Though I have written several Lake District Love Letters following my recent visit to Cumbria, it's worth noting that the Cumbrian countryside is as beautiful as it is varied, even beyond the boundaries of the Lake District National Park. Today I pay a visit to the picturesque village of Wetheral just outside of Carlisle, and... Continue Reading →
I often think of Walla Crag as a non-identical twin to Catbells. As a peak, it is nowhere near as distinctive, though it is similar in height, at 379 m (1,243 ft). It stands above Derwentwater's eastern shore, while Catbells rises proudly opposite to the west. The ascent is easier, but affords similarly stunning views. It also... Continue Reading →
It's three years, almost to the day, since I started work on my first novel, The Folks across the River. My eldest son had returned to school, and my youngest had just started nursery. For the first time in at least a year, I had some valuable 'me' time. And I wasn't about to spend... Continue Reading →
Those of you who have been following this site for a while may be aware I suffer from a chronic health condition known as PMDD. I haven't written a PMDD post in some time, because I realise it may not be relevant to most of my readers. Nevertheless, I believe it is important to raise... Continue Reading →
Today, I bring you another walk from Wordsworth's Grasmere, which is a good choice when the weather isn't excellent (as so often happens in the Lake District!): it doesn't visit the tops of any fells, but the scenery is interesting and varied even in wet and cloudy weather. Just bring the correct footwear, as the... Continue Reading →
In the second of this series, I take you on a walk above the former home of the celebrated poet William Wordsworth. Wordsworth lived in Dove Cottage in the beautiful village of Grasmere from 1799-1808. He later moved to the grander location of Rydal Mount a few miles down the road, where he lived until... Continue Reading →
As I have been visiting my native Cumbria and enjoyed a lot of hiking in the Lake District, I would like to share some of my favourite places, in the form of a new series, 'Lake District Love Letters.' Alfred Wainwright famously recorded every walking route up every single mountain (fell) over 1000ft in the... Continue Reading →
Today I'm going to let you into a little secret: where to find another of Slovenia's hidden wild beaches. Debeli Rtič or 'Fat Cape' is a secluded spot close to the border with Muggia in Italy. It compares nicely with Moonlight Bay, Strunjan, as only locals tend to visit. It's not a very long beach,... Continue Reading →
It was way back in October of last year when we last left Slovenia to visit Lake Garda. I was thrilled to learn last weekend that the Italian border with Slovenia was back open, and that we were permitted to travel up to 60 km into the country. This made the historic city of Trieste... Continue Reading →
This is not the kind of article I normally write. But I feel that right now there are some things which need to be said. We live in a dangerously divided world. If we question authority, we are labelled 'conspiracy theorists' by the very people we had hoped might support us. People who claim to... Continue Reading →
