Travel

A journalist who spent a night in one of Blackpool FC’s hotel rooms claimed he was told there would be a fine a jaw-dropping sum if he opened the curtains during one key moment

A man who spent £137 on a hotel room was shocked to discover that he might be fined £2,500 if he simply opened the curtains.

Said hotel room is inside Blackpool FC’s Bloomfield Road ground and sits behind one of the goals at either side of the team’s pitch.

However, the individual staying in the room, journalist Ben East, was warned that if he opened the curtains during a match, he could be fined £2,500.

Baffled by the instruction, Ben said he checked the rules with members of staff downstairs, who said they didn’t police it as a hotel, but that ‘apparently’ guests could be fined if they are caught opening the curtains.

Commenting on the matter for the Telegraph, Ben remarked that keeping the curtains shut during a match rather ruined the experience, especially during Blackpool’s game against Bradford.

He said: “All of which slightly ruins the executive pitch-view selling point, of course – it’s now just an incredibly beige room with a hint of maroon.

“I then hear about Swan’s finish on BBC Radio’s 5 Live Sport, minutes after hearing the roars from outside. It was deft, sure, but it wasn’t worth £2,500 to see in the flesh.

“To threaten people with this sort of penalty for peering out of the window of a room that has been converted from an executive box sounds absurd – or at least conceptually flawed.”

Furthermore, Ben added that other stadiums don’t have the rule, such as Bolton Wanderers, who he said didn’t require the curtains to be closed in their stadium rooms.

A spokesperson for Blackpool FC said: “Whilst the hotel and football club understand any frustrations this may cause, all EFL and FA regulations must be observed. This includes limitations on the consumption of alcohol within sight of the pitch whilst a match is in play.”

Ben’s comments about Blackpool FC’s hotel room came months after data showed the city of Blackpool received a boost in tourism numbers.

The annual STEAM report, that independent measures tourism indicators, shows that visitors to the area were on the rise, with the city attracting 21.5m tourists in 2023, six percent up on 2022 figures.

When the figures were released in March last year, Blackpool Council leader councillor Lynn Williams MBE said: “Blackpool welcomed large crowds thanks to a diverse programme of major events, the launch of new attractions, a two-month extension of the autumn Illuminations season, and the expansion of the hugely successful Christmas By The Sea village.

“All of these factors, combined with strong partnerships and impactful marketing, reinforce our commitment to keeping Blackpool as the UK’s most visited seaside resort and firmly establishing it as a thriving year-round destination.”

Nomin Chinbat’s job was to convince people to visit the world’s most barren country that 9/10 people had not even heard of in 2018

How do you convince tourists to visit the world’s most barren country that 90% of people have never heard of?

That was the job of Nomin Chinbat, who just stepped down as the Mongolian Culture and Tourism Minister after five years in government. It’s fair to say that the challenge facing Nomin and Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene was stark.

A 2018 global Edelman survey found only 10% of people knew Mongolia was a country, while 3/10 thought it was part of China. The question ‘what’s Mongolia?’ presented a major obstacle to the government’s plans to grow the tourism sector and to move away from the extractive mining industries that have formed the core of the economy for decades.

Trickier still, those who had heard of the country tended to associate it with less-than-flattering qualities. Ulaanbaatar is officially the world’s coldest capital city, known for its extremely harsh winters where temperatures regularly plummet below -20°C. To keep out the heat, most Mongolians burn coal fires, which has led to dangerously high levels of pollution.

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OPINION

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An estimated 7,000 citizens of the vast, thinly populated country of 3.48 million died last winter due to air pollution, indoors and out, while 881 people had lost their lives thanks to carbon monoxide poisoning in the country in the seven years up to February 2025.

If all of that wasn’t a difficult enough hand for a tourism and culture minister to deal with, then up trots arguably the world’s best-known warlord, Genghis Khan. Although all publicity is good publicity to an extent, the former Khagan’s reputation as bloodthirsty is a gross oversimplification, according to Nomin.

“Historically, we have Genghis Khan, one of the most famous men in the world. He was a peacemaker and diplomat, and he bridged the East and West. A big part of our policy is about reeducating people about who he was. For example, the passport was invited by Genghis. He wanted his envoys to travel across his land, so he gave them geregee passports that ensured their safe travel,” Nomin tells the Mirror during a visit to the South Korean capital Seoul.

Although the Mongolian government is shying away from Genghis’s notoriety, instead running a legacy-rewriting exhibition in France in 2024 and Switzerland today, Nomin would prefer visitors to engage with what the country has to offer today. Culturally, The Hu are Mongolia’s most famous sons, bringing a fusion of folk and metal that delivers old Mongolian war cries and traditional poetry to fans across Asia and the world.

