Current Travel News
British Spas
THosE whose habit is to follow the swallow in chase of the perpetual sunbeam will be distUrbed by the knowledge that this migrant is said to be making its trek south- wards a week or two earlier this year. This news may be expected to hasten the start of the autumn exodus to more equaterial climes.' But the swallow's pas- .sage is not always a reliable weather forecast ; some prophets have in fact promised us as fine an early autumn as this country has enjoyed for several years past. To stay or not to stay is thus a question each one must answer for himself.
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If only a short autumn. holiday is mooted, nothing is likely to be more pleasant than a two or three weeks' cruise round the Mediterranean.coast or a voyage to the Atlantic isles, or as is possible in some instances, a combination of both. But if we are to be, indulged with a mild autumn at home, the appeal, of acruise may not be as strong and our British resorts may hope for an extended season. ror it, is only fair, after all, that we should try to support our home travel industry, more especially since those responsible nave done so much to make certain British resorts, inland and .by the sea, attractive all the year round. Given good weather, what places abroad can offer greater amenities at all seasons than, the, main resorts of our own South Coast : East- bourne, Hastings, Brighton, Worthing, Southsoa, Bournemouth, Torquay and others I There are, too, many places in Britain which are pleasant enough to be in, even though they do not claim to offer the benefits of sea air or as much sunshine as coastal towns ; namely, our inland Spas.
The improvements which have latterly occurred in most British Spas have to be seen to be believed. Outside these shores their names are becoming world- famous, but the apathetic Briton still often thinks of a home Spa as a dull Victorian asylum for chronic invalids whose last hope of life lies in the'waters of mineral springs, the value of which is more imaginary than real. Pump rooms, to many who haVe not been inside them, are yet classed as purgatories to which hypochondriacs are sent to redeem past over-indulgence in human pleasures. For various reasons, however, those calumnies are dying fast. The motoring age has accidentally brought to British Spas innumerable visitors who would never have thought of coming. to them, if they had not chanced to .find them convenient for a night's sleep. In coming they have been amazed, of course, at the beautifully laid out appearance of these places, at their splendid buildings, often of an historic character, at their modern shopping streets and palatial hotels. They have been entranced by the brilliant festivals of music, drama and the arts which these resorts have organized and, withal, they have found to their surprise that our Spas are natural centres for visiting Britain's principal beauty spots.
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It is not possible here to elaborate on their merits in detail. Harrogate, as one of the leading Spas, must suffice as an example. Its position is almost exactly half-way between London and Edinburgh. It has grown considerably in this era of motoring and is much used.as a stopping- place by visitors to Scotland. Its streets are wide and tastefully laid out with stretches of greensward and delightful flower beds. Among its open spaces are the Stray—a 200-acre common on the border of the town—and the Valley Gardens, where endless outdoor pastimes may. he enjoyed. Music is offered the viaitor front early 'porn to late eye in.one .(Cpatinued. on next page) Current Travel • News place or another. The Royal Hall is one of the meet commodious concert balls in the country and orchestral concerts are conducted there nightly. Its BathS and Pump ROom are unequalled for efficiency. As a touring centre, it is ideal. What more central spot could be found in York- shire for any exploration of its famous dales and moors or of its equally famous old abbeys —FOuntains, Rievaulx, Jervaulx, Bolton and Byland ? Harrogate must have effected many " cures ',' of people who needed a mental and physical tonic without their ever ' having had recourse to, its medicinal waters, though the springs are always available for anyone who has been sent to benefit from their curative properties.
* * ' * And what can be said for Harrogate can be said in the main for others of our Spas ; for Bath, Cheltenham,' Leamington, Llandrin- dod Wells, Droitwich and in a slightly lesser way perhaps for Matlock, Woodhell, Trefriw, Malvern and for the two noted Scottish Spas, Bridge of Allan , and Strath- peffer. Each would seem to have been deliberately placed by providence in some exquisite natural setting,* each offering itself as a haven for people wishing' to glory in the richest of Britain's countryside. No doctor should be needed to force us to sample them ; for an autumn holiday few places could be better recommended. Illustrated handbooks are available free on request to the managers of these resorts.
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