There’s something essentially English about a beach in Cornwall. Maybe it’s in our DNA to hanker after a curvaceous bay with rocky pools brimming with sealife, a goldne beach on which to create transitory castles and a sea that obligingly provides waves big enough to surf on but not too mighty...

When it comes to Paris, the most romantic city in the world, you probably want to know everything about it. No doubt you’d love to grasp the authenticity of its secrets, enjoying your trip through the eyes of Parisian people. We Own Paris (WOP app) travels with you to make you...

The moon gazes down into a darkness full of ghostly figures with hooked beaks, outstretched wings, fierce faces and threatening demeanour. Beneath the moon is a woman with vacant eyes clasping a head to her stomach; there is an air of warning and unknown forces at work here … It’s...

Footsteps trot closer then receding along a narrow street. The stirring lament of a passionate singer, the staccato thrumming of a guitar, children laughing, the ping of a wine glass chinking another, zithering cicadas, a distant motorbike’s roar, animated discussion in a powerful dialect. The sights and sounds of an...

There are hundreds of interesting, historic, vibrant villages, towns and cities in Italy. Their very names resonate in our shared cultural knowledge – Rome, Venice, Florence, Bologna and so many more. Here are five other fascinating places to add to your list of ‘must-see’ cities in which to enjoy a...

Food and Drink Trends What is in and what is out in the world of food and drink? Umami seems to be on everyone’s lips as are ‘artisan beers’. Food and drink trends vary almost as much as fashion. I found this handy infographic from The Food People whilst researching...

The narrow street of Monemvasia is barely narrow enough for the donkey to wander through. The heat funnels down from the medieval fortress ramparts and the shade is very welcome. Purple bougainvillea cascades over a wall and gernaniums add a pop of colour to the old stone steps. Wooden chairs...

“No offence, but I want to be THERE, not here.” This was the response from Amber, a participant in one of my recent ‘Introduction to Travel Writing’ Workshops. The group had been given a table covered in travel magazines and I was asking them what had made them choose the one...

The Toy Train to Shimla As we clattered along the narrow track, the mountains gradually emerged like shy ballerinas peeking out from behind a curtain of lush green foliage. Glimpsed intermittently at first, the foothills of the mightiest mountain range on earth rose amidst tiny hamlets and towering pine trees....

In this article in the World Travel Blogger series, photographer Angus Matheson describes The North Coast 500, a memorable road trip he did with his wife in the Highlands of Scotland. North Coast 500 – the greatest motoring adventure in the British Isles North Coast 500 In 2015 the North Coast...

With his hands clutching his long, flowing coat tightly around him, Sir William Hillary (1771-1841) stands high above Douglas Harbour, ready to face everything the weather can throw at him.  As founder of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution he was well aware of the changeable  meteorological temperament of his home,...

In our latest ‘World Travel Blogger‘ article, Canadian writer Cindy Baker shares her favourite things to do the beautiful city of Lisbon, capital of Portugal. The clatter of old trams, the smell of sardines on the grill, the haunting melancholy of fado music. In Lisbon, these traditions combine with a...

It looked a lot bigger than I had imagined. It also looked a lot prettier, covered in views of Canada’s splendid scenery. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Once you get on the road, you’ll soon forget its size and be enjoying yourself behind the wheel.” I was at the Cruise Canada pick-up centre...

David Hockney looking at a picture of fellow Yorkshireman Alan Bennett – photo Salts Mill You may have heard of, or even been to see, the new David Hockney exhibition at Tate Britain in London. One of this country’s most loved and respected artists, Hockney was born in Bradford in 1937,...

Rain drifts gently down from a milky grey sky. There’s not a breath of wind and the sound of footsteps is all that can be heard. Ahead loom two huge pillars thrusting upwards through the drizzle. a standing figure gradually comes into focus between the pillars, resting like Samson against...