Winston Graham set his ‘Poldark’ series of historical novels in Cornwall, where he’d lived for over 40 years. In the recent TV adaptation of Poldark, the full glory of the dramatic coastline has entered all our homes. Ross Poldark (curly-locked Aiden Turner) and his lady-love Demelza (red-head Eleanor Tomlinson) spend a lot of...

Langdale Gala Fell Race The young boys were bent chest to chest, grasping each other around their backs. The referee made sure they weren’t moving an inch before shouting “Wrestle.” There was a blur of arms tightening and legs entwining before the lad in the red shorts was on the...

Binibeca Beach With more beaches than Majorca and Ibiza combined, it’s not surprising that Menorca is a popular Spanish holiday destination. But there is much more to this tiny island on the edge of the Balearics. With a convoluted history due to its strategic position and a Mediterranean landscape, Menorca...

A bee hums to himself as he gathers nectar from a giant daisy, his stripey jacket furry, his wings whirring to keep him secure. The white petals and bright yellow hearts epitomize the simple pleasure of a summer’s day. A couple pose for a selfie in front of an even...

The ‘Great Men’ of Casa degli Omenoni Tucked away in a little backstreet near Il Duomo, Milan’s famous Cathedral, is Clubino, an exclusive gentlemen’s club. Historically it is better known,  appropriately, as the Casa degli Omenoni – the House of the Great Men (rebuilt 1565-67). Adorning its facade are eight enormous...

Spring daffodils in the Lake District Daffodils herald the entry of spring to the Lake District. They’re everywhere, from the little ones on the shores of Ullswater that Wordsworth made famous, to the big, blowsy chaps that trumpet merrily in the breeze along hedgerows, beside fields, in town and village. Then along...

Enjoying Menorca This photo was taken by my brother, who lives on Menorca in 2007, during a very happy holiday with my son. Every year from when Alex was four months old we went out to stay with Graeme on this lovely Mediterranean island. We stayed in Es Castell, outside...