I’m a doctor but I wasn’t prepared for my trauma giving birth – and neither was the NHS

You always remember hearing your first birth story. While I’d been privy as a GP to snippets of tales from the labour ward, it was the story from one of my oldest school friends that imprinted itself on my brain. “I was alone for hours… Andrew had to go to get the midwife, but by the time she came back, it was too late for pain relief.”

Four years later, it was my turn. By now, more friends had become mums. Thanks to their feverishly regaled horror stories, I could now add delivering at 30 weeks, obstetric cholestasis and severe postpartum haemorrhage to my ever-expanding list of worries about giving birth. But I’d be OK, I was a doctor after all. And yet, and yet… there I was now, days past my due date, decorating our nursery with stickers, saying the words to my husband I’d been holding onto for most of my pregnancy: “What if I die giving birth?”

Was this irrational fear, or was I justified in being scared?

I have worked in healthcare for all my working life, and despite working alongside so many people determined to care and do good work, there was one statistic that I could not ignore. Maternal mortality in the UK has increased by 27 per cent between 2009 and 2022. Even considering the impact of Covid, this figure has increased by 10 per cent. Asian and Black women are two and three times more likely to die than white women, respectively.

When my waters broke at the stroke of midnight, two things immediately struck me. Firstly, that is a lot of fluid. Secondly, from my junior doctor experience, I knew the early hours of Sunday morning were the absolute worst time to become a patient, thanks to shift patterns and weekend resource issues.

My birth plan was basic – all my doctoring years had taught me already that anything can happen when it comes to our bodies, so I only had three things I was sure of: yes to drugs as and when needed; communication at all times; and no to being left alone.

How long I could wait it out and cope with the pain felt like my first test of upcoming motherhood. I’d listened to hypnobirthing CDs, so I felt confident that I could get my breathing under control to steer me through. However, I hadn’t been in labour when I had listened to these, nor was it the middle of the night when I’d usually be asleep.

After 5 hours of pain and no sleep (I couldn’t even distract myself with The Real Housewives), I was really beginning to worry, as was my husband. I’d done everything “right” so far; I was healthy and a medical professional, but after the earliest contractions, I had no idea how I was going to handle what was to come.

As we made our way to the hospital, we received a phone call to tell us that the labour ward was closed to admissions. We had to make a diversion and go to our next nearest unit, which was 20 miles away. Thankfully, this one did have capacity, because the one beyond that was another 50 miles from home. I was told by the midwives later that this would become the receiving unit for women going into labour in the days following my admission. It was the first of many changes of direction that the next 48 hours would bring.

Once we arrived, I began to mentally relax. The midwives were helpful, caring and, most importantly, present. Even having to have an epidural resited three times didn’t faze me as it did my husband. When you’ve worked in the NHS, you understand and accept that things like this are par for the course.

But apparently, 34 hours of work wasn’t enough for the obstetrician who was going to help me finally give birth. “We are going to have to take you to theatre – I’ve never pulled a baby out of mum before, you need to try harder, Clara,” she said. I can still hear the sharp tone that confirmed my own fear that I wasn’t trying hard enough.

I’d heard many times from patients that consultants had spoken down to them or dismissed their concerns before they had even finished their sentence. Professionally, I’d always supported my patients, but I also tried to see things from both sides. Now I was the patient and the consultant’s words triggered a wave of self-doubt that would take me months to recover from.

As healthcare professionals, the words we use and how we communicate with patients matters. Whether it’s due to medical gaslighting or burnt-out healthcare professionals, the issues are complex and require self-awareness by both individuals and institutions.

In the end, my son was delivered by emergency caesarean section just 30 short minutes later. In the days that followed, there were more challenges of communication between maternity staff and myself. I couldn’t breastfeed and my son was readmitted for “failing to thrive”. Everyone just told me to keep trying, so when nothing was happening, I felt it was a problem with me, my body.

I had two infected wounds that needed pain relief and antibiotics, all of which would impact recovery. I had pictured my first few weeks as a mum as all cake and congratulations. Instead, I was in constant pain and feeling anxious that I couldn’t keep up with my antenatal classmates who were already jogging with their prams. I’d heard new mums talk about problems feeding and feeling drained, and I’d always reassured them that it was normal and would pass in time. But no matter how many times I told myself I was fine, I just didn’t feel like it. While my baby was now growing well and beginning to smile, I feared my sense of inadequacy might never pass.

