WHERE can your read how a Minster, the largest Gothic church in England, survived three major fires seemingly unscathed; discover how vast tracts of Yorkshire and Northumberland, laid waste for more than 100 years after the Norman Conquest, mounted a rebellious attack on the Vikings; and, at the same time, discover where to find traditional coaching inns and pubs that have played an important role in the culture and history of Northern England?

Answer: The Hidden Inns of Yorkshire, edited by Barbara Vesey. This easy-to-use travel guide to pubs and coaching inns stems from the suggestions of readers of the Hidden Places travel guides who wanted to be directed to traditional inns with atmosphere and character, which are so much a part of our British heritage. The book also contains a wealth of interesting information on the more secluded and less well-known places of interest.

Travel writer Barbara Vesey, who was born in New York, moved to the UK in 1987. She and her family now live in South Yorkshire.

Hidden Inns of Yorkshire, Including the Yorkshire Dales and Moors, edited by Barbara Vesey, Travel Publishing Ltd, costs £5.99.

We have ten copies of the Hidden Inns of Yorkshire to give away. Just send your name and address on a postcard or back of a sealed envelope to Features, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF.

Top spots

THREE hotels from the North-East are named as the pick of places to stay in the Which? Hotel Guide 2002. Ryedale Country Lodge, Nunnington, near Helmsley, is chosen for its "romantic escapism", the Centre of Britain Hotel, in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, is listed for its "stylish chic" and the Balmoral Hotel, Harrogate, for its "quirky character". The Which? Hotel Guide 2002 is a collection of the very best hotels, B&Bs, pubs, farmhouses and restaurants-with-rooms "where you can be sure of enjoying first-class hospitality, a good night's sleep and value for money".

Ski break

Ski operator Club Pavilion is offering seven-night ski breaks to the popular resort of Soldeu in Andorra, Spain, from £199 per person on all departures throughout January. Accommodation is at the two-star Hotel Roc, situated 800 metres from the lifts and at the centre of Soldeu. The resort is ideal for wintersports enthusiasts of all levels with a good choice of pistes from nursery slopes to black runs. Soldeu has also become well known and popular as a boarding hotspot with superb runs, off-piste riding and a snowboard park offering one of the best halfpipes in the Pyrenees. Additionally, beginners can benefit from joining the universally-recognised ski and board school. Club Pavilion can pre-book ski and board lessons with prices starting from £130 per person. After a hard day of skiing, the fun does not stop. Soldeu and its neighbouring towns offer everything from bars, restaurants and shopping to evening sporting activities. For those who have the energy, snowmobiling, helicopter flights, snowshoeing and torchlit mountain descents can make it a holiday to remember. Other sports such as ice skating and swimming can be found in the town of Canillo. Prices for seven nights bed and breakfast at the Hotel Roc in January 2002 start from £199 per person based on two sharing, and include return flights from Gatwick and transfers. For reservations call Club Pavilion on 0870 055 0870.

Set sail

SPECIALIST cruise operator Voyages of Discovery is offering great savings on all cruises departing from the UK next summer. Passengers sailing on the British Isles in Bloom, Norwegian Fjord and Baltic Discovery can enjoy up to two free places when four passengers share a four-berth cabin. Additionally, passengers will receive free parking at Harwich or complimentary travel from central London to the ship. The British Isles in Bloom is the first of the cruises departing on May 18, 2002. This eight-night cruise takes in ports of call in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, Ireland, the Isles of Scilly and Guernsey. Prices start from £599 per person based on two sharing a two-berth inside cabin, with three-berth cabins from £749 and fourth-berth cabins from £849, only the first two passengers pay. The next of the ex-UK cruises is a voyage to the spectacular Norwegian Fjords. Operating in the week of the Whitsun Bank Holiday from May 26-June 2 passengers will see stunning waterfalls and picturesque villages and mountains. Prices for this seven-night cruise start from £549 per person based on two sharing a two-berth cabin, with three-berth cabins from £699 and four-berth cabins from £799. Finally, the 13-night Baltic Discovery cruise departs from Harwich on June 2, taking in many well-known sights in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia and Germany with a transit of the Kiel Canal. Prices start from £999 per person based on two sharing a two-brth inside cabin, with three-berth cabins from £1199 and four-berth cabins from £799. All cruises depart from and return to Harwich. Prices include all meals and entertainment on board, all port taxes, a series of illustrated talks on each destination visited and wine with evening meals. For reservations call 01444 462150.