Hiking the Trotternish ridge, eating like kings, sleeping under the stars and getting very wet socks with Skye Wilderness Safaris.
Review: Skye Wilderness Safari
July 27, 2014 § Leave a reply
Category Archives: travel
Places to stay: Big Blue Diving, Koh Tao, Thailand
June 19, 2014 § 2 Replies
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 waters of the Gulf, a diving haven stuffed with bright coral and undulating manta rays. Try some gentle snorkelling or get serious and scuba dive with Big Blue Diving.
Climbing on the Dorset coast
June 18, 2014 § Leave a reply
Getting a serious adrenaline rush climbing the beautiful cliffs and quarries of the Dorset coast. My hands are ruined and I can now tie a nifty figure of eight knot – I must be a proper climber.
A visit to the Farne Islands, Northumberland
June 16, 2014 § Leave a reply
A boat ride to the magical Farne Islands, where clownlike puffins potter about by your feet, grey seals loll lazily on the rocks and arctic terns try their best to beat you up.
Places to stay: The Art House, Isle of Skye
June 5, 2014 § Leave a reply
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.
Wild swimming at the Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye
May 25, 2014 § 1 Reply
Take a dip somewhere a little bit magic – the Fairy Pools on Skye. Crystal clear icy water flows from the foot of the Cuillin mountains, forming lagoons and waterfalls that’ll both enchant you and give you serious brain freeze.
How to: plan a long distance cycle – the best UK routes
May 21, 2014 § Leave a reply
Part two of my collab with Sustrans to send you on your merry cycling way. Once you’re prepped and ready, these are some of the prettiest UK routes you can get your biking teeth into.
Places to stay: Borgo Pignano, Tuscany
May 14, 2014 § Leave a reply
World, meet somewhere I should probably keep secret – the wonderful Borgo Pignano, a medieval estate turned eco farm nestled in the Tuscan hills.
Three Eurostar adventures by bike
May 8, 2014 § Leave a reply
If you’ve got a case of itchy feet this weekend, hop on the Eurostar and go see a beautiful new place by bike. It’s quick and easy, and before you know it you’ll be getting lost in Amsterdam, following the Pilgrim’s trail to Provence or pootling around Paris.
Places to stay: Surfing in Morocco
April 26, 2014 § Leave a reply
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).
Places to stay: Beachcombing in Beer
April 9, 2014 § Leave a reply
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.
Places to stay: Damp on Dartmoor
April 7, 2014 § 2 Replies
It was my birthday last week (oh hello middle-to-late twenties!) and a big gang of us went to stay on Dartmoor for sunshine and barbeques. And then it rained a lot, so instead we went walking in bogs, met the Hound of the Baskervilles and drink a lot of gin by the fire.
Guest post: Wine tasting by bike in Argentina
April 4, 2014 § Leave a reply
My travel-mad mate Karina Kold goes wine tasting on two wheels through the sunny vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina. I’m not jealous AT ALL.
Review: Western riding in the New Forest
April 3, 2014 § Leave a reply
A delightful Saturday afternoon riding western-style around the New Forest, spotting wild ponies and pretending to be in Brokeback Mountain. Tally ho!
Places to stay: Principe Delle Neve, Cervinia, Italy
March 28, 2014 § Leave a reply
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?
Competition: Win £2000 of epic adventure travel with Blacks and Explore
March 26, 2014 § Leave a reply
Exciting news, fellow wanderlusters! I’m one of the judges of an amazing new competition from Explore.co.uk and Blacks – budding photographers can win £2000 of adventure travel.
Interview: Adventurer and author Dave Cornthwaite
March 14, 2014 § Leave a reply
Dave Cornthwaite is a man on a mission – to complete 25 expeditions of 1000 miles or more, each using a different form of non-motorised transport. Eight journeys in, he tells me about paddling the Mississippi, planning micro adventures and learning to fit your life in your rucksack.
My favourite wild swimming spots
February 24, 2014 § 7 Replies
Feeling a deep desire to go splashing about in rivers and cliffjumping into lagoons? The UK is peppered with stunning locations in which to dip your toes, from epic waterfalls in Wales to a magician’s cove in Cornwall. These are a few of my favourites.
Interview: Phoebe Smith, the adventurous editor of Wanderlust magazine
February 21, 2014 § 1 Reply
Phoebe Smith, globetrotting editor of Wanderlust and author of Extreme Sleeps: Adventures of a Wild Camper, tells me all about bedding down in subzero temperatures, getting starstruck in the Himalayas and where to find true wilderness in the UK.
Places to stay: Auckinleck house adventures
February 13, 2014 § 1 Reply
A gang of us headed up to Scotland to play at being lords and ladies of the manor for a week, staying at the stunning Auchinleck House, part of the Landmark Trust collection of properties. There was a lot of beach wandering, fireside reading and cuddling of Betty the dog involved and I took some nice snaps to share with you lot.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
February 10, 2014 § Leave a reply
Itching to get out into the wilderness? Some of the finest scenery in the whole of the UK is only a couple of hours away from Edinburgh’s city centre. Hire a car in Edinburgh and take an epic road trip to the outdoors paradise of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.
How to: Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
February 9, 2014 § 2 Replies
My lovely friend and fellow adventure-mad lady Karina Kold tells all about her hike to the lost city of the Incas, and what to pack in your rucksack.
