Category Archives: Travel

“A Wimpling Wind”*

Wandering through a tranquil wilderness beneath dappled beechwoods, I emerge into green fields beside a still and silent lake, and it is hard to imagine that I am in the middle of an island of almost 70 million people. There … Continue reading

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A Glimpse of Somerset

Phase 2 of the Salt Path Experience: Minehead to Lynmouth We have moved on to Somerset this week, but only fleetingly. The walk, as I think I mentioned before, officially begins in Minehead. So we have spent two nights in … Continue reading

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A Soupçon of Dorset

Lime Regis, where “the principal street [is] almost hurrying into the water, … [and] the very beautiful line of cliffs [are] stretching out to the east of the town.” ~ Jane Austen, Persuasion Phase 1 of the Salt Path Experience: … Continue reading

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“In falling seeds of rain”*

For the past couple of weeks, we have been pottering through Scotland, from south to north, enjoying hairy Highland ‘coos’ and plenty of tartan. There’s barely a real Highland cow to be seen, though – just a multitude of the … Continue reading

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The Wheels on the Bus

It has been an extremely long, long-haul flight to London, and I am feeling gritty and grey as we drag our bags off the bus at Paddington. But the sun is shining between showers and sparkling in the puddles, and … Continue reading

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Roadkill

Such small, sweet, chocolate brown corpses,crumpled and bloody by the side of the road.So maligned by the residentswho snarl about invasive species and say‘they do enormous damage to native wildlife…’ On this remote archipelago of ground dwelling birds,where the immigrant … Continue reading

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Heading South

The South Island of New Zealand contains some of the most spectacular scenery this amazing country has to offer – and certainly the most variety. The snow-capped Southern Alps run the full length of the island, dividing it in two … Continue reading

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Pinot Noir: Otago’s New Gold Rush

For two weeks we have been rambling through New Zealand’s south island, zigzagging from Christchurch to Queenstown, back to Dunedin and down through the Catlins to Invercargill, west to Lake Manapouri and Milford Sound, north to Cromwell and over to … Continue reading

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Alex Down the Hobbit-Hole

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down … Continue reading

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“More is More & Less is a Bore”

This theory for interior design also applies to the use of chilli in Bali. And if there isn’t enough chilli in the dish already, there is always sambal. This Indonesian red hot chilli relish will ensure that food in Bali … Continue reading

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