Mother and daughter weekend breaks: cook up a treat in Yorkshire

Whether you share a love of shopping, cooking or rural retreats, we’ve got weekend breaks to suit every taste

More mother-and-daughter breaks:

Shopping in Newcastle

Weekend in the Welsh countryside

Cook up a treat in Yorkshire

The mother: Alison Eaton, a teacher

The daughter: SHE's senior writer Rachel Eaton

Baking is a tradition in my family. From the age of three I was taught to bake by my grandmother, who taught my mum in the same way,
so when I heard about the famous Bettys Cookery School in Harrogate, I couldn't think of a better way to spend time with my mother - doing something we both love and, most importantly, eating the results!

What we did

When we arrived at Bettys Tearooms, we were welcomed like old friends before sitting down with a hot drink and (the first of many) biscuits. Then we donned our ‘Bettys' aprons and name tags and began getting to know one another. The school offers 20 different courses, and our ‘Teatime Temptations' course involved making lemon and lime drizzle cake, coffee and walnut cake, Anzac biscuits, melted moments and chocolate Battenberg. All were demonstrated in the state-of-the-art kitchen before we tried the recipes ourselves. The courses are suitable for all - one fellow baker was approaching 80! The day was fast-paced and fun and, more than once, left us in fits of floury giggles. The tutors were supportive and very tolerant of our curdling disasters - and more than happy to wade in and rescue our recipes.

Where we stayed

The Balmoral Hotel is set in a beautiful stone building, over 100 years old, and is a five-minute walk from the centre of Harrogate. Our executive room was small, but cosy, and decorated in a funky baroque style with black chandeliers and bold wallpaper. And the restaurant food - from breakfast bacon butties to a three-course dinner - was delicious.

Top tip

It may be a hugely enjoyable day, but it's also non-stop, so if you're looking for something a bit more relaxed, consider booking a half, rather than a full-day, course.

Our verdict

The cookery school exceeded our expectations - so much so that
I have already booked another course. Harrogate is beautiful
and we spent Sunday morning getting lost in its winding streets.

Getting there

Fares to Harrogate from London (via York or Leeds) on the National Express East Coast cost from £86 return (www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com). Doubles at The Balmoral Hotel (www.balmoralhotel.co.uk) cost from £85 per night, room only. One-day courses at Bettys cost £155 pp (www.bettyscookeryschool.co.uk).

More fun for foodies

Belle Isle school of Cookery, Northern Ireland

Belle Isle's roster of cookery courses take place in scenic County Fermanagh. Upcoming weekend courses include outdoor entertaining and seasonal spring menus. A two-day course costs £310pp, including accommodation (www.irish-cookery-school.com).

Ashburton Cookery School, Devon

Ashburton's courses include everything from breadmaking and knife skills to fish and seafood. A one-day course costs from £149pp. The school is located in a picturesque market town on the edge of Dartmoor. Doubles from £65 per night (minimum two-night stay), including breakfast (www.ashburton cookeryschool.co.uk).

More mother-and-daughter breaks:

Shopping in Newcastle