• Vincent van Gogh’s Arles: visiting the pretty Provençal city that inspired his greatest masterpieces

    The scenes of some of the paintings currently on show in London’s National Gallery can still be found in the southern French cityThe market at Arles in France every Saturday stretches for more than 2km, the lush countryside around yielding enough produce to fill more than 400 stalls to overflowing. Alongside the plump fruit and vegetables, drifts of cheese and butter paint the whole scene a deep cream, echoing the Provençal city’s warm limestone and light yellow plaster.Vincen
  • From cool cabins to country houses: six of Britain’s best forest escapes

    Our writers find enchanting and secluded places to stay in the forests of England, Scotland and WalesThere are days when a walk in the woods is the best option. This includes days when the cloud ceiling is barely above chest height and there is a rowdy wind driving the rain in your face. I am striding fast up Sandpit Lane near the hamlet of Thimbleby on the west side of the North York Moors. Charms of goldfinches, oblivious to the weather, are bouncing along the hedgerow. The land rises up and I
  • ‘Reconnecting with our glorious woodlands’: why we should all get out into the forest

    With the leaves turning golden, now is the time to visit the woods, says the author of a new book, and perhaps learn how to better protect them tooThere are two times of year I particularly love being among trees. The first is at the height of spring, when new leaves and woodland plants are at their most intensely green. The second is the point in autumn when the summer hues shift overnight and the woods take on a whole new coat. In Japanese there is a wonderful term for both, mik
  • ‘A wildly beautiful place for autumn colour’: readers’ favourite UK forest trails

    ‘A wildly beautiful place for autumn colour’: readers’ favourite UK forest trails
    From Japanese acers at Westonbirt arboretum to the pines of Loch Ard, our tipsters share their top woodland days outAutumn is often wet – so why not embrace this, and visit one of Britain’s temperate rainforests in Borrowdale, near Keswick. Such forests are rare globally as well as in Britain. Not only can you observe the gorgeous autumn hues from the leaves of ash, birch and oak but you can see all manner of mosses, liverworts and lichens. The latter proliferate because of the clean
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  • I’m travelling to every record shop in the UK – here are my 10 favourites

    From Orkney to Brighton, independent stores are treasure troves for vinyl hunters and a great way to while away a holiday afternoonI still remember the excitement of buying my first vinyl aged 11, Duane Eddy’s great 1962 single (Dance With the) Guitar Man, and that bug has been with me ever since. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of digging through the racks and finding that elusive wishlist record. When I retired, I made it my mission to visit as many record shops as I could ac
  • Where tourists seldom tread, part 12: five more UK towns with hidden histories

    Scratch beneath the surface of these once well-connected but now overlookedtowns and their grand civic buildings and streets reveal a rich seam of history, legend and memory• Where tourists seldom tread, parts 1-11Ports, rivers, canals, railways, pilgrims’ pathways: these oft-overlooked, deeply engaging towns grew around transport and, as they expanded, created local networks. We usually think of leisure travel in terms of long-distance trains, cars on open roads, coaches from A to B
  • Communal dining is Copenhagen’s best-kept culinary secret

    Communal dining is Copenhagen’s best-kept culinary secret
    Eating out in Denmark can be costly, but a growing number of child-friendly community supper clubs in the capital offer affordable feasting with the localsCopenhagen is a gastronome’s paradise. Stroll around the Danish capital’s elegant boulevards and before long you’re bound to stumble upon a hallowed, Michelin-starred temple of New Nordic cuisine. However, there’s a cheaper and more convivial side to the city’s culinary scene: its communal supper tables.Leading th
  • Share a tip on a great UK youth hostel

    Tell us about your favourite youth hostel, bunkhouse, bothy or camping barn – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays breakOnce the domain of youth groups and backpackers, hostels have done a great job of reinventing themselves in recent years to appeal to a broader cross-section of travellers, including families and couples. Not only do they offer affordable accommodation, but they are often found in beautiful locations. And some places will let you have exclusive use for a large
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  • Shipwrecks, sea birds and whale spotting: exploring Ireland’s first marine park