But the real stars of the show, and a huge part of the reason why more and more people are coming to Mongolia every year, are the nomads.

Since at least the 3rd Century CE, residents of the Mongolian steppe have survived by herding livestock and living off the land. Today, roughly 40% of Mongolians are nomadic, and around one-third of the country’s population still lives in traditional dwellings called gers (yurts). These can be easily dismantled and moved to a new location, which nomads typically do four times a year.

At times, they join the 1.7million people who live in the rapidly growing Ulaanbaatar, before venturing out into the vast Mongolian wilderness. Dominated by the soaring Altai Mountains to the west and the harsh Gobi Desert to the south, the world’s second-largest landlocked nation is almost completely free of fences, meaning nomads can wander to their heart’s content. And they’re unlikely to be disturbed. Mongolia has a population of just 3.3million, which is less than the number of people living in Berlin, giving it a population density of just two people per kilometre. It is roughly a third emptier than the next less densely populated sovereign countries in the world – Australia and Namibia.

Perhaps all of these ingredients don’t add up to a typical holiday destination. However, in a post-lockdown decade in which travellers are increasingly answering the call of adventure, it’s catching a growing number of eyes.

“The UN Tourism Barometer found that Mongolia is one of the 20 fastest-growing tourism destinations, with a 16% increase in visitors from 2024 to 2025,” Nomin continues. The total number is not a lot compared to many countries, but it’s growing. There were 850,000 tourists in 2025, and around 500,000 before Covid. Our aim is 2 million by 2030.”

Whether the Go Mongolia campaign hits that target remains to be seen. So far, collaborations with Fulham as the club’s official kit and tourism partner, and “promotional piggy-backing” on international events such as the Paris Olympics, seem to be working. As does an “open sky policy” that has seen airlines including United, Air China and Turkish increase connections. Getting there from the UK remains pretty tough. Most flights from the UK stop in Istanbul and take around 15 hours to reach Ulaanbaatar. A return economy is likely to cost you around £1,000, so it’s far from cheap break material.

A recent Boston Consulting Group survey found that Mongolia had jumped 14 places in the global soft power rankings. Today, six out of the 10 people worldwide have heard of the country. Not a bad return, Nomin says.

“We’ve put in a lot of effort to make sure people know about us. I believe Mongolia has taken a very good policy to sustain tourism growth, which will really deliver for the Mongolian people. It will only grow. I think we’re on the verge of exploding.”

WHEN YOU think of the Canary Islands, you probably imagine Tenerife or Lanzarote – but one smaller island that’s a hidden gem is the ideal winter sun spot.

La Gomera, Spain, is known for its natural beauty thanks to being home to the Garajonay National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In addition to the National Park, the island is defined by volcanic landscapes that are a treat for keen hikers.

And next week, the island is set to hit a high of 21C.

If you prefer a beach day, there are plenty of pretty spots including black-sand beaches.

When it comes to life on the island, visitors can explore a number of traditional villages.

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In San Sebastian, the capital of the island, you will find several Columbus-linked spots, as La Gomera was the famous explorer’s final stop to resupply and depart from Europe for his 1492 journey to the Americas.

For example, you could visit Torre del Conde, a 15th-century fortress.

There is also Casa Colon, which was Christopher Columbus‘ home and boasts pieces of pre-Columbian art and information about his voyages.

Playa de San Sebastian is one of the beaches on the island that features black sand, and can be found in the capital.

A recent visitor said: “A pretty promenade with plenty of seating runs along the beach.”

“The beach itself makes a positive impression. The water is calm and clean as it is protected from the port by a large breakwater wall.

“The nature of the beach varies between fine black sand and larger pebbles.”

If you want to spot a bit of local wildlife, you can hop on a boat tour from the harbour to see whales and dolphins.

Once back on dry land, there are plenty of spots to grab a bite to eat.

For example, you could head to El Roquillo Las Galanas where you can pick up empanadas for just €2.70 (£2.35) each and Heineken beer for just €1.20 (£1.04).

In fact, food and drink across the whole island is affordable, with the average beer price being around €2.00 (£1.55) and the average meal costing around €12.00 (£9.32).

There are plenty more things outside of San Sebastian to see and do as well.

One must-see spot is the Abrante Viewpoint, which sits high up on the ravine in the north of the island.

Instead of being a normal viewpoint, visitors ‘float’ in the air thanks to a seven-metre glass floor that overhangs the edge of the ravine.

The viewpoint offers great views of the island, as well as the Canary Islands more widely.

Los Órganos is another breathtaking spot on the island.

The unique rock formation has vertical pillars that look somewhat like the pipes of a traditional church organ.