Other countries do things better – Sweden, Finland and Denmark are just some that have reduced maternal mortality, improved postnatal mental health, and produce a higher satisfaction score for new mums. One consistency in their approach is education and empowerment of women, supporting their physical and mental health in the run-up to the birth and beyond.

In the UK, maternity services are in crisis. The 2023 Care Quality Commission report highlighted that 65 per cent of units are inadequate or need improvement on safety – up from 54 per cent the previous year. One in three women reported being denied adequate pain relief or support during and after giving birth. Maternity staff are often unable to complete essential emergency training due to rota pressures – little wonder, then, that Wes Streeting called the UK maternity services a national shame. This week, watchdog Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) published its exploratory review of maternity and neonatal services, which recommends a national approach to tackle systemic issues.

While my experience was far from perfect, many experiences are far worse. A joint report by baby charities Tommy’s and Sands earlier this year revealed that delays in improving NHS maternity care in England have resulted in the preventable deaths of at least 2,500 babies since 2018. These deaths could have been avoided had the government met its 2015 goal of halving stillbirths, neonatal, and maternal mortality by 2025.

So much of what we understand about childbirth is through the stories we hear, from our family and friends and, thanks to social media, from complete strangers. Our brains are built to keep us safe and avoid danger, so they hold onto these dramatic stories and can increase our fear and anxiety around the experience of giving birth.

I was lucky to have a health visitor who helped me see that what had happened had been complicated. She validated my experiences and reassured me about using formula. I know this sounds ridiculous, as I knew the research and had explained this to many of my patients over the years, but giving birth changes you and your mindset.

Those first six weeks can be a vulnerable and scary time for new mums, at a time when we think we will feel constantly happy and excited. Support for our fluctuating emotions is essential to both identify and support new mums’ mental health – research suggests it can even reduce the onset of postpartum depression.

We need to listen to ourselves and our own experiences. If we are lucky, we will have people around us to help, but not everyone has the capacity to help in the way you need, so your voice matters. Speak up to your GP and community midwife about your specific concerns. If you don’t feel heard, try again – write a letter to your healthcare professional (as there is never enough time in appointments) or ask to see someone else next time. As a medical professional, I hope that finally, the women in the UK can feel heard and safe when it comes to giving birth.

Clara Doran is a GP; her memoir ‘Doctor, Interrupted’ is out now

Row between Israel and Australia descends into personal insults

Australia’s government has pushed back against Israel’s scathing tirade against prime minister Anthony Albanese after Benjamin Netanyahu called him “weak” and accused him of betraying the country’s Jewish community.

Relations between the two countries have plummeted amid Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip, with Australia announcing last week that it would join the UK, France and Canada in recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next month.

Israel has since revoked the accreditation of Australia’s representatives to the Palestinian Authority, after Australia’s home minister, Tony Burke, cancelled the visa of a prominent far-right Israeli politician, accusing him of intending to “spread a message of hate”.

Now the row has become personal, with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashing out at Mr Albanese in an unusually pointed public missive. On X, Mr Netanyahu’s office wrote: “History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”

Responding to the remark, Mr Burke said on Wednesday: “Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many people you can leave hungry.”

“Strength is much better measured by exactly what prime minister Anthony Albanese has done, which is when there’s a decision that we know Israel won’t like, he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Mr Albanese on Wednesday afternoon said he would not take Mr Netanyahu’s comments personally, arguing that Mr Netanyahu has said similar things about other leaders.

“We had a long discussion prior to the cabinet meeting which was held last Monday morning. At that time, I gave prime minister Netanyahu a clear indication of my view and Australia’s view going forward … I gave him the opportunity to outline what political solution there was,” he told reporters.

“I don’t take these things personally. I engage with people diplomatically, he [Netanyahu] has had similar things to say about other leaders.”

It has emerged that Mr Netanyahu also sent a letter Mr Albanese on Monday, saying the Australian government was pouring “fuel on this antisemitic fire”, and condemned the decision to recognise a Palestinian state.

“It is not diplomacy, it is appeasement,” the letter read, dated 17 August and shared publicly by the Australian Jewish Association.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Tuesday said Mr Netanyahu’s comments to Mr Albanese were a “gift” for Australia.

