This time it was Mary’s fault. She wanted a training weekend in preparation for the Ultra Tour Monte Rosa, a stunning multi day run in Switzerland and Italy. I was keen to join her as last time I didn’t see the views,
Category: Story
Exploring Manchester Inner City Culture
We booked into Hatters on Hilton Street and as the night drew in we wandered deeper into Manchester city, to find somewhere tranquil to admire the city lights . At around 9 pm the city seemed to come to life.
A private double room in a Hostel? My husband was unbelieving
My husband was unbelieving but it was true. Inveraray Hostel sleeps 22 people in 10 bedrooms, meaning that practically every room is a private room.
Experiencing London from a new perspective: PubLove The Exmouth Arms,
London is one of those cities you can keep discovering new corners of. Each time I re-visit the English capital I book my accommodation in a different neighbourhood, simply to experience the city from a new angle.
Tip, the brave little collie, and her 15 week vigil, on bleak Howden Moor
Here is the story of Tip the dog, who stayed for 104 days with the frozen corpse of her master on the hills above the Derwent Dams. Joseph Tagg, the shepherd who got caught out on the moors, used to stay occasionally in a lean-to at the end of the old barn on Lockerbrook Farm. The barn was demolished in the 1970s, but last month one of Lockerbrook’s volunteers rescued a little stone drinking trough and returned it to Lockerbrook to mark the 65th anniversary of the discovery Tip alive and by her masters side. If you bring a group to stay at Lockerbrook Outdoor Centre you can visit Tips grave and sleep in a room named after the loyal collie.
Hull Ex City of Culture – Oh, The things you’ll see!
In Hull the thing that struck me was the Art, you just stumble on it walking down the streets. I had no idea that Hull was such a quirky place, with great outdoor spaces and amazing buildings. We really loved the atmosphere in the old town.
Sleep at the former Police Headquarters in The Bristol Wing, Bristol
The Bristol Wing in central Bristol is a relatively new boutique hostel is set up in the city’s former police headquarters, dating back to 1928. It has been developed by YMCA Bristol and the profits are used to support the city’s homeless young people.
How the most remote hostel in Wales achieved 10,000 overnights after being rescued from closure by volunteers.
Ty’n Cornel hostel has welcomed walkers, cyclists and other visitors since 1967. Since 2007 it has been operated entirely by volunteers through Elenydd Wilderness Hostels, a charitable trust.
Summits in Shropshire.
I’m in my sixtieth year and am planning on climbing 60 summits to celebrate. There are no criteria about height, and I can do more than one in a day. It’s half way through the year and I’ve knocked off 50! Last weekend a small window of opportunity opened up to escape to Shropshire for a couple of days and I jumped at it.
Exploring Old Banffshire
I travel with a group of lovely girls on our “expeditions” to see Scotland’s garden and landscapes. The Sailloft at Portsoy is a good as a base for exploring old Banffshire and Aberdeenshire.
The Lonely Tree of Llanfyllin
A story of a local landmark and the attempt to save it. The Lonely Tree was an iconic part of the community and the fact it was horizontal was not stopping anyone! It was entered into the competition to be Welsh Tree of the Year in the October after it blew over, and won! Then in 2015 it was entered into the European Tree of the year competition. This is a story of community endeavour, tenacity and wishful thinking. It only needs a Hollywood ending to finish the tale.
Farewell to Jaffa
Our many readers who have enjoyed reading about Alex and Jaffa’s adventures while testing out various of our dog friendly hostels will be saddened to learn that Jaffa is no longer at Alex’s side.
Arnside Knott and Yealand Old School
Arriving back at Arnside Hostel all the village lights are on which is serenely picturesque and both comforting and charming in equal measure. The sun has disappeared into the sea for another day.
Cycling on the Kintyre Peninsular and Arran
We make it to the ferry port just as the ferry is docking, we cycle onto it, lock up the bikes, and head into the passenger cabin to eat lunch! We were on the ferry from the tip of the Kintyre Peninsula to Lochranza on Arran. After 30 minutes of eating, we cycle onto Arran for the next stage of the journey with our tanks refueled.
The Bob Graham Round for Walkers.
For years I’d heard talk of the Bob Graham Round, and I was intrigued by it. I knew that it was impossible for me to travel 66 miles and climb 42 peaks (27,000 ft of ascent) in 24 hours. So I decided to do it my way, take it much slower and stay overnight in hostels along the way.
Yorkshire Three Peaks Fell Race
Ever since I started fell running almost exactly 3 years ago it had been an ambition of mine to run the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Fell Race – the ‘Marathon in the Mountains’ and the blue-riband event of the fell running calendar. The races takes on three highest mountains in Yorkshire – Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough over 23.3miles and over 1600m of ascent, quite a daunting prospect!
Full steam ahead to London’s iconic sights: PubLove The Steam Engine
The Steam Engine is a pub, a craft burger restaurant and an upstairs hostel merged into one crafty concept that covers a traveller’s essential needs – a bed, a burger and a beer. All this in Central London, what more could you want?
Gower Peninsula, Beaches and Castles
The Gower Peninsula juts out of the south Wales coastline, westwards from Swansea. It was the very first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is well know for the many beaches along its coastline. I have also discovered a handful of glorious castles , much less well known, but brilliantly adapted for visitors. This combination of good facilities and emptiness make these castles feel like a personal discovery, set as they are in atmospheric rural locations.
Fresh air holiday on the Isle of Mull
An opportunity for me and my family to spend five super days on a fresh air holiday on Mull, which is fast becoming my favourite island. We did see Eagles on three separate occasions but sadly, look as we did, the shy elusive otters evaded our attention. What better reason to come back.
Geocaching at Kettlewell
Yorkshire like a good deal of the countryside has plenty of caches to find. Kettlewell and the surrounding area is no different having plenty to crack on with.
Planning a South West Coast Walk trip.
My name is Melanie. I am a 61 year old American and a double 2,000 miler (someone who has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail). Here are my experiences of walking the South West Coast Path.
