Would you consider yourself a cheese connoisseur? Is tucking into a cheese board your idea of an ideal night? Know your bries from your camemberts?
If you're a dairy fiend, then you'll probably be keen to hear that the popular Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival is set to return next month for four cheese-filled days of fun after what has undoubtedly been a difficult year.
The festival will be welcomed by visitors looking to enjoy some inspiring food and drink with the stunning Yorkshire Dales providing a unique backdrop.
Taking place from Thursday 7 October - Sunday 10 October, the festival will shine a worthy light on some of the most incredible produce the Yorkshire Dales has to offer and will include a range of local businesses hosting special events such as menus and tasting to mark the special occasion.
As well as there being a selection of delicious cheeses to taste test from a collection of independent local retailers, there'll also be cheesy dishes to tuck into at local cafes and restaurants in Leyburn, Skipton, and Hawes, according to The Yorkshireman.
There'll even be demos using local produce, cookery courses, dining experiences and more.
The festival will shine a worthy light on some of the most incredible produce the Yorkshire Dales / Credit: Pxfuel
If you're after a little teaser of what to expect, Riverbank in Burnsall is putting a cheesy twist to some of its amazing home-baked best sellers, including its Fatboys sausage rolls wrapped in nutty Emmental cheese and cheesy scones, and the Burgoyne Hotel in Swaledale will also serving up famous Swaledale cheese and gin and some freshly-baked scones too.
Town End Farm Shop & Tea Room near Skipton are serving Dale End Mac n Cheese, Mac n Cheese toasties, a trio of Wensleydale cheeses and fruit cake, and fabulous local cheese and charcuterie.
Tipples of Yorkshire gin and ale will also be served alongside the cheesy dishes to wash down all the dairy, and if you've got room to fit even more in, there will also be specially-created dairy ice creams and sorbets, jams, jellies and chutneys, locally-reared meat and more.
Some fantastic businesses have already signed up for the festival, so make sure you get down and visit to sample the produce.
Leeds Bradford Airport is set for a standstill as almost 130 workers are set to take industrial action over pay.
If you're planning on catching a flight from Leeds Bradford Airport, then you may want to double check the date.
The Unite members planning on going on strike are a mixture of air traffic control workers, customer experience staff, security staff and cleaners.
The workers involved in the dispute have recently come out of a four-year pay deal, with some of the departments having fallen behind other airports in equivalent roles.
Pay talks have been happening since December 2025, with the airport's formal offer not going far enough to address the lack of pay parity.
Strikes will take place from 03:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for hourly paid staff and from 06:00 Friday 16 October to 06:00 Sunday 18 October for air traffic control workers.
Strike will mean the entire airport will shut down.
Since the announcement, Leeds Bradford Airport have issued a statement: "Leeds Bradford Airport acknowledges the proposed industrial action due to take place between 16-18 October involving a group of operational colleagues.
"We respect the right of employees to participate in lawful industrial action. However, we are disappointed by this and do not believe strike action is the right way to resolve the issues still under discussion.
"The airport has made what we believe is a fair and responsible offer that is significantly above inflation and reflects both current economic conditions and the need to ensure the long-term sustainability of the business.
"Our priority now is to minimise disruption for customers, many of whom have worked hard and saved for important holidays, family visits and business travel. At this stage we anticipate running near-normal operations during the period.
"Leeds Bradford Airport plays a vital role in connecting Yorkshire to the world. Industrial action has the potential to cause inconvenience for thousands of customers and local businesses who rely on those connections.
"We remain committed to constructive dialogue with Unite and would welcome continued discussions aimed at reaching a resolution. Our focus remains on serving Yorkshire, supporting our colleagues and maintaining safe airport operations."
Two Leeds motorways named in the UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’
Emily Sergeant
Two motorways in and around Leeds have been named the ‘most challenging’ in the UK.
As part of MoneySuperMarket’s new Great British Motorway Report, new research has found that one in three UK motorists find motorway driving ‘stressful’ – despite more than 70 billion miles being travelled on Britain’s motorways each year.
From delays and congestion to high traffic levels, there are a number of factors that can contribute to driver stress levels.
But are some motorways more challenging for drivers than others? According to the data, yes. And two of the top 10 worst motorways in the UK are in and around Leeds.
Three Manchester motorways have been named in the UK’s top 10 ‘most challenging’ / Credit: pxfuel
To find out which are the most challenging, MoneySuperMarket analysed everything from collision rates and roadworks, to lane closures and driver feedback in order to reveal the top 10.
Leeds is home to three of the UK’s top 10 most challenging motorways – the M62, and the M621.
The M60, M25, and the M11 ranked as the UK’s most challenging motorways, with lengthy delays and a high number of incidents affecting their scores.
“If you’re feeling anxious, allow extra time for your journey so you don’t feel pressured to rush or make last-minute decisions,” commented Alicia Hempsted at MoneySuperMarket.
“Plan your route in advance, including where you’ll stop for breaks, as regular rest stops can help you stay alert and reduce stress on longer trips, and if you’re travelling alone, consider sharing your route with someone you trust if it helps you feel more comfortable.”
The Hoot -
10th September 2021 
