A couple of years ago, I went to Mafia Island, off the coast of Tanzania. I spent a few months on the island - my first introduction to learning Swahili - and while there I | Continue reading
I fell in love with Firenze, or as we say, Florence, for a reason I can’t quite put my finger on. Was it the Renaissance art and beautiful architecture within the ancient walls? Could it | Continue reading
A couple of years ago whilst on holiday in Riva Del Garda we took a day trip out to Limone. Taking the ferry across Lake Garda from Malcesine to Limone is a boat trip well | Continue reading
I spend so much of my time out in the great outdoors, plus for many years this has been with a dog or dogs. Fields occupied by cows therefore are something I have come across | Continue reading
Nicky Nook, Lancashire is not a big hill by any means at just 215m (705ft) but honestly if you want great views all around and good paths and trails then a walk up is definitely | Continue reading
If you are looking for a holiday to escape the crowds and for complete and utter relaxation, read on. What is it like to sail the tranquil, emerald green, warm waters around the coast of | Continue reading
The walk around Roddlesworth Reservoirs is a fantastic walk for all dog walkers and families or those who simply want a walk filled with great woodland and water scenes. A 2 mile circuit that can | Continue reading
I’m sure if you’re reading this, you’ve probably stocked up on either toilet roll or gin (or both) for the 2020 lockdown. In fact, flavoured gins saw a sales increase of 125% year on year | Continue reading
I still remember my first time here as a child; pulling into the car park and peeking through the windscreen from the backseat of the car, for a day trip to the beach with my | Continue reading
Arnside Knott is a quite unique and beautiful hill in the very south of Cumbria, not very high at just 522 ft (159 metres), but you can certainly get amazing views and a fantastic day | Continue reading
I had heard that Castle Combe was the “prettiest village in England” and let me tell you they were not wrong! The village sits in the Cotswolds and is located 5 miles northwest of the | Continue reading
A highlight of all my travels is often coming away with art, fabrics and jewellery that remind me of the destination. Travellers coming to East Africa are spoilt for choice on the vibrant fabrics and | Continue reading
Visiting Africa and staying in some of the beautiful properties, getting to experience the wildlife, landscapes and amazing people is, for many people, a Bucket list experience. For many of our guests traveling to our properties, | Continue reading
There is nothing more delicious looking than a vanilla cupcake, iced in white buttercream and topped with a flake. These were definitely my most popular cupcakes when I was making cakes. They look amazing, just | Continue reading
If you have ever visited the sea front of Cleveleys on the Fylde Coast, you may have seen numerous art installations on the promenade and down on the beach. Some of them are more obvious | Continue reading
Gin has had an incredible resurgence in popularity in recent years, no longer the ‘mother’s ruin’ of old, it has become a very trendy addition to glittery night’s out (life before Covid_19 lockdown of course) | Continue reading
Pets are wonderful subjects for taking photos of and sharing with loved ones or on social media. In Britain we are nation of pet lovers and it is always a joy to see photos of | Continue reading
This almond cake recipe is a moist and delicious cake, the frosting is optional, because it tastes just as delicious simply with flaked almonds atop of it as an afternoon treat, making it a more humble bake, especially in these days when sourcing ingredients can be tricky. I used … | Continue reading
What better cake to enjoy in the sunshine than a boozy, moist lemon cake infused with the Italian liqueur Limoncello. It's incredibly moist and delicious and tastes so good that you just can't resist having | Continue reading
It is always fun to do something a little new and different. Photography is one of those things where you can have fun experimenting for sure. I started out just doing point and shoot landscapes | Continue reading
Chunky Vegan Oat Bites, a simple vegan bake that uses wholesome ingredients, and is vegan, but most importantly tastes delicious! I’d been thinking about something to bake during lockdown in the UK that would use what | Continue reading
How crazy it seems that it was only a couple of months ago that I visited the Gran Canarian town of Agaete on the last day of my holiday to the island. We were staying | Continue reading
Marakami’s - “What I talk about when I talk about running”, inspires us to think beyond the distance, pace and location and consider our connection beyond the act. As a runner, I relate deeply to | Continue reading
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be dreaming of your first getaway in the glorious, but seemingly-far-off world of “post-Lockdown.” If that’s you, I’d suggest you centre the object of your holiday fantasies on Villa | Continue reading