    A vast swathe of the rugged Kerry coast and its Atlantic isles is now a protected haven for wildlife, and the occasional Jedi knightI’m crouching in a windowless stone cell, peering at a ball of fluff stuffed into a crack in the floor. The cell is a beehive hut, or clochán; 1,400 years ago, it offered sleeping quarters to monks. The fluff is a baby seabird – to be precise, the chick of a European storm petrel. As my eyes adjust, I make out the glint of a tiny eye. After dark,
  • 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 TransylvaniaCroatia’s northernmost region is famous for its olives, and the Meneghetti hotel and winery produces four different varieties of oil from the 750 trees dotted across the estate. From early October to mid-November, guests can join the olive harvest and oil-making process, as well as oyster-shucking on the nearby fjords and truffle hunting (until the
  • 20 of the best UK foodie breaks for autumn

    Fancy a seasonal getaway? From cosy inns to restaurants with rooms, we’ve found the best boltholes – all with menus as enticing as the sceneryGlenfinnan House Hotel, overlooking Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument, is one of Scotland’s most celebrated properties. On a clear day, you can see Ben Nevis from here, too. Glenfinnan viaduct, which attracts Harry Potter fans hoping to glimpse the steam train, is a short walk away. The family-owned country house dates from 1755 and ha
  • Autumn fun and feasting: 10 readers share their favourite seasonal events in the UK

    Our tipsters savour the season’s bounty, from orchard tours to pumpkin pickingOur family’s favourite place to visit in autumn is Tulleys Pumpkin Farm in West Sussex (its pumpkin festival runs until 31 October). The pumpkin fields are impressive, with an astonishing variety in all colours, shapes and sizes. The kids love exploring and picking out their favourites. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes, as the fields can get muddy. The farm also features food and drink trucks, plus live music.
  • Walking the Celtic Camino: new coast path links sacred sites in Ireland and Wales

    Walking the Celtic Camino: new coast path links sacred sites in Ireland and Wales
    Ancient chapels, neolithic sites, vast beaches and live music are among the highlights of a new pilgrimage route from Wexford to St DavidsNick and I are standing by the old Norman tower on the sacred isle. “We would come on the pilgrimage when we were kids,” he’s telling me. “Walk all around the island with thousands of others. All the cousins and friends doing the stations of the cross.”We wander behind the tower, and in the trees are ribbons, cards and photographs
  • Trainspotting from the bathtub: why Manchester’s newest bolthole is on the right track

    Trainspotting from the bathtub: why Manchester’s newest bolthole is on the right track
    You don’t have to be a railway buff to enjoy the Station Agent’s House. The restored Georgian gem is a perfect base for exploring the historic Castlefield districtFor some, a stately home does it. For others, a converted barn. For me, anything rail-related hits the spot. It’s partly respect for transport and proper jobs. It’s also because I was born and raised 1.2 miles (or a mile and 16 chains in the parlance) south of the world’s first inter-city railway line &nda
  • A cycling, walking and running break in France’s best area for trails

    A cycling, walking and running break in France’s best area for trails
    Bagnoles de l’Orne in Normandy is a traditional spa town reinventing itself with new hiking and cycling routes – and a focus on sustainable tourismKévin Raimond was teaching me how to walk. I thought I already knew, but this tall, bearded, laid-back Frenchman had fresh wisdom to impart. “Inhale for three steps, hold your breath for one,” he said, hands pressed to his inflating belly. “Then exhale for three steps and hold for one. And repeat.”Afghan walk
  • Share a tip on a great hike in Europe

    Share a tip on a great hike in Europe
    Tell us about your favourite walking adventure – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays breakThere’s nothing quite like a hiking trip for clearing the mind – and getting out into nature and exploring on foot allows access to places you might miss otherwise. We’d love to hear about great walks you’ve taken in Europe, on coasts, over hills and mountains and through forests, plus any details of excellent pitstops you’ve enjoyed en route. Tell us where y
  • Volunteering at music festivals supported my post-retirement trip to the US and Canada

    Working in exchange for tickets from Vancouver to Texas was an ideal way for a 60-year-old solo traveller to find friends, fun and an instant community‘We have beers!” came the cry, followed by the more enigmatic “and hair clippers!” As the sun began to set, with no discernible abatement in temperature, the crew was in the process of building an outdoor stage at El Cosmico campsite in Marfa, Texas, for the forthcoming Trans-Pecos festival. The festival was the reason
  • ‘Growing up in Guernsey was extraordinary’: Dawn O’Porter returns to her childhood home

