Tag Archives: readers

I took to the waters of Ibiza Feeling tired and bruised by the end of a long-term relationship, I was unsure of my new life as a thirtysomething single woman in the world. I sought solace in outdoor swimming, and a friend told me about a holiday she’d taken with …

Oslo to Bergen, Norway Take a trip from Oslo to Bergen on Vy, the Norwegian state railway (I was delighted to get a senior’s ticket – a usual Norwegian courtesy), a journey of scenic delight at any time of the year, and stop over at Myrdal. There, buy a return …

My favourite for tapas, Granada If I had to recommend one place to eat tapas in Spain, it’s Bar Poë in Granada, not only for the food, but for the atmosphere. It’s always bustling (come early to guarantee a seat) with a local and international crowd. Run by a friendly …

Spectacular backdrop, Somerset The 175th Dunster Show, being held today (18 August), is not to be missed. It has all of the features you’d expect – livestock, tractors, horses and friendly competition. It showcases local produce and crafts. And all with the spectacular backdrop of Dunster Castle and beautiful Exmoor.Sarah …

Surf and the Paris sleeper, Bay of Biscay Sun, sea, surf, sand and a sleeper train to Paris: Hendaye has it all. Nestled in this less-discovered corner of the Bay of Biscay, bordering Spain, Hendaye has a quaint old centre with cobbles and cute little cafes. Head to Le Palmier …

Winning tip: ruins and roses on the River Euphrates In a country full of hidden gems, it is hard to choose one. But I would highly recommend taking a trip to the south-east of Turkey – “cradle of civilisation” territory – and on the road between Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa, turn …

‘We barely left the villa’, Italy Last year, we hired a lovely property sleeping eight two miles from Lake Garda. It was in a hamlet with two gorgeous Italian restaurants and a shop selling seemingly everything. We drove from Lincolnshire with our two dogs, in our motorhome. Our three grown-up …

Solitude and sky, Northumberland For low-tide loveliness, the coastline between Alnmouth and Cresswell in Northumberland takes some beating. With the tide out the beaches and skies are overwhelming, especially on a sunny day. The coast is vast, so if you like solitude you’ll find it here. You have the bonus …

Surf dogs, north Devon Woolacombe Beach is where soft sand meets the wild Atlantic and is perfect for our pooches. It consists of a wide, three-mile long sandy stretch from Barricane Beach down to Baggy Point, but dogs are restricted in certain areas. Parts of it are surfing areas and …

Finland in August Children generally go back to school at the beginning of August in Scandinavia. This means there are some great self-catering bargains to be found before the autumn term starts in UK schools. We’ve had some great family holidays, particularly at self-catering lakeside resorts in Finland and Sweden, …