In total, it measures 87 metres tall and 191 metres wide, with each pillar thought to be over one metre thick.

The formation was formed by a volcano and to see it, you have to head out on a boat trip where you will most likely see whales and dolphins as well.

To get to La Gomera, you will need to fly to Tenerife before getting a ferry to the island.

If you wanted to catch the warm weather next week, then you could catch a flight from London Stansted on January 14 for just £16.

Or head off on January 11 and return on January 15 for £38 return from London Stansted.

For the ferry, the more in advance you book it the cheaper it is, with tickets costing as low as £8 per way.

However, fares usually cost on average £33 per way, per foot passenger.

There are a number of places to stay on the island and you can expect to pay between £80 and £120 per night.

For more inspiration on Spanish holidays, one of the country’s most underrated cities is in the ‘Garden of Europe’ – with £17 flights.

Plus, from sea pools to hidden caves: Spain’s cheapest beach destinations this summer.

Calling all Potterheads. A new Harry Potter experience is set to open this year, where visitors can take a real-life journey to Hogwarts and interact with characters onboard

Those who have long dreamt of boarding the Hogwarts Express will now get the chance as a new Harry Potter experience is set to launch this year.

Currently, fans can snap a photo beside the iconic 9¾ platform at London’s King’s Cross, visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to marvel at the making behind Harry Potter, or ride the Jacobite Steam Train in Scotland. Now, in a brand new attraction set to open this year, Potterheads can experience the real Hogwarts Express.

The Harry Potter: A Hogwarts Express Adventure will be the first of its kind, offering an immersive train journey to Hogwarts. Warner Bros. Discovery has partnered with Rail Events Inc. to launch the new attraction and has revealed some details about what to expect.

In a video, Jamie Ryan, Director of Marketing, said visitors will enjoy a “pre-boarding experience” with nods to the famed 9¾ platform, before boarding a “real moving train”. Onboard, visitors will be able to interact with Hogwarts characters that bring the real-life wizarding world to life.

Afterwards, there will be the chance to try the iconic Butter Beer drink and explore the Harry Potter merchandise. Jamie added that it will be “an unforgettable experience”.

They also shared on their website: “A Hogwarts Express Adventure will open in 2026 – giving us just a bit more time to make this journey aboard a real moving train, everything it’s meant to be. From house competitions to spell-casting thrills, this is no ordinary train ride – and we’re making sure every detail is unforgettable.

Further details, including the launch date, route, and locations, are yet to be announced. However, the news has already sparked excitement among Potterheads online.

One wrote underneath a post on Instagram: “Omgosh, well my 2026 is full.” A second commented: “This is awesome.”

“LETS GO I’M READY!!!”, acclaimed another. A fourth wrote: “This is going to be so magical. Can’t wait to ride it.”

One fan gushed: “This makes my heart happy,” before another said: “This is so cool!!!!” Someone else also penned: “Ahhh, this sounds incredible.”

Another noted the franchise’s ever-growing fame: “The gift that keeps on giving. Harry Potter’s popularity length has to be studied.”

One mega Harry Potter fan even left a suggestion as they shared: “This looks so exciting!!! Can we also get a Harry Potter cruise in the future? I’d love to be able to go from the Harry Potter locations in NYC to Universal Studios to the filming locations in England, and then finish back in NY. Or even leave out Universal and just do the other two locations. Would be so fun!”

Other fans urged for the location of the experience to be confirmed. One asked: “Where will this be at? And don’t say to go to the website, that doesn’t tell us anything.”

Another queried: “Where? Guessing not in the actual studio where it should be.” While one more exclaimed, “Where in the world is this going to be??” But it looks like they’ll have to wait a little longer as further details are yet to be announced.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

ONE county in the UK is on the must-visit list for 2026 as it celebrates 200 years of a beloved children’s story.

The tales of Winnie-the-Pooh written by A.A. Milne were inspired by Ashdown Forest in East Sussex.

New York Times named ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’s England‘ as one of the best places to visit in 2026.

Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in print on December 24, 1925 – and just over 100 years on the destination has become a must-see for fans of the bear around the world.

The publication said: “The focal point will be in East Sussex, where Milne lived in a 16th-century farmhouse with his wife and son, Christopher Robin, who played there with his stuffed bear.“

The author A.A. Milne lived in East Sussex for most of his life – and it’s where he was inspired to create Winnie-the-Pooh.

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Milne lived in Hartfield, which is found 30 miles south of London.

He based the story in the fictional Hundred Acre Wood which is inspired on the real-life Ashdown Forest just minutes away.

Fans of the tale can actually see locations like Poohsticks Bridge which was originally called Posingford Bridge and was built in 1907.

