Our Favorite Gear of the YearDalbello Krypton ProFlylow Quantum JacketVolkl KikuSmith I/OSSalomon STS 12Lange RS 130 WidePOC Skull XMiller High LifeK2 SidestashArc'teryx Sentinel PantOrtovox Freerider 24Black Diamond SpotRossignol S110wMountain Hardwear DryQ Elite JacketBlack Diamond Bandit PackOutdoor Research Axcess PantsMoe's Original BarbecueHot Chillys Micro Elite BottomsTwenty Two Designs Axl BindingBlack Diamond Contour Elliptic Carbon PolesApres by CK Bradley Hot Dog Bibs

We get to try out a lot of gear around here, but the stuff we truly love can be rare and hard to come by. These are the goods, from boots to barbecue sauce, that we abused the heck out of this winter. We like this stuff a lot, and there's a good chance you might too.

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10 best pubs in London

It's impossible to imagine a London without pubs. Matt Brown, editor of Londonist, selects 10 of the capital's finest drinking establishments, from the historic to the eccentric? As featured in our London city guideThe MayflowerThe Thames Path has no shortage of decent stop-offs, and this Rotherhithe mainstay packs in the history like no other. A pub has stood on the site since time immemorial, and certainly, when the Pilgrim Fathers set sail in their own Mayflower from a nearby mooring in 1620. The current building is 18th century, and looks every inch the traditional English pub with oak beams and wooden panelling. A fine (if pricey) dining room can be found upstairs, with impressive views of the Thames. Oh, and those standing on the outside decking at high tide: you may get wet.? 117 Rotherhithe Street SE16, +44 (0)20-7237 4088Zeitgeist LondonA German gastropub, with German beers, German football and German staff. Quite a gamble in the back streets of Lambeth, yet Zeitgeist does a fine job of attracting locals and non-locals of every nationality. The selection is unrivalled, with 16 German beers on draught and 32 bottled. The kitchen serves well-portioned Teutonic favourites such as schnitzel, currywurst and schweinebraten. Things can still get "interesting" during Anglo-German sporting fixtures, but this convivial venue is a true wunder-bar.? 49-51 Black Prince Road SE11, +44 (0)20-7840 0426, zeitgeist-london.comSir Richard SteeleNamed after the co-founder of The Spectator, who lived on the site, this pub is more eccentric than Toad of Toad Hall's mad uncle. Random signs, stuffed animals and sundry knick-knacks cover every scrap of surface space, including the ceiling. The Steele perches on the well-to-do lower slopes of Hampstead, yet draws a surprisingly diverse crowd. This is very much an ale-drinker's pub, with four beers on tap, but fans of inexpensive Thai cuisine will also be cheered. Regular comedy, music and quiz nights fill the spacious upper bar. The pub is in the process of changing hands, and some locals fear the unique character may change. Visit now to be sure of catching this local treasure. ? 97 Haverstock Hill NW3, +44 (0)20-7483 1261Greenwich UnionWander away from the many tourist pubs in Greenwich and you might just chance upon the Union. Well stocked with beers from the nearby Meantime Brewery, this relaxed, narrow bar is popular with a young ale-drinking crowd. Chocolate and raspberry beers add a sense of fun, as does the playful British menu, with home-made pork pie and fish-fingers for dipping. Free Wi-Fi (a rarity in these parts) makes it a haven for home-workers and freelancers. On warm summer days, there are few finer places to bask than the pub's charming beer garden.? 56 Royal Hill SE10, +44 (0)20-8692 6258, greenwichunion.comThe Earl FerrersStreatham (or St Reatham, as aspirational locals increasingly have it) is a surprising "off-guidebook" place to find a decent drink, and The Earl Ferrers is among London's finest "local" pubs. Real ale is well represented, though wine lovers will have much to savour. In fact, the diminutive Ferrers gets everything right, from friendly service to well-chosen music. It even manages to squeeze a pool table into a side alcove. A varied programme of events, including a fiendish quiz and regular book club, raise this treasure of a pub to near perfection.? 22 Ellora Road SW16, +44 (0)20-8835 8333, earlferrers.co.uk06 St Chad's PlaceKing's Cross is in the middle of a cultural revolution. The former red-light district has changed beyond recognition as smart bars and restaurants move in. 06 St Chad's Place is a prime example, tucked away down a dingy cobbled alley that, 10 years ago, you wouldn't have touched with someone else's bargepole. The bar space is magnificent: a Victorian warehouse reworked in a distinctly Scandinavian style, with huge train-themed murals nodding to the site's rail heritage. Three centuries ago, Londoners flocked to the site to sup from the health-giving St Chad's Well. Today, it's populated by suits and office workers.? 6 St Chad's Place WC1, +44 (0)20-7278 3355, 6stchadsplace.comThe Palm TreeDespite the exotic name, this Mile End stalwart can only be described as a "proper East End boozer". It has stood in proud isolation ever since its neighbours were demolished by enemy action in the blitz. Time also stands still within. The furnishings are of another age ? golden brown wallpaper, red velvet curtains and that increasingly rare pub feature, a carpet. The clientele are an odd mix of young students and garrulous old locals. If you want a taste of the East End from the 50s (and, really, it could be the 1850s or 1950s), you won't find better.? Haverfield Road E3, +44 (0)20-8980 2918Princess LouiseAnyone seeking a taste of Victorian London should summon the nearest hansom cab to Holborn, which has an abundance of 19th-century drinking dens. The Louise is the jewel in the crown ? a temple of etched glass, bar lamps and wooden panels. A recent refit has somehow made the place feel even more authentic, with drinkers partitioned off into their own private spaces. The beer is cheap, too, this being a Sam Smith's pub. There's no typical Louise drinker; the central location draws in adventurous tourists from the British Museum, office workers and legal eagles from the nearby lawyers' district. Gentlemen should be sure to check out the period urinals, which have listed status.? 208-209 High Holborn WC1, +44 20-7405 8816 The HeightsThis place looks like a thousand other hotel bars up and down the country ? until you take into account its location: reached via a half-hidden lift in the lobby of St George's hotel. Perched 15 floors above Oxford Circus, the bar offers some of the best views of central London through its "wall of windows". It's also next door to the BBC's Broadcasting House, so you're almost guaranteed to see a minor celebrity or two. With a lick of paint and a fresher look, this could be a bustling venue, beloved of tourist guides. Let's hope it never happens.? St George's Hotel W1, +44 (0)20-7580 0111, saintgeorgeshotel.comThe Faltering FullbackHidden away in the back streets of Stroud Green in Finsbury Park, the ivy-covered Faltering Fullback is four pubs in one. The front bar is a welcoming if bustling horseshoe-shaped affair, well stocked with draught and bottled beers. A curious assortment of objects ? guitars, scarves, aeroplanes ? hangs from the ceiling. The back bar continues the theme, in a more relaxed way. You'd be forgiven for thinking the pub stopped there, but that's not the half of it. Double doors lead through into a surprise third space, where the mood is more raucous and focused around a pool table. A further set of doors leads out into London's most unusual beer garden. A bewildering series of stairs, gangways and terraces is reminiscent of the Ewok village from Return of the Jedi.? 19 Perth Road N4, +44 (0)20-7272 5834, falteringfullback.comLondonBars and clubsFood and drinkFood & drinkCity breaksTop 10sMatt Brownguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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Notes on lightning glass

