CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Sherwood Forest; statue of Robin Hood at Nottingham Castle; Urquhart Castle and


Loch Ness, Scotland FACING PAGE: Pony on Dartmoor, Devon PICTURES: Shutterstock/chrisdorney, Delpixel


Sites connected to the mythical king include Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, King Arthur’s reputed birthplace, and the Round Table in Winchester, a medieval replica of Arthur’s purported seat of government. But his real rise to fame is credited to Wales in writings by medieval monk Geoffrey of Monmouth, more recently revived for a younger generation by BBC TV series Merlin. Today, Wales is dotted


with more than 300 Arthurian landmarks, with a trail available on the travel trade website for Visit Wales [search for King Arthur at traveltrade.visitwales.com]. If clients want to take it a step further and stay in their own regal Welsh retreat, consider cosy Ruthin Castle, close to the lakes of Eryri (Snowdonia), said to shelter


Excalibur in their watery depths. Book it: Great Little Breaks’ one-night Ruthin Castle Break in Wales costs from £75 per person, based on two sharing. Price includes accommodation,


40 5 MARCH 2026


The modern


fascination with the legend of the Loch Ness Monster is largely due to an alleged sighting in 1933


breakfast and £30 each towards dinner on the first night. greatlittlebreaks.com


Robin Hood: We all love a hero, and none has endured like the tale of Robin Hood. Ever since the bow-wielding outlaw was mentioned in 14th-century ballads, the classic Nottinghamshire yarn of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor has captured the imaginations of young and old alike. Hood’s legacy still draws visitors


to Nottingham and its surroundings. Nottingham Castle has welcomed


many real-life monarchs across its history, but it was also the home of the Sheriff of Nottingham, King Richard and Prince John from Robin Hood lore. The chocolate-box village of Edwinstowe, an hour’s drive north of the city, is where Robin Hood supposedly married Maid Marian. Plus, the sprawling wilds of Sherwood Forest were not only Robin Hood’s stomping ground, where he clashed with the tyrannical sheriff, but are now also dotted with woodland lodges ready for families to live their own Robin Hood adventure. Kids won’t be able to resist clambering up trees similar to the 1,000-year-old Major Oak –


Robin Hood’s infamous hiding spot. Book it: A four-night stay at Hoseasons’ Sherwood Forest Lodges, in a lodge that sleeps up to four people, starts from £1,510 in total based on a May 25 arrival. Some activities are included, while ranger-led walks and adventure experiences are available at extra cost. hoseasons.co.uk


COLOURFUL CREATURES Loch Ness Monster: The legend of


the Loch Ness Monster originated 1,500 years ago, but the modern fascination is largely owed to an alleged sighting in 1933 by hotel manager Aldie Mackay. Visitors have flocked to Loch Ness’s inky black shores ever since, keen for their own glimpse of ‘Nessie’. Evidence of its existence remains inconclusive, but boat cruises fitted with underwater sonar equipment offer visitors the chance to try their luck. Clients can unpick the monster’s mythology at the Loch Ness Centre – based in the same building as Aldie Mackay’s former hotel. Or they can head up to Urquhart Castle for an ideal vantage point, not just of the loch but also to admire the wider beauty of the Scottish Highlands. That gives clients a taste of what lies beyond, with itineraries combining Loch Ness tours with other ways to explore Scotland’s scenery, such as scenic rail journeys and visits to the Isle of Skye.


travelweekly.co.uk


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