There’s also Galleons Lap which is the real-life inspiration for “The Enchanted Place” – essentially a circular clump of trees on a hilltop.

Visitors who want to explore the actual forest and find these spots to relive the magical adventures of Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and friends can do so on a guided walk.

Throughout 2026 there are even organised Pooh Treks through Ashdown Forest.

The guided walk will “reveal awe-inspiring views across the forest, with story locations within comfortable walking distance of each other.

“With our expert local guide sharing the literary history and natural surroundings, your visit becomes something rather special.”

The experience is for four to six explorers and there can be tailored itineraries.

It can also includes lunch at a classic English country pub and afternoon tea at Piglets Tea Room in Pooh Corner.

Pooh Corner is also home to a range of original Winnie the Pooh sketches by illustrator EH Shepard, and another room filled with movie posters and other artwork.

If you fancy, taking a gander around Ashdown Forest on your own – it’s free entry into the woodland.

A.A. Milne lived at Cotchford Farm in Hartfield which is now a holiday cottage – so you can actually stay in it yourself.

The 16th-century farmhouse has six bedrooms and three reception rooms which includes Milne’s writing study and a music/library room.

There’s also a kitchen, oak-panelled dining room, family rooms along with two acres of gardens, wildflower meadows, swimming pool and a tennis court.

The whole property that sleeps 12 can be booked from £1,200 per night.

Check Out The Top Destinations Around The World To Visit In 2026…

Here are the 52 top destinations to go to New York Times…

1. Revolutionary America
2. Warsaw, Poland
3. Bangkok, Thailand
4. Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
5. Bandhavgarh, India
6. Dallas, Texas
7. Oran, Algeria
8. Route 66, USA
9. Saba, Caribbean
10. Poblenou, Barcelona, Spain
11. Nepal’s Other Mountains
12. Bayreuth, Germany
13. Canadian Rockies by Train
14. Top End, Australia
15. Penang, Malaysia
16. Los Angeles, California
17. Nagasaki, Japan
18. Breuil-Cervinia, Italy
19. Memphis, Tennessee
20. Armenia
21. Sorolla’s Spain
22. Winnie-the-Pooh’s England
23. Seychelles
24. Inhotim, Brazil
25. Iceland
26. Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida
27. Hyde Park, Chicago
28. Træna Islands, Norway
29. Miches, Dominican Republic
30. Portland, Oregon
31. Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan
32. Assisi, Italy
33. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
34. Vietnam
35. Querétaro, Mexico
36. Medora, North Dakota
37. Camiguin, Philippines
38. Messinia, Greece
39. Guyana
40. Deer Valley, Utah
41. Yunnan, China
42. Bentonville, Arkansas
43. Cape Froward, Chile
44. Genoa, Italy
45. Dongseo Trail, South Korea
46. Okinawa, Japan
47. Río Pastaza Watershed, Ecuador
48. Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
49. Melbourne, Australia
50. Virginia Beach, Virginia
51. Big Sur, California
52. Møn, Denmark

For more on country escapes, here are ten of our top country houses to visit in 2026 – including tropical seaside gardens, deer safaris and luxurious spas.

And here are six holiday homes from TV shows and films that you can stay at in the UK… with game rooms and hot tubs.

STORM Goretti is continuing to cause chaos across the UK as further travel disruptions are confirmed.

A number of rail lines have suspended services as the first storm of the year batters Britain.

West Midlands Railway officially cancelled routes this morning, Friday, 9 January.

In an official statement, the rail network said it is “unable to provide services until the afternoon”.

“Due to the significant ongoing transport and infrastructure disruption caused by Storm Goretti, we advise passengers not to travel on West Midlands Railway services on the morning of Friday, January 9,” the operator said.

“Passengers wishing to travel on the afternoon on Friday 9th January should check their journeys before they travel as we work to resume services.”

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No rail replacement road services will be provided due to “uncertain road conditions”.

Network Rail are also experiencing disruption after a “very intense heavy snow” hit the West Midlands/Shropshire and Staffordshire areas on Thursday night.

Efforts are being made to clear rail routes, with some services expected to be affected until Sunday, 11 January.

Meanwhile, Avanti West Coast issued “do not travel” advice to anyone planning to use Midlands routes until 1pm on Friday.

“An amended timetable will operate across all routes from 0700 until 1500, when we currently expect services to return to normal,” the train service operator said.

“We strongly recommend travelling outside these times if possible.”

Storm Goretti has also caused disruptions to air travel, with East Midlands Airport and Birmingham Airport forced to cease operations after flurries of snow left runways unusable.

