ON A WINNING STREAK

Janette Sykes visits Morecambe Bay for fabulous walking. fine food and drink and a flutter on the horses

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Morecambe Bay has exerted a magnetic pull on me since the days when I spent the summer holidays there with my parents in the 1960s. Perhaps it's the majestic curve of the coast, the sea's sudden shifts from sombre to sparkling, its moody mudflats at low tide, or the hazy blue peaks of the Lake District soaring in the distance.

Whatever its fundamental appeal, this is a truly spiritual place that never fails to reinvigorate the soul, whatever the season.

This time we were headed to its northern shores in high summer, to indulge our passion for horse-racing at Cartmel Races. Our base was the ideally situated Meathop Fell Caravan & Motorhome Club Campsite, a stone's throw from Grange-over-Sands.

Grange-over-Sands

Grange has an elegant, slightly understated atmosphere, harking back to its heyday as a fashionable Victorian holiday resort.

You can pick up a street map at various shops and small businesses in town, full of useful information about places to visit, and where to shop, eat and drink.

The Ornamental Gardens and Park Road Gardens are charming places for a gentle stroll, and you can admire sweeping views of the bay by walking back towards the railway station along the promenade.

Shopping there was a real pleasure, too, thanks to the friendly welcome we received everywhere. Look out for the craft bakers Grange Bakery, which has a comprehensive takeaway service, Higginsons, famous for its pies and deli counter, and RA & JS Fletcher & Sons, greengrocers specialising in fresh seasonal produce and much more.

One of our favourite haunts was the award-winning Hazelmere café, with its colourful hanging baskets and rather grand chandelier. It's very popular, so you might have to queue for a table at peak times.