When the weekends collide with the most desirable weather, it calls for a day doing the most favourite of things. For me, that first and foremost means a day out worshipping the sun of some sort.It’s not as if we don’t get nice weather here, however, as sporadic as it can be, when the sun does come out, you need to carpe diem, seize the day, and make the most of it.

So, you get a gorgeous sunny day, how does the perfect day look for you?For us, dependant on where we are and who we’re with, it’ll be anything from going walking, exploring new towns, visiting a zoo or farm and sitting out in a beer garden with a drink in hand and plate full of food.

Now, if there’s something that can tie all these elements together, happy days. That is our ideal. And even better, with summer on the way, wouldn’t this sound like the dream staycation?Imagine four, five days away, exploring the countryside, trekking from one gorgeous village to another, and along the way dining out at exquisite restaurants and taking shelter in esteemed hotels. And the plus side being, your luggage is chauffeured for you from point a to point b.

In collaboration with Inntravel, I had a glimpse into their UK walking holidays, by spending a marvellous sunny Saturday experiencing Malton on a Gastronomical Trail.

The Walk

Arriving by train with Jennie, we were greeted by the very lovely Amy and Caroline, who joined us from Inntravel, alongside fellow bloggers Clare, Amanda and Donna for an exciting day out.

By taxi, we were taken to a quaint village green in Coneysthorpe, just short of 15 minutes from the train station, to a pristine, idyllic estate bordering Castle Howard. Just picture gorgeous brick houses, say no more than 20, plenty of ivy and an abundance of trees, with that letter box you’ll only see in villages and the peaceful sounds of birds.

Into our hands fell a set of instructions and a map. Adventure mode activated. Our task for the day was to navigate an 8KM route that led us to Welburn. The prize? A spot of lunch and a food tour of Malton’s local suppliers.Our walk was a relaxing ramble in North Yorkshire, a two hour walk that led us through the heart of the Howardian Hills, a 204 sq km area of outstanding natural beauty.What you’ll find here along the route is a countryside escape of pasture fields, country houses, woodlands, and parkland landscapes with the highlight of walking alongside the Castle Howard estate.As part of the handbook, we were given clues and insights to the majestic buildings belonging to the Castle Howard grounds, whilst appreciating the beauty of the Mausoleum and the Temple of the Four Winds.During our passing of Bog Hall Farm, we were also surprised by a rather fancy guest appearance of the resident peacock, who was rather happy to put on a show and pose for a few little snaps. A little further on, ponies and piggies became the centre of our attention, before continuing the last half of the walk.     After hitting the 5km mark, our destination is in sight. The Welburn church tower was nearing and the belly was starting to rumble.  

The food

Our lunch spot was perfectly located and timed back at the Talbot Hotel. The sun was in full swing and food was served outside, on the terrace.Whilst tucking into a delightful selection of sandwiches and brownies, we listened to David, who is the general manager at the hotel, and his passion to drive the food offering in Malton. Malton is fighting its corner for becoming the food capital of Yorkshire. The town has been, and still is, undergoing a change in terms of its offering and how it’s going about making its mark on the map.At the heart of this, is the simple luxury of local sourced and supplied produce. A celebration of quality and flavours with artisan completing the perfect product.

The Malton Talbot Yard is a flourishing food court of all the delicacies in life. Meat, bread, coffee, ice cream, macarons and gin. Independent and successful, and most importantly, supportive of one another’s trade.

What you’ll find here is collaboration. From Rare Bird Gin creating the perfect syrup for the macarons crafted by award winning chocolatier Florian Poirot or butchers, Food 2 Remember , using local wild garlic in their gluten free sausages.Promised to return back to the yard later for some ice cream, we ventured out to Malton centre where we visited the Cookery School, who host a series of courses and dining experiences, and a royally welcoming pit stop at McMillans of Malton. An emporium of spirits and liqueurs on Market Street, we were welcomed with a whisky in hand, and a tale or two about the history of alcohol. Jim McMillan, Scotsman and owner, kept us well entertained and amused as we tried a trio of tipples. High in spirit, knowledge, character and plenty of good taste- a must visit.As final calling point, and a well-deserved treat, a double scooper was on the cards from Groovy Moo. One cone with a white chocolate and coconut gelato and another hefty portion of Jammie dodger. Now that’s how you start and finish a day. Malton, you’ve been a treat, and I can’t wait to visit next. For me, it’s in the diary already, 26th – 27th May, the Malton Food Lovers festival, where food, music and drinks will come together for a weekend celebration.

Have you ever been to Malton before or tried a UK walking holiday? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Charlotte xox

*A very heartfelt thank you for the Inntravel team for organising such a fantastic press trip. The review is made up of thoughts and opinions that are all my very own.