Some areas of the country could see as much as 15-25cm of snow fall and settle as the extreme weather continues for a second day, while Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were issued a rare red weather warning.

Gusts of 99mph were recorded at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly while 90mph winds hit Culdrose, Cornwall where gales brought down power lines and trees.

National Highways said the A30 in Cornwall is closed in both directions between the A394 at Longrock and the A3074 at St Erth.

The closure is reportedly “due to a large number of trees that have fallen and are blocking the road”; Devon and Cornwall Police are assisting at the scene.

Specialist crews are working to clear the trees from the carriageway.

The A628 Woodhead Pass connecting Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire also remains closed in both directions between the A616 for Flouch and the A57 for Hollingworth because of snow.

National Highways has urged drivers to check the weather forecast before travelling today, saying: “Consideration of the weather forecast should be taken before commencing journeys, with considerable delays possible.”

This roundabout is the only one of its kind.

Travellers venturing to the Faroe Islands might be taken aback to discover the world’s first underwater roundabout during their visit.

The roundabout sits within the Eysturoy Tunnel, which was inaugurated four years ago in December 2020 and has significantly reduced journey times between the different islands in the archipelago.

Whilst positioned roughly midway between Scotland and Iceland, the Faroe Islands form part of the Kingdom of Denmark, though they’ve enjoyed self-governance since 1948.

The islands’ position means that unpredictable weather conditions can pose challenges for travel, prompting the development of an extensive tunnel network – 17 on land and four beneath the sea, with the deepest point sitting 187m (613ft) below sea level.

The Eysturoy Tunnel and its roundabout are thought to have slashed journey times from the capital, Torshavn, to the village of Runavik from an hour and 14 minutes down to a mere 16 minutes, reports the Express.

The Faroe Islands comprise 17 populated islands alongside numerous smaller islets and reefs.

Speaking about the tunnel network, Súsanna Sørensen, marketing manager of Visit Faroe Islands, remarked: “Though we are 18 islands, we often joke that we defy the fact that we are islands (thanks to the tunnels).”

Whilst the prospect of navigating an undersea tunnel in the Northern Atlantic might seem daunting, the tunnels were designed with precisely this concern in mind.

Teitur Samuelsen, chief executive of Eystur-og Sandoyartunlar, the firm running the tunnels, said: “The tunnels are designed by the world’s leading engineers and geologists, so safety with regards to the Atlantic above is not an issue.”

According to CNN, the Eysturoy Tunnel is “magical” to navigate, with the roundabout appearing so dramatic that its colours have drawn comparisons to the Northern lights, or even jellyfish.

And it’s not only this tunnel that boasts visual appeal – artwork and installations feature in several of the other tunnels as well.

Take the Sandoy Tunnel, for instance, which links the islands of Streymoy and Sandoy. It’s adorned with glow-in-the-dark totems, paying tribute to figures from Faroese folklore.

Speaking about the choice to invest in embellishing these tunnels, Teitur Samuelsen remarked: “We have a lot of good art in the Faroes, and we’d like to support our artists. In addition, it breaks up the monotony in a long, dark tunnel, so it’s good for driving safety.”

Thames Town was built as part of a development to ease overpopulation in Shanghai and was designed to look like a British village complete with cobbled streets, red phone boxes and Victorian terraces

An “amazing” town meticulously designed to replicate a British village has been constructed more than 5,000 miles away. Thames Town reportedly came with a £530 million price tag and sits just 19 miles from central Shanghai in China.

It’s modelled on an English market town, featuring cobbled streets, red telephone boxes, Victorian terraced houses and corner shops. Thames Town, named after the River Thames, formed part of the One City, Nine Towns development announced in 2001 to address Shanghai’s overpopulation crisis.

The wider development also included villages inspired by German, Dutch, Canadian and Spanish architectural styles.

Thames Town was previously labelled a “ghost town” due to sky-high property prices and numerous shuttered shops. YouTuber Ben Morris paid a visit to Thames Town and initially felt he “could be in Milton Keynes ” upon arrival.

In his video, he said: “I am from the UK, I have lived most of my life in the UK, and I feel as though I could be in the UK right now, except for the Chinese number plates and the lack of crime.”

Ben, who explored Thames Town during torrential rain, added: “I’m actually at home, this is amazing. What’s even more homely about this place is, the sprinkle on top, the weather is stinking, it couldn’t be gloomier and it’s cold.”

Properties in Thames Town were originally priced at approximately £400,000, but many were purchased as investments, driving prices even higher. The area has since become a sought-after location for Chinese couples seeking an authentically British backdrop for their wedding photographs.

