The Hobbit & Sherlock actor: Martin Freeman

Interview: Martin Freeman

The Hobbit and Sherlock actor talks fame, the future and filthy fan art

published on 4 Feb 2014

‘I’ve been doing interviews for years,’ says Martin Freeman, ‘and in all that time I’ve virtually never read one and gone, “Yep, factually and tonally that’s exactly what happened.” Pretty much never.’

Well, this is awkward. Or at least it would be if the interview hadn’t gone bounding off script. Ostensibly, the 42-year-old is here to promote his starring role in the second Hobbit film,The Desolation of Smaug. And, of course, there’s Sherlock, back for a third series, which hadn’t screened at the time of the interview. But The Hobbit, for all of director Peter Jackson’s intervention, remains a 77-year-old story; and every conceivable explanation behind Sherlock’s death-defying leap at the end of the second series has already been speculated, counter-speculated, and counter-counter-speculated at least twice. So instead we quickly move on to other subjects. Naturally, psycho fans, gay porn and the trouble with interviews are among them.

Your Hobbit character, Bilbo, developed quite a bit during the first film. What can we expect in The Desolation of Smaug?

This is the film where Bilbo becomes totally invaluable to the group – he’s not a mascot or someone to be patronised. In fact, he saves their arses on numerous occasions, so he’s really, really needed. He finds more character, more backbone, than he knew he had.

The last time you spoke with Time Out was just before the release of the first Hobbit film, An Unexpected Journey. Our interviewer at the time suggested that your life was bound to change. Have you yourself had to develop more backbone?

I remember having those conversations before The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy came out [in 2005] and thinking: F**k, is everything going to change? And it didn’t, really. I’m a big believer that life changes as much as you want it to. If you invite in all the madness, it will. If you don’t, if you kind of let the world quietly know that, ‘No thanks, I still want to get on the train and live my own life,’ then somehow it doesn’t have to.

So celebrities are at fault for their own lack of privacy.

That’s a cruel attitude – if someone’s unhappy, you should leave them alone, even if they wanted attention five minutes ago. But I do think – in a very real, common-sense way – that if you want to be famous, you can be. It’s not a great talent; if you put yourself forward, it will happen to you.

Given the amount of speculation around the last episode the second series of Sherlock, in which Sherlock fakes his own death, are you at all worried the big reveal might be anti-climactic?

[Sherlock writer] Mark Gatiss actually said that himself. There’s something slightly mundane in knowing the truth of a thing. It’s like asking [illusionist] Derren Brown to explain one of the amazing things he does. When he tells you, you’re likely to go, ‘Oh, right, erm…’ I still think it’s going to be satisfying, though. Loads of people have f**king gone to town on how they think it happened and some have been quite close. We have some fun with that in the show.

Both The Hobbit and Sherlock breed cult-grade, Kool-Aid-slurping devotion. Are there any obvious differences between each group of fans?

In the UK, anyway, Sherlock is watched by millions and millions of people: your uncle, my cousin, that teacher, that f**king librarian, that plumber. Normal folks. But the ones who really make themselves known are almost all women between 16 and 21. It’s a very clear demographic. As for Hobbitfans, there are clearly s**tloads of them given how well the film did, but they’ve been a bit more reticent, actually. They’re very polite.

Another, less apparent difference is each group’s approach to X-rated fan art. In fact, there’s an entire online community of Sherlockfans dedicated to drawing pictures of Watson and Sherlock – you and co-star Benedict Cumberbatch – in various states of… entanglement. Does it bother you?

I’ve always seen it as a point of principle not to be offended if people imply you’re gay – so no, I’ve never given a s**t. If I was [offended], I’d kind of think: Well what does that make me? I wouldn’t want a 15-year-old kid thinking I’m ashamed of it. I’m not. If anything, it’s kind of funny to see pictures of me and Ben [Cumberbatch] doing whatever we’re doing to each other – even if they’re far from the truth. The only time I’m sort of bothered is when people get proprietary about it or think there should be a certain kind of reaction, like it needs to be in the National Gallery.

