What's Going On: Enginuity Robot Crusade, Chatsworth Sewing School, YHA pampering

Fun for all the family around the UK

Full metal racket

If you haven't had enough of fighting robots on TV, head for Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire next weekend. The first-ever Enginuity Robot Crusade features awesome heavyweight 'bot battles over Saturday and Sunday. Each day kicks off with a three-way melée, the winners of which will clash head-to-head until only two survivors remain to fight for the title of Grand Champion on Sunday afternoon. The combatants include stars of the automaton world such as Shredder Evolution, Sumpthing and Plunderbug 1.

15-16 March, Enginuity, Ironbridge Gorge Museums (01952 432166; email tic@ironbridge.org.uk). Tickets must be pre-booked: £9.75 for adults, £6.75 for children/concessions and include a three-hour morning or afternoon session at Robot Crusade plus full admission to Enginuity itself.

Pillow talk

Readers of a gentler disposition are advised to book now for courses at Chatsworth's Sewing School where the only metal-on-metal action is that of needle meeting thimble. The talented sewing-room staff in the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire's stunning Derbyshire home are now sharing their skills in a series of one-day courses. If you've an itch to stitch your own soft furnishings (items featured on separate day courses are slip-over dining-chair covers; swags and tails; roman blinds; curtains; cushion covers; bedspreads and valances) call 01246 565300 or contact nb@chatsworth.org for dates, prices and availability. This year's courses start on 2 April, which is also the first opening day of Chatsworth House itself.

Happy wanderers

Fine establishments though they are, Britain's Youth Hostels are not the first places one would look to for a weekend of pampering. However, the YHA Osmotherley in North Yorkshire is offering exactly that. Starting on Friday 28 March, guests can enjoy a two-night stay with sessions of reflexology, aromatherapy, Indian head massage and sports massage thrown in. Accommodation, meals and four treatments are included in a package price of £96 per adult for two nights, so you'll be giving your wallet a weekend off, too. For full details contact the youth hostel (0870 770 5982; email: osmotherley@ yha.org.uk). And if you must indulge in yomping around in the mud and rain, you've got the whole of the North York Moors National Park on the doorstep, haven't you?