Whorlton, close to Barnard Castle, may be small, but online reviewers regularly praise its riverside setting, historic bridge and sense of “timeless charm” that feels increasingly rare.

St Mary’s Whorlton (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

At the heart of many reviews is Whorlton Bridge, the 183-foot-long suspension bridge that stretches across the River Tees.

Frequently photographed and shared on social media, it’s described by visitors as “a hidden gem” and “like stepping back into another century.”

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Built in 1831 after flooding destroyed the original structure, the bridge is Britain’s second oldest suspension bridge, still relying on its original chainwork.

But beyond its engineering credentials, reviewers say it’s the atmosphere that makes it special.

“It’s peaceful, almost magical when the light hits the river,” one visitor wrote online.

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

“You can hear the water below and nothing else. It’s so quiet.”

Despite its tranquil feel, Whorlton isn’t described as dull. Walkers exploring the Teesdale Way or visiting nearby Barnard Castle often make a detour to cross the bridge and wander through the village lanes.

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Many reviews mention how unexpectedly picturesque the setting is, with wooded riverbanks, rolling countryside and sweeping views along the River Tees.

“It’s one of those places you stumble across and wonder why more people don’t talk about it,” one visitor commented.

“It feels untouched.”

That sense of history runs deep. The current bridge was designed by John Green of Newcastle after floods destroyed the first attempt in 1829.

Its survival for nearly two centuries only adds to its character, with reviewers often remarking on how well it has aged.

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Unlike busier tourist hubs nearby, Whorlton is often celebrated precisely because it remains low-key.

Several visitors contrast it with larger attractions in Teesdale, saying the village offers “a slower pace” and “a real escape.”

Photography enthusiasts frequently post images of early morning mist rising from the Tees, autumn colours framing the bridge or summer sunshine in the surrounding countryside.

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Whorlton Village (Image: Stuart Boulton)

In the village itself, St Mary’s Whorlton towers across the green and several of the stone brick houses in the centre.

The building standing on this site was rebuilt in 1853 following the demolition of the Norman Chapel.

The new building retained the Grade II listed font from the medieval church.

Instagram and Facebook posts have helped shine a light on the village in recent years, though many reviewers say it still feels undiscovered.

“It’s not commercialised, and that’s what makes it special,” one visitor wrote.

“Just a beautiful bridge, a quiet village and the river.”

In a region full of well-known landmarks, Whorlton continues to win over visitors not with grand attractions, but with understated charm.

Zendaya and Tom Holland are married, her longtime stylist has claimed at the 2026 Actor Awards.

The couple’s engagement news was confirmed in early 2025 days after they sparked speculation at the Golden Globes.

Just over a year later, Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach, has claimed that the couple have tied the knot.

Speaking to Access Hollywood on the Actor Awards red carpet, Roach was speaking about the couple when he said, “The wedding has already happened,” before adding, ”You missed it.”

The reporter then asked, “Is that true?” prompting Roach to reply, “It’s very true!”

open image in gallery

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The Independent has contacted representatives for Zendaya and Holland for comment.

Euphoria star Zendaya arrived at the 2025 Golden Globes with a massive diamond on her ring finger, sparking immediate speculation that she and her boyfriend of four years had got engaged. Citing sources, People and TMZ reported the next day that Holland proposed at one of Zendaya’s family homes over the holidays.

Zendaya and Holland met while filming Spider-Man: Homecoming in which Holland starred as the superhero and Zendaya played his love interest, MJ. The two have notoriously kept the details of their relationship under wraps, though they’ve showed each other love and support on social media over the years.

Interestingly, Roach gave an update just a few months after the couple’s engagement was confirmed.

“It’s far away. They’re both doing a bunch of movies this year and there’s a lot of premieres next year so you’ll see a lot of red carpets,” Roach, 46, told E! News in April 2025.

Roach claimed at the time that the couple asked him to be involved in the wedding.

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“I’m resting up for 2026,” he said, subtly hinting that the nuptials wouldn’t be until then.

Roach’s wedding claims sent fans into a frenzy, with many questioning why the stylist was the one to announce the news.

“Why did he reveal this,” one person wrote on X while another said, “wait, why is law revealing this and not zendaya and her man?”

Others offered congratulatory messages and well wishes to the couple.

“Congratulations to Zendaya and Tom Holland! Keeping it so private and low-key fits them perfectly. happy for their love story turning into forever,” one fan wrote.