    Quiet cliff paths, vast sweeping beaches, cobbled high streets … and freedom. The writer and presenter finds the things she once wanted to escape from are now the island’s principle attractionsI wish someone had told me at the time that growing up in Guernsey was extraordinary. Not that I was receptive to that information – I was far too busy dreaming of what else the world could offer. The excitement and glamour of the mainland was too gripping to let me take stock of the pri
  • By volunteering around the world, I found my purpose in life, my husband and my roots

    By volunteering around the world, I found my purpose in life, my husband and my roots
    Working with charities, farms and rural development projects has been life-changing for our writer – and is something anyone can do, regardless of backgroundThe first time I joined a volunteering trip I was 22, and had no idea what I wanted to do in life. It was in the summer of my third year at university, in 2018, and the project was a 10-week expedition with Raleigh International in Malaysian Borneo.Raleigh offered bursaries, covering flights, insurance and vaccinations, to people
  • Eight months off school, but we all learned so much: a family sabbatical in South America

    Eight months off school, but we all learned so much: a family sabbatical in South America
    Travelling around Chile, Argentina and Peru – with a focus on Indigenous tourism – is a transformative adventure
    Plus 10 tips on planning a family gap yearIt was on holiday in Italy in 2022, after perhaps a little too much wine, that the decision was made: Mirjam Peternek-McCartney and her husband, Mark, would take a year’s sabbatical – with their (then) 10- and 13-year-old sons, Lukas and David. “We told the kids in the morning and after that we couldn’t back
  • ‘A gap year offers that feeling of absolute freedom’: readers’ trips of a lifetime

    ‘A gap year offers that feeling of absolute freedom’: readers’ trips of a lifetime
    Euphoria on a moped in Indonesia, orcas off Argentina and the chance to ranch, surf or simply be the person they always wanted to be are among our readers’ wonderful memoriesAfter a 10-year slog at work, my boss agreed to my taking a year-long sabbatical. We used this to revisit south-east Asia – not to relive past travelling glories of my 20s (where my destinations usually revolved around partying). Instead we floated around the more “cultured” parts that were not on my
  • ‘A perfect place to build a film community’: a tour of Scotland’s island movie clubs

    The Sea Change film festival on Tiree is a DIY affair that celebrates women and also connects communities on a series of small, scattered islesThink of a film festival and images of celebrities, paparazzi and throngs of tourists might spring to mind, but one festival on a Hebridean island does things a little differently. The Sea Change film festival, which runs from Friday to Sunday, has been attracting the public and the film industry to Tiree (population about 650) in the Inner Hebrides for t
  • Waterford revival: the reinvention of Ireland’s oldest city

    Waterford revival: the reinvention of Ireland’s oldest city
    From Viking history, to its wild coastline and even its ‘damp’ weather, Waterford has taken its natural assets and run with themIt was a pretty long interregnum, about 1,000 years, but Waterford is once again a hot travel destination.The Vikings were the first to popularise this corner of south-east Ireland, liking it so much they settled, built a town and called it Vadrarfjordr, Norse for “winter port”, around AD914. There was no better refuge for weary raiders to rest a
  • Mountains, beaches, history – why Belgrade to Bar is one of the best train rides in Europe

    The 300-mile line between Serbia and Montenegro, built in Tito’s era, connects city and seaside for a blissful Balkan holidayIt started with a disagreement. Where to go on an early autumn break? I wanted a city and history, my boyfriend wanted coast and stunning scenery. The solution? Two days in the Serbian capital Belgrade, a train ride to Montenegro, and some time on the Adriatic. In the end, the cinematic train journey proved the real star of the show.Belgrade is an eclectic mix of Hab
  • Walks with a focal point: five of the best UK hikes with extras

    From a wire bridge near Ben Nevis to a wild swim in Devon, these walks come with a unique manmade or natural element to look forward to as you strollEven the best walk needs a focal point, an extra something that makes the whole day come alive. For me the swim is the default choice. I’ll jump in that river, lake or sea at any time of year, but there are many other, less bracing, options. These five walks bring a range of highlights. Continue reading...
  • Share a tip on your favourite forest escapes in the UK

