Northumberland - a place of wide open spaces beneath big skies

May 1, 2014

I’d read about the wild and stunning Northumberland scenery and its rugged coastline, but always wondered whether it was worth a trip, especially as there didn’t seem anywhere decent to stay and I was never into Harry Potter, which was filmed up there.

So, when I heard about a medieval pub in a quaint village which was undergoing a smart makeover, I got the long weekend booked. And, I have to say, I’m so glad I did. Julian and I left asking why, as lovers of Great Britain’s big country (not the 80’s band incidentally), we hadn’t been before.

Highway to Himalayan heaven

April 4, 2014

From our final house in the lower valleys of the Kumaon Hills (read about our walk here), Julian and I were heading closer to the snow line of the Himalayas and, as you can imagine, getting to such a location wasn’t going to be easy. A six hour bone shaker of a drive on eternally winding pot holed roads almost got us there, but not quite. When the road ran out we had to complete the last hour on foot, our bags (shamefully) carried by tiny Indian ladies in bright saris and flip flops.

Walking the Himalayas with not a teahouse or tent in sight

March 14, 2014

The scene is hypnotic with rhododendron trees in early bloom, their vibrant red flowers contrasting against the snow-capped Himalayan peaks, whilst neon green terraces dotted with tiny villages cascade down vertigo inducing valleys. This was a daily event on the recent walking trip we (Julian and me) did in the little known but immensely pretty region of Kumaon in India’s northwest state of Uttarakhand.

My ideal French holiday home - this could be yours too?

September 12, 2013

The Hubby and I are big fans of renting a house for a week in a pretty village, where we can come and go as we please, eat in local restaurants or cook up fresh produce from the market and – if the weather turns to rain – we’re not confined to a single hotel room. It’s the sort of holiday that comes with no airs and graces – we don’t need throbbing nightlife for this week (or ever really) and are much happier spending time together and completely unplugging from our normal lives. However, finding a rental property that’s stylish, well equipped, beautifully located and well-priced isn’t easy, even for a travel planner!

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