“Law Roach just dropped the biggest plot twist of 2026 like it was nothing Congrats to Zendaya & Tom-y’all really kept that secret locked down. Power couple forever,” another said.

More to follow

Wool garments often come in the form of jumpers, hats and gloves, which are favoured in the winter months due to their complex fibre structure, which traps pockets of air.

However, it can be easy to ruin your wool clothes if you don’t wash them properly.

If you want to get the most out of your wool clothes, here are two things you should never do when washing them.

Wool clothing should not require regular washing (Image: Getty Images)

The two things to avoid when washing wool clothes

One of the crucial things to avoid when washing wool clothes is to make sure you don’t wash them at too high a heat.

Harriette Jarman at home and appliance retailer AEG, explained: “If your machine doesn’t have a wool cycle, then we recommend you turn it inside out and make sure to wash your wool on a cooler setting.

“Wool is likely to be damaged and irritated by heat, so opt for a 30°C wash.”

Michelle Feng, who is a Product Marketing Manager and Laundry Expert at Hisense, concurred with this advice.

She commented: “When washing wool and cashmere, make sure to select a gentle cycle with a low spin speed to minimise stretching and damage to the fabrics.

“You should also look to use a cool or cold water wash with temperatures at around 20°C to 30°C.”

Some washing machines do have a specific wool cycle you can make the most of, though, as this will protect delicate fibres and keep wool feeling soft.

Alongside the heat element, avoiding harsh detergent or fabric softener is also important to keep wool clothing at its best.

Jarman added: “Avoid using regular and heavy detergents, as these are designed to attack stains and dirt aggressively, which can damage and weaken the fibres leading to shrinkage.

“You should always use a gentle, wool-safe detergent which has a neutral pH, and is an enzyme free detergent, rather than a harsh bio laundry detergent.”

Meanwhile, Salah Sun, Head of Product Management at Beko, said: “One common mistake to avoid is using fabric softener, as it can cause product build-up, damage the natural fibres, and reduce wool’s natural sweat-wicking and insulating properties.”

How often should you wash wool clothing?

Wool tends to require less frequent washing thanks to its natural odour and stain-repellent properties.

Discussing the reasons for this, Emma Woodrow, a buyer at Pour Moi shared: “This is because wool is naturally rich in lanolin, a waxy substance secreted by the glands of sheep to waterproof and protect their wool, which helps to repel dirt and odours.”

In most cases, spot cleaning will do the job with a gentle handwash in the sink with a speciality wool detergent.

Emma adds: “However, if you don’t have this, a gentle hair shampoo will also work.

“Wool is an animal fibre, similar in structure to human hair, so the shampoo cleans it without any harsh enzymes found in regular washing detergents.”

How to dry wool clothing

Taking a bit of extra care when drying wool clothing is also important to maintaining its integrity.

Salah Sun said: “Instead of using a tumble dryer, as high heat can cause wool fibres to shrink or lose their shape, gently press out excess water by hand and avoid aggressive spin cycles.

“Check the care label again for drying instructions – some woollens will benefit from being reshaped and dried flat to maintain their original fit, while others can be carefully hung to dry at room temperature.”

“With the right care, your wool pieces can stay soft, comfortable and looking great for longer.”

The 2.6-mile Craster to Dunstanburgh route in Northumberland which starts and finishes at Craster Quarry car park, takes around one hour to complete.

It was highlighted by Which? following a recent survey by its members.

The short walk was recommended for its “epic, almost heroic feel” as the “romantic” ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle are “constantly in view” along the shoreline.

Experts at Which? also suggested walkers stop by The Jolly Fisherman when arriving back in Craster for “reviving” crab sandwiches and crab soup.

Introducing its latest outdoor guide, the consumer brand said: “In our survey of the best walks in the country we’ve found that gentler routes around the coast are often the favourite of Which? members.”

It added: “Wherever you are in the country – and however fit or unfit you might be – there’s a walk for you.

“Members scored routes on everything from the scenery and wildlife, to signage and accessibility, and those that offered the best food and drink options nearby.”

All of the UK’s best walks for 2026 can be found in the full results table published on the Which? website, where all routes are categorised by how easy they are.

Why has Craster to Dunstanburgh walk been named best in North East for 2026?

Which? shared: “The romantic ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle are constantly in view on this short walk, looming ever closer and giving the stroll along the rocky shoreline an epic, almost heroic feel.