“The thing that strengthens a leader in the democratic world today most is a confrontation with Netanyahu, the most politically toxic leader in the Western world,” he said in a social media post.

Mr Burke defended his decision to cancel Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman’s visa, saying it was to protect Palestinian and Muslim Australians, not Hamas.

“If anyone wanted to come on a public speech tour, and they had those views publicly expressed about Israeli children, I would block the visa,” Mr Burke said.

“I am going to not have a lower bar for the protection of views that are bigoted views against the Palestinian people.”

Australia has joined the growing list of countries recognising the state of Palestine, potentially becoming the 147th out of 193 UN member states to do so. The move follows similar announcements in recent weeks by the UK, France and Canada.

Mr Netanyahu accused the leaders of those three nations – Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Mark Carney – of siding with “mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers.”

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 62,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive on 7 October. The campaign was triggered by the Hamas-led attack that day, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.

Vicar who led church cult found guilty of assaulting female followers

A former priest accused of leading a rave-style evangelical cult in the Church of England has been found guilty of indecently assaulting nine of his female followers.

A trial heard Christopher Brain, who led the progressive Nine O-Clock Service (NOS) in Sheffield in the 80s and 90s, surrounded himself with women who wore lingerie or revealing clothes as part of his “homebase team” who kept his house “spotlessly clean”.

The court heard the women – sometimes referred to as “the Lycra Lovelies” or “the Lycra Nuns” – were on a rota to help then-Reverend Brain with his every need. Some gave him “sensual” massages which he told the jury were to relieve tension headaches.

He was charged with one count of rape and 36 counts of indecent assault relating to 13 women between 1981 and 1995.

On Wednesday, jurors at Inner London Crown Court found him guilty of 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women. However he was acquitted of another 15 charges of indecent assault against two women.

The jury is still deliberating the rape charge and four further counts of indecent assault.

The seven-week trial heard how Brain, 68, was praised by the Archbishop of Canterbury after his “club culture” inspired services at St Thomas’ Church in Crookes, Sheffield, and later Ponds Forge leisure centre, drew hundreds of young congregants.

He was fast tracked for Holy Orders as the movement took off, but it collapsed in controversy in 1995 after women alleged their charismatic leader had been sexually assaulting them, in some cases claiming he was helping to heal their sexual repression.

Prosecutor Tim Clark KC told the court he “abused his position first as a leader and then as an ordained priest to sexually assault a staggering number of women”.

When Brain was first confronted over claims he had abused up to 40 women, he replied: “I thought it was more,” the court heard.

Mr Clark said NOS became a cult in which members, who were vetted and organised into “discipleship” groups, were isolated from their friends and families.

“Members of NOS became utterly dependent on NOS and desperate for the attention and praise of the defendant,” he added. “They were encouraged to give up their time, finances and, eventually, their sense of self to this organisation and its leader.”

One woman who first joined the church as a teenager said she viewed Brain as a “form of prophet” who told her their contact was part of her “sexual healing”.

“She found it impossible to leave, she made an effort one time but was talked out of it,” Mr Clark said. “She describes becoming severely depressed. She stated that she engaged in the sexual activity, or more precisely submitted to it occurring, in order to survive.”

Another woman said she “viewed him as almost a God”. The prosecutor said Brain would suddenly appear in the lives of female members of NOS, often picking them up in his car whilst they were walking along. Women who did not keep the defendant happy would find themselves estranged from the group, he added.

One female congregant, who believes she was “brainwashed” by the priest, alleged he invited her to his home while his wife was away in 1983 or 1984, where he pinned her down and raped her.

She told the jury she was moving her head “from side to side” and “saying no”, adding: “I couldn’t get him off me.”

Another woman alleged she had to be available to “put him to bed”. On those occasions, he would undress and rub himself against her as she massaged him while wearing only her underwear, the court heard.

Mr Clark said: “She described going into a ‘robotic’ state doing this, she dreaded receiving his phone calls.”

The jury was told Brain admitted to “improper sexual conduct with a number of women” in the church in a bombshell 1995 BBC documentary, but denied this was abuse. He resigned from Holy Orders the same year.

Giving evidence in his defence, Brain admitted he received back massages from women in the movement despite being married with a young child.