Do you have any favourite pieces?

Ian McKellen [Gandalf in The Hobbit] was emailing me pictures like, ‘Have you seen this, dear?’ and I’m thinking, yeah, I’ve seen stuff much more f**king extreme than that. Some of it’s very well drawn – put it that way – like genuinely good graphic-novel art. But some of it’s a bit, you know, not to my taste.

There’s also a sinister side to that level of fandom. Your longtime partner Amanda Abbington plays Watson’s love interest, Mary Morstan, in the third series of Sherlock– which of course doesn’t bode well for the perceived romance between Watson and Sherlock. Some fans were so distraught they tweeted her death threats.

It’s ridiculous. To me, they’re not fans of the show – they’re fans of a show going on in their heads. Obviously I love Amanda and I want everyone to react positively to her; she plays a fantastic character and brings a hell of a lot to the third series. If people want to imagine John and Sherlock f**king they’re more than welcome to, but it will have no bearing on what we do in the show.

You’ve just signed on to act in Fargo, an American TV series based on the Coen brothers’ Academy Award-winning film. What’s the story there?

It’s in the same universe as the film, there’s a similar tone, but it’s not based on the film in terms of plot. My character’s great; there are similarities between him and William H Macy’s character [from the 1996 film]. Billy Bob Thornton’s in it, too, and his character comes along and teaches mine to take control in ways that aren’t always saintly.

Have you started to work on the accent now, then?

I’m having Skype lessons and, well, pride comes before a fall but I think I’m doing okay. It’s daunting. I don’t want to rip off Bill Macy’s accent, or rip off an accent that’s already passed into comedy, so I’ve been on YouTube to see how real Minnesotans sound. Trouble is, some accents lend themselves to comedy. They just f**king do.’

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is in cinemas from Friday 21. All episodes of Sherlock are available to watch for free on www.youku.com.

Nick Avelinge

Bilingualism can help your brain

Why Speaking Another Language in the Classroom is a Good Thing

• by Edwina Duenas, February 25, 2014

It wasn’t too long ago that bilingual education was essentially banned from the classroom in California thanks to Proposition 227. Flash forward 15 years, and you’ll find that bilingual education is now the norm — well, for one city.

As reported in SFGate, San Francisco has quickly become the model for bilingual education over the last decade. Nearly 30 percent of the city’s English language learners are enrolled in bilingual education programs, with promising results. Recent studies by Stanford University show that these students are equally as proficient in their academics as ELL students enrolled in English-only programs.

These kinds of results clearly show that supporting a student’s native language is not a “bad” thing in the least. Through bilingual programs, these students get the support they need to begin learning, while also building on their English language skills at a comfortable pace.

Not all school districts would agree, however. Most cities aren’t as diverse as San Francisco, and don’t have as high of a need to support bilingual education and spend money building up resources. Some school administrations across the country have even tried “banning” students from speaking their native language altogether.

Thankfully, the trend in many school districts now is to provide a bilingual or language-immersion education option if the resources are available, and for good reason. Speaking another language in the classroom can only help students, and even lessen the feeling of alienation ELL learners may feel with academic subjects.

As Care2 writer Steve Williams notes, there are a number of reasons why learning a second, third, or even fourth language can improve the quality of your life. Students enrolled in immersion programs, for example, become proficient in two languages at the same time. This skill can be transferred into the professional world further down the road, and if students continue their courses, they’ll be at an advantage to their peers. Additionally, bilingualism can help brain growth, memory and multitasking because of the linguistic idiosyncrasies of the new language.

Currently, San Francisco Unified School District has more than 5,000 students enrolled in bilingual programs. The most popular languages include English and Cantonese, Spanish, Mandarin and Korean. Whether they start off as ELL students or English-only, if enrolled by kindergarten, these students become proficient in their new language by middle school.