We all love a trip to a castle and Deal Castle is one of the more unusual castles in Kent. It's right on the sea front and is a great place to explore with children, | Continue reading
I’ve been visiting the area of Shining Cliff woods at Ambergate with my family for years now and it is a firm favourite destination. It came as such a delightful surprise to discover the White | Continue reading
It is said that Birmingham has more canals than Venice, and for the most part built in the 1700’s 1800’s for industrial haulage. At the height of the industrial boom there were at least 170 | Continue reading
In Part II of my Annapurna Circuit trek blog, I left you in the warmth of the sleeping bag, falling once again into altitude affected dreams at Letdar at 4,250m. Nice to have you with | Continue reading
A light and fluffy sponge cake with a buttercream and jam filling. One of my favourite easy bake cakes that is versatile for any occasion. The original Victoria sponge cake was one of the first | Continue reading
With everyone on lockdown at the moment, there is a massive temptation (for me anyway) to reach for the biscuit tin. Because of this, I’m on a bit of a health kick! This hummus recipe is | Continue reading
It was Mother's Day and my daughter and I decided to go for a little walk as it was a beautiful day. It was a lovely day so we set off to walk around Scammonden | Continue reading
Baking bread is good for the soul and the only thing better than baking bread is eating it. I absolutely love bread. I love the history of bread, the regional differences, middle eastern flat breads, | Continue reading
Looking back on the hot dry summer of 2018 and while walking beside the Derwent Dams in the Upper Derwent Valley through the Summer and Autumn, my family and I had watched the water level | Continue reading
A wonderful crumble is enjoyable as a treat or dessert at any time of the year. Relatively easy to make this Apple, Pear and Blueberry crumble is delicious accompanied with custard or ice cream. You | Continue reading
Doe Park Caravan Site, in Teesdale within the Durham Dales, is more than just a beautiful place to stay. It is also a fully working farm. I had the pleasure of staying at Doe Park | Continue reading
In Part I of my Annapurna Circuit trek blog, I left you munching on apple pie at the Bhratang Apple Orchards at an altitude of 2,950m. In this part we are going to be gaining | Continue reading
Good morning! It’s 6am and we are packed, excited and ready to hop on a bus from Mandalay to Bagan. Bagan was a former capital of Myanmar during the 9th to 13th century, previously known | Continue reading
Dogs are a man’s best friend, and I’d say a family’s best friend too. Max was 6 months old when he came to us and he didn’t come with that name when we adopted him, | Continue reading
In October 2019, I completed a 12-day Annapurna Circuit trek with Kandoo Adventures*. Considered one of the best long-distance treks in the world, the Annapurna Circuit while at times pretty darn tough thank you | Continue reading
Teesdale, in the Durham Dales, is one of my favourite valleys of the country. Beautiful walks, beautiful waterfalls and peaks, all well away from the busier national parks. It is in an official AONB and | Continue reading
The ruggedness of Cornwall has tempted me to return on countless occasions, there’s an almost magnetic draw to this stunning land. My family and I love to visit Cornwall whenever we have an opportunity, and | Continue reading
Beacon Fell, Lancashire is definitely one of those small summits that packs a lot of view and enjoyment. It is truly accessible to all and wonderful for the children. If you have ever driven north | Continue reading
Seeking a more authentic Canarian experience other than the just the beaches, I read about the small town of Teror being voted the most beautiful town on Gran Canaria. On a Sunday, the town holds a | Continue reading
I have recently added another pet to the family. Gladys the dachshund. So that is 2 dogs and 2 cats, which makes for a whole lot of pet hair as well as muddy paw mess, | Continue reading
Bread and butter pudding is an old traditional store cupboard pudding, it uses up day-old bread, simple ingredients is easy to put together and not too costly, but it is so versatile. There are many | Continue reading
I've heard a lot about Samphire Hoe and how it was made and wanted to go and see it for myself, so on a sunny, but cold winters day, we ventured out to explore Kent's | Continue reading
Is Parkhouse Hill Britain’s best little hill? There is some stiff competition for this title; Loughrigg Fell with its beautiful misty morning views across Windermere has long been a favourite of mine, whilst north of | Continue reading
A simple no frills dish that’s perfect for weekends or a supper time dish and a good addition to a get together, can be made in advance and served cold if you wish. Just a | Continue reading