Exploring Trevalga on the Cornish Coast: A Coastal Walk Discovering Trevalga: A Village with a Story Always take a map – that’s my motto. Failure to do so could end in disappointment. Not that there’s anything in any way disappointing about this amazing walk - it’s just that now I’m returned home and looking at OS Explorer 111 map, I realise there’s a slightly more intriguing route available for those looking for a hike around Trevalga. Anyone who asks “Where?” will have miss

Dawson City: A Journey to the Heart of Yukon Territory A cold day in the UK recently reminded me of the time I drove up to Dawson City from Whitehorse - that’s a long six-hour adventure in the Yukon snow and ice, I can tell you. The Allure of Dawson City: Beyond the Gold Rush In winter Dawson City is fairly quiet, with a population of 800 - quiet, that is, unless it happens to be Yukon Quest week. Then the town goes a bit wild - and I followed suit, which is why I can't reca

Discovering the Majestic Lake District: A Winter Journey The Lake District is the most visited of the UK’s 15 National Parks, welcoming upwards of 19 million visitors a year. I hadn’t been there in 45 years - the last time I visited was in a Morris 1000 with a small boat on the roof, and the journey took eight hours. Highways and vehicles have improved a lot over that time and a couple of weeks ago we arrived in Ambleside after just five hours of quiet and comfortable motorin

The Tale of the Marion G Douglas – Ghost Ship Mystery Strange things can happen at sea. The ocean is not man’s natural habitat – he is already halfway to another world out there on the blue horizon – and, when something untoward occurs, it can seem all the more threatening and surreal amidst the waves. This is one of the most extraordinary stories I uncovered during my time as editor-at-large of the Western Morning News, South West England’s daily morning newspaper - and I re

Discover one of the Best Scenic Drives in the Lake District If you are planning a drive around the south-western reaches of the Lake District - as I was while staying at the amazing and exceptional hotel, The Samling - the following route makes for a thrilling an scenic drive. I started by driving north along Lake Windermere to Ambleside and then turning left on the A593 to head west towards Coniston Water. I’d recommend taking the lane that hugs the eastern shore of this la

Luxury Winter Escape: Discover The Samling Hotel in the Lake District After a recent newspaper column about words ending in “-ist,” I received several messages from readers haranguing me for admitting I was an “area-ist” . People can get snooty about where they live, and I have long been guilty of writing things like: “Why bother visiting any other national park when we have glorious Dartmoor and Exmoor on our doorstep?” “You must be mad!” retorted one reader. “Dartmoor and

Funny how things you conceptualised as a kid can linger for the rest of your life. That’s the way feelings about the county of Dorset have developed and remained for me, thanks to my father and the works of Enid Blyton . Enid Blyton, Dorset, and Childhood Impressions My neighbouring county has always felt vaguely like a distant land to me. Why? Because my dad, in his literary way, detested the works of Ms Blyton (who loved and wrote about Dorset ) and, most unlike him, he b

Few of us ever put the places we visit into categories, but if we did they’d probably come under headings covering the locations we have to visit, like local supermarkets, shops, dentists, hospitals, whatever, and destinations we really like visiting, such as favourite holiday spots, theatres, cinemas, hiking locations etc. There’d be another category for me entitled, “Places I cannot resist visiting when I’m on my way somewhere else”. The Irresistible Charm of Appledore, Dev

There will be many people reading this newspaper who love their own patch; the place where they were born and bred or the location where they’ve chosen to spend their lives. The problem is that you can become a bit snooty about other areas, like I did as a youngster when I had difficulty in understanding how anyone could feel any kind of affinity for any other part of Somerset. Childhood Memories and Early Misconceptions About the Somerset Levels I lived - and still live - in

Experiencing the Contrast: Historic Homes Versus Modern Natural Light There’ll be plenty of people reading this newspaper who live in older houses - which, in the mainly rural South West, might well mean homes with thick walls, smaller windows, and so on. Before modern wonders like double glazing and thermal insulation came along, dwelling spaces had to keep folk warm and dry any way they could, which basically meant shutting out the great outdoors. What the builders of yeste

