This Mother’s Day, gift something more than just another bunch of flowers, a card, some chocolates, and go beyond the bog-standard Mother’s Day present.
Instead of the ordinary, give her something that will really stick out, something original, that she can hold forever as a treasured memory or a shared experience. Here at Not In The Guidebooks, we have a wide range of experiences, from day-long activities to long-weekend retreats, all designed to help you gift differently and treat your mum to something a little special for 2022.
1. York Food Tour
Explore the ancient Roman streets of York, and get under the skin of the city like never before on a food tour that also unlocks some of the city’s most fascinating stories and myths.
Of course, the main focus of the tour is on York’s thriving food scene, and on this 3 hour walk you’ll discover the very best hidden gems throughout the city, whether it’s cosy pubs, tucked away restaurants or eateries you might walk past without a second glance.
Along the way you’ll try some of the very best food York has to offer, and meet the people behind a culinary movement that is very much alive and kicking in this North Yorkshire city.
2. Yoga and Wild Swimming Escape in Anglesey
For something to truly help your mum unwind, reset and reconnect with nature this year, this yoga and wild swimming escape in North Wales could be the perfect gift.
Whether you send your mother with a couple of friends or join her yourself, it’s a chance to get out into the windswept beaches and rolling hills of Anglesey, on rejuvenating wild swimming adventures and relaxing yoga sessions.
You’ll stay in a beautiful country house surrounded by tranquil parkland, along with a group of likeminded travellers which makes this the perfect, cosy base to connect with others after a day spent in nature.
3. French Cookery Break in Gascony
Another chance to escape the rush of everyday life, this short break in a beautiful farmhouse immerses guests in the world of French cuisine, with plenty of time to relax, sit by the pool, and enjoy some top-quality local French wine.
Your hosts, Caroline and Adam, are passionate about their corner of Gascony and will help you get the very best out of local, seasonal ingredients bought from quaint village markets, so that you and your mother can discover the secrets of what makes authentic French cuisine.
The lovingly restored farmhouse is the perfect spot for a mother and daughter getaway, where you can join other foodies in a small group for an unforgettable weekend that includes cooking masterclasses, chateau visits and wine tasting sessions, and culinary excursions to local villages and towns – a mother’s day gift to remember.
Yoga and Wild Swimming Escape
4 Nights/5 Days
Wales
Truly immerse yourself in the wild landscape of North Wales, on a luxury wild swimming and yoga retreat on the Isle of A..
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Mrs Higgs’ Woodland Retreat
Minimum 3 Nights
England
Stay in this unique and isolated woodland house, take time for yourself and your loved ones, remove yourself from the cr..
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Secret London Bike Tour
3.5 hours
England
Get off the beaten track in London on a bike tour that helps you find the spots most tourists miss, on London's most com..
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Hidden Gems Food Tour of York
2.5 - 3 hours
England
Dig beneath the surface of York's food scene, and discover some of the best-kept secrets in the city on a food tour that..
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4. Secret London Bike Tour
Something a little closer to home now, this bike tour of London explores the secret corners of the capital and uncovers quirky stories and facts that would otherwise go unmissed in a city with countless tales to tell.
It’s the perfect opportunity to take your mum on a unique adventure through the city, with opportunities to stop at a classic East London boozer, discover new favourite spots to eat, with a local guide who clearly has a passion for showing off the lesser-known corners of London.
For a unique day out to remember, this is a great option for those on the hunt for a different gift that’s easy to get to and simply enjoy.
5. Hidden Hot Tub Retreat
Perhaps though, you’d rather take your mother away from the rush of the city, to a secluded corner of woodland where the two of you can relax, surrounded by nature, seemingly far from civilisation.
On this hidden hot tub retreat in Herefordshire, you’ll stay in a hunting lodge that was built in 1835, and is completely off-grid, utilising solar energy and wood-burning stoves to power and heat the cottage.
Of course, you’re not without modern amenities like running water and a flushing loo, but as you soak in the wood-fired hot tub under the woodland canopy, you’ll genuinely feel like you’re as far from the modern world as it’s possible to get in the UK.
6. Drawing and Walking Experience in Northumberland
The perfect gift for all the arty mums out there, this experience is a chance to explore, learn and get creative in the beautiful Northumberland National Park, on a hiking experience with an artistic twist.
You’ll join a local guide and a wildlife artist, on a walk that goes at your own pace, allowing you to capture the landscape with expert tips from your guides along the way. Whether an experienced artist or a budding creative, your guides will help you to bring out the very best of the landscape on paper.
Set in beautiful Breamish Valley, there is no end of inspiration from the landscape, with rolling hills, open moorland and beautiful rivers to draw that creative spark from.
Here at Not In The Guidebooks, we are always on the lookout for unique, authentic experiences and things to do that help you travel like a local. So often, we find that these experiences translate brilliantly into memorable gifts that go beyond the material, and create treasured memories that last a lifetime. Whether it’s a day experience in London or a longer retreat in Europe, our experiences are tied together by the virtue of being local, responsible and immersive, so that you too can enjoy that feeling of experiencing a new destination like a local.
21/05/2020 
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