Alongside the pedestrianised British-style streets and Tudor-inspired buildings, Thames Town features a church based on Christ Church in Clifton, Bristol, a fish and chip shop, a KFC, and even a replica Costa Coffee. The residential properties were designed in Georgian and Victorian architectural styles.

Ben concluded that Thames Town could provide families with a “taste of England” or an escape from Shanghai’s hectic city life.

He said: “Honestly, this town is a lot nicer than many towns I’ve been to in the UK. I don’t know what anyone is on about when they call this place a ghost town because it is full of activity.”

He added: “It was weird walking around a town that felt so familiar but, at the same time, not at all.”

Fellow YouTuber Harvey in China described Thames Town as looking “eerily close” to Britain during his visit a year ago. However, Harvey found the town “very, very empty” on a Saturday.

He added: “It is so surreal walking along the cobbled streets. It is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. It seems everyone here is some sort of vlogger, live streamer, or photographer, just here to take photos, or obviously tourists.”

Dean, a reviewer on Tripadvisor, has dubbed Thames Town as a “worthwhile visit” for those touring Shanghai. He penned: “It worthwhile to visit if you’re in Shanghai for longer than a week. You’ll have to spend more than one and half hours to travel to the place”.

Meanwhile, Anna, who visited in 2021, was equally impressed, stating: “The town is very nice! It really does feel like I’ve stepped back into the UK! Lovely little town to just walk around and escape Shanghai!”.

Roksana wants bigger passengers to have to be checked before they fly to make sure they fit

A woman says passengers who are overweight should be ‘checked like hand luggage at the airport’ after she was ‘squashed’ in her plane seat for hours by a woman who ‘used her as an arm rest’ and refused to get up to let he use the toilet.

Roksana Ashcroft, 22, was flying from Bangkok to London Heathrow, via Kazakhstan, after a month-long holiday when she found herself next to a larger passenger. Roksana claimed that the lady was “using her hip as an armrest.”

Roksana, from Nottingham, said: “I was sitting in the middle seat with a large lady to my right on the aisle seat who was using my hip and leg as an armrest. She was very rude when I asked her politely to let me out to go to the toilet seven hours into the flight, when I was in a lot of pain from her resting her arm on me.

“She refused to stand up, which is when, after 15 minutes, I decided to press the button to call for a flight attendant who was very helpful and didn’t take her ‘I’m too tired to stand up as an answer’. I was mortified. As soon as the lady sat down, she instantly lent her arm in front of mine, so it was like I was being pinned back by her arm.

“The flight was very uncomfortable and left my hip and leg in a lot of pain. I had to lean over to my boyfriend the whole flight to try and give her a bit more room. I believe airlines should either make seats bigger and accommodate plus-sized people, or they should bring in some sort of check-in method that would stop plus-size people from hanging over their seats just like they check baggage.”

The incident happened on an Air Astana flight on January 3. Roksana shared a video of the woman with the caption: “I’m sorry, but can we please start a petition for larger people to have to book two seats. Not to be rude, but because I spent nine hours with a lady leaning her arm on my hip and leaving me in so much pain”.

She said: “I took the video to document my journey as I do a lot of different vlogs. The reaction online has been quite mixed. A lot of people were agreeing and reposting the video, but then I had quite a few comments from people stating I should be buying an extra seat for myself instead of her.

“I obviously disagree with that after paying for a seat that I fit into perfectly fine. I understand not everyone wants to be filmed in public, but I think situations like this should be spoken about more to avoid these situations.

“A lot of people in the comment section have shared their own similar experiences. Air Astana is quite spacious compared to other airlines and offers booking a full row to yourself.”

Others were divided, as some agreed with Roksana and others slammed her for filming the passenger without her consent. One person said: “Can we please start a petition to stop filming people without them knowing.” Someone else said, “Or you could buy a first-class seat.”

Another person added: “I’m a bigger person and this is why I don’t fly. Because I don’t want someone filming me.”

A fourth person said: “I am a big lady and I always pay for two seats. It saves so many problems. I’m big because of medication so hopefully when I am off it I can go back to buying one seat.

“Do not expect to get the seats at the same price as everybody else.”

Someone else said: “Need to charge for person’s weight as they do with cases and provide larger seats.”

Another person added: “Airplanes should be like rides that have a specific seat size. If you can’t fit, you can’t fly.”

An Air Astana spokesperson said: “The airline regrets the impressions experienced by the passenger. Air Astana adheres to the principles of respectful and equal treatment of all passengers, and does not tolerate discrimination based on individual characteristics, and operates in strict compliance with aviation safety requirements.

“Passengers who prefer additional personal space may choose alternative seating options with enhanced comfort.”

A place in North Yorkshire is a “hidden gem” of a walk, with “fabulous views” – and it might look familiar if you’re a fan of a certain blockbuster film.