"You approach from the south and drive across flat desert toward what seems to be an impenetrable cliff face. Keep going."

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Considerate Hotel Award goes to...

A small rural hotel has beaten off competition from a number of established names to take top prize at the UK?s 2011 Considerate Hotel Awards, reports Elizabeth Mistry � Battlesteads Hotel and Restaurant, in Wark-on-Tyne near Hexham in Northumberland only opened five years ago but was named ?Best All Rounder? and commended by judges for the ?element of fun that they have injected into their endeavours and their obvious enthusiasm for what they do and have achieved?. � Owned and run by Richard and Dee Slade, the 18th century inn ? and its owners ? have undergone an amazing overhaul since they acquired it in 2005. � ?We bought it because we could see it had vast potential,? said Richard, who previously managed the Magnesia Bank, a locally renowned gastropub on Tyneside. � He admits that Battlesteads? growing reputation as an example of how to run a hotel in a sustainable manner initially came about through necessity rather than his own enthusiasm for the environment.� � ?We weren?t hippies but we have undergone a conversion - though we try not to force it (the sustainability side of things) down peoples? throat. � ?When we bought the place we didn?t realise that the electricity supply wasn?t up to it.�We are at the end of a line and we were told by the electricity company that we couldn?t have any more power. � ?We had horrible blackouts in the middle of breakfast because so many people were using the electric showers at once ? sometimes I had to cook by candlelight.? � So the Slades started investigating alternative energy sources ? and soon discovered that there was a lot more they could do in terms of making their business environmentally friendly. � The 17-bed hotel ? one of the first in the country to install a carbon neutral biomass boiler -� now employs a ?green champion?.� Staff grow fruit and vegetables for the kitchen, run by chef Eddie Shilton in two polytunnels and the hotel's garden which Richard Slade says is inspired by the grounds at Raymond Blanc?s world famous hotel Le Manoir Aux Quat? Saisons (which was also on the shortlist for the top prize along with London's Metropolitan and the Green House in Bournemouth).� The rest of the food comes from within a strict 25?mile radius. � And clearly visitors are voting with their feet with an estimated 10-15% of first time guests saying they chose the hotel because of its eco credentials.� ?Once people have seen the place they are blown away by what we?ve done.? � ?We also have lots of other hotels ? including a big name property asking us how we do things ? and we are always happy to work with people. � The hotel plans to build more bedrooms and a chemical-free pool with a green roof are underway. � Other winners at this year?s awards included pioneering hotel Strattons in Norfolk which won the ?Considerate Sustainable Food Award? and Lasswade Country House and Restaurant at Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales ? whose co-owner Roger Stevens is a former chef at London?s Waldorf Hotel - which scooped the ?Considerate Small Accommodation Provider of the Year?.���� Would you choose a hotel because of its green or sustainable ethos?� Leave a comment on this story or let us know at Elizabeth@thetravelmagazine.net
27 May 2011




