman is a lovely four-year-old Labrador, ready to find his forever home. He is very affectionate and lots of fun to be around. He loves his toys and has a lot of potential.

Temperament: Batman is very strong on the lead, so he is looking for owners who will be able to keep up with him! As well as being able to hold onto him, he’d really benefit from owners that can teach him how to walk on a loose lead using positive, reward-based training (the Dogs Trust can help you with this).

Ideal home: Batman has a history of guarding his blankets and bones, so he needs owners who are prepared to manage this and follow a training plan. He can be homed with people aged 16 years and older. He is dog social, but he’d prefer to be the only pet. An enclosed garden would be really beneficial to help Batman along with his training.

If you want to take Batman on adventures, contact The Dogs Trust. 

Lux

Age: 10 Weeks

Lux’s Story: This little sweetheart arrived in rescue this week after her owners were unable to look after her. She clearly wasn’t well and was rushed to Crab Lane Vets, where she is being treated.

Temperament: Lux is a little poorly at the moment and is underweight. She needs lots of love and attention to get back on track so she can feel like herself again.

Ideal home: Lux needs a quiet home where she can recover and get her strength back. Somewhere where routines can be followed so she gets the love and attention she deserves.

Got a heart big enough to look after little Lux? Get in touch with Harrogate Cat Rescue. 

Cheeky Pekey

Age: Cheeky is an elderly dog.

Cheeky’s Story: This is Cheeky Pekey, one of four tiny little ones rescued from Romania and now looking for long-term foster care.

Temperament: Cheeky lives up to her name, she is the most courageous, wilful character, very clever,  full of life and twice as naughty! Although Cheeky is an older dog, you really wouldn’t think so.

Ideal home: Cheeky Pekey could live with another resident small dog, as she loves to cuddle another dog, but since she is tiny, it would need to be a small, friendly companion. She could also live as an only dog with someone at home most of the day. Cheeky enjoys a carry–walk and loves to pad around the garden.

Who wouldn’t want this ball of personality to keep them company? Call Miss Millies Rescue to find out more about Cheeky Pekey.

This post is sponsored by C and M Ices

The ice-cream phenomenon, C and M Ices has scooped up a prime spot in front of the Victoria shopping centre. So instead of listening out for the familiar ice-cream van jingle, we will know exactly where to get our 99s and Mr Whippy’s come this summer.

Sid Taylor has ice cream in his blood and is the fourth generation of his family to win awards from the Ice-Cream Alliance.

Sid says:

“I was brought up on ice cream, I’ve been doing it since I was 14. I’m the 4th generation of C and M Ices from my uncle parking me up on a pitch in a Bedford van and leaving me there all day, to getting my own van and now being the flag bearer of the business. I cannot see myself ever doing any other line of work and wouldn’t want to. It puts smiles on people’s faces.”

The C and M van can be found every day except Sundays, weather permitting, outside the Victoria Shopping Centre from now until the end of summer. They serve ice creams, warm desserts, slush and cold drinks alongside their seasonal specials like Easter egg sundaes or fresh strawberries and ice cream, just in time for the nice weather.

Award-winning Ice Cream

C and M Ice is multi-award-winning, having been given over 50 awards for their quality. In 2019 and 2020 they placed 3rd in the UK & Ireland Mobiler of the Year category. They also receive awards for their soft-serve ice cream; with a Gold medal in 2021, and a Silver medal this year.

The company was established in 1889, and that pedigree shows in the quality of the ice cream they serve, as well as Sid’s own passion for his craft. Innovation is also a touchstone of the company, and customer favourites like ice cream served in half an easter egg, brownies, waffles, and fudge cake, means there is the perfect treat for you and your family, no matter your preferences.

Follow C and M Ices on their socials and visit them outside the Victoria shopping centre.

This post is sponsored by Ison Harrison Solicitors

After many years of campaigning and discussion by solicitors such as Ison Harrison, ‘no-fault divorce’ is going to stop the law putting divorcing couples up against one another. From April 2022, no-fault divorce is being introduced into English law as a means of legally separating two spouses.

