Swinton Park Cookery School

Basic Ingredients: Light, airy state-of-the-art kitchen in the converted Georgian stables of a 17^th century luxury castle hotel with three AA rosettes. Chef Director Stephen Bulmer heads up a team of chefs at this 200-acre site on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors offering imaginative half-day, one and two-day courses and evening demonstration courses. The menu covers a broad range of classes – Indian masterclasses, Aga cookery, Tapas, and Canapes, for example – and a four-acre walled garden provides fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs. Prices are reasonable, with children’s courses between £50-60 and other courses ranging from £75 up to £295 for the two-day courses.

They Say: The kitchen is always busy and you will be amazed by the scope of each course. Bulmer’s underlying philosophy is that the only way to learn is by hands-on experience and he ensures that every guest cooks to the best of their ability.

We Say: If you can’t stand the heat in the kitchen you can get back in touch with nature on one of Chris Bax’s wild food foraging or survival skills courses for private groups. The hotel is a popular weekend destination for exploring the Moors or relaxing in the spa.