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…

Ireland is globally renowned for its crap weather, but that never stops anyone from visiting. After a particularly wet and windy visit two years ago, I was excited to return – even more so when I saw the forecast. Ireland was about to experience summer.

Ireland could produce countless amazing television shows in the next decade, but not one will eclipse the popularity and legacy of Father Ted. I could try to describe it to you, but it would be impossible to do it justice. But take my word for it – it’s fecking hilarious.

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.

Mention Holland and everyone thinks of Amsterdam, clogs and cannabis. But there’s so much more to discover and enjoy. My teacup and I visited three very different cities in The Netherlands: Rotterdam, Nijmegen and of course, Amsterdam.

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.

Second chances in life are rare. In travel, even more so. In 2011 I visited the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and couldn’t see a damn thing. Two years later I got the opportunity to go back and saw the stunning Cliffs in almost unbelievable conditions.

Despite my aversion to the heat and attempts to stay in cooler climates, I’ve spent my last two summers in Europe. I’ve melted on the sidewalks in Paris and spent hours inside Italian churches trying to keep cool. Here are my favourite photos from my summers in Europe.