Welcome to heaven, by way of Devon. If you could dream up the perfect place to escape for a weekend with all your friends, it would definitely look rather like Higher Brownstone Farm, one of the National Trust‘s lovely collection…
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Want to ski somewhere a little different next winter? Head east to the mountains of Bulgaria. Bansko is not your average ski town, and fun, friendly Snomads is definitely not your average chalet.
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Have you explored the Forest of Dean? England’s oldest oak forest is a place where kings once hunted, where wild boar with a semi-mythical status now roam and where maze-like mossy woodlands straight out of Tolkien rub shoulders with smart…
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Taking to the water in the shadow of Snowdon with Psyched Paddleboarding and The Enjoyable Rut for a little SUP adventure.
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An age-old farmhouse, thoughtfully redesigned as a cosy hotel, buried in the heart of the magical Forest of Dean. And there are chickens. I loved the Tudor Farmhouse, a welcoming retreat in the village of Clearwell. It’s not surprising that…
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Leave technology behind and escape to an off-grid cottage for a digital detox in deepest, darkest Herefordshire at the charming Mrs Higgs Lodge. Read my review for BBC Countryfile Magazine. We use more technology than ever before, so it’s no…
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Travel snaps and special spots from one of my favourite ever places – the Isles of Scilly, which Jake Little and I explored in proper Famous Five style. Just don’t call them the Scilly Isles, or the locals will know…
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Magic is thick in the air in Boscastle, a picture-perfect fishing village hidden on the Cornish coast. And a stay in its heart at Beach Retreats’ wonderful Harbourside Cottage is the perfect way to discover its secrets.
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Winter is coming, but just because there’s a nip in the air doesn’t mean you should hibernate under a duvet. Get out and explore the great outdoors in my favourite winter spots, from a Cornish fishing village to lost forests…
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If these crazy times make you want to run away to the woods, I hear you. For a little slice of peace and quiet I’d suggest holing up at totally charming Combe Park Lodge, one of the National Trust‘s beautiful…
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Fancy a chukka? Try a spot of polo at the gorgeous Cirencester Park Polo Club with a day at their academy. Perfect rounded off with a stay at the cosy and charming Kings Head Hotel in the heart of the…
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For the fourth of my Malibu #BestSummerEver posts Pete and I hit the road in a campervan named Alice for a weekend of surfing, bacon sandwiches and making friends with small ponies.
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A long weekend in one of my favourite places on the planet – St Anton in Austria, where wild flowers and pine trees cover the green hills, where the air is fresh and where the locals really like beer and…
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An escape to Westbrook Court, a characterful farmhouse B&B on the tip of the Brecon Beacons which makes the perfect cosy base from which to explore the glorious hills and bookish villages of the Black Mountains.
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Cumbria, you’re a bit of all right. Here are my favourite walks, wild swims, campsites and cycle routes in the land of lofty fells and deep blue waters, plus a stay at the Beech Hill Hotel on the banks of…
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I had a blast helping Greentraveller to create these beautiful new video guides to each of Wales’ eight protected landscapes (that’s Anglesey, Gower, the Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia, Llyn Peninsula, Wye Valley, Pembrokeshire and the Clwydian Range). Celebrate Visit Wales’ Year…
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If you conjured up the perfect cottage it couldn’t be much more charming than Little Holme, one of English Country Cottage‘s properties nestled in the heart of Dartmoor. Take a thatch, roaring fire and roses round the door and add…
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Sunny meadows, secret coves, sleepy fishing villages, pasties to stuff in your face – Cornwall was made for proper summer camping adventures, just like the ones you went on as a little’un. Pack a tent and a surfboard and spend…
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Need a dose of sea and serious calm? Head to Chapel House, a light-filled sanctuary in pretty Penzance that feels more stylish home from home than stuffy hotel. This lovely place to stay is the perfect base for hunting out…
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I travelled to the Aegean islands of Lesvos and Chios for Greentraveller to put together a travel guide to these magical communities, and discovered a treasure trove of history and natural beauty, of untouched landscapes, azure waters and a very…
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A weekend escape to the quirky charms of Portmeirion village, a wonderfully odd architectural gem which is perfectly positioned on the glorious coast of Snowdonia.
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A totally charming weekend at Groves Cottage in Talybont-On-Usk, one of Brecon Cottages’ handpicked places to stay in the National Park. We curled up by the wood stove, wandered in the woods and drank hefty amounts of mulled wine.
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Hiking the Trotternish ridge, eating like kings, sleeping under the stars and getting very wet socks with Skye Wilderness Safaris.
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All the delights of the Dorset coast: cosy canvas woodland homes, foraging for seaweed and cuppas on the beach with the lovely lot at Dorset Tea.
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A rather magical weekend under canvas on the gorgeous Gower. We went stand-up paddleboarding, swam in the sea and ate very tasty bacon sandwiches with a glorious view. Swansea Bay, I like you.
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An evening microadventure in the waves and under canvas for BBC Countryfile Magazine with Visit Swansea Bay. Read the full article at Countryfile.com
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Another year, another mad birthday in the woods with my friends. This year we rented the rather wonderful Tanners Hatch in Surrey and played woodland olympics, climbed very tall trees, drank a lot of Fortey’s Homemade Gin (™) and walked…
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Hooked on Poldark? Me too. And last week I spent a swashbuckling few days hunting out the gorgeous filming locations from the show on the Cornish coast with photographer Jacob Little. We galloped on the moors, explored windswept cliffs and…
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Messing about on the Dorset coast with the lovely Lucy. Lyme Regis is a bit of a beauty, all pastel beach huts, glorious fossil-filled beaches and the epic Cobb snaking out to sea. And I successfully ate an oyster for…
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A weekend at the eco-friendly Bluestone National Park Resort, a luxurious base from which to explore Pembrokeshire.
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For my fifth Malibu #BestSummerEver adventure my friend Bobby and I went roadtripping into the beautiful, bear-filled Catskill mountains in New York State.
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The awesome Karina Kold is still living the dream – here she hits the waves in Portugal and shares a day in the life at Peniche Surf Lodge.
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Heading to Thailand this summer? Avoid party islands Koh Samui and Koh Pha-Ngan and head instead to Koh Tao, their chilled out white-sand-and-jungle little brother. This tiny weeny (21 sq km) but bountiful island is surrounded by the crystal clear…
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This is the Art House, a cosy slice of Scandinavian chic nestled on Skye’s rugged coastline that is filled with good things. Like epic views, a warm welcome and a dog named Watson.
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World, meet somewhere I should probably keep secret – the wonderful Borgo Pignano, a medieval estate turned eco farm nestled in the Tuscan hills.
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A sunshiney week on the coast at Taghazout, Morocco, staying at Mint Surf, exploring the souks of Agadir and pretending to be in Point Break (but only on the little waves).
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A wander around the little seaside town of Beer, Devon, which has fishing boats, nice shells and about a gazillion deckchairs. Oh, and maybe the best name ever.
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My new series of special places to stay around the world kicks off with the decadent Principe Delle Neve Hotel in Cervinia, the poshest pitstop on the Italian slopes. Shot ski, anyone?
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