Mike Laycock spends a pleasant afternoon with his family at two attractions nestling in the Howardian Hills

IF you love tranquillity, scenery and the sweet scent of lavender, both of today's Days Out attractions are ideal for you. And to make it even better, they are less than half an hour's drive along the A64 from York. My family's double day out last weekend began at Yorkshire Lavender, in the picturesque village of Terrington in the Howardian Hills, a few miles past Castle Howard.

This family business is thought to be Europe's most northerly lavender farm, the growers taking advantage of the hillside's southerly aspect and sandy soils.

It has been there for a few years, but earlier this year a shop and information centre and, more recently, a tearoom opened.

The caf is smart, and the shops sells every item which can conceivably be lavender scented - from soaps and candles to incense burners and perfumes. But first we had a look round the hillside lavender field.

We had come too late in the season to enjoy the plants at their best, but we could still see row after row of lavender plants of all colours, including blues, purples and whites - some 80 varieties in all. And there was still a delightful fragrance hanging in the air. There was also a great view over the Vale of York below. Many of the plants were for sale in pots. After a coffee in the caf, there was still plenty of time left for the second phase of our afternoon outing.

We headed back towards the Castle Howard Estate for a visit not to the stately home but to a magnificent arboretum just across the fields.

This open, landscaped 130-acre "garden of trees" opened in 1999 as part of Castle Howard's tercentenary celebrations, but planting began in 1975 and the trees will continue to mature during many years to come.

There are more than 6,500 different plants in the arboretum and an associated woodland.

The arboretum is run by a charitable trust jointly formed by Castle Howard and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, with Prince Charles as its patron.

We strolled along the mown grass on a long trail around the grounds lasting about an hour and a half, guided by a leaflet handed to us on arrival. (A shorter trail leaflet is also available).

It was a tranquil and peaceful scene. We saw only two or three other families the whole time we were there, some with dogs (permitted provided they are kept under control and you are prepared to poop-scoop).

There were trees of every kind and size, including some with extraordinarily colourful red, orange, yellow, white and pink berries. There was also an attractive lake.

This was a lovely place to go for a walk, and hundreds have taken up annual membership to go there again and again. I may well do so myself.

Fact file

Yorkshire Lavender, Terrington, near Castle Howard. 01653 648008.

Open daily until September 29, 10am to 4.30pm. Admission free.

Castle Howard Arboretum. Drive towards Castle Howard from A64, and turn left just before second gateway on estate road. Open every Wednesday 10am-4pm, and every Saturday and Sunday 10am-6.30pm (last admission 4pm) Admission: £3.50 adults, £1.50 children. Not suitable for wheelchairs, but a six-seat buggy can be booked in advance. For more information, call 01653 648160.

Updated: 09:06 Saturday, September 14, 2002