The antidote I needed to a few hot and busy days in Ho Chi Minh City was supplied by Les Rives, a company that provides thrilling speedboat journeys down the Saigon River to the Mekong Delta. This unique experience offers travellers a glimpse into a different side of Vietnam - one that is as fascinating as it is sobering. From the water, you can witness a stark contrast to the modernity of the city centre as the boat speeds its way past canals lined with sprawling slums. The

Travel is a concept imbued with boundless ambition. With so many places and experiences available on our amazing planet, creating a bucket list becomes an essential exercise in capturing the most remarkable moments life has to offer. One such experience is driving Highway One along the Pacific Coast from Los Angeles to San Francisco—a journey I had wanted to enjoy since reading Steinbeck's Cannery Row as a young boy. Now that I have completed this iconic route, I can say it

They call it the view that launched a thousand crashes, and tragically, it's all too true: Dunster Castle has claimed lives as motorists slam on their brakes to take in the breathtaking sight. The Spellbinding View of Dunster Castle 👀 The view appears as a stunning surprise when driving on the A39 towards Minehead from Carhampton. Suddenly, there it is: the great castle hanging above Dunster Lawns, as if straight out of a fairy tale. This panorama truly captures the essence

For those of us who grew up in the rural West Country decades ago, vacations were modest affairs — they often involved camping in tents or staying in caravans. These holidays were enjoyable in their own way, but certainly lacking in luxury or sophistication. Watching television programs like the early Saint series or adaptations of Agatha Christie novels, I became aware of an entirely different world — a world of smart hotels and elegant lifestyles, far removed from the cons

Tenerife is not all it’s cracked up to be. In fact, it’s far more than that. No place in Europe is more cracked, ravaged, thrust asunder, or cleaved apart. Forget the crowds of lobster-pink sun-seekers who cling to its shores—just one word truly defines Tenerife, and that word is volcanic . This Canary Island is a testament to the forces of nature, covered in vast solidified lava flows, carved by impossibly deep ravines, cloaked by lush forests, and crowned by its omnipresent

We were on a walking tour of Menorca a while ago and our final hike was an extensive coastal trek to explore what is arguably the island's most untamed region. Parque Natural de s'Albufera des Grau, located in northeastern Menorca, encompasses 500 hectares of diverse ecosystems, including wild olive groves, wetlands, secluded coves, islands, and coastal dunes. This remarkable natural reserve is one of Menorca's most remarkable landscapes, featuring unique flora and wildlife.

We tend to over-use superlatives like "world's best footballer" or "nation's favourite dish." Can we ever really know what’s the absolute best? On this one occasion, I’m willing to make an exception. After spending a couple of nights at Carbis Bay Hotel and Estate near St Ives , I genuinely believe it to be one of the finest hospitality locations in the UK. The stunning setting, the top-notch service, and the feeling of absolute comfort make it a place I won't forget. Carbis

We recently visited Huangshan City, located in the southern part of China’s Anhui Province. We weren’t there for long - and it was a very hot day so walking about the old streets was probably not a good idea anyway. The area is renowned for its mountains, often enveloped in fog, and they attract countless visitors - but the city itself is a treasure trove of heritage, art, and history that deserves attention. A Stroll Through History: The Old Streets of Huangshan City 🏮 Tunx

Introduction to Samos Years ago, I travelled to the Greek island of Samos to take part in a walking week organised by Rambler’s Worldwide Holidays. The experience, filled with much laughter, unforgettable meals, natural beauty and cultural exploration, remains etched in my memory, largely thanks to the remarkable guide who led us on one particularly challenging and memorable hike. His name was Rupert Mostert, an unforgettable character with a charisma that left a lasting impr

Explore the Hidden Gem of Crete: The Lasithi Plateau Years ago we drove up into the mountains of central Crete and were amazed to come across a dead flat plain among the peaks. What was so surprising about this place was the number of windmills used for helping to irrigate the rich soils. I am told that many of these have since disappeared, but that some still survive. I hope so. It was one of the most magical places I have visited in the Greek islands…. Crete, the largest of