I flew out of Manchester last week with just hours left on my UK working visa, using the flight to Dublin to remind myself that although it didn’t feel like it, my arrival into England last year was actually a while ago. Looking back, there have been so many, many highs, and thankfully, just a handful of lows.
In a quiet valley in the heart of the Lake District, a little steam train puffs through the fells. La’al Ratty travels from the coast at Ravenglass to the green paddocks at Boot. And you know how I love trains…
For a man in charge of guiding a 202m ship out of a very tight berth, Captain Richard Davies is extremely at ease. Especially since he’s surrounded by a bunch of bloggers and their cameras. Nothing like an audience to put on the pressure.
While many people come to The Lake District to explore on foot or by bike, the area is just as stunning when seen by bus. On a recent excursion from Coniston to Buttermere, I captured the views outside the bus window.
Accessible only on foot or bike, YHA’s Black Sail hostel is something of a Lake District treasure. While the traditional philosophy of hostelling has modernised, Black Sail is a beautiful, remote exception where guests eat together, wash up their own dishes and enjoy each other’s company in the middle of nowhere.
Europe has a fabulous cafe culture. Just think of Paris where sitting at small table, sipping an espresso and watching the world go by is a thing! I love discovering great cafes when I travel. Here are some of my favourite finds.
Want to see the UK but can’t afford to get out of London? Here’s some tips to cheap travel, including how to find £1 cross-country bus fares.
Glasgow might not be the first place you think of when it comes to finding a good cup of tea in the UK, but there are some great cafes worth checking out.
Visiting the Honest Shop in Coniston is like stepping back in time – back to an era when dinner was always homecooked and your clothes home made.
Edinburgh has produced and inspired some of the UK’s best-known writers. Trade at cafes such as The Elephant House went through the roof when people found out J K Rowling sat at its tables to write the first Harry Potter novel. Fans pay an exorbitant amount to stay at the suite…