A striking limestone cliff offering panoramic vistas of the Yorkshire Dales has been described by hikers as a “hidden gem” – and it doubles as a filming spot for one of cinema’s most successful franchises.

Malham Cove, situated just north of Malham village in North Yorkshire, is an enormous, curved amphitheatre-like formation of limestone that rises approximately 80 metres and spans around 300 metres in width.

Created by glacial meltwater at the close of the last Ice Age over 12,000 years ago, the cove stands as one of the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s most distinctive natural features.

Typically, people reach the cove by foot from Malham village, often leaving their cars at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority car park before strolling through the village and down Cove Road.

From afar, the rock face commands the landscape, with one TripAdvisor user describing it as “a curving [structure] that looks like an impregnable wall of a fortress out of a summer blockbuster movie”, reports Yorkshire Live.

A footpath leads to the cliff’s base, whilst roughly 400 irregular stone steps wind up the western flank to the summit.

Hikers report the climb is demanding yet achievable. One commentator observed it takes “about 20 minutes to the top if you don’t hang around too much”.

Once at the summit, walkers are treated to sweeping vistas stretching back down the valley towards Malham and further afield.

Visitors consistently praise the spectacular scenery, with one remarking: “The views, especially on a clear day, are fabulous. In this spot, you can feel truly at peace and at one with nature.”

Another said that the “panoramic views of Malham are totally worth it”.

Atop the cove lies an extensive limestone pavement, a distinctive and uncommon terrain of fractured stone blocks called clints – with fissures that form a special micro-climate nurturing unusual ferns and wildflowers.

Malham Cove has also gained recognition for its appearances on screen. It featured significantly in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, serving as an isolated camping spot for Harry and Hermione.

The landmark has additionally been shown in the BBC programme The Trip with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, alongside previous film versions of Wuthering Heights.

As one reviewer advised: “Prepare yourself, take plenty of water, allow plenty of time… and just go for it. You won’t regret it.”

One of Britain’s biggest and most famous deserted medieval villages, Wharram Percy in North Yorkshire has remnants of century-old houses, a church and ancient ruins for visitors to explore

Travellers journey from all corners to glimpse the UK’s ‘best preserved’ medieval village, Wharram Percy in North Yorkshire, which lay deserted for centuries and now serves as a fascinating site for walkers and history enthusiasts.

Nestled in North Yorkshire, Wharram Percy is one of the largest abandoned medieval villages in Britain and undoubtedly the most renowned. Visitors are invited to stroll through the historic grounds, taking in the remnants of age-old houses, a church, and manorial ruins.

Ideally located halfway between popular attractions Scarborough Castle and Clifford’s Tower in York, it makes for an excellent stopover on your trip between these two sites. While entry to the village is free, there is a nominal £2 charge for parking.

Over an impressive 60-year period, archaeologists have gradually unearthed more details about Wharram Percy’s history. Their findings have shed light on why the area was initially abandoned and what life was like here in bygone times.

Perched on the edge of a Yorkshire valley, this unique village once housed inhabitants for up to six centuries but was deserted after the 1500s. It’s believed that even today, outlines of old houses can be discerned in the ground, alongside the more substantial remains that attract curious visitors.

The history takes some understanding, but experts believe the earliest settlement dates back to approximately 50 BC. This land was subsequently transformed into farmland but lay deserted during the 5th century, before eventually becoming a Middle Saxon settlement.

It’s important to note that reaching the village requires roughly a 3/4 mile walk from the car park to the main site, which is frequently both steep and muddy. The site features rough terrain throughout, which can be challenging for some visitors and is generally unsuitable for wheelchairs or buggies.

A TripAdvisor reviewer highlighted this, writing: “Parking on the Heritage car park off the B1248 prepare for a trek to the village.” They went on to describe it as a “sharp gravelled decline” and a “daunting” journey unsuitable for those with limited mobility, as the route passes through fields.

Following their visit, one enthusiast praised their experience, saying: “Lovely walk from the car park to the site, but people with mobility issues may struggle. It’s a fascinating historical site that has been really well managed. Only a few visitors when we visited, which added to the peace and tranquillity of the place. Loved it!”.

Another guest added: “This lovely deserted mediaeval village is truly fascinating! The history is incredible, and it was wonderful to wander around and explore. We really lucked out and had beautiful weather, so we got to sit on the grass by the pond and soak it all in.”

Pinny on, hands dusted with flour, I rolled out dough, cut it into circles, added a spoonful of filling and sealed it into little parcels. I was getting stuck into a dumpling cooking class in one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world. Making gyoza in Tokyo, perhaps? Wontons in Singapore? Potstickers in Taipei?