    Share a tip on your favourite forest escapes in the UK
    Tell us about your favourite woodland walks and activities in the UK – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays breakAutumn is the most magical time of year in the UK’s woodlands, with the leaves turning from green to gold and red. Tell us about your favourite ways to soak up the seasonal splendour – from woodland walks to forest glamping, foraging, bushcraft activities and treetop adventure trails – and you could win a £200 holiday voucher.If you have a rel
  • A late summer break in Montpellier, one of France’s sunniest cities

    A late summer break in Montpellier, one of France’s sunniest cities
    The reinvention of Montpellier from ancient university town to ‘Berlin by the Med’ is in full swing, and late summer is the best time to visit Strolling around the Estanove district, just south-west of Montpellier centre, it’s hard not to feel excited by how this Mediterranean city is transforming for the 21st century. Here, on a brownfield former military site next to leafy Parc Montcalm, the city is building one of several “eco” districts – this one will lin
  • Dream ’scapes: Europe’s 10 best surrealist trips for art lovers

    Dream ’scapes: Europe’s 10 best surrealist trips for art lovers
    Celebrate the centenary of surrealism in Europe with a trip to the art movement’s key spaces and placesThis autumn, the dreamy, subconscious world of surrealism will come into full focus. September 2024 marks 100 years since André Breton founded the movement. Not only are there exhibitions across Europe to celebrate the anniversary but, from Mallorca to Sussex and Rome, it’s a chance to lose yourself in the artists’ homes and studios. Continue reading...
  • A last blast of summer: five cities in southern Europe perfect for late-season sun

    A last blast of summer: five cities in southern Europe perfect for late-season sun
    The sun is still shining brightly in southern Europe, but the crowds have gone, which makes these gorgeous seaside cities even more alluringSaying Genoa has a lot of palaces is like saying Venice is full of canals. Still, they are one of the defining features of a city that has one of the biggest old towns in Europe, ideal for exploring on warm autumn days. More than 100 Renaissance and baroque palaces are still standing, 42 of which comprise the Unesco-listed Palazzi del Rolli. Lots are open to
  • My favourite late summer city break in southern Europe: readers’ tips

    My favourite late summer city break in southern Europe: readers’ tips
    Beaches on Sardinia, food markets in Aix-en-Provence and historic Sarajevo are among our tipsters’ highlightsThe town of San Remo on the Ligurian coast, between Genoa and Nice, has the air of a faded grand old lady, a little bit down on her luck but with plenty of dash still on offer. Blessed with the most enticing and charming streets of a medieval old town that meanders upwards in car-free bliss, on the way have lunch at La Ciotola (Via S Stefano 4) where the ravioli is homemade and supe
  • ‘Secret Garden on steroids’: the Cornish cottage that comes with its own jungle and private beach

    Guests staying at a new holiday cottage in the grounds of Trebah Gardens will get after-hours access to this sub-tropical paradise and its private coveThe sign on the gate states “Private. No access.” We ignore it and follow a path past a Georgian manor house, its white walls glowing pink in the early evening light. It appears to be empty but as we tiptoe past the large sash windows, I have the uneasy sensation of trespassing. To the far side of the house is a latticed wooden gate, w
  • My passionate love affair with Scotland’s largest island

    My passionate love affair with Scotland’s largest island
    On the surface, little appears to have changed in the 30 years that bestselling author Peter May has been visiting the Isle of Lewis. But tourism has had a big impact – from Sunday opening hours to a deep water port for cruise shipsThere was a joke doing the rounds when I was first visiting the Outer Hebrides more than three decades ago. On the flight to Stornoway, halfway across the Minch, the pilot makes an announcement: “We will shortly be arriving on the Isle of Lewis. Don’
  • ‘The hike of a lifetime’ – a circuit of the Écrins national park in France

    ‘The hike of a lifetime’ – a circuit of the Écrins national park in France
    The Tour des Écrins in the Hautes-Alpes is one of Europe’s finest long-distance walks, and offers a chance to reflect on how best to live alongside natureI first learned about the Écrins national park in relation to a specific nature reserve within it. The réserve intégrale du Lauvitel was established in 1995 to “monitor the natural dynamics of ecosystems” with all human influence removed. This so-called wilderness area was one of the first of its ki
  • Time travel in the Italian Alps: a glam stay in a 70s design hotel

