Tag Archives: readers

A different beach every day, Albania Albania might not be the first place that springs to mind for a beach holiday, but the resorts just half an hour from Tirana offer golden sands, calm seas and cheap hotels. The long sweep of the crescent-shaped coastline offers all-day sun and Albania’s …

Proper pubs, County Donegal I was fortunate to spend a few days in the seaside village of Portnoo, which made a great jumping-off point for exploring the multitude of white sand beaches – many of which wouldn’t have looked out of place in southern Italy. Dooey beach was a particular …

Gentle countryside, gentle yoga, Norfolk Yoga at the Mill runs a wonderful mindfulness for wellbeing break in theNorfolk countryside at Fishley Hall. Accessible by train to Acle, on the Norwich to Great Yarmouth line, the four-day retreat with Lucia and Vikki offers lots of gentle movement, mindfulness and the opportunity …

Winter fun in Glencoe, the Highlands Nothing beats an impromptu road trip when it comes to an exciting journey to somewhere new at the darkest and dullest time of year. To the south of Glencoe village, Glencoe Mountain Resort (microlodges for two from £75 a night) provides accessible sledging and …

Spring in the shadow of Mont Blanc, France I am planning my dream holiday to the Alps for spring. Environmentally friendly transport is important to me and Chamonix can be reached by train from London (allowing for a quick sightseeing stop in Paris). I plan to spend my days hiking, …

Trolled by Iceland’s Yule Lads According to legend, the Yule Lads are the sons of a troll named Grýla and come down one by one from the mountains to cause trouble but also to leave gifts in the shoes of children. The first to arrive, on 11 December, is Stekkjastaur, …

Spot the heron from the 55, Tiverton-Exeter The very best bus route is Tiverton to Exeter on the 55. On leaving Tiverton it passes through the village of Bickleigh and crosses the River Exe on the Bickleigh Bridge, which has been hit and damaged by buses, lorries and cars more …

Special acoustics, Sloane Square, London The wonderful Sixteen choral ensemble is about to present its 2022 Christmas programme, featuring a beautiful collection of music from the 16th century right up to the present day. It is a treat every year, with Cadogan Hall’s acoustics making it even more special. From …

Memories of Hemingway, Spain Café Iruña in Pamplona, Spain was a favourite of Hemingway when he visited the city for the annual running of the bulls. With high ceilings and wooden panelling, the bar-restaurant evokes bygone days and you can almost imagine Hemingway writing in a corner, particularly as there …

Delis galore, Chorlton, Manchester Rather than spend an afternoon in the crowds of Manchester why not jump on a tram and ride 20 minutes to the trendy south Manchester suburb of Chorlton? The neighbourhood has dozens of crafty shops, independent traders and an unrivalled variety of places to eat, drink …