Independent owners, serious kitchens and a fresh eye for design have turned the British seaside hotel into something worth travelling for. Here is what changed on the coast, what the best properties now offer, and what to check before you book.

An age statement on a whisky bottle tells you the youngest whisky in the blend, not its average age or its quality. Here is what the number really means, how cask type changes the picture, and why a bottle with no age statement can still be excellent.

A five-mile circular from Woody Bay along the old carriageway to Heddon's Mouth, returning on one of the most dramatic stretches of the coast path.

A six-mile circular walk from Exford down the River Exe through Curr Cleeve, across the Nethercote footbridge and back over Room Hill.

A circular walk through Lorna Doone Country on Exmoor, from Malmsmead up Badgworthy Water and back over the moor to Oare church.

An insider’s guide to Dartmoor’s most distinctive towns and hidden villages—from historic Stannary capitals to secret river coombes, pubs, and walks.

If you grow up on the West Somerset coast, Wales is the mystical, distant shore across the water. But crossing the bridge into Carmarthenshire reveals a warm, vibrant world of generous hospitality, spectacular landscapes, and fiercely independent local food. Join travel writer Martin Hesp as he explores the architectural marvel of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, walks the newly opened 13-mile Tywi Valley Path, wanders the wild headland of Llansteffan Castle, and meets t

Combining a career with travel is entirely realistic, provided you resolve practical issues around visas, the 90-day Schengen limit, and daily working boundaries before setting off. Here is a practical look at the roles that pack light, key European digital nomad permits, and how to maintain a steady routine on the road.

A puncture doesn’t have to end the journey. From safe motorway stopping to assessing whether a tyre can be repaired or replaced, here is how to handle unexpected road trip tyre trouble calmly and safely.

From the moss-covered ruins of a lost ghost village to lonely ruins on The Chains and prehistoric ridge barrows, Martin Hesp explores four little-visited sanctuaries across Exmoor where the modern world recedes and true wilderness remains.

When the Atlantic hurls the full weight of its weather against the granite ramparts of Cornwall, you get walking at its most elemental and exhilarating. From fog-bound mining tracks and swallowing sand dunes to secret turquoise coves, here are six classic coastal circuits that celebrate the wilder edge of our maritime kingdom.

When winter bites across the West Country, nothing beats a bracing stroll across our wild combes and windswept ridges—provided there is a pint of local cider and a crackling hearth waiting at the journey’s end. Here are five of my favourite Somerset winter circulars that finish beside a roaring pub fire.

After a long travel day from the UK, Martin Hesp heads straight out onto the tranquil waters of Lake Brienz near Interlaken for supper aboard a wooden raft—settling in with warm blankets, crisp Swiss wine, and a bubbling pot of traditional cheese fondue under the alpine twilight.

Meet Deri Reed, the 2024 BBC Community Food Hero behind Carmarthen’s The Warren. After battling severe burnout, the pioneering Welsh chef has radically reopened his acclaimed restaurant as an ethical, flat-pay cooperative—combining scratch-cooked seasonal food with a mission to build local community resilience.

From the high tors of Dartmoor to the lush pastures of South Devon, Martin Hesp explores the artisan story behind Sharpham Dairy’s new alpine-style Dartmoor 75 cheese—celebrating 75 years of the National Park—alongside their sustainable, B-Corp 2026 festive hampers and award-winning curds.

From 20,000 historic Devon cider makers to cutting-edge DNA forensics: how Sandford Orchards and Bristol University scientists are rescuing forgotten heritage apple varieties to create the vintage ciders of the future.

From the salty sea-sparkle and secret potato plats of the Branscombe undercliffs to the tranquil, winding reaches of the Primrose Line and the wild, heather-clad ramparts of western Dartmoor - Martin Hesp rounds up six classic South Devon walks to savour in the golden light of autumn.

A journey across Lake Biel from the sun-drenched vineyards of Ligerz and Twann to the bilingual watchmaking city of Biel/Bienne, exploring its unspoilt medieval Old Town and seasonal dining at Restaurant Écluse.

Travel writers know the frustration of a laptop running out of power halfway through a journey. I take a look at the Krafted Edge Ultra-Slim laptop power bank, a clever, flat-profile device designed to sit beneath your laptop and provide extra power when you're working on trains, planes and away from your desk.

How good can public transport really be? Martin Hesp spends five days putting Switzerland’s famously integrated travel system to the test with the Swiss Travel Pass - taking in panoramic Alpine railways, Lake Biel vineyards, and steamer cruises on Lake Lucerne.