“No wonder then that Which? members voted it their favourite walk in the North East, with five stars for scenery.

“It all starts modestly in Craster, a village wreathed by the aroma of its 130-year-old smokehouse, L Robson & Sons, famous for its kippers.

Top Winter Walks in the UK

“Leaving the harbour and its boats’ rigging clinking behind, the path snakes through grassland towards the distant castle.”

It continued: “It also got four stars for wildlife spotting opportunities – look out for fulmars and razorbills as you see if you can hear the haunting call of the curlew. And further out to sea, you might even spot a grey seal. 

“Dunstanburgh Castle can only be reached by foot, so arrival at its massive gatehouse and its twin turrets feels virtuous.

“Walk back to Craster for reviving crab sandwiches and crab soup at The Jolly Fisherman.”

The Craster to Dunstanburgh walk was given a score of 86% and a difficulty rating of 2/5 by Which? members who took part in the survey.

Have you had a crab dish at The Jolly Fisherman? (Image: Tripadvisor)

Meanwhile, The Jolly Fisherman located at Haven Hill in Craster currently has 1,646 “excellent” reviews on Tripadvisor.

Last year, it was named one of the UK’s top pubs for a pint by the sea by EnjoyTravel.com.

A recent customer who stopped by for a Sunday roast commented on Tripadvisor: “Popped in for Sunday lunch while visiting the area. Warm, cosy and beautifully decorated we ate in the bar area as they allowed dogs. Staff were super friendly and the food was glorious.

“Best Sunday lunch we have had for a while. Highly recommend you pop in and try one.”

Someone else wrote: “A special lunch for my son’s visit to the NE. We received a warm welcome from the staff and were seated in the restaurant with a sea view.

Recommended reading:

“The service throughout was pleasant and prompt.

“I chose the kipper pate followed by the salmon – both – excellent; my son enjoyed the soup and the mixed seafood plate.”

Have you tried this best-named Craster to Dunstanburgh walk? Let us know in the comments below if you would recommend it.

Catherine O’Hara has won the Actor Award for Female Actor in a Comedy Series, weeks after her death at the age of 71.

O’Hara received the posthumous award for her work in The Studio, the Apple TV+ Hollywood satire led by Seth Rogen. She played Patty Leigh, a former studio head and mentor to Rogen’s character Matt Remick.

Rogen accepted the award on her behalf, delivering a heartfelt speech while many of those in the audience were brought to tears.

“I’ve been given the sad honor of accepting this award on O’Hara’s behalf,” said Rogen. “I know she would have been honored to receive this award from her fellow performers, who I know she respected so much. She was such big fans of all of yours.

“I, obviously, have been reflecting on the time I was fortunate enough to spend with her, working with her, and something that I’ve just been marveling at over the last few weeks was really her ability to be generous and kind, while never ever minimizing her own ability to contribute to the work that we were doing. She knew she could destroy, and she wanted to destroy every day on set.”

Rogen added that O’Hara would frequently propose revisions to her scripts for The Studio, saying: “I haven’t said this to the other actors, because I didn’t want them to get ideas, but pretty much every evening before she had a shooting day on our show, she would email me and [co-creator] Evan an email that always was pretty similar. It said: ‘Hello, I hope you’ll consider the following…’ and then there would be a completely rewritten version of the scene she was in.

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“And literally, 100% of the time, it made not just her character better, but it made the scene better and the entire show better as a whole. She really showed that you can be a genius and be kind, and one of those things does not have to come at the expense of the other in any way, shape or form.

“So I guess I’ll just leave you with this. If you have people in your lives that don’t know her work, if there are kids in your lives, or just people who are out of touch or stupid or something, just show them O’Hara dancing to Harry Belafonte in Beetlejuice. Show them O’Hara hurting her knee in Best in Show, doing that amazing thing where she hobbles around, and tell the people, as they are laughing, that that’s Catherine O’Hara and we were lucky that we got to live in a world where she so generously shared her talents with us. Thank you.”

It was reported last month that O’Hara’s immediate cause of death was a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in her heart. Rectal cancer was listed as the underlying cause.

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Although she played a wide variety of characters in a career that spanned five decades, she was perhaps best known for playing mothers. She played Macaulay Culkin’s character Kevin’s mother, Kate McCallister, in the first two Home Alone films — spawning the viral “Kevin!” meme — before going on to play matriarch Moira Rose in hit TV series Schitt’s Creek.

