Remembrance Day in Goathland
Each year, millions of people pay their respects to the many men and women who have lost their lives during conflict. Remembrance Day events are usually broadcast on live television – particularly those taking place in London – and attended by huge numbers of people paying their respects. But even the smallest of gatherings can […]
Read More
Walla Crag.
A camping trip to Keswick is always likely to involve a good walk. Surrounded by a vast array of fells varying in levels of difficulty, the main thing to decide is which route to take. Having travelled to the area with parents who boasted a wealth of experience exploring many of the nearby hills and […]
Read More
Zugspitze.
Among my most enjoyable day-long excursions is a trip from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze, during a winter city break to the Bavarian capital in 2015. Good weather or, at the very least, good visibility, is a necessity for ascending to Germany’s highest peak, which offers spectacular views of over 400 mountain peaks across […]
Read More
KZ Gedenkstätte.
In my own opinion, there’s no better way in which to learn about historical events than to go travelling. Every place in the world has some historical story attached to it, and to learn from books and/or through various media productions for me doesn’t quite give the same degree of reality, nor stimulate quite as […]
Read More
Stanley Park, Vancouver.
In almost any study or survey that ranks the world’s top cities by quality of life, Vancouver places highly. Indeed, the well-respected Economic Intelligence Unit put Vancouver at the top of its annual Liveability Survey for almost a decade between 2002 and 2011. I first visited in 2009, a few months before the city was […]
Read More
Berlin Fernsehturm.
With over a million visitors to its observation deck each year, Berlin’s Fernsehturm is one of the most visited attractions in Germany. Built by the German Democratic Republic between 1965 and 1969 on the Eastern sector of a city divided by the Berlin wall, it was to be a symbol of communist power. Its intended […]
Read More
Oceanogràfic, Valencia.
Valencia’s Oceanogràfic was opened in February 2003 during the third phase of construction at the City of Arts and Sciences, an impressive collection of modern architecture situated at the south end of the Jardins de Turia. It remains the largest aquarium in Europe, with six distinct sections – or ‘habitats’ – of the park set out […]
Read More
Park Güell.
It may no longer be free to enter all areas, but don’t let that put you off a visit to Park Güell, the magical gardens featuring works by Antoni Gaudí. Owing to a huge growth in visitor numbers, the park was forced into introducing measures to control the flow of people accessing the busiest section […]
Read More
Toronto Islands.
In the world’s largest cities, it can be difficult escaping from the view of skyscrapers towering above you on all sides, and around every corner. Many cities have at least some form of urban park that helps to get away from the noise of the city traffic, but many – such as New York City’s […]
Read More
Savoca.
With my desire to visit Sicily dating back to the first time I watched The Godfather films during the late 1990’s, it was quite appropriate that I should visit two of the towns used in the film on my first trip to Italy’s largest Island. A town named Corleone does exist in the North West […]
Read More
RAF Lossiemouth.
With my dad having served in the Royal Air Force when I was younger, it was perhaps inevitable that I grew up with an interest in planes. I recall fond childhood memories of living near to RAF Scampton, and regularly seeing the Red Arrows display team practicing in the Lincolnshire skies. Many years ago, the […]
Read More
Llandudno.
As I child, I recall mixed feelings of visiting Llandudno. A visit to the seaside was always fun, but a 90 minute journey spent in the back of a car with three siblings, followed by a never-ending climb up the Great Orme has always left something of a childhood scar when reminiscing of a visit […]
Read More
Santiago Bernabeu.
You’d expect the home of Europe’s most successful football club to be something special – and the Santiago Bernabeu doesn’t disappoint. Wherever you enter before catching a first glimpse of the stadium, whether at pitch level or from the top tier, it’s difficult not to be awestruck by the size of Real Madrid’s home arena. […]
Read More
Christmas in Lisbon.
My trip to Lisbon earlier in December was a second visit to the Portuguese capital though, as with other cities across the continent, I’d only previously visited for football reasons and therefore seen only briefly. When travelling at this time of year, it’s normal for Christmas markets to be out in force, and it’s not […]
Read More
Cala Gonone.