    On the shores of Lake Caldaro in South Tirol, the striking Seehotel Ambach has barely changed since 1973 – and is all the better for itWhen I was about seven years old, my aunt brought me back a souvenir from her trip to America – a yellow trouser suit with yellow-and-purple zigzag-patterned flared trousers. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen and, 50 years later, as I walk into the Seehotel Ambach in Italy’s South Tirol, I can’t help thinking how it’
  • Tell us about your favourite UK autumn food or drink event

    Share details of an autumnal food festival, foraging walk or harvesting event – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays breakAutumn is drawing near and with it the harvest season, bringing the chance to indulge in some great foodie activities. Whether it’s a day out foraging in the forest, a tour of a cider farm or vineyard, a food trail or harvest festival, or a pop-up outdoor autumnal feast, we’d love to hear about your favourite experiences of the season. Tell us wh
  • Tourism that does less harm: Lanzarote away from the big beach resorts

    Tourism that does less harm: Lanzarote away from the big beach resorts
    After this year’s protests against mass tourism all over the Canaries, we head for the small towns, vineyards and rugged coast of Lanzarote’s less-visited northThe sky is clear as I sit sipping coffee in the sunny courtyard of an 18th-century house – now a boutique hotel – in the small Lanzarote town of Teguise. But Óscar Cubillo, my host, sees something different. Looking up, he says: “The planes are always there. They never stop.”Lanzarote, an island
  • ‘Just the right amount of edge’: how Marseille became 2024’s on-trend city

    ‘Just the right amount of edge’: how Marseille became 2024’s on-trend city
    Thanks to buzzy cafes and the backing of Chanel’s fashion supremos, France’s oldest city is having its momentWhen a place becomes a meme, you know it is having a moment. This is what is happening to Marseille, which found its name plastered on a satirical Instagram account this week. “‘Mate was finkin’ of goin’ Marseille? Apparently it’s poppin’ off!?’,” read the caption on the viral Socks House Meeting fashion account that satirises th
  • 10 of the best gardens to visit around the UK

    10 of the best gardens to visit around the UK
    From hidden idylls to vast country estates, here is our pick of glorious gardens to delight and soothe your soulNorthiam, Rye, East SussexContinue reading...
  • Turkey at its sun-kissed, laid-back best: why Göcek makes the perfect Lycian base

    Turkey at its sun-kissed, laid-back best: why Göcek makes the perfect Lycian base
    The small resort is close to visitor hot spots such as Bodrum and Fethiye but retains a mellow vibe and is perfectly placed for exploring the coastWhen Bodrum and I first met, 30 years ago, my main thought was that it was a long way from anywhere. In summer 1994, when I worked as a holiday rep, there were no international flights to Bodrum’s small airport and only a few holidaymakers made the four-hour trek from Dalaman airport. Famous for its picturebook Crusader castle and waterfront lin
  • A beach as it might have looked 1,000 years ago: Sardinia’s north-west peninsula

    A beach as it might have looked 1,000 years ago: Sardinia’s north-west peninsula
    The island’s top left-hand corner offers unspoilt coast, untouristy towns and a wild ‘donkey’ island. Just don’t follow the Instagram crowdPeople rave about La Pelosa beach in Sardinia’s north-west: it has “stunning white sand”, “clear turquoise water”, “breathtaking beauty” and is one of Lonely Planet’s best beaches in Italy. But please don’t go there. Even a decade ago when I was first checking out Sardinia’s g
  • It was genuinely healing to return to Ibiza, the place where I’d nearly died

    It was genuinely healing to return to Ibiza, the place where I’d nearly died
    With his Ibiza-set novel just out, the bestselling author recalls his drug-fuelled partying years, recovery, and the island’s complicated relationship with tourism todayThe thing that might surprise you about Ibiza is the quiet. Even in August, there are pockets of tranquillity all over the island. Walking along the nature trail between and behind two of its most famous beaches – Es Cavallet and Ses Salines – you hear nothing but the chirp of cicadas and the soft whisper of the
  • ‘Turkey gave us one of the most exhilarating experiences of our lives’: readers’ travel tips