Asked by his lawyer, Iain Simkins KC, “what on earth possessed you to have a back massage from another woman”, he responded: “Why not?”

He told the jury he suffered from “terrible” tension headaches. He said people in the homebase team, formed to free up his time to take the religious movement on the road, were “personal friends” and the massages were not part of their duties.

He admitted to having sexual contact with up to six of his accusers, but insisted it was consensual. Some of the other alleged assaults simply did not happen, he claimed.

He told the jury, “I was the most radical ordained vicar there was” as he defended his actions, adding: “I wasn’t a traditional vicar, I was someone on a journey of radical research and experimentation.”

He insisted NOS was a “free, open, really caring, very fun environment” and as they started to develop their own theology around 1990, some members became interested in tantric celibacy.

He added: “With some of my closest friends, it would be kissing sometimes, occasionally massaging, stroking. Anything more than that, we would back off.”

Jurors will return to court at 10am on Thursday to continue deliberations.

Noel Gallagher ‘underestimated’ challenges of Oasis reunion tour

Noel Gallagher says his “legs turned to jelly” while playing the first show of the Oasis reunion tour in Cardiff and has spoken about how much he “grossly underestimated” the scale of the shows.

Oasis concluded the first stage of their ongoing reunion tour in the UK and Ireland with two concerts in Dublin at the weekend. After less than a week off, they are due to begin the North American in Toronto on Sunday 24 August.

Speaking to talkSPORT hosts Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent in his first interview since the tour began in July, Noel said he was “completely blown away” by the audience’s reaction to the band.

“It’s difficult to put it into words, actually. Every night is the crowd’s first night, do you know what I mean? So every night’s got that kind of same energy to it, but it’s been truly amazing. I’m not usually short for words, but I can’t really articulate it at the moment, to be honest,” he said.

“I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me personally, I grossly underestimated what I was getting into. It was kind of, after about five minutes, I was like, ‘All right, can I just go back to the dressing room and start this again?’

“I’ve done stadiums before and all that, but I don’t mind telling you, my legs turned to jelly after about halfway through the second song and I could have done with going back and taking a minute, but it’s been an amazing thing.”

One of the defining bands of the Nineties, Oasis split up in 2009 after Noel quit the band at the Rock en Seine festival in Paris, claiming he couldn’t work with his brother Liam “a day longer”.

Last year in August, the brothers appeared to have mended their longstanding rift and announced that they would join each other onstage for the Oasis Live 25 tour and play a string of shows through 2025.

The band started with shows in Cardiff, then performed to sold-out crowds at Heaton Park, Wembley Stadium, Murrayfield Stadium, and Croke Park. They will next be performing in Canada, the United States and Mexico, return to the UK for two more Wembley shows, and then conclude the tour with Asia-Pacific and South American runs.

On working again with Liam, Noel said it was “great” being back in the band with him.

“It’s great just to be back in, back with Bonehead and Liam and just be doing it again,” he said, referring to guitarist Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs.

“I guess when it’s all said and done, we’ll sit and reflect on it. But it’s great being back in the band with Liam. I forgot how funny he was.”

Noel joked that Liam’s voice sounded great because of “AI,” but ultimately said the frontman was “smashing it”.

“I’m proud of him. Having fronted a band for 16 years, I know how difficult that is,” Noel said, referring to Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, which he started in 2010 after leaving Oasis. “I couldn’t do the stadium thing like he does it, it’s not in my nature. But I’ve got to say, I kind of look around and I think, good for you, mate. He’s been amazing.”

To a question on what plans the band have after the tour ends and if the rumours are true that they will be playing Knebworth Festival next year, Noel chose not to answer by replying: “Right, let’s talk about football.”

Authorities are currently investigating reports that state up to 200 people were able to sneak into the concerts at Wembley Stadium without tickets.

Tickets sold out in hours when they went on sale last year and the high demand resulted in a surge in ticket prices and a row over Ticketmaster’s so-called “dynamic pricing”, which the company denied using.

Reports now state that some concertgoers paid £350 each to be smuggled into Wembley through a disabled entrance across the five gigs, allegedly using copies of the same ticket to get through security.

A Wembley Stadium spokesperson said in a statement: “Entering Wembley Stadium without a ticket is a serious offence and we are investigating these allegations.

“If they are substantiated, we will refer our evidence to the police.”