The result is a production that is consistently watchable and intermittently very funny, but which stops short of being fully satisfying.

There is always a particular expectation when a new show from Grimes and McKee arrives on the stage. Over the past two decades, the duo have cultivated a loyal audience through their brand of locally rooted comedy, blending sharp political observation with an accessible, often affectionate, sense of humour. I Was the Voice of Gerry Adams, now running at the Waterfront Studio arrives with pedigree and goodwill, but what it delivers is more uneven than their strongest work.

Set against the backdrop of the early 1990s and the broadcasting ban on the voices of Sinn Féin representatives, the play draws on a curious and very Northern Irish slice of history where actors were hired to dub the words of politicians deemed too controversial to be heard directly. It is fertile comic territory, and in the programme notes Conor Grimes makes clear the personal origins of the story, recalling his time “popping in and out of the BBC” as a young actor. That autobiographical impulse gives the piece an authenticity that often works in its favour.

Structurally, the show is built as a two-hander romp through memory, media and the peculiarities of local politics. Both Grimes and McKee perform a wide range of characters, sometimes inhabiting the same figures with different inflexions. At its best, this showcases their well-honed comic chemistry. Their timing remains instinctive, and there are passages of genuine laugh-out-loud humour, particularly when the script leans into the absurdities of the era.

However, the device of rapid character-switching is also where the production begins to falter. Without clear enough physical or tonal differentiation, some transitions blur together. Audience members who momentarily lose the thread may find themselves working harder than they should to track who is who. In a comedy that depends heavily on rhythm and clarity, that occasional confusion disrupts momentum.

The script itself is packed with recognisable Grimes and McKee hallmarks. There are nostalgic callbacks, knowing political winks and a fondness for heightened storytelling. Yet the narrative spine feels looser than in their most successful outings. Scenes sometimes drift rather than build, and while individual moments land, the overall arc lacks the cumulative punch one might expect given the subject matter.

Zoë Seaton’s direction keeps the staging clean and functional within the intimate Waterfront Studio space. The production values are solid without being showy. Isaac Gibson’s sound design and Ciarán Bagnall’s lighting support the action effectively, though neither element is asked to do particularly heavy lifting. Sarah Jane Johnston’s choreography is used sparingly but adds welcome texture where it appears.

What cannot be faulted is the audience response on the night. The crowd was warm and frequently vocal, and the show ultimately received a standing ovation. That said, the reaction was not entirely universal. From the press row, there was a more measured reception, reflecting the sense that while the piece entertains, it does not quite reach the bar set by the duo’s previous collaborations.

Part of the challenge may be expectation. Grimes and McKee have previously demonstrated an ability to balance broad comedy with sharp narrative drive. Here, the balance tips more heavily toward anecdotal humour without always delivering the same dramatic payoff. The result is a production that is consistently watchable and intermittently very funny, but which stops short of being fully satisfying.

There is still plenty for loyal fans to enjoy. The performances are committed, the local references land with knowing precision, and the central premise remains inherently appealing. But taken as a whole, I Was the Voice of Gerry Adams feels like a show that has not yet fully found its sharpest shape.

It entertains, certainly. Whether it lingers in the memory in the way of the duo’s best work is another question.

I Was The Voice of Gerry Adams runs at the Waterfront Studio until 14 March. Tickets are priced from £22.50 excl booking fee.

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Vows by Iran to punish the US and Israel for killing its supreme leader and starting a war have yet to translate into decisive military action despite the first American casualties.

Iranian forces have launched hundreds of drones and missiles in multiple waves across the Middle East, but without inflicting significant harm against American assets in the region, such as sinking a warship or destroying a base.

By contrast, American and Israeli strikes have already devastated regime targets in Iran. They have taken out the head of the regime, Ali Khamenei, as well as the army’s chief of staff, General Abdol Rahim Mousavi, and defence minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh.

Iran latest: Three US service members killed

Then again, it is only day two of the war and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has pledged “severe, decisive and regret-inducing punishment”.

Yet the more time that passes without this rhetoric becoming a reality, the greater the questions about whether Iran’s most feared military forces still have the capability to locate, target and strike the US and Israeli warships and jets attacking them.

General Sir Richard Barrons, a former senior UK military officer, said a number of factors would likely be limiting Iran’s options for manoeuvre, not least the loss of so many top leaders.

