Set in a tranquil spot of rural Hampshire, you will find one of the jewels in the National Trust’s crown, Mottisfont Abbey. As you approach the site you pass by small villages with chocolate box | Continue reading
I was recently fortunate enough to visit the beautiful city of Rome with hubby. It was for a special occasion (30th Anniversary – how time flies!) and he was keen to go – happy days | Continue reading
There are always plenty of cake recipes available and as a cake maker I am more than familiar with a lot of them but this spicy pecan tray bake is really quick and easy to | Continue reading
It is that time of year, when the nights are long, that we all look upwards in the night sky and see more of the moon. We are all more than aware of the many | Continue reading
When we decided to go on a holiday this summer we had no real plans on where to go. We thought we’d take pot luck and see if we could get a bargain on flights. | Continue reading
Our walk began on a bright and sunny morning in the Peak District, Hope village to be exact. It was some years ago now, but the memories are like yesterday. It was one of those | Continue reading
When I discovered York had its own Gin I was delighted. York is a place I live and I love. It is a beautiful little city and has quite a history so it was about | Continue reading
I’m starting this journey on a Greyhound bus travelling along the coastline of Far North Queensland, from Cairns to Townsville. It was a journey of five hours, passing banana plantations, spotting Cassowaries darting into the | Continue reading
Ambleside looks like a chocolate-box Lake District town at Christmas – adorned with twinkling lights, bursting with good restaurants and full to the brim with present inspiration, with its mix of outdoor and independent shops. | Continue reading
A weekend break in Northern France led to an afternoon exploring Leffrinckoucke beach and the multitude of bunkers and blockhouses on the beach or amongst the dunes along the coast, grim reminders from WWll beside | Continue reading
Vanilla Star Biscuits - A lovely soft baked biscuit covered in fondant. Great for teacher's thank you gifts or stocking fillers or for enjoying at home with your family. A great festive treat that the children will | Continue reading
Slimline wine, Pure Class in a Glass, ‘Zero sugar - Zero carbs’. Quite a promise! Having seen this advertised I thought I would give this a try. Who doesn’t want to reduce one’s sugar intake | Continue reading
It was a very cold and fresh November morning, but that was not going to stop us. Today was the day that we were off, as a group, taking on the 17 miles of the | Continue reading
Like many people, I've dreamed of having a horse all my life. I collected Brier Horses and remember playing with them often. Occasionally I would ride a friend's horse when I had the opportunity, and | Continue reading
During the colder months it is nice to treat yourself to a pudding once in a while. These butterscotch puddings have a lovely flavour complimented by the accompanying sauce. They are so easy to make and | Continue reading
As I get older I am finding the words 'pardon'? and 'say again'? are increasingly coming into my daily vocabulary. When I am out hiking or travelling by car or plane I may seem in | Continue reading
A walk from the French border and into Belgium on a family short break was a delight, our walk began in Bray Dunes in France, very close to the Belgian border. Just a short walk | Continue reading
As I am always on the go, be it hiking, travelling or out and about, it is never practical to always carry around a system camera or DSLR. That means, especially for impromptu social media | Continue reading
During the colder months I love a hearty and warming soup. This roasted tomato and red pepper superfood soup has a wonderful fresh flavour unlike the tinned variety we all know and love. Don’t get | Continue reading
This Saturday, Rusty, Paul Taylor, I and some great people are going to be taking part in a special walk. A March for Men in aid of Prostate Cancer UK. We shall be walking the length | Continue reading
The walk up the Kvačianska Valley to The Oblazy Mills in Slovakia is certainly a day I shall not forget in a hurry. It is absolutely beautiful and inspiring all the way along. From huge sights | Continue reading
High Peak Junction is nestled beside the Cromford Canal and was an industrial hub of activity back in the days of canal haulage, the High Peak railway was the one of the worlds earliest long-distance | Continue reading
This vegetarian filo parcels recipe is fairly easy to create and very tasty and it makes a nice light alternative to a pie by using the filo pastry. For a starter, serve one per person or | Continue reading
I am a big advocate of mental health and well-being. The subject of mental health is vast and the causes of mental illness are of course complex. Our lives can be complicated, stressful, joyful and at | Continue reading