How does the no-fault divorce differ from the current divorce process?

Currently, the person applying for a divorce can only do so on the grounds that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. To do that they must be able to show evidence of at least one of the five key facts:

• Adultery – that the other spouse has committed adultery and they find it intolerable to live with them.
• Unreasonable behaviour – that the other spouse has behaved in such a way that the petitioner can no longer reasonably be expected to live with them.
• Desertion – that the other spouse has deserted the petitioner for a minimum of two years.
• Separation: two years – that the two parties have lived separately for a continuous period of two years and both parties agree to the divorce.
• Separation: five years – that the two parties have lived separately for a continuous period of five years and one or both parties agree to the divorce.

A no-fault divorce removes the need to rely on these five facts and hopes to provide an easier route to a more amicable separation. Therefore, a couple can apply for a divorce without apportioning blame.

Shaun Hulme, partner at Ison Harrison, said:

“At present couples often find themselves relying upon trivial issues simply as a means to meet and surmount the legal test. Thinking of reasons can be quite hurtful to both parties.”

How does a no-fault divorce process work?

• One or both parties can make an application to the Court for a ‘Divorce Order’
• Within that application must be a statement to confirm that the marriage has irretrievably broken down
• There is then a minimum period of 20 weeks from the date of this application to the next stage of the divorce process. This is known as the ‘period of reflection’, designed to give couples time and space to consider their actions and whether they still wish to proceed
• Prior to a ‘Conditional Order’ (formerly known as the Decree Nisi) being issued, one or both of the parties must re-confirm that they still wish to separate
• Currently, there is a minimum period of six weeks and one day between the Decree Nisi (Conditional Order) and the Decree Absolute (Final Order) being issued, and this will remain in place.

What are the benefits expected from the no-fault divorce?

While there is a perception that divorce can be messy, antagonistic and bitter, many couples separate on amicable terms and certainly wish to maintain a positive relationship on the basis that their marriage simply ran its course on natural grounds. In such cases, the mood is sad and reflective, and couples mainly wish to divide assets and make arrangements for children in the most cordial way. This can happen, but increasingly it has been felt within the legal sector that having to apportion blame can create bad feeling and finger-pointing, where there isn’t necessarily any blame on either party. In other words, evidence of one of the ‘five facts’ can be hard to find, and these conditions have become outdated as ‘cover-all’ terms.

Ison Harrison Solicitors strongly support the long-overdue introduction of the no-fault divorce, and with vast experience of dealing with separating couples, we are confident the move will reduce the scope for disagreement.

To find out more about our expert family law services, visit www.isonharrison.co.uk/no-fault-divorce/ or call our Harrogate branch on 01423 228 111.

This article is sponsored by Babycare. 

When you’re expecting your first child, the choice of prams, cots, car seats, bibs and baths can be overwhelming.

For more than three decades, Babycare has cut through the confusion to advise parents on what they really need for the new arrival. As Yorkshire’s Premier Silver Cross retailer, quality and a personal touch is at the heart of this family business.

Just a 40-minute drive from the centre of Harrogate, the Bradford-based destination store has two floors of products especially for you and your baby, and features a designated furniture showroom.

Here are some of Babycare’s top tips for finding the perfect baby products for your family: 

Pram 

A pram is often the biggest purchase for new parents. If you’re not sure where to start when looking for a pram, think about your lifestyle. Chances are, much of what you do pre-baby will (in parts) remain the same.

Where do you live, where you like to walk, do you have a dog? The biggest variable factor amongst prams is the terrain it can tackle. If you’re more urban, need to use public transport or live in an apartment, you’re probably not going to need something designed to go up hill and down dale. If you’re more rural and aren’t always on well-maintained pavements, something with smaller wheels is not going to survive.

Babycare bestseller:

Car Seat

With car seats, there are two main choices:

• those which can be lifted out of the car with baby in, often to sit on a pram frame (known as a travel system)
• those which remain fixed in the car.

