Most visitors head to Tenerife for sunshine and beaches, but this remarkable Canary Island offers far more. From dramatic volcanic landscapes and spectacular walking trails to traditional villages, outstanding food and breathtaking mountain scenery, here's why Tenerife deserves to be explored well beyond its famous resorts.

A Magical Estate Full of History and Beauty Cotehele is one of those places that draws you back time and again. Nestled on the Cornish bank of the River Tamar, this National Trust property is steeped in natural beauty and rich history. I first discovered Cotehele not on its winding paths but in central London, at the Tate Gallery, where Turner's evocative painting "Crossing the Brook" led me to wonder: where can that be? That very brook is a tributary of the Tamar, not far

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.

Martin Hesp discovers why Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate has earned an international reputation, from its famous G7 Summit connections to luxurious beachfront lodges, outstanding dining and one of Cornwall's finest coastal settings.

While most visitors rush straight to the mist-shrouded peaks of Yellow Mountain, Huangshan City below holds a rich tapestry of history. From the red lanterns of Tunxi Ancient Street to the ancient water channels of Chengkan, discover Anhui’s historic heartland.

Samos is one of Greece's finest walking destinations, with mountain trails, peaceful villages, forests and spectacular Aegean views. Join Martin Hesp on an unforgettable hiking adventure led by legendary guide Rupert Mostert.

A haunting visit to Beady Pool on St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly—where 17th-century shipwreck beads washed ashore carry the heavy memory of the transatlantic slave trade.

Discover the Enchanting Valley of Rocks: A Walk Through History and Natural Beauty ⛰️✨ What can one say about the Valley of Rocks that has not been said before? This mystical landscape in North Devon has inspired countless visitors over the centuries. The poet Coleridge referred to the "commotion of the elements" here, while William and Dorothy Wordsworth called it "The Valley of Stones." R.D. Blackmore immortalized it as the setting for Mother Melldrum's cave in Lorna Doone,

A short break in Marbella—a surprisingly wonderful town on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Surprising, because to many of us, it has a name for hen parties and that rather boozy world of short breaks which, in reality, is often exaggerated. There’s plenty of that in evidence, but Marbella also has a lot of laid-back charm. It also has a lot of very good food. Dining on the move in the tapas joints is, of course, one of the town’s must-do activities, although it is a tradition that ha

Many years ago,actually nearly half a century ago, I visited the town of Nafplion in Greece. That’s how we pronounced it but I see that you leave the final “n” off the name when you’re writing it in Greek. Anyway, we loved the place. And it’s easy to explain why. We had driven from England in 1977 in an old Renault 16 which had broken down a few times along the way. It is a very long way from the English Channel down to Greece via what used to be known as Yugoslavia. We had t

The Journey to the Iban Longhouse in Borneo 🏝️🌴 After an hour of travelling, some of which was at high speed, we reached the longhouse where we’d be staying as guests of the local Iban people. Even before our arrival, I could hear the welcoming bell echoing through the lush jungle. A woman and a child came down to the riverbank to greet us, and we were ceremoniously marched up the ancient steps, carved from a single log, that led to the entrance of the longhouse. I was the

Exploring the Dundon and Compton Dundon Walks in Somerset What Can You Do When the Weather’s Hit and Miss? ☁️☔ Read a book, would be a sensible answer… But for most country-lovers, the urge to get outdoors is hard to resist – even when the weather isn’t cooperating. So, you have to grab the chance while you can! And that is exactly what I did one day recently while driving through central Somerset with a friend. The sun peeked out, the skies looked promising, and we decided t

It’s pumpkin time in the UK. All across the Northern Hemisphere, in fact. For 25 years, it was my job as a feature writer to track down various pumpkin farmers around the South West region of England so that I could write newspaper articles all about what kind of season it was… Were this year’s pumpkins bigger than ever? Were there new varieties that were tastier than ever? You know the sort of thing. Anyway, thinking about pumpkins caused me to remember the most pumpkin-ish

The Changing Face of Our Dinner Tables 🍽️ The items that appear on the average West Country dinner table have changed dramatically over the past 20 to 30 years. Gone are the days when a simple plate of meat and two veg’ ruled supreme. Today, our tables are filled with diverse ingredients, flavours, and products that many of us would never have imagined back then. And this is particularly true in the case of wine. The Evolution of Wine in the West Country 🍷 From Exclusive Tr

As the winter cold settles in, the body often craves something light, easygoing, and simple to digest. Somehow, even in the midst of frost and chill, we long for the brightness of fresh plant-life on our plates. So why not bring some Mediterranean sunshine into your winter kitchen? 🥗 Craving Fresh Salads, Even in Winter? Nothing beats a big, garden-fresh salad during summer. Imagine leafy greens, greenhouse tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. Though winter isn't the season for

A Nostalgic Dream Come True A great many of us grew up dreaming of tropical islands, often inspired by books like "Robinson Crusoe" or perhaps the glamorous travels of James Bond. As a kid in the 1960s or 70s, visiting a sun-drenched island fringed with white sandy beaches and azure waters seemed like the stuff of fantasy—unless you were Princess Margaret. Fast forward to today, and those dreams can become reality in the form of a luxurious adventure to the small, private Car

Here is a copy of the weekly newspaper column I write for the Western Morning News and Western Daily Press - as published on Saturday October 12, 2024. I then cut and pasted it into an A.I. app asking it NOT to rewrite anything but to present it in a way which would be more fitting for this website. It kind of did what I asked, but disregarded my request and totally rewrote the thing. I put the two versions up here for anyone who is interested in what AI can and will do. I wo

When in Rome... well, you know the rest. In the spirit of embracing local culture, when I was down in Cornwall last week, I did as the locals do—I bought some fresh, local fish. Why wouldn't I? Cornwall, with its coastline jutting into the Atlantic, is teeming with an abundance of fabulous, fresh, and sustainable seafood, arguably the finest in the UK. It would be a shame not to take some home! One of the best places to source fresh seafood in Cornwall is the Great Cornish Fo

An article describing how journalist Martin Hesp met an interviewed Tony Hibbert who founded Trebah Gardens in Cornwall

Floating in the turquoise depths of the Andaman Sea, Thailand’s Similan Archipelago is a pristine wilderness of giant granite boulders, lush jungle, and world-class diving. Here is what makes this protected national park one of South East Asia’s most captivating marine sanctuaries.