“It used to be rare that journalists would come here,” says Elton Caushi, head of tour operator Albanian Trip, who I meet in the capital, Tirana. “When they did come, they only wanted to talk about blood feuds and sworn virgins.” The traditions that once dominated tribal politics in Albania’s …
Read More »Think like a trucker: 15 ways to survive Britain’s summer of holiday queues and delays
For British travellers, the summer of 2022 seems destined to be remembered as the season of waiting: queueing for passport control, parking on motorways, sleeping in airports or staring down tracks in fond hope of spotting a non-cancelled train. Getting there and back used to be the most tedious part …
Read More »An island walk to a great pub: the White Hart, Essex
The oyster beds and sandy beaches of Britain’s most easterly inhabited island have been attracting visitors for centuries. Mersea is just a few miles south of Colchester, once Camulodunum – capital of Roman Britain – and there are Roman remains among the island’s layers of history. Bus 86 arrives from …
Read More »10 of the best pubs and bars in Nottingham
It’s not just Nottingham Forest on the up now that the Reds have made the top flight for the first time in 23 years. Nottingham’s beer scene is now Premier League quality, too – the city has just launched seven Ale Trails, all named for a friend or foe of …
Read More »‘Delectable and ripe’: readers’ favourite pick-your-own farms
Winning tip: Punnet paradise, near Edinburgh On a cycling tour of Scotland last year, the alluring aroma of fragrant fields full of strawberries, drifting up a hill, caused me to pause my pedalling and follow my nose. It was an excellent decision. The well-signposted Craigie’s Farm, at South Queensferry near …
Read More »Fronds reunited: an Isle of Wight trip to restore a priceless ecosystem
Kevin smiles from ear to ear at the sight of a common periwinkle. This pretty and striated mollusc, clinging to a sandstone where the Solent laps the peach sands of St Helens beach, speaks to Kevin of something pleasingly enduring in the natural world. Like most members of our 12-strong …
Read More »Green line: take a window seat on Ireland’s most beautiful train trips
Driven by increasingly expensive car hire and an appetite for sustainable tourism, visitors to Ireland are discovering the lure of public transport. Fares on Irish public transport were cut by 20% in April until the end of this year and halved permanently for those aged 19 to 23, the first …
Read More »Tell us about your favourite street art for the chance to win a £200 travel voucher
You don’t have to go to museums or galleries to see great art. The cities of the world are filled with brilliant examples of street art. So whether it’s Banksy in Bristol, Blek le Rat in Paris or even an artist whose name you don’t know, we’d love to hear …
Read More »Rail route of the month: gliding past Finland’s pristine forests and lakes
The monumental facade of Helsinki’s main railway station has an elegant symmetry. Four giant, granite men, each one holding a lantern, are there to greet me. It is before seven on a quiet Saturday morning and I am here on an eastbound mission, heading for the only passenger railway in …
Read More »British Airways suspends Heathrow short-haul ticket sales
British Airways has suspended ticket sales on short-haul flights from Heathrow until 8 August after the London airport’s decision to cap capacity and tackle widespread disruption and cancellations. The airline said the sales suspension on domestic and European destinations was designed to allow existing customers to rebook flights when needed. …
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