Any move to fire missiles would also expose the launch site to American and Israeli attacks from the air, meaning Iran’s missile launchers would have “quite a short” life expectancy.

In addition, previous attacks by both the US and Israel against Iran over the past couple of years have already degraded its missile stockpiles, launchers and air defences to blunt the regime’s ability to detect incoming enemy aircraft.

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Moment IDF hits Iranian headquarters

All of this could explain why so few US and Israeli military targets appear so far to have suffered much meaningful damage despite Iran firing hundreds of missiles and drones.

Though the full extent of any damage is unclear.

UK Defence Secretary, John Healey, warned that a wounded Iran still has the capacity to cause harm – just potentially in even more erratic ways with little regard for the impact on the millions of civilians who live across the Gulf.

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UK forces ‘taking down’ Iran drones – Healey

“This regime is lashing out. It’s lashing out in an increasingly indiscriminate and widespread way,” he said, speaking to Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Philips.

“And people will be really concerned that it’s not just military targets, but civilian airports like Kuwait, hotels in Dubai and Bahrain are being hit.”

Tourist hotspots in the crossfire

Countries so far impacted include Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq, where a number of American bases are located.

Many of the munitions appear to have been intercepted, but falling debris can be deadly.

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Damage in Dubai airport after Iranian strikes

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With so much metal flying around, civilian and tourist locations have been caught in the crossfire, including one of the world’s busiest airports in Dubai, where all flights have been halted, and the entrance of a luxury hotel.

This would have been terrifying for those affected but these strikes appear to have done nothing to degrade the ability of the US and Israel to keep hitting Iran.

Read more from Sky News:
How have Iranians reacted to death of supreme leader?
Trump has tipped Middle East into war that could last weeks

A high-value target for the regime must surely be two American aircraft carrier strike groups, led by the USS Gerald R Ford – thought to be located south of Cyprus – and the USS Abraham Lincoln.

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Military analyst on what’s happening now in Strait of Hormuz

An attempt to hit these warships might explain why the UK says two Iranian missiles were fired in the direction of the Mediterranean island. Britain has bases on Cyprus but they are not thought to have been the focus of the attack.

General Barrons said an outmatched Iran on the battlefield might seek alternative ways to strike back such as by closing the Strait of Hormuz – a vital transit point for global oil and gas exports.

Disruption to this shipping lane would impact economies around the world – and it is already starting with tankers being targeted, including off the coast of Oman.

President Trump is gambling that Iran lacks the capability to resist his overwhelming firepower. And that may well be the case.

But it only takes one Iranian missile penetrating American air defences to alter that calculation or at least dramatically increase the cost to Washington of its war.

Donald Trump has spoken out for the first time on the three US service members who were killed in the Middle East.

Donald Trump has broken his silence after three US servicemembers were killed in the fighting in the Middle East.

Three members of the US military have been killed and five others wounded in the ongoing attacks against Iran, the Pentagon said Sunday. These are the first American deaths in the joint US-Israeli operation, reports the Mirror.

“They’re great people,” the President told the Daily Mail. “And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. Could happen continuous – it could happen again.”

Trump acknowledged the three deaths are the first in his second term, adding: “We’ve done pretty well. But they’re great people, with outstanding records, outstanding.” The president is due to meet the families of the deceased servicemembers “at the appropriate time” following his return to Washington later today.

He also said he wasn’t surprised by any of the outcomes of the joint operation so far, adding that “I think it’s going as per planned”.

“You know, other than we took our their entire leadership – far, far more than we thought. Looks like 48,” Trump said.

On Saturday, American missiles rained down on Tehran to target its regime, killing supreme leader Ali Khamenei in the attacks. Reports said the 86-year-old’s body had been recovered from rubble.

While Tehran retaliated, striking Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain in an apparent revenge, Trump celebrated the death of the leader, writing “justice” had been served.

However, the president warned the “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue “uninterrupted” for “as long as necessary”. The joint US-Israeli mission, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, continued to wage on into its second day today.

Earlier today, Trump also told The Atlantic the country’s new leaders want to speak to him. “They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them,” Trump said. “They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long.”

He also revealed he had spoken with leaders of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan and a “couple of others”, stating Saudi Arabia is “fighting too”.

“It’ll be very interesting to watch,” he added when asked if democracy could emerge in Iran. “But a lot of things could happen and a lot of very positive things could happen.”

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