SPORTY BREAKS

Malvern is the home of Morgan sports cars and with a little planning you can drive one for the day (or longer). If you thought these were cars for old men then think again.

Powerful modern engines, gearboxes and electrics married to light, hand built bodies make for great acceleration and lots of smiles per mile, plus being low to the ground and convertible makes sure everything feels faster than usual.

* Daily hire rates from Morgan are from £120 - if this excites you enough to want to consider buying, take a trip to the nearby village of Hartlebury to the Morgan garage of brothers Mike and Bruce Duncan. These guys are fonts of knowledge and great fun to talk to. They even have a great stock of old and new Morgans for sale

BONE UP ON CHINA

Royal Worcester is synonymous with bone china but if the museum and shops are not your thing then take an hour or so to paint a plate. You’ll be amazed at how relaxing, absorbing and fulfilling it is. I was. Best of all, for about a fiver (dependent on what you choose to paint) you get to keep the now glazed, crazed, colourful crash test style result to scare your family with later.

* Details: http://www.royalworcester.co.uk

WORCESTERSHIRE WINE

Taste some English wine: Forget your preconceptions about ‘British wines’ (eg Country Manor ) that have long tainted the high quality output of the small vineyards around the UK. Tiltridge Vineyard is located on the quiet hillside above Upton upon Severn and its Elgar range of wines easily compare to the higher quality wines of the Loire. At about £6 a bottle it won’t break the bank and will certainly raise a few eyebrows – for all the right reasons. Tastings are available free of charge during the week. No appointment necessary.

FREE WATER

Fill up with guilt free mineral water. In the Malvern Hills, the famed mineral water gushes from the hillside at certain places and there are designated spots where you are encouraged to fill your own containers with pure, sweet tasting mineral rich water - for free.

Where to stay

Tiltridge Vineyard has three comfy rooms in the old farmhouse for £32pp B&Bt. Home made jams, fresh juices (and fresh fruit when in season), eggs from their own hens, Spectacular views and five-star luxury.

Where to eat

In Malvern visit Pepper and Oz for excellent food and 55 wines by the glass (100 by the bottle). The meats are organic, the fruit and veg is local whenever possible. No need to enter into ritual battle with a sommelier (before choosing the third least expensive bottle) as several suggested wines are listed with each dish on the menu. Excellent food, great atmosphere and genuinely nice people.

Times recommends

• Confessions at 39,000 feet - your stories
• Europe's 20 best Christmas markets 2009
• Cruise passengers say: ‘We’ll tip when we want to’