Cala Gonone is a popular destination situated midway along the east coast of Sardinia. Although the town is driven by tourism, it bears no resemblance to a more crowded Mediterranean resort. The hotels which do exist are modest in size, and while there are couple of resort villages offering accommodation, they are away from the […]
Read More
Sagrada Familia.
There are many landmarks across the world that simply have to be seen to be believed, or fully appreciated, and that is one thing that definitely applies to Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia. The influence of Antoni Gaudi is unquestionably one of the most famous things about the Catalan city – with the Basilica and Expiatory Church […]
Read More
Mallyan Spout.
Situated a 220ft descent from the roundabout next to Goathland parish church, marking one of two main routes into the North Yorkshire village, is the Mallyan Spout waterfall. With the water rising from springs in the moors above the Mallyan Spout, the existence of an actual waterfall cannot always be guaranteed, particularly following a spell […]
Read More
Wiener Rathaus.
In a city packed with grand architecture, it takes a special building to stand out above the rest – and Vienna’s City Hall is one building that manages to do just that. Quite literally in fact, given than Wiener Rathaus reaches a height of just over 100 metres. It might even have been taller still, […]
Read More
Clover Point.
Being an early-riser – when on holiday, at least – as well as a keen photographer, there’s few more satisfying ways to start a day than getting out and watching the sun rise. In unfamiliar surroundings, that can occasionally require a bit of planning on where exactly to go for the best place to view. After all, […]
Read More
Vancouver Lookout.
Surely ranking as one of the world’s least imposing city centre lookout towers is the Vancouver Lookout, an observation tower at the top of the Harbour Centre building in downtown Vancouver. Situated on the northern waterfront, the Harbour Centre is much more low key than most towers providing similar experiences in cities around the world. […]
Read More
UEFA Cup Final 2001, Dortmund.
A first football match away from Anfield, the first match attended on my own, and the first time I had travelled abroad; Having only just turned 20, the first experience of football on the continent was a slightly daunting occasion. It was also the first of what has become a growing number of occasions that […]
Read More
Torre de Collserola.
Located on the edges of the Serra de Collserola mountain range that overlooks Barcelona, the Torre de Collserola is amongst the most eye-catching landmarks when visitors arrive into the city by air. However, of the millions of annual Catalan visitors, only a small number find their way up into the hills to enjoy the panoramic […]
Read More
Taormina.
Perched high amongst the hills on the east coast of Sicily, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea is the charming Sicilian town of Taormina. It’s one of the most popular destinations on the whole island, attracting a large influx of visitors from all over the world – including many from mainland Italy. The town’s landscape combines a […]
Read More
Monaco.
If you’ve ever fancied mingling with the rich and famous, an excursion to Monaco provides a surprisingly affordable way in which to experience life in the ultimate place to be seen. Known for its casino, yachts and the most glamorous of all Grands Prix, it would be understandable to perceive Monaco as a destination beyond the […]
Read More
Niagara Falls.
The experience of visiting Niagara Falls was a major highlight of a two week stay in south-west Ontario. But for all of the visitors flocking to Niagara who are as impressed as I was by the amazing sight of the Falls, not everyone shares such enthusiasm. I’ve spoken to a couple of people who were […]
Read More
El Rastro.
Get up early enough on a Sunday morning in the Spanish capital of Madrid, and you could find yourself part of the crowd at the market at el Rastro. Scarves, socks, and sombreros are amongst just some of the delights for sale along a half mile stretch of non-stop market stalls down Calle de la […]
Read More
Bremen.
Situated 37 miles inland from Germany’s northern coast is the historic city of Bremen. Known partly for its significance during the second world war, during which time it was one of the most bombed German cities outside of Berlin, it’s somewhat of a surprise that there is so much of its rich history still evident. […]
Read More
Porto.
WITH an entire city centre awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, architecture dating back further than the 12th century, a wealth of history and a gateway to the spectacular Duoro wine region, Porto is a city that should be more well-known. Yet despite being the second largest city in Portugal and one of the “big five” […]
Read More