    ‘Turkey gave us one of the most exhilarating experiences of our lives’: readers’ travel tips
    Stunning beaches, car-free islands and reminders of antiquity feature in our tipsters’ picks from the Aegean to the Black Sea. Plus, the best rice pudding ever …Lake Eğirdir is the fourth largest lake in Turkey and the town of Eğirdir (80 miles north of Antalya), which sits on the southern edge of the lake, is sometimes used as a stopover for coach travellers as they travel between the tourist hotspots of Cappadocia and Pamukkale. If you can, stay longer. We stayed three n
  • Tour de France: the new cycle route from Nantes to Mont-Saint-Michel

    Tour de France: the new cycle route from Nantes to Mont-Saint-Michel
    La Régalante is a 170-mile cycle network linking historic villages, windmills and abbeys in less-visited parts of Brittany and the Atlantic Loire, with pitstops at lovely bars and B&Bs We wave au revoir to Nantes and, moments later, we’re rushing towards the sea on hired touring bikes. We’re heading along France’s newest cycle route, from the Pays de la Loire through Brittany to the tidal flats of Normandy. My friend and I have an appointment with Mont-Saint-Michel i
  • One Spanish region where tourists are welcome – especially spaghetti western fans

    One Spanish region where tourists are welcome – especially spaghetti western fans
    A new walking route around Burgos, in northern Spain, offers film pilgrims a close-up of the iconic locations used in Sergio Leone’s movie The Good, the Bad and the UglyIn the mountains of northern Spain, the sleepy town of Santo Domingo de Silos is accustomed to welcoming pilgrims. In the province of Burgos, on the Camino de Santiago, it is home to one of Spain’s most famous monasteries.Built in the seventh century, the Monasterio de San Francisco was catapulted to unlikely stardom
  • ‘Plus-size people face a lot of barriers’: the campaigners helping larger walkers to enjoy the great outdoors

    From being properly kitted out to planning a walking route up Mam Tor, our writer finds her feet and her tribe in the Peak DistrictIt is raining. Heavy drops hit so hard they bounce back into the air. Cloud hangs over the highest peak, today’s destination. I gather with the small group of women in larger bodies, all facing the same challenge as me, with similar demons whispering into their ears, “You’re too fat, you’re not fit enough, you don’t belong here, you will
  • Share a tip on a gap year or sabbatical – you could win a holiday voucher

    Tell us about a favourite long trip – it could have been a gap year, a sabbatical or a spell volunteering abroad – the best tip wins £200 towards a Coolstays breakGap years are not just the domain of students in search of adventure after A-levels or university. Increasing numbers of us are choosing to take a career break or sabbatical later in life to travel abroad or try something new. Have you taken time out to volunteer overseas, to see the world, or to study abroad? We&rsqu
  • Driving to the Italian Alps with two small kids – and camping: the unholy trinity of travel?

    Driving to the Italian Alps with two small kids – and camping: the unholy trinity of travel?
    The idea of a family road trip across Europe to reach Trentino’s celebrated Lago di Ledro felt daunting. Turns out getting there was more than half the funFloating motionless in the deep water of northern Italy’s exquisite Lago di Ledro in beating sun, I felt the contradictory sensation of simultaneous exertion and relaxation. My heart was thumping from the front crawl I’d just done, yet my mind basked in the beauty of this tree-lined valley and my brief, heavenly solitude
  • Viennese waltz: top travel tips for a spin around Austria’s capital

    Viennese waltz: top travel tips for a spin around Austria’s capital
    From the ferris wheel featured in the Third Man to an evening with Mozart and the world’s largest collection of Klimts, here’s how to make the most of a break in ViennaWalk some of the city’s 23 districts, each one with its own distinct identity and history. The 9th district is a great place to start. Elegant and rich in art nouveau and art deco architecture, it was also home to Beethoven, Schubert and Freud. Visit one of the most famous addresses in psychoanalytic history, Wie
  • Saving the seas one dive at a time in Northumberland

    We dip beneath the North Sea waves with Britain’s first eco-dive centre, to see how it is inspiring divers to help clean up the seas they loveOn the outer side of Britain’s Farne Islands, off the Northumberland coast, is the Longstone lighthouse, which was home in 1838 to a reluctant heroine called Grace Darling. She was the lighthouse keeper’s daugher, and at the age of just 22, she jumped into a rowing boat in the midst of a violent storm and successfully saved nine people fr
  • 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 waterwaysMy 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 have travelled from the most northerly of the joined waterways – within sight of the Lake District – to the most southerly, about 30 miles from the Channel.It took me 16 months to complete but I was never in

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