Abandoned Grade I-listed manor house gutted by fire

Firefighters are battling a significant blaze at a Grade I-listed manor house in Liverpool, prompting warnings for local residents to keep windows and doors closed.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were alerted to the incident at Woolton Hall shortly after 8pm on Tuesday evening.

Residents were warned to keep doors and windows closed as crews tackled the fire at the three-storey stone-built building.

By 11.30pm, nine fire engines were on site, deploying hoses to combat flames on the building’s exterior, a spokesman for the service stated.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said: “A multi-agency meeting has taken place with police and a building surveyor, who has assessed the building and advised it would be unsafe to commit firefighters to the interior of the building.”

Crews continued to fight the fire overnight, and the main body of the blaze was extinguished just before 2am on Wednesday.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service released an update at 7am on Wednesday morning, which reads: “Fire crews continued to fight the fire overnight although having made good progress yesterday evening resources were scaled down to four fire engines and an aerial appliance.

“Crews damped down the scene with main branch hoses and hose reel jets.

“The main body of fire was extinguished just before 2am this morning and damping down and checking for hot spots continued throughout the night. Three fire engines and an aerial appliance remain at the scene.”

Photos at the scene show show the manor house’s roof has collapsed as firefighters continue to dampen down the scene on Wednesday morning.

The hall, which is privately owned, was built in 1704.

Local campaigners have been calling for Woolton Hall to be saved for a number of years due to the condition of the building.

In 2019, fire crews were called to tackle a suspected arson attack in outbuildings and worked to prevent the blaze from spreading to the main building.

Remote retreats: idyllic British breaks for the perfect escape

For a restorative getaway where you can truly unwind, relax and reset, there’s nothing like escaping into nature, whether it’s a coastal bolthole, lakeside idyll or a country retreat surrounded by forests and fields. To help you find your perfect escape, we’ve rounded up some of the best remote breaks around Britain, from luxe cabins to country houses and everything in between.

What’s more, they’re all accessible by train, making it even easier to get away from it all, wherever you’re based. Plus, Railcard offers a third off rail travel around Britain. With nine Railcards to choose from, saving customers an average of £172 a year, it pays for itself in no time. Find the one for you at railcard.co.uk. What’s more, Railcard have created a handy online calculator to determine what you could save – simply enter your journey details and the relevant Railcard and it will calculate the discount you can get.

Read on for some truly special stays where you can go off grid in style…

Follow the herd, or rather flock, to a collection of luxury shepherd’s huts situated on a farm in Romney Marsh in Kent, where you’ll be surrounded by sheep (the owners also run a sustainable wool business). Just three miles away from the busy Ashford International Station, you’ll feel a million miles away from the stresses of everyday life. The huts each have a fully fitted kitchen, fridge, bathroom with a power shower and even a log burner for chilly evenings. You can add on various extras to your stay, from BBQ boxes and cocktail kits to local vineyard tours and even alpaca trekking – or just sit back under the vast open skies and feel your worries melt away.

Nearest station: Three miles from Ashford International Station

Nature lovers will relish a stay at Whitby Log Cabins, which offer a slice of rustic luxury in three acres of peaceful ancient woodland, complete with a stream and waterfall, just a mile from Whitby train station. There are three cosy but luxe cabins to choose from, each in its own private area and not overlooked by anyone else – aside, perhaps, from some local wildlife. Guests have spotted deer, badgers and owls outside their cabins and it’s the perfect place for a spot of stargazing. If you want some human life, Whitby town centre, with its many attractions (including the famous Whitby Abbey – an inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula) is just a 40-minute scenic walk away, along the Cinder Track, a former railway line.

Nearest station: Whitby, about one mile away (the owners are happy to pick people up from the station)

There’s no better place to camp than in one of Britain’s dark sky reserves – areas officially designated excellent for observing the night sky. While by their very nature (a lack of artificial light), these areas are usually fairly remote, some are reachable by train. Woodfire at Westerlands is a 15-minute taxi ride from Pulborough station, in the heart of the South Downs National Park. They have pre-pitched tents available if you don’t want to lug your own stuff (though there’s no lighting onsite, so pack your torch!) In Wiltshire, Tisbury has the only “dark sky friendly” train station in Britain – from there it’s four miles to Marshwood Farm Camping, in the where you can stay in a bell tent or shepherd’s hut, or pitch your own.