Yet, despite these benefits, there just isn’t enough support or interest for bilingual education to become the norm across the state. There are currently no efforts to rescind Prop. 227, although school districts have more flexibility than before the bill first passed. Even so, San Francisco can remain a model for what an ideal learning environment could be, and set an example for how bilingualism can be beneficial to all.

Ban Wildlife Killing Contest in California ! Take care, it is our responsability.

Yes, California. Banning Wildlife Killing Contests Is an Excellent Idea

• by Alicia Graef, February 25, 2014

It might be too late for an estimated 40 coyotes whose lives were taken during a recent Coyote Drive in Modoc County, but their advocates are working hard to make sure that type of barbaric wildlife killing contest never takes place in California again.

These contests – also known as drives, derbies or whatever else you want to call an event that rewards people of all ages with cash prizes and weapons for killing the biggest and most animals – need to become a thing of the past.

Fortunately, on February 5, the California Fish and Game Commission voted unanimously to consider a statewide ban on wildlife killing contests after hearing testimony from representatives of Project Coyote. Their vote means there will now be a formal rule making process to determine what happens next.

Camilla Fox, founder and executive director of Project Coyote, stated:

What’s at issue, is the wanton waste of wildlife and the awarding of prizes and inducements to kill as many individuals as possible- and the largest. This is obviously not about sport or fair-chase. Wildlife killing contests are conducted for profit, entertainment, prizes and, simply, for the ‘fun’ of killing. No evidence exists showing that such indiscriminate killing contests control problem animals or serve any beneficial management function. Moreover such contests perpetuate a culture of violence and send the message to children that life has little value and that an entire species of animals is disposable.

It’s abundantly clear that these contests are not about wildlife management or even hunting, but about glorifying the senseless killing of wild animals for amusement and personal gain.

Regardless of the species involved in these types of contests, the so-called hunters who continue to support these events are completely ignoring the inherent value of the creatures they’re so bent on destroying. Coyotes, who are a popular target, remain pitifully unprotected without even so much as a bag limit in the state to determine how many can be killed.

As Project Coyote points out, coyote populations that are left to manage themselves form stable social structures that are self-limiting. Indiscriminate killing, on the other hand, disrupts this social stability and leads to increased reproduction and greater pup survival. If those who participate in these contests were really interested in working towards balancing wildlife or protecting livestock, these contests and the mass slaughter would not be taking place.

According to Project Coyote, more contests than we care to know about continue to take place under the radar because state wildlife agencies don’t monitor them. The drive in Modoc County caused an uproar last year when Project Coyote, the Animal Welfare Institute and the Center for Biological Diversity gathered thousands of signatures opposing the hunt, not only because it’s cruel, but also because it posed a serious threat to the state’s lone wolf, OR-7. Wildlife officials stepped in and set some of the rules, but they didn’t stop the contest and their rules were blatantly ignored.

At least some wildlife officials are acknowledging that coyotes, and other predators, are vital to healthy ecosystems.

Commission President Michael Sutton was quoted as saying: “I’ve been concerned about these killing contests for some time. They seem inconsistent both with ethical standards of hunting and our current understanding of the important role predators play in ecosystems.”

Sadly, many who speak out on behalf of the wild animals who are targeted continue to be threatened and intimidated by contest supporters.

At this month’s eighth annual coyote drive in Modoc County, which was sponsored by the Pit River Rod and Gun Club and Adin Supply Outfitters, Roger Hopping, a 73-year-old conservationist, was seriously injured during an altercation with event sponsor Steve Gagnon, the owner of Adin Supply, which resulted in a compression fracture in his lower back.

Hopping’s injury and previous incidents involving intimidation, including threatening a 13-year-old girl with arrest, just add to the long list of reasons that these types of contests need to be outlawed.

California’s Fish and Game Commission will be discussing a potential ban on killing contests at a meeting in Ventura on April 16.

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TAKE ACTION!

