It’s not lost on me, the irony of writing about mobility while sitting at my desk for hours, with a bent spine and cramped stomach. I’ve spent the last few years writing a book about past movement and mobility; footprints becoming trails that turn into a torrent of trods and …
Read More »Tell us about a great stretch of UK coastline
Whether you prefer dramatic coastlines with raging surf, remote-feeling marshes, or picture postcard little fishing villages, the UK has an abundance of shoreline scenery – along with idyllic beaches – to keep everyone happy. Please tell us about your favourite places by the sea, including hotels and B&Bs, coves and …
Read More »Peaks and valleys: how reconnecting with nature helped me with grief
As gulls rise above the valley they drift into the colours of the sun that is setting over the north Atlantic, a mile or so downriver from where I am standing. Their whiteness turns to pale red as they merge upward into a zone of sky where the colours are …
Read More »Wine, dine and relax: why taking the ferry is the ultimate in slow travel
From the historic chateaux of the Loire valley to the sunshine glamour of the French Riviera, and the quaint villages of Brittany, a holiday to France never fails to delight, offering something there for everyone. But how much thought do you put into getting there? We spend so long planning …
Read More »Gothenburg at 400: Sweden’s second city discovers its fun side
It’s a gloriously sunny, if gusty, early-June day at Gothenburg’s new bathing harbour. My son Zac and I are among the first to brave the elements at an open-air complex of swimming and diving pools occupying part of Frihamnen, the city’s docklands that began to fall into disuse in the …
Read More »Tell us about a great family holiday – you could win a holiday voucher
A good family holiday can create lifelong memories – as well as being a chance to reconnect with the people you love. For some of us, a trip to the coast for some seaside fun is perfect; with teenagers an adventurous, active trip may be preferable; and for grownup families …
Read More »Coves, cobblestones and pastry shops: a walking tour of north-western Sicily
There’s something immensely satisfying about being able to see the point you’re aiming for on a long hike. Far below Erice, a hilltop town in north-west Sicily, I can make out the arc of Trapani on the coast – my target, three hours away by foot. Paths wind down the …
Read More »10 of the best hotels and inns in Wales
King Arthur Hotel, Reynoldston, The Gower Often overlooked for the Pembrokeshire coastline, the Gower boasts some of the UK’s most spectacular beaches, including Rhossili, Oxwich and Three Cliffs Bay. The King Arthur is set inland, but has a fantastic position overlooking the village green, with locals and visitors massing on …
Read More »Nine of the best budget holidays in Europe for young people
Adventures Hike hut-to-hut on Austria’s Eagle’s Way In 1829, the German poet Goethe arrived in Tirol. Perhaps he was gazing at the gorgeous Nordkette mountain, backdrop to the city of Innsbruck, when he scribbled: “Here, finally, I have found a place of quiet – a place of peace the likes …
Read More »Young at heart: Poland’s party city of Lublin
I’d heard about Italian renaissance architecture, but I didn’t know anything about the Lublin renaissance. I arrive in Poland’s ninth largest city just as the sun sets. I haven’t really taken a second to look around until I get into my room at Avatary Miasta hotel (doubles from £78 B&B) …
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