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

Discover Selworthy: A Sanctuary of Nature and Tranquility 🏞️ Home of a hundred hikes, each more picturesque, dramatic, and ruggedly rural than the next, Selworthy boasts deep, moody woods, swathes of high moorland heather, vast Exmoor panoramas, rolling vistas of Porlock's perfect vale, and wild salty glimpses of the Severn Sea. All of these wonders are on offer within just a mile or two of this extraordinary village. 🌲✨ So why not follow me up along the intricate footpaths

For centuries, we despised bogs, doing everything in our power to avoid or drain them. But increasingly, people are beginning to appreciate the value of these squelchy wet places – an idea I once witnessed at an event called Past in the Peat , part of the Festival of British Archaeology. This exhibition aimed to show not only the environmental importance of healthy peat bogs but also the rich history such landscapes contain and protect. The Secrets Within the Peat 🌍 Peat is

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

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.

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

The Arrival of Slavery in North America and Its Strange West Country Echo It was 400 years ago that the first African slaves arrived in what was then colonial North America. This grim anniversary resonates in an unexpected and uncomfortable way in one of the most remote bays in all of the West Country: Beady Pool, on the southern shores of St Agnes in the Isles of Scilly. In all my UK travels, this beach - remote in the extreme - is one of the most haunting places I have ever

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