Please sign and share the petition asking the Fish and Game Commission to be a leader for wildlife and ensure these types of killing contests never take place in California again.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/891/679/941/california-ban-wildlife-killing-contests-for-good/?TAP=1007

Mila, the elephant, a happy ending for her ? Hope so! Do you still visit circuses ??? Do you accept animals working to entertain you ???

Mila‘s former life in the circus as Jumbo.

For decades she was kept alone, deprived of space, enrichment and the simple companionship of even a single other elephant while she was exploited in the circus.

In 2009, after extensive lobbying by SAFE, Mila was retired and released from the Loritz Circus, which had bought her from Ratcliffe, and sent to the Franklin Zoo, which took on sole responsibility for her care. There, she was able to play in the mud and learned to make her own decisions, while her confidence and health improved.

Tragedy, however, was soon to follow poor Mila. On April 25, 2012, she was involved in the crushing death of Helen Schofield, a veterinarian and operator of the zoo, who had bonded with her and wanted to help her move to a sanctuary in the U.S. where she could live out her days with other elephants.

No one’s sure what happened in Mila’s head the day she grabbed Schofield with her trunk. Some reportedly believe she finally snapped after spending all those years alone in the circus, while a few witnesses speculate she was frightened and acting protectively after being shocked by an electric fence.

While there was some debate about what to do with Mila following the incident, plans to have her moved to the U.S. progressed. In honour of Schofield’s dream of seeing Mila reunited with other elephants, the zoo’s staff and supporters raised $1.5 million to have her transported from New Zealand to the San Diego Zoo in November. She spent the holiday season in quarantine before being introduced to Mary, the herd’s matriarch, this month.

Although some of her advocates are disappointed she ended up at a zoo and not a sanctuary, they are pleased that her days as a performer are over and that she is at least being cared for in the company of her own kind.

While Mila and Mary’s bond grows and she’s introduced to other elephants in California, similar efforts are currently underway to help other elephants who have been left alone, including Tania, who is being kept in solitary at a zoo in Romania, and Lucky, who is being kept alone at the San Antonio Zoo by officials who arrogantly refuse to even acknowledge that might not be best for her.

Hopefully, Mila’s story will serve as a reminder about avoiding establishments that keep these giants in captivity, especially as performers, in addition to raising awareness about the decisions we’re making for those we insist on keeping captive: who comes, who goes, who’s bred, who lives and who dies.

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 I am not sure that reminders are enough for humans to understand, I am not sure how intelligent humans are in reality.  According to evidence, humans destroy everything they touch without caring about the consequences and the effects they provoke for themselves and for all other living creatures around.  

An Intelligence that humans have used to abuse other species, the planet, plants, other humans… (I say “they” because although I was born a human I do not want and I do not consider myself part of this, I feel really ashamed of being human in situations like the one described here).  The only thing that seems to matter to most of them is “making money”.

As reminders may not suffice, it is important that you care, that you feel ashamed too so as to feel we need a change! Maybe, if we can do little things individually but synergistically, everyday, in the places where we are and anywhere at anytime, we could, together, generate a huge change to live a better life in a better planet.  

This is the only planet we have and if we continue behaving in this way, hunting, cutting trees, deforesting the Amazonas, affecting the Ozone layer, changing the weather, abusing on animals, misusing natural resources, mining without control, running out of natural resources … soon the next endangered species … will be us.

There are little things we can all do to reduce abuse and increase dignity:

Do not attend circuses or ways of entertainment which use animals, animals are not human-entertainers!

Do not go hunting for “sports” ???, do not go hunting!

Do not kill animals with cruelty, if you eat animals to live, at least we can kill them without suffering.

Do not buy or wear fur-coats, do not wear leather accessories or items of clothing.

Do not misuse water or other resources.

Recycle.

Reduce the rubbish you generate.

Help rescue abandoned animals in the streets.

Help campaigns to rescue and help endangered species.

Help zoos and foundations that rescue animals and give them a better life.

Stop the illegal traffic of exotic animals to be kept unhappily as pets in a human house !!!

