David

The hilltop castle is worth visiting for spectacular views of the area.

Just had a great week away here. Very touristy, but a great base for visiting other places in the area. Plus good beaches and great weather.

Stayed at this grand if faded coaching inn right on Sunday night. Good location: right in the heart of Bury St Edmunds, opposite the Abbey Gate. We turned up on the offchance that they might have rooms, and we somehow managed to get upgraded to suites, at bargain discount rates. Had a good hearty breakfast, with tasty local sausages, though they take away the fruit salad slightly too early (or perhaps we got up slightly too late… hmm…)

Saw a good performance of Coriolanus here a few weeks ago. Remember the cushions if you go…

Went for Sunday lunch a few weeks back. This pub has an absolutely tiny bar where the staff constantly trip over each other. However, it does a delicious pork roast with think tender meat and really crunchy crackling – fantastic. Lots of walks nearby to walk off your food, including the Chilterns Sculpture Trail.

Small, quiet little dining pub in Wootton, which does absolutely fantastic food: I had a delcious warm duck breast followed by pork medallions and then cheese, and the pigeon breast and lamb shanks also looked great. Best of all, it has chintzy sofas you can sink into before and after your meal.

Beautiful grade 1* listed tudor dining pub in North Essex. Food was good – I had a tender, locally-sourced pork roast served with a giant yorkshire pudding, stuffing, and delicious salty, crispy crackling. And if I’d not been stuffing my face all weekend, I’d have been tempted to try the local pigeon salad starter. Service was slightly odd, with the head waiter wearing a Secret Service-style earpiece to feed him instructions directly from the kitchen, and it was quite a formal environment. But recommended if you’re in the area.

Tudor inn on the market square of the picturesque little Suffolk town of Lavenham. Food ok though the tasty chunk of roast lamb I’d ordered was having a bit of a swim in too much gravy.

My favourite cafe in Edinburgh. Does a great quiche and has spectacular views up towards the castle. (JK Rowling wrote bits of the Harry Potter books here, too.)

Great gastropub in Frithsden, near Berkhamsted. I had a fantastic (and huge) pork belly and a delicious apple and blackcurrant crumble. And there’s some great countryside nearby to walk off your lunch…