Nearest station: Various, see above.

Moreton-in-Marsh, in the heart of The Cotswolds, is a pretty market town full of honey-coloured stone houses and beautiful surrounding countryside. It’s also one of the few Cotswolds towns with a train station, making it a convenient spot from which to explore this delightful part of the country. Attractions like Cotswold Falconry, the award-winning Bourton House Garden, Sezincote House and Gardens (a 200-year-old Indian palace set in 3,500 acres of English countryside) and Batsford Arboretum – a 60 acre collection of rare and beautiful trees – are all nearby and can be reached by local footpaths. Back in Moreton-in-Marsh itself, Lord of The Rings fans will enjoy exploring spots frequented by JRR Tolkien — particularly The Bell Inn, said to be the inspiration for Middle Earth pub the Prancing Pony.

Nearest station: Moreton-in-Marsh, about a five minute walk to the town centre

If you’re after some relaxed luxury, the 19th century Hampton Manor is just a five minute stroll from Hampton-in-Arden station (a 15 minute rail journey from Birmingham). Set across 45 wooded acres, it has two award-winning restaurants, a cookery school and artisan bakery. There’s a real emphasis on sustainability – the estate is powered by 100 per cent renewable energy and works with local farmers, producers and craftspeople. You can choose from three different but equally plush areas to stay: the manor house, the walled garden suites or the walled garden cottage. A daily vinyl (and cake) hour, along with informal wine tastings and impromptu fire pits help make it feel like you’re in a friend’s country pile rather than a hotel.

Nearest station: Hampton-in-Arden, a five minute walk away

On the fringe of the Northumberland Coast, Bilton Barns Farm has soul-nourishing views over the village of Alnmouth to the sea beyond. There’s a selection of accommodation here, including a range of cottages, but for something a bit different, book into one of their two bespoke cabins, each with a sea view, hot tub and fire pit – plus luxury touches like Egyptian cotton bedding, fluffy towels and robes. The Bilton Lookout has two storeys, so you can stare out at the stars from your cosy loft bedroom. While the Bilton Bothy is an L-shaped cabin with large outdoor decking, perfect for al fresco dining. Nearby you’ll find numerous walking trails including one that takes you directly down to the Northumberland coast path.

Nearest station: Alnmouth train station on the east coast main trainline (short taxi ride of one mile)

The Cairngorms National Park is the UK’s largest National Park, home to a quarter of its rare and endangered species – and the ultimate destination for an outdoor adventure. Aviemore is an ideal gateway to explore it from, offering incredible views, thrilling outdoor activities, and wonderful wildlife. Hire a bike and head out on the many local trails. Put on your walking boots and head for the stunning Loch An Eilen (Loch of the Island) – famous for its island castle ruin – around an hour’s walk from Aviemore. Take a trip on the Strathspey Heritage Railway, with its incredible views of the Cairngorm mountains and River Spey. And be sure to visit the Cairngorm Brewery to try some award-winning tipples.

Nearest station: Aviemore, in the town centre.

Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa is an award-winning spa hotel set in a breathtaking location on the shores of Lake Windermere, just a two mile taxi ride from Windermere Railway Station. Whether you’re looking for some adventure or just want to do some serious unwinding, there’s plenty to suit every mood here. The hotel spa has both indoor and outdoor infinity pools with lake views, along with saunas, hot tubs and thermal experiences. And at the on-site water sports centre you can try your hand at kayaking, paddle boarding, waterskiing, sailing and more. When you’ve worked up an appetite you might want to try the hotel’s signature wood-fired afternoon tea, which includes toasted slider sandwiches, peri peri chicken wings and flamed lemon meringue cheesecake. Be sure to force yourself to leave the hotel though – it’s the perfect base for enjoying scenic walks in the spectacular surroundings.

Nearest station: Short taxi ride from Windermere Railway Station

The Sharpham Trust is on a mission to reconnect people with nature, through a series of mindfulness and nature connection retreats on the stunning Sharpham Estate in Devon. There’s a whole range on offer, from beginner’s mindfulness and those focused on learning more about the natural world to singing and silent retreats. You can even spend a few days canoeing along the idyllic River Dart, or learn some new skills on a rewilding or foraging course. Accommodation options include a Grade I listed Georgian mansion, a converted 18th century stable block, The Barn Retreat Centre and bell tents in the Woodlands. The perfect way to escape in every sense.