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100 great British woods and forests

The Guardian and Observer's guides to the best in Britain

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Paragliding over Dorset

'Everything just drops away underneath you,' says Andrew Pearse as he takes to the skies over a remote corner of Dorset

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The Authentic Ski Tour: Chico Hot Springs, Day 2

..... Pray, Montana (Ski Press)-Through the windshield I can watch the Absaroka Range coming into view like great blue gods with diamonds and avalanches in their hair. Livingston, Montana is coming up on the right, and Bob Dylan is on the radio. ?Did you ever see the movie Rancho Deluxe, with Sam Waterston and Jeff Bridges?? I ask Jeff. He shakes his head. ?No.? It?s day two of my self-proclaimed ?Authentic Ski Tour,? of Montana?s Yellowstone Country, busting a Big Sky hole through the cookie-cutter clutter of ski experiences so sugared up, starched out, and stiltingly stratified that it?s a wonder anyone can tell their vacations apart anymore. Jeff Carroll got me started with the grassroots elegance of Red Lodge, and now we are heading to Chico Hot Springs, then Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky, Moonlight Basin and Bridger Bowl. ?It was filmed in Livingston,? I said. ?Bridges and Waterston are modern rustlers. And Slim Pickens is sent to catch them. And Jimmy Buffet and his band have a scene in the bar.? Buffet wrote a song called ?Livingston Saturday Night?: ?Pickup's washed and you just got paid. With any luck at all you might even get laid, 'Cause they're pickin' and a-kickin' on a Livingston Saturday Night.? But we?re heading south to Paradise Valley now, closer to those mountains catching clouds, through the endless prairies between the peaks and the great log cabins in open spaces without even a tree to stop the wind and the sun from coming through. ?It?s beautiful.? ?I know.? We?re heading to Chico Hot Springs, a kind of Rocky Mountain Eden where the mountains and plains and bubbling hot waters come together, and the wedding parties, couples and cowboys come for miles. Like a great camphouse-meets-country hotel, it is tucked against the peaks, golden in the light, with the wonderful restaurant inside, those mythic waters, and the Chico Saloon, its legendary bar. At the rooms across from the stables, where the horses are being fed at dusk, a stout man is busy unloading several six-packs of different micro-brews. ?Looks like you?re getting ready for a good time,? I said, wondering if he was booked for a week, or about to host his own beer festival right then and there. He looked me in the eye between moving six packs and said, ?It?s always a good time in Chico.? And walking over to the Chico Dining Room I felt a little warmth of anticipation at the light melting out the windows, and the sense of coming in from the cold. I felt the warmth of the wine, The Prisoner, and the conversation as Chico?s General Manager Colin Kurth Davis took us into the night, through Chico?s history and the restaurant?s menu. ?You have to stay for two nights,? he said. ?One night to eat here in the restaurant, and one night by the pool in the Grill.? Interested and generous, Davis gives off the air of a friendly neighbor hosting an endless pool party and barbecue. And what a pool, and what a menu. For the Dining Room there is even a book, ?A Montana Table,? written by Colin?s wife, Seabring Davis, an accomplished journalist and foodie, detailing the deceptively simple preparation of the restaurant?s ubiquitously delicious fennel breadsticks, rock-cooked Yellowstone Chicken, and Huckleberry Swirl Cheesecake. We sit there for hours. It is a perfect pace. In my mind, I could go there right now. It is Colin who finally breaks the trance. ?Shall we go next door?? I?ve never seen two-stepping that good before. The pedal-steel guitar and stand-up bass of Dirty Shame, and all those pretty country girls heating up the dance floor. The young cowboys come in with their towels tucked under their arms to hit the pool. Drinks are served in cups through the window, into the steaming outdoors. A sun-kissed blonde named Shona shoots me with a potato gun. Rounds of tequila are ordered, and the night suddenly accelerates as the band plays faster numbers. The dance floor fills, and if you look hard enough, you can see the stars start to swirl. Links Chico Hot Springs: www.chicohotsprings.com A Montana Table: www.amazon.com/Montana-Table-Recipes-Springs-Resort/dp/0762725702/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top Jimmy Buffet, Livingston Saturday Night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gzzS0nyMfM

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