England’s Finest Cathedral Cities: There’s nothing like a visit to one of the great Cathedrals of England make me question my own spirituality. On hilltops or on plains – towering spires that reach up into the sky. Intricate stonework, jewelled windows and imposing ceilings. These are buildings surely created by some God or higher force. […]
Alba White Truffle Fair
Hunting the white truffle in Alba: The International Alba White Truffle Fair is one of the main events showcasing Italian luxury gastronomy of the Langhe-Roero region. Listed as a UNESCO cultural landscape since 2014, the region is known not just for the rare white truffle but for fields of hazelnut trees and for vineyards cultivating […]
Durham – Harry Potter, Prince Bishops, Spooks and Saints
A Castle, Cathedral and More – Things to do in UNESCO listed Durham: Why, it’s wonderful – a perfect little city – and I kept thinking: ‘Why did no-one tell me about this?’ I knew, of course, that it had a fine Norman cathedral but I had no idea that it was so splendid. I […]
Five Things to see and do in Quebec City:
Quebec City Alive With Art, Music and Snow. The true French part of Canada, the Quebec region, with its capital city Montreal, is very much America without the Americans – it has become a unique area encapsulating the 17th-century spirit of frontier life, with contemporary respect for the environment and freedom of spirit. 2% of […]
My Seven Wonders of the World – and your chance to win your own!
Seven Alternative Wonders of the World Starting travelling abroad in the 1960s at the age of three, I was something of a curiosity to my friends at school. In those days for most people, holidays were generally to an English seaside resort, or perhaps if your parents were really adventurous, by car ferry to France. […]
Quebec City in the Snow
Quebec City Winter Carnival: When a trip to Canada was mentioned and the possibility of visiting Quebec City, perhaps taking part in a few winter activities, I jumped at the chance. I was particularly intrigued by the trip because though it is translated as canoeing, the Circuit Quebecois de Canot a Glace race, held as […]
Things to do in Costa del Sol
Things to do at the beach and beyond in Costa del Sol Introduction – Things to do in Costa del Sol: With stunning sandy beaches, you may well have already considered a sea and sand holiday in Costa del Sol. If like me, though, you are the sort of person who likes having things to […]
Visit Arbroath – Smokies and the Declaration of Arbroath
Visiting Arbroath – A Tale of Scottish Independence and Smoked Fish Arbroath is a small Scottish fishing town on the coast just north of Dundee and about an hour and a half drive from Edinburgh. It has two main claims to fame – the Arbroath Smokie and an ancient Abbey where the Declaration of Arbroath […]
A Short Break to York by Train
York by Train – A Short Break in God’s Own Country Visitors to London often ask where else in England they should travel. Less than two hours direct from the old smoke by train and en-route to Edinburgh, York is a deservedly popular destination. It was actually the UK’s first UNESCO Creative City of Media […]
First Impressions of The Tarn
A Gastronomic Trip to The Tarn: Although I have travelled widely in France, I continue to find new and unique pockets of the country which surprise and delight. The Tarn, a Departement in France that is situated to the North East of Toulouse is part of Occitanie – a region with its own cultural heritage […]