Nearest station: Totnes, 15 minutes in a taxi

Buddha Beach House is a 400-year-old fish cellar turned modern coastal hideaway, perched on the cliffs above Whitsand Bay on the south east coast of Cornwall, just a 10-minute taxi ride from St Germans train station. Beyond the unbeatable sea views, there are four plush bedrooms (the house sleeps up to 10), a cedar hot tub and a bathroom aquarium the kids will love. Spend days beachside, surfing, exploring rock pools or hiking the coastal path. The owners have another property nearby, On The Rocks, which sleeps seven and is just 30 metres from the beach. Cornwall can get hectic during the summer, but this quiet corner is hidden from the crowds, ensuring a peaceful and picture perfect break.

Nearest station: St Germans, 10 minutes by taxi

Enjoy great value British adventures by train

From stunning nature and the great outdoors, to culture, cuisine and incredible scenery, there’s no doubt Britain has it all in spades, and these unmissable adventures are just a simple, enjoyable train ride away. So there’s never been a better time to start planning some Great British getaways, from day trips to weekends away or a longer staycation.

With Railcard, whether you’re travelling solo or with a friend, on a couples weekend or off on holiday with the family, you can save on all sorts of train journeys around Great Britain. Railcard helps you save a third off rail travel and for just £35 for the year, it pays for itself in no time. With nine different Railcards available, find the one for you at railcard.co.uk

Prince Andrew book removes claims about Melania Trump and Epstein

A new book about the Duke of York has been edited to remove claims about Melania Trump’s relationship with Jeffery Epstein.

The book, called Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, written by Andrew Lownie, has made headlines in recent weeks after making claims about the disgraced duke’s life.

An entire chapter is dedicated to Prince Andrew’s infamous friendship with Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.

The chapter also included a claim that Donald Trump and his wife had been introduced by the disgraced financier – which has now been edited out of future editions.

The president and first lady have long said they were introduced by Paolo Zampolli, a modeling agent, at a New York Fashion Week party in 1998.

A HarperCollins UK spokesperson said: “We can confirm that several passages from Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie have been removed in consultation with the author. Entitled is published in the UK by HarperCollins. In the US the book is self-published by Mr Lownie.”

It is understood that the changes will appear in all future print editions of the book and that the ebook and audio book have already been updated to reflect these changes.

However, it is estimated to have been printed in around 60,000 copies of the book already.

The decision comes after Mrs Trump threatened to sue Hunter Biden, the son of former US President Joe Biden, for claiming Epstein introduced her and Mr Trump in the late 1990s.

The statements are false, defamatory, and “extremely salacious,” Melania Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, wrote in the letter to Biden.

The letter demanded that Biden walk back the claim and apologise or face legal action for “over $1bn in damages”.

It also accuses the former president’s son of having a “vast history of trading on the names of others” and repeating the claim “to draw attention to yourself.”

Hunter Biden has refused to apologise after the first lady threatened legal action.

Democratic strategist James Carville was also forced to take down parts of a podcast episode that alleged a connection between her and Jeffrey Epstein, following involvement from the first lady’s lawyer earlier this month.

“First Lady Melania Trump’s attorneys are actively ensuring immediate retractions and apologies by those who spread malicious, defamatory falsehoods. The true account of how the First Lady met President Trump is in her best-selling book, Melania,” a spokesperson for the first lady’s office previously told The Independent.

The book has included a number of accusations about Prince Andrew, including claims of affairs, fights with Prince Harry and of being “unbelievably cruel” to royal staff.

One passage says Andrew called a staff member in the Royal Household a “f***ing imbecile” for not referring to the Queen Mother by her full title in 2005.

According to the book, Prince Andrew’s catchphrase when dealing with royal staff was “I want this done and I want this done now. Do it!”

Reeves’ mansion tax ‘makes no sense and could lose Treasury money’

Rachel Reeves’ plans to levy a so-called “mansion tax” on high-value properties make “no sense” and could cause the Treasury to lose money, one of Britain’s leading economists has warned.

Paul Johnson, the former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), told The Independent he is “staggered” at reports that the Treasury is considering such a move, saying it could “block up the entire housing market”.