Mini adventures in Oxford
January 22, 2014 § Leave a reply
Cool, compact and steeped in history – there’s nowhere like Oxford for a weekend of exploring. And picnicking. And cycling. Here’s my guide to some of the great things you can get up to in the city.
Places to stay: Pangkor, Malaysia
January 17, 2014 § 4 Replies
Planning a trip to Malaysia? Make sure you include a spot of hammock napping, sea snorkelling and rainforest trekking on the pirate hideout-turned chilled-out retreat island of Pangkor.
How to: go foraging in Dublin, an illustrated guide
December 28, 2013 § Leave a reply
A vibrant city may seem an unlikely place to go foraging, but if you know where to look, Dublin’s bursting with edible goodies. So Visit Dublin asked foraging expert and restaurateur Paul Quinn of Nádúr Collective to share his foraging secrets on how to find everything from scurvy grass to elderflower in the city, and then super-talented artist Katt Frank turned his advice into this beautiful illustrated guide.
Review: The Manor At Weston-On-The-Green
December 19, 2013 § 1 Reply
In need of a little escape? I’m a very big fan of the Manor at Weston-on-the-Green, a cosy country retreat that’s easy on the eye and heavy on the charm.
Competition: Win tickets to the Adventure Travel Show 2014
December 18, 2013 § 8 Replies
In January the world’s most daring explorers, talented travel photographers and coolest tour companies (plus hundreds of fans of the road less travelled) are converging on The Adventure Travel Show in London. Fancy a day of inspiring talks, workshops and seminars? I’ve got a pair of tickets to give away.
Four amazing outdoor experiences in Italy
November 27, 2013 § 1 Reply
It may be known as the prime destination for gazing at art and gorging yourself on the three main food groups (that’s pizza, pasta and wine), but there’s an outdoorsy side to Italy too, adventure fiends. When you’re not in a food coma or pretending to be Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, try hiking the glittering coastline, skiing in the shade of the Matterhorn or horse riding under the Tuscan sun.
Go camping on the Isle of Wight
October 29, 2013 § Leave a reply
Super chilled, lush green in hue and dotted with surf-friendly beaches, secret woodlands and cool camping spots, the Isle of Wight deserves its growing rep as a hip island getaway, and camping is the best way to experience its beauty. Here’s my little guide to the best places to stay and the nicest things to do on the IOW, from hanging out in Airwave trailers to making friends with alpacas named Wallace and Gromit.
Competition: Win a kitesurfing holiday with Explora Morocco
September 30, 2013 § Leave a reply
The adrenaline junkies over at Explora Morocco have a pretty rad prize up for grabs in their new competition – an action-packed week of kite surfing for two on the Moroccan coast.
Review: The Gallivant Hotel at Camber Sands in Sussex
September 27, 2013 § Leave a reply
I spent a very nice seasidey weekend at the gorgeous Gallivant Hotel on Camber Sands in Sussex, a chilled-out beachside haven that’s straight out of the Hamptons.
How to: Pack for an Asian adventure
August 28, 2013 § 1 Reply
Backpacking through Bangkok, volunteering in Vietnam or gap-yah-ing in the Ganges? Here’s a roundup and review of everything I pack in my rucksack for tropical trips.
Review: Dinner at Hotel Du Vin
August 19, 2013 § Leave a reply
I swapped cooking on camping stoves for a swish supper, sampling the summery Al Fresco menu at Bristol’s delightful Hotel Du Vin.
Photoblog: Snapshots of Thailand
August 19, 2013 § 1 Reply
Flo and I have returned from adventures around the land of golden buddhas, crystalline waterfalls, charming locals and interesting toilets.
Four amazing Thai adventures
July 30, 2013 § 2 Replies
On Friday I’m giving in to wanderlust and heading to Thailand for a few weeks of elephant cuddling, under water exploring and jungle ziplining. I’m flying with Emirates to Bangkok – here’s my list of the gorgeous things I plan to see and do.
10 quick summer activity fixes
July 28, 2013 § 2 Replies
If the weather’s gorgeous outdoors and you’re sitting indoors in your pants watching Dave reruns, something’s seriously wrong. Pick an adult and kid-friendly summery activity from this list and go get fitter, browner and happier (put some clothes on first).
Eat Pray Love – Turkish yoga retreats
July 24, 2013 § Leave a reply
The lovely Josie Cox headed to the forested mountains of Turkey to see if she could cut it as a “wheatgrass-munching nirvana-seeking mantra-chanting hippie” at Huzur Vadisi
Nice Times in Northumberland
July 19, 2013 § Leave a reply
If the blistering heatwave is sending you in search of chilled-out beaches and cool green spaces, head to Northumberland in the North East. Spot seals, explore rock pools or pretend you’re in Harry Potter – it’s one of England’s best kept secrets.
Summer sun in Eastern Europe
July 19, 2013 § Leave a reply
Fancy an extra dose of vitamin D? Head to Eastern Europe for a heady hit of breathtaking scenery, unspoilt beaches and gorgeous resorts in Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria or Turkey.
Israeli Adventures part 3: Exploring Jerusalem
July 13, 2013 § Leave a reply
In June I spent a week in Israel discovering the delights of Tel Aviv, biking in the Negev Desert and wandering around the labyrinthine streets of old Jerusalem. Here’s the final part of the journey – exploring Jerusalem by foot and bike.
