Leisure & Travel / Features
‘Beautiful locations to learn in’: Readers’ favourite creative breaks
Photography, writing, painting and music learning holidays have all ignited our readers’ creative spark, at retreats from Snowdonia to Sicily. Photography skills in beautiful locations I have been on two photography holidays with Creative Escapes. I visited Sicily and...
How far can we go on the old hippy trail? Overland from Leeds to Georgia
We travelled 3,000 miles by bus and train to what is currently the eastern limit of independent overland travel. I think this is as far as we can go,” I say, glancing down at the military post, barely 100 metres from the Zakagori Fortress, the forced endpoint of our...
Fishing for tranquility: 10 of the best wild fishing spots in the UK
From spinning off the coast of East Sussex to camping a rod’s length from a Scottish loch, the author of a new guide to wild angling chooses beautiful spots to fish affordably. Free fishing Winchester, Hampshire Grayling are prolific along the stretch of the River...
Castaway in Fife: Exploring Robinson Crusoe country in east Scotland
The Fife coastal path connects the firths of Forth and Tay and takes in some of the country’s finest seaside villages, seascapes and the home of a famous literary castaway. Standing in a Scottish seaside village, I am confronted by two smart red doors and a curious...
A winter’s trail: Seasonal UK walks from Somerset to Scotland
The stark landscapes of mid-winter are the best time for enjoying the elements on these routes. Our writers tell us the personal stories behind their favourite hikes. Derwent Edge, Peak District You can concertina this walk into a couple of hours, or else pack a...
Spooky days out: 10 of the most haunted houses in the UK
Ghost-hunters will love the grisly tales that cling to these medieval manors, ancient burial grounds and chilling castles, chosen by a gothic horror novelist - and all are open to visitors. Blickling Hall, Norfolk Blickling Hall is a handsome house that boasts gothic...
From grape stomping to truffle hunting: 10 great harvest festival trips in Europe
Autumn is a great time to join locals as they celebrate the fruits of the season, from the vineyards of Provence to the forests of Transylvania. Olive picking: Istria, Croatia Croatia’s northernmost region is famous for its olives, and the Meneghetti hotel and winery...
Slow seasons: How I spent 16 months journeying from the top to the bottom of England in a canal boat
From within sight of the Lake District to Surrey, an epic - and slow - journey along the length of England’s waterways. My home is a floating island on more than 2,000 miles of interconnected inland waterways in England and Wales. In my 17 metre narrowboat home, I...
Just get up and go! The 11 coolest places to park your campervan in the UK
Dreaming about a summer spent in a campervan? Check out these dreamy campsites where you can park and pitch up in the UK. Whether you’re imagining trekking legendary highways and gorgeous coastal routes or working your way between blissful nature reserves and bustling...
‘All the elements of the classic British seaside holiday’: Three unsung beach towns
Travel writers take a salty, summer saunter through old-fashioned seaside towns that have ‘not yet been Airbnb-brushed out of existence’. Weymouth, DorsetPhotographer Martin Parr’s 1999 film Think of England captures the nostalgic appeal of Weymouth: roast dinners at...
‘You can walk virtually everywhere in England by using the train’: The man connecting rail-based walks
A new website aims to offer a wide network of walking routes from British train stations, and is calling on hikers to add their favourites. Our writer accompanies the founder on a ramble to Bath Spa station. A British railway station can be many things. A place of...
Light fantastique: Paris through the eyes of the Impressionists
From Monet to Degas, the luminosity of Paris has inspired countless artists. As the city celebrates 150 years of impressionism it’s still shining bright. Paris is called the City of Light, possibly because of its early adoption of gas street lighting. But that would...