Echo Falls Fruit Fusions is one of those drinks that is perfect for any festivities regardless of season. It makes a perfect Summer party wine but at any time of year it is a fruity | Continue reading
Autumn in the Derbyshire high peak is very satisfying, at least it certainly is to me, it is my favourite season and the Peak District, one of my absolute special places to get away to. | Continue reading
The Falls of Falloch, at the top end of Loch Lomond is a feast for the eyes that is accessible to the many, as it only a short walk from the car park off the | Continue reading
A question I am often asked in the hiking world especially when it comes to the Lake District. What is the difference between a lake, a mere and a tarn? You can go further and | Continue reading
Music to my ears. Chocolate and wine together. Surely heaven in a glass. I was eager to taste some. “Im tasting some Rubis chocolate wine and its so good, you have to try it!” My husband | Continue reading
Fort des Dunes in Leffrinckoucke, Northern France. A well presented and preserved historic Fort, built in 1878 in the Northern region of France, close to Dunkirk (Dunkerque.) The Fort des Dunes was built as the | Continue reading
A walk to Malham Cove from the local car park is a treat for many but if you combine Malham Cove with Malham Tarn you get to see natural wonders beyond these two Yorkshire Dale | Continue reading
A stay at Loch Lomond of course would lead us to adventure and yes for sure that meant a trip on the water. A kayak on Loch Lomond was the plan and a trip out | Continue reading
It was time for a weekend away in Scotland and our destination was Loch Lomond. The accommodation choice was The Inn On Loch Lomond, situated half way along its shores around 3 miles north of | Continue reading
Autumn in the Derbyshire Peak District is wonderful. The ever changing colours of the landscape are so inspiring and above all else, what better way to wind down and get some much-needed fresh air and | Continue reading
This Thai chicken curry is one of my favourites to create as it is so easy to prepare and really doesn’t take long. The ingredients are quite simple too so I don’t find myself having | Continue reading
Štrbské Pleso, a beautiful glacial lake in the High Tatras mountains of Slovakia. A place that kept coming up on my research before my trip to Slovakia. It was then a perfect place to start | Continue reading
I was on the search for some fizz for a weekend away. As it was a special occasion and my husband doesn’t particularly enjoy Champagne, I thought I would peruse the shelves of Aldi for | Continue reading
With a beautiful day forecast there was no way that I was going waste the day. After a hearty breakfast I walked down to Pier 41 and purchased my ticket for the ferry to Angel | Continue reading
Subscription services for a whole range of products are becoming more and more popular. One area that I personally have been interested in the last couple of years is grooming. Due to my being of | Continue reading
I recently spent the day in London solely to travel around on the Underground to take photos. Not your traditional day out in London maybe, but one borne out of a railway enthusiast friend thinking | Continue reading
As I look out of the window today I can see that Autumn is upon us. With the leaves turning to reds, oranges and golds and the nip in the air, summer is all but | Continue reading
La Cerdanya is a playground for all those who love the great outdoors. Rugged mountains, sparkling glacial lakes, and verdant valleys set the scene for hikers, climbers, cyclists, mountain bikers and those that just enjoy | Continue reading
On my travels and wanders there are so many times I see something, want to photograph it, and wish I could get closer yet practically I cannot. With this in mind it was a joy | Continue reading
Akajima island (or Aka to those in the know) lies off the coast of Okinawa, which itself lies off the coast of mainland Japan. Home to 250 people and a whole lot of wildlife, it’s | Continue reading
Auchentoshan, in Gaelic Achadh an Oisein, translates to, “corner of the field,” is a single malt Scotch whisky which is triple distilled in Glasgow and has been since 1823. Auchentoshan distillery is located near to | Continue reading
Time to head back to one of my favourite climbs of the Lake District. High Street, a mountain in the eastern side of the Lake District fells. It stands at 828 metres (2,718 ft) high, with various routes | Continue reading
I cannot think of a better way to spend a lovely fall day than walking through 3 kms of enclosures, known as Salmonier Nature Park, that are set up to help rehabilitate injured animals. The forests | Continue reading
One of the most beautiful places in the entire world is Richmond Park in south-west London. A 2,358 acre nature reserve with elevated views across Thames Valley to Windsor and Surrey. These picturesque vistas can | Continue reading