Often in those early weeks and months, being able to carry your little one around without disturbing them can be invaluable – but portable options are generally suitable for the first 12-15 months. Something which remains in the car permanently can prove to be more cost effective in the long run, as they usually last until your child is around 4 – but might be less convenient at first.

Babycare bestseller:

Baby carrier

In recent years, the popularity of ‘baby wearing’ has soared. Carriers help to keep your little one close whilst giving you more freedom of movement in scenarios when your pushchair may struggle (like on public transport or dog walks), or simply so you can have your hands free to get things done around the house if your baby is unsettled or wants to be held.

Whether you prefer the idea of a more structured carrier or a more organic wrap fit, Babycare has a variety of carriers instore and online for all budgets and lifestyles.

Babycare bestseller:

Bedside Crib 

With a wide selection of “overnight sleep solutions”, it can be hard to know what will be best for your baby.

Traditional Moses baskets look pretty but are often short-lived as they are so small. Bedside cribs offer a roomier sleep space, and can help to make night feeds easier as your baby is closer and often high enough to be alongside the bed.

Babycare bestseller:

For personal advice on everything your baby could need, visit Babycare at 1 Junction Terrace, Bolton Road, Bradford, BD2 4LB or babycareonline.co.uk

This article is sponsored by The Knox Harrogate

With Spring now upon us, the recently refurbished Knox pub on the outskirts of Bilton is an enticing choice for outdoor dining.

Simon and Katie Swannie took on the pub in 2016 and have worked tirelessly ever since to make sure it becomes the hub of the local community.

The couple’s continuous improvement led to a major refurbishment, both inside and out.

If you need to shake off the winter blues and soak up some sunshine, or just want some space to let the kids run off the Sunday dinner, The Knox has the space, and the atmosphere, for your perfect outdoor dining experience.

Great dining space inside and out

The welcoming beers garden are dog friendly and south facing, making the perfect sun trap.

Out the back the large dining area is perfect for taking advantage of the weather and large family meals. The goats and chickens in the pen just behind the pub will no doubt be a hit with the kids while the parents enjoy a drink.

The inside of the pub is spacious. There’s plenty of room in the main dining area, or if you’d prefer there is also The Barn which is quirky, cosy, and available to hire.

Revamped menu

The new menu is sure to be another hit for The Knox and compliments its steak nights and pub food classics with locally made and sourced food specially selected for outside dining.

Convenient if you’re after a quick snack while you drink. If you need a quick rest while exploring the beautiful Nidd Gorge or Oak Beck, the pub is a short walk away.

So whether you are looking for space for a family meal in the sunshine, or a picturesque corner to settle down in for the afternoon the Knox pub in Bilton is the perfect spot.

Visit The Knox on Knox Lane, Harrogate, HG1 3AP, or find more details at theknoxharrogate.co.uk.

Thousands of you have downloaded our app and use it every day. 

For those of you who haven’t, here are the top five reasons people love it and how you can download it today. 

1. It’s easy to use

Clean and with simple interface, our app is accessible and intuitive. If you have trouble navigating a smaller mobile screen, then the app is perfect for you to access the news you want more easily. 

2. It’s more than just news

With vouchers, competitions, local history and great lifestyle features, it helps you to keep up to date with everything local. Our exclusive vouchers are especially great, so download now so you don’t miss out! 

3. Push notifications

We don’t use notifications for just anything, however when there is breaking news or a traffic and travel alert in the area, you will be alerted by the push notifications.

4. One-tap news

No need to browser search for us to find our website. Just tap the app and you have local news at your fingertips.

5. It’s free

We know local news needs to be seen by everyone, so our app, just like our website, is completely free. You won’t get pushed into any “in app purchases either” or find any gated content, it’s all the good stuff. 

If all that sounds as great as we think it is, you can download the app for IOS and Android here, or search “Stray Ferret” on your device’s app store.