Do not buy animals… would you like to be bought-and-sold as a “good”?  As slaves were in the past?  Well, animals don´t like it neither !!!

If we do not trade nor buy horns, ivory tusks, fur, gorillas hands, bear skins, leather, alive animals… these types of “businesses” will stop and become “endangered business“.

Vocabulary:

The ozone layer is the common term for the high concentration of ozone that is found in the stratosphere around 15–30km above the earth’s surface. It covers the entire planet and protects life on earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation from the sun.

An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and invasive species.

Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds, usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point. 

Trade involves the transfer of goods or services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market.  The action of buying and selling goods or services.

Tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth that protrude well beyond the mouth of certain mammal species. They are most commonly canine teeth, as with pigs and walruses, or, in the case of elephants, elongated incisors. A long pointed tooth, especially one which protrudes from the closed mouth, as in the elephant, walrus, or wild boar.

An elephant’s trunk is actually a long nose used for smelling, breathing, trumpeting, drinking, and also for grabbing things—especially a potential meal. The trunk alone contains about 40,000 muscles. African elephants have two fingerlike features on the end of their trunk that they can use to grab small items.

Mila, the elephant, meets an elephant after 37 years of being alone in captivity… are we sure that humans are an intelligent species? Intelligent to be cruel, maybe.

After 37 Years, Mila the Elephant Meets Another of Her Kind

• by Alicia Graef, February 24, 2014

The dream of a former caretaker at the Franklin Zoo in New Zealand is finally being realized with the sweet introduction of two elephants, Mila and Mary.

Mila, who is now 41, has spent almost her entire life alone. She was born in Namibia in 1973 and, like many others who find themselves in captivity, was taken from her home and her family shortly after.

Mary is the first elephant Mila has seen in 37 years.

The two meet through a barrier at the San Diego Zoo for the first time.

 

Mila and Mary’s introduction is as heartwarming as they come, and clearly part of an effort to do what’s best for Mila at this point. However, a more important part of her story is how she got here in the first place and why she spent so much time alone.

After being torn from her family, Mila was moved to a zoo in Honolulu where she was reportedly bullied by other elephants. When she was 4-years-old, Mila was bought by trainer Tony Ratcliffe and flown to New Zealand to join the Whirling Brothers Circus. There she was known as Jumbo and was taught tricks, with the use of a bullhook, that she would be forced to perform for crowds for more than 30 years.

During that time, she spent long periods shackled to a short chain in her trailer where she was observed swaying back and forth, which is a stereotypical behavior of an elephant who is suffering from psychological distress that has never been observed in the wild.

Kerala, Cochin, Munnar tea plantations, a traditional houseboat & Kovalam. India. Travel and Tourism.

Once-in-a-lifetime journey through Kerala covering Cochin city, Munnar tea plantations, a houseboat stay and a beach break

If you’ve ever thought of visiting India, Kerala is a great place to start. This tranquil area, nestled between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, is known for its easy pace and laid-back vibe. Meander by boat through the extensive backwaters of the region and simply laze on Kerala’s beautiful beaches with this extensive tour.

You will arrive in Cochin where you’ll stay for two nights. Based here, you’ll head out on a guided city tour and take in some of the area’s unique sights, including the Dutch Palace at Mattancherry and the Chinese fishing nets. You’ll also have plenty of time to hang out at your upscale hotel in Ernakulum city.

Next, you’ll transfer from Cochin to Munnar and the beautifully set Tea County cottages. Spend the rest of the day enjoying the landscape, visit tea plantations or even paraglide for a new perspective on your lush surroundings.

Your third stop is Kerala’s tranquil backwaters, where you’ll spend the night on a beautiful houseboat (or ‘Kettuvallam’). Crafted using local materials and age-old methods, they’re a dreamy way to get an authentic taste of local life.

Your final destination is Kovalam, where you’ll check in to a beachfront hotel for some intensive rest and relaxation. Blessed with perfect golden sands, it’s here that the jungly-green landscape of the southern India meets the azure Arabian Sea.

