Best of British: top UK baking locations
Foodies all over the nation are delighted at the return of the Great British Bake Off, now gracing our screens every Wednesday evening on BBC1.
In celebration –and to recognise our great British baking heritage – holiday home rental website HouseTrip has gathered together the best 'bake-cation' spots across the country for you to visit this summer.
From the famous location of the Hovis Gold Hill advert to the place where Eton mess got its name from, be sure to pay a visit to some of our favourite destinations and sample some of the most mouthwatering desserts and breads.
VIEW GALLERY
Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Dorset is the iconic location of the famous Hovis advert directed by Ridley Scott
Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, Dorset - home of the famous Hovis Bread advert
Shaftesbury stands as the highest town in its county, one of the oldest in Britain, and offers some of the most romantic views of the Dorset-Wiltshire countryside. One of the neighbouring towns, Gillingham, features in numerous literary works including that of Thomas Hardy, and the nearby market town of Sherborne also boasts a 16th-century mansion, Sherborne Castle, built by Sir Walter Raleigh.
The Rutland Arms, Bakewell is said to be where the original Bakewell Tart recipe was created
Bakewell, Derbyshire Dales - home of the Bakewell Tart
The renowned Bakewell Tart is said to have arisen after a chef mixed the wrong recipe at the Rutland Arms in the small market town of Bakewell in the Derbyshire Dales, northern England. The tart is made up of shortcrust pastry filled with a sponge cake concoction, a layer of jam and an egg and almond mix which is then topped off with white fondant icing and a red glacier cherry. Several shops in the town claim to sell the original recipe: The Bakewell Tart Shop & Coffee House, The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop as well as Bloomers of Bakewell.
On top of the flurry of domestic tourists, the area also attracts an international crowd to the nearby stately homes of Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall. Bakewell also features in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as the town Elizabeth Bennet leaves to head to Pemberley.
The Old Trafford stadium is home to Manchester United's football team
Eccles, Greater Manchester - home of the Eccles Cake
Named after the English town of Eccles, an Eccles cake is a small, round pastry treat filled with currants, nutmeg and, sometimes, topped with Demerara sugar. Eccles is located in the City of Salford, Greater Manchester, only 3.7 miles west of Manchester city centre. For sporting enthusiasts who aren't as Bake Off-obsessed, the famous Old Trafford stadium, home to the Manchester United football team, as well as Manchester City's football grounds, can both be found nearby.
VIEW GALLERY
Eton is home to the renowned Eton College as well as a favourite English dessert, Eton mess
Eton, Berkshire - home of the Eton Mess
The towns of Eton and Windsor offer an eclectic array of traditions, heritage and history along with fun tourist attractions such as Windsor Castle, the Berkshire residence of the Queen, and the Legoland Windsor Resort. The infamous Eton College, founded by King Henry VI in 1440, was also where Princes William, Harry and Prime Minister David Cameron were educated.
A similar dessert to Eton mess is the Lancing mess, served throughout the year at Lancing College, West Sussex.
Kendal Mint Cake is popular among climbers and mountaineers in Cumbria
Kendal, Cumbria - home of the Kendal Mint Cake
Kendal Mint Cake is a glucose-based, peppermint flavoured sweet treat. It originates from Kendal, Cumbria, also known as the Auld Grey Town due to its many grey limestone buildings. Kendal Mint Cake is popular among climbers and mountaineers, especially those from the UK, as a source of energy. The town of Kendal, as well as being famous for its mint cake and local grey limestone, is also renowned for its production of tobacco.
Situated south of the Lake District, and just a few miles from the coast, this market town caters to all visitors' needs. It offers a wealth of history with castles, museums, historical buildings and bridges to explore. It is even rumoured that King Henry VIII's sixth wife, Catherine Parr, was born at Kendal Castle.
VIEW GALLERY
The Jurassic Coast stretches 95 miles from East Devon to Dorset
Devon & Dorset - famous for their mouth-watering scones
The counties of Devon and Dorset are known for their rustic coves, never-ending stretches of sandy beach and rolling countryside full of a variety of wildlife. The Dorset and East Devon Coast, also known as The Jurassic Coast, was the first 'natural' World Heritage Site, spanning 95 miles and full of world-renowned fossils of all types.
