Four of the best British foodie gatherings
Scottish Wild Food Festival
If you've wondered if anything in there would make a tasty soup, then the Scottish Wild Food Festival (adult £16, child 5-13 £2, family £30) should be in your calendar. The festival focuses on the local, in-season and kind to the planet. Hosted at Tir Na Nóg, six miles east of the West Highland Way, the weekend makes a great start (or end) to a hike.
Ludlow Castle Food Festival
The lovely setting of Ludlow Castle is a great place for a food festival (adult £10, child 5-13 £4, family £26). It is a real treat in many ways. There are over 100 stalls (摊位) selling samples of country fare such as Hereford beef pie to all comers. A cheese-rolling game down the castle mound (堤) was great fun. Plus there are bands and poetry readings with food themes, too.
Sheffield Food Festival
Sheffield Food Festival (free) is held each June in the city centre. Local vendors (摊主) have everything on offer from Caribbean fusion dishes to specialty focaccia. Heeley City Farm, a charitable city centre farm, is my favourite producer with its organic produce and focus on sustainability. There is, of course, plenty of craft beer, too.
Bolton Food & Drink Festival
Love food? Enjoy cuisines from every corner of the world? Well, Bolton Food & Drink Festival (free) is a food lover's dream. It takes place in December. As soon as you enter the Market Square your sense of smell and taste will be in overdrive with Greek, Chinese and Indian cuisines, etc. You could learn a few cooking skills from celebrity chefs (名厨) as well.