Choose between an eight or 11-night itinerary, including two nights at Dream Hotel (Cochin), two nights at KTDC Tea County (Munnar), one night on a River Escapes houseboat (Alleppey) and either three or six nights at Turtle on the Beach (Kovalam). Accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis at the three hotels and on a full-board basis on the houseboat. Flights are included, plus private transfers with an English-speaking guide. Here’s the itinerary at a glance (see ‘Hotel details’ to view it in full):

Days one to three: Dream Hotel, Cochin
Days three to five: KTDC Tea County, Munnar
Days five to six: River Escapes houseboat, backwaters
Days six to nine/12: Turtle on the Beach, Kovalam

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Visitors require a visa to travel in India. Please be aware that many of the attractions are closed on specific days, so it is worth checking when they are open before you plan your excursions.

Please note that your outbound flight is overnight, so you will be travelling for one additional night.

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Bali beach & culture holiday, Ubud & Nusa Dua. Travel and Tourism.

Unwind in Bali with this 10-night holiday in the lush rice paddies of Ubud and the relaxing beaches of Nusa Dua

Swinging monkeys, swaying palms and the charming Balinese who are always ready with a smile – there’s a lot to look forward to when you book this incredibly luxurious twin-centre holiday to Bali. This deal includes three nights in Ubud at the Kamandalu Resort in a Garden Villa and seven nights at the Sofitel Nusa Dua.

At the gorgeous Kamandalu Resort you’ll be treated to a complimentary set Indonesian lunch or dinner as well as 15% discount on the spa and all other food and drinks. Moving on south to the beach, you’ll get a complimentary room upgrade to a Luxury Club Millesime at the Sofitel Nusa Dua. Luxury abounds with your private check-in and check-out, breakfast, afternoon tea, butler service and glitzy evening cocktails in Club Millesime.

On your day of transferring between Ubud and Nusa Dua you’ll be taken on an inclusive Full Day Volcano and Handicraft tour, during which you’ll witness the cultural Barong and Kris Dance at Batubulan Village, depicting the fight between good and evil. You’ll also see the elephant cave and the dramatic Mount Batur from Kintimani.

You’ll also get a half-day cultural temple tour during your Nusa Dua stay. Visit the royal family temple, the Monkey forest and the stunning Tanah Lot temple, which shines up high on the rocks at Uluwatu during sunset

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From the Kamandalu there’s a complimentary scheduled shuttle service to Ubud center from 10 am until 9 pm. If you’re looking to hit the town in Nusa Dua, you can take advantage of the pressing service (two items per day) at the Sofitel Nusa Dua. There’s also an impressive butler service here that you ‘ll want to brag about later. Don’t forget to say terima kasih!

Good to know

Both your outbound and inbound flights are overnight, so while this is a 10-night holiday, you will be away for a total of 12 nights.

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Maasai Mara, Kenya. Travel & Tourism.

Luxury, all-inclusive Sir Richard Branson safari retreat with swanky tents, game drives, bush walks and transfers

As you’d expect from a member of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition collection, the brand new Mahali Mzuri safari camp in the Maasai Mara in Kenya is one of the slickest safari camps you’re likely to come across. In a private conservation area, which is approximately 240 kilometres due West of Nairobi, it’s right in the migration path, ensuring wildlife aplenty, with a high chance of spotting the stars of the show.

This may not be camping as you know it. This is not even boutique camping, but something far superior. A crop of just twelve stylish, space-age structures on the lush green hillside, the luxury tents boast wooden floors, a plush en-suite bathroom, heaps of living space and a raised patio with a view of the Bush and beyond. You’ll have access to the luxe facilities, which include the dining, lounge and bar area, a 12-metre infinity pool with a sunbathing deck and the Nasaro spa treatment room offering Africology treatments.