It came as mortgage brokers and financial planners rounded on the chancellor after reports she is considering hitting the owners of expensive properties when they sell to plug a £40bn hole in the public purse.

The mooted plans would see higher-rate taxpayers pay 24 per cent of any gain in the value of their home, while basic rate taxpayers would be hit with an 18 per cent levy. Currently, capital gains tax is not paid on the sale of primary residences.

The threshold is still under consideration, sources told The Times, but a £1.5m starting point would hit around 120,000 homeowners who are higher-rate taxpayers with capital gains tax bills of £199,973.

Mr Johnson called for a major overhaul of housing taxation as a whole, warning that levying capital gains tax on high value properties at the same time as stamp duty would mean “no one would ever sell their properties”.

“I think there are all sorts of practical problems with it. It would gum up the housing market at the top end hopelessly. So I think, personally, it’s a non runner.

“I think it would be very hard to design in a way that would raise significant money, and indeed, it could lose the Treasury money. Because, you know, you could lose the money you’re currently getting in stamp duty.

“I just can’t believe that they’re considering it. I’m staggered that they’re flying this flag. It, to me, makes no sense.”

Calling for an overhaul of housing taxation, the former IFS director said council tax is “far too low on expensive properties” while stamp duty is a “disaster area”. But he said that “talking about [levying] capital gains tax when you’ve still got stamp duty would clearly be hopeless”.

“You need to think about these in conjunction with one another. It’s just not sensible in any world to be talking about these things individually”, he added.

Mr Johnson said the stagnation in the property market would be made even worse if the Conservatives pledged to reverse any such policy

“That would guarantee that nobody would move”, he said. “People would hope that someone else would win the next election and wait to sell. So there’s a huge practical problem there.”

It came as property experts warned the plans would stall housing sales and add to the exodus of the super-rich from the UK.

Financial adviser Scott Gallacher, director at Rowley Turton, said a level of £1.5m would prevent most older homeowners, particularly those who bought properties in the 80s and 90s, from selling houses.

He added that the plans would “kill off the upper end of the property market” and be difficult to implement. Mr Gallacher said: “It would be insane if it creates a cliff edge in that properties over £1.5m are subject to Capital Gains Tax on the entire gain, as properties sold at £1.49m would incur no CGT whereas £1.5m might be a six-figure bill. If it’s only on gains above £1.5m, then the CGT raised would be minimal, as potentially you’d be exempting six or even seven-figure gains.”

He added: “Homeowners, especially older ones, who perhaps bought their houses in the 1970s or 1980s, would be daft to sell and incur a huge CGT liability. Instead they would be incentivised to hold on to the home until they die and pay no CGT.”

Meanwhile Simon Gerrard, chairman of Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents, warned the plans would leave families who bought homes in London more than a decade ago facing “eye-watering” tax bills.

“Meanwhile, those who are actually wealthy know how to bypass these moves and won’t pay it,” he said.

He told The Independent: “After the deadline passes people will simply not sell their homes. The property market above the threshold will die until Labour are voted out and the policy is repealed under a more sensible government.”

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, said the tax-free nature of primary residences is “deeply embedded in the psyche of homeowners”.

He warned: “A mansion tax set at high level would naturally cause people to worry it was just the thin end of the wedge, and the next time the government needs a bit of money they could just lower the threshold.

“It would also be an impediment to mobility in the housing market, as those with properties which might fall foul of the tax would be inclined to sit on them for longer, leaving a log jam in the housing ladder below them.”

And critics warned the tax change would add to the reported exodus of super-rich individuals fleeing Britain. “I can see a lot of families in London being caught with this higher tax bill, and it may push more wealthy tax contributors to exodus the UK, which is already a problem following the Chancellor‘s last budget,” said Stephen Perkins, managing director of Yellow Brick Mortgages.

A Treasury spokesman said: “The best way to strengthen public finances is by growing the economy – which is our focus.

“Changes to tax and spend policy are not the only ways of doing this, as seen with our planning reforms, which are expected to grow the economy by £6.8bn and cut borrowing by £3.4bn

“We are committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible, which is why at last autumn’s Budget, we protected working people’s payslips and kept our promise not to raise the basic, higher or additional rates of income tax, employee national insurance, or VAT.” .