Business or Pleasure
Wanderlust is always on the horizon for this business owner Kathryn Riley is the founder and managing director of Douglas Scott – an award-winning legal recruitment firm headquartered in No.1 Spinningfields, Manchester.
She lives in Alderley Edge with her husband Jonathan and three children. Both at home and away, Kathryn shares her recent travel highlights…
‘I’ve had the good fortune of travelling the world for both business and pleasure. And, while unavoidably the back of a taxi seat is a frequent view of mine, I do what I can to get out and explore. Whether in the UK or abroad, nothing gives my family and I more joy than finding new and exciting places to explore together. Here are some of my favourite places to eat, drink, see and do…’
Ibiza
This summer, I was lucky enough to unwind in pure tranquillity with some friends in Ibiza; it’s certainly true what they say about the magic of The White Isle. The Nobu Hotel is breathtaking and the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday. While a day spent relaxing by the pool is never a day wasted, with so much on offer, we rarely found ourselves there. I’d highly recommend a day-trip to the smallest Balearic Island, Formentera, for a day spent in an unspoilt, peaceful paradise.
Back on the main island, the daytime experience is often more than a match for the nightlife. Head to Experimental Beach Club for lunch, amazing cocktails, great food and a dip in the sea. The flip side of the coin is Leo’s by the marina; great food, a jaw-dropping cabaret followed by a boogie. Be sure to book a late table in the club area as once the show is over everyone moves to the other end of the venue for a dance.
London
We have a considerable client base in London, so I frequently find myself travelling on the Pendolino. I try to tick some places off my ever-growing bucket list by arranging meetings at some of the restaurants I’ve read or heard about and have been wanting to try. A firm favourite of mine is George’s in Mayfair – can’t beat it!
The Maldives
For me, nothing quite compares to the tranquillity of the Maldives. I am a believer of fully switching off when on leave and encourage our whole team to do the same. The Maldives is my place; it provides the perfect environment for our family to enjoy some real quality time together. It’s great to take the kids too; they always find plenty to do. For our most recent visit, we stayed at the LUX South Ari Atoll.
Anglesey
There’s also no place like home. We have a lodge in Anglesey which, thankfully, is almost always without phone signal. It’s a great place to escape to for a weekend and I enjoy nothing more than a long walk on Newborough Beach with the family which has amazing views of Snowdon and across the Snowdonia national park.
Another fabulous beach for the sunshine is Porth Trecastell Cable Bay and is a brilliant spot to paddleboard. You’ll never run short of activities in Anglesey! It’s also becoming well known for its gastronomy; one restaurant in Menai Bridge has recently been awarded a Michelin star, but the tables there are already booked up until July Try The Lobster Pot up in Church Bay – time has stood still in some ways for this family restaurant, but that only adds to the homely feel. Book ahead for a real value for money experience; the best lobster on the island alongside excellent service.
Lake Garda
Lake Garda is as beautiful in real life as it is in pictures, although not all the excitement lies on the waterfront. Set in the stunning Garda Mountains, a bike ride through the meandering roads is well worth the effort – and the locally-produced Bardolino wine tastes even better after a long ride. The turquoise waters of Lago di Tenno are unmissable and we thoroughly enjoyed exploring the nearby mediaeval village of Canale taking in the history, art and culture – make sure you stop off for an authentic Italian coffee.
Lancashire
I am long overdue a return visit to The Inn at Whitewell, in the Forest of Bowland just past Clitheroe in Lancashire. Once you hit the village of Whalley, the drive through the countryside becomes a pleasure. The Inn itself has a strong country feel; wooden floors, furniture reclaimed from old churches, foxes heads on the walls, waxed coats and gun boots aplenty in the bustling dining area. The food is top quality and there is always a fantastic ambience. Nearby are some excellent walks. Visit Dunsop Bridge - which some argue is the geographic centre of Great Britain - and Bowland Wild Boar Park is a good few hours family time.
South of France
We’ve been holidaying each year in the South of France for 10 years now; some of our favourites places include St Tropez, Antibes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Beaulieu-sur-Mer. We always try to sample a few resorts with each visit - they’re so close together it’s almost rude not to! You can’t beat a stay at The Royal Riviera offering superb formal dining with amazing views of the bay. We all deserve to spoil ourselves sometimes and I’d highly recommend the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes for a luxurious experience.
A trip to St Tropez is about days spent relaxing in the amazing beach clubs but don’t forget to explore the surrounding mountains. We managed to get up there a couple of times this year but, with a four-kilometre incline, it is not for the faint-hearted. Set off early to beat the heat.
Ski trip
Something we’re all very excited about at Douglas Scott HQ is our inaugural ski trip. The team love to travel as much as I do, so when I floated the idea of a ski trip for the top performers it was met with an overwhelming response. This year we’ve booked to go to Le Chardon Mountain Lodges to celebrate success on the piste.