Twice daily, you’ll hop into a 4×4 Land Cruiser with your experienced Guide and explore the wild beauty of the 13,500 hectares of game land. This is a truly intimate experience with uninterrupted views of the animals and drinks on hand to toast the sunrise or sunset. You can also take guided bush walks to learn more about the plants and their medicinal properties, as well as getting a closer look at the smaller animals and insects that Africa is famous for.

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There is more than enough to see within the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, but should you wish to take a day trip out to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Mahali Mzuri include one day’s entrance fee in your rate based on a minimum three-night stay during high season, usually charged at US $80 per person, per day.

Virtually all visitors to Kenya will need a visa to enter the country, however this can be obtained on arrival at the airport on payment of a cash sum, currently $50 per person. We recommend carrying at least this amount per person travelling, plus a few extra American dollars for snacks at Nairobi Wilson airport or for emergencies. Please note, there is a strict limit of 15kg’s in soft bags only (including hand luggage) when you board the domestic flight from Nairobi Wilson to the Mara.  Storage facilities are available should you need to reduce your luggage for this part of your trip.

Visitors are also required to have at least two blank pages in their passport, which must be valid for six months beyond your expected departure date from Kenya. As advice can change on a regular basis we recommend you check with the advice issued by your government’s State Department or Foreign Office before you set off on your journey.

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Argyll Coast in the Scottish Highlands, Scotland. Travel and Tourism.

A cosy small hotel on the Argyll coast in the Scottish Highlands, with far-reaching views out to sea, breakfast and dinner

Set in 17 acres of gardens and beach, the remote Loch Melfort Hotel offers a picturesque escape to the Scottish Highlands. This Victorian country house has been thoughtfully developed into a peaceful and friendly hotel whilst retaining the charm of its rural origins. Unique to the hotel is that each of the 25 guest bedrooms boasts uninterrupted, panoramic views over the sea and the three nearby islands of Islay, Jura and Scarba.

bestofmvm.wordpress.com       Loch Melfort Hotel is ideally set on Scotland’s beautiful west coast and for years visitors have retreated to the hotel to simply relax in the atmosphere of this unique destination. Named the ‘Scottish Hoteliers of the Year’ in 2013, your every need is catered for; do nothing more than doze by a roaring fire, wander over to stroke the Highland cattle or just gaze out over the water.

For the more active guest the area has plenty to offer, including whale a wildlife watching, fishing trips and following the whiskey trail around the regions distilleries. Whether low key or up beat, you’ll be eager to end your day in Loch Melfort Hotel double award-winning restaurant sampling the freshest seafood and best local meats on their menu.

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Sainte Foy Tarentaise, France. Travelling & Tourism.

A luxury catered chalet in the winter resort of Sainte Foy Tarentaise, with a spa, gourmet dining and outdoor hot tub

Sainte Foy is one of those glistening gems of the French Alps that – although it doesn’t quite fit the undiscovered category – has far fewer boot prints in the snow than its neighbours. With welcome champagne waiting for you on arrival, La Marquise offers dreamy boutique chalet accommodation in the heart of this charming resort, complete with perfect panoramas and luxurious wood-clad interiors. The chalet provides the perfect place to come home to after an energetic day on the piste – or a day of sunning yourself in a deck chair with one of the best hot chocolates you’ve ever tasted.

Tuck into an eagerly anticipated four-course dinner with wine each day, with afternoon tea and full breakfast also included. Spacious living areas feature high vaulted ceilings, suspended fireplaces, tall sliding glass doors and large balconies, making La Marquise a stylish yet cosy place that’s difficult to tear yourself away from when ski school beckons. But keep your eyes on the prize – some time spent in the hot tub on the upper balcony when you get back – and you should just about manage to get through it.

Generously piled beds dressed in Egyptian cotton feature in the rooms, which also offer UK Freeview and iPod docking stations, as well as designer bathrobes and  sumptuous Elemis toiletries in the bathrooms. The private sauna and steam room downstairs offer the perfect place to ease your aching muscles, with the option of booking a relaxing massage in the treatment room.

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