In fact, I was preparing pierogi in Warsaw. Friends who associate Polish cuisine with stews and sausages were surprised to hear it, but vegan food has proliferated across the country over the past 20 years. Happy Cow, the veteran vegan restaurant guide, now consistently ranks Warsaw in its top cities globally – last year it was in 11th place, ahead of Bangkok, San Francisco and Copenhagen.

Poland may be best known for its meat dishes, but fungi and vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage, beetroot and cucumbers have long been central to its food culture. Agnieszka Skrodzka, a Warsaw tour guide specialising in plant-based food, says it is far easier to avoid meat than mushrooms – as she found out when she recently developed a mushroom allergy. As Karol Adamiak, a chef from Warsaw, wrote in the Guardian last year: “Veganism represents a return to Poland’s peasant roots, and a more conscious and healthy way of eating.”

I was inspired to visit Poland after I wrote about holidaying as a vegan last summer, and several readers recommended the country. One sang the praises of Gdansk, and I was also tempted by Krakow, but Happy Cow’s findings were hard to argue with: Warsaw has an impressive 34 vegan restaurants, rising to 80 if you include vegetarian restaurants with vegan options, and another 200-odd “vegan-friendly” places.

Challenge accepted: my sister and I set about eating as much as humanly possible in three days. We started with vegan versions of traditional Polish dishes, including huge plates of pierogi with spinach and tofu (£7) and potato pancakes with crispy oyster mushrooms (£8) at Vege Miasto, the oldest vegan restaurant in the city. Comfort food such as soy schnitzel with mash and beetroot (£8) at Veganda, and Silesian potato dumplings with soy meat, gravy and fried onions (£8) at Lokal Vegan Bistro, helped us cope with the bitter cold of a Warsaw winter.

Then we went global. First, a colourful meze platter for two (£17.50) at Falla, a Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant that also has branches in Gdynia, Poznań, Wrocław and Katowice. Next, brimming bowls of noodle soup (£10) at Vegan Ramen Shop, which has three outlets across the city. Our favourite variety was the tan-tan men: a creamy, spicy broth made from tahini, chilli oil, black vinegar and Sichuan peppercorns. We also scoffed a mound of spaghetti “carbonara” with vegan bacon and artichokes (£8) at Lokal, and a classic crispy tofu burger (£9) at Veganda. Finally, we squeezed in brunch at Bistro Jaskółka – I sampled shakshuka with tofu scramble and my sister heroically worked her way through the fry-up (both about £7).

There were many other highly recommended restaurants we simply couldn’t fit in, either due to our schedule or our bellies – I was particularly disappointed not to try a platter of plant-based sushi at Vegan Sushi Bar.

Even our hotel, Puro Stare Miasto, had three vegan dishes on the a la carte breakfast menu; I loved the porridge with forest fruit compote, olive oil and herbs. This Scandi-style hotel group (at Polish prices) has branches in Warsaw, Gdańsk, Kraków, Łódź, Poznań and Wrocław, plus Budapest and Prague.

To work up an appetite for our next meal, which was never far away, we walked all over the city: through the charming Old and New Towns, along the Royal Route, up to the 30th-floor viewing platform of the Stalinist Palace of Culture and Science (in the lift, admittedly), and around lovely Royal Łazienki Park. We visited some revitalised former industrial spaces, such as the Norblin Factory and the Warsaw Brewery, now full of cafes, restaurants and shops. At the Museum of Modern Art, we saw a fascinating exhibition called The Woman Question, featuring 150 female artists from Artemisia Gentileschi to Cindy Sherman (until 3 May).

And, of course, we learned to make our own pierogi. Pierogi & More runs cooking classes that cater to all; our group consisted of us two vegans, three vegetarians and five meat-eaters. We all made a simple flour and water dough, then added our own fillings: the vegan ones contained mashed potato and beans, and chickpeas and lentils, with various herbs and spices. The most challenging part, and the most satisfying, was attempting different ways of sealing and folding them. We started with classic half-moons with crimped edges, and moved on to more complex shapes, such as mini cornish pasties with a pleated “crust”, and ring-shaped tortellini.

The only potential downside was the communal taste-test afterwards: as every vegan knows, everyone wants to try yours, but you can’t try theirs. In our case, it was for the best: this was just elevenses and we had lunch scheduled afterwards. The couple of pierogi I did gulp down, topped with slow-cooked onions, were delicious.

Is Warsaw really one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world? In my brief experience, yes – and I live in the top-ranked city (London) and have visited seven of the top 10. The food is also far more affordable than in most of the other highly rated cities.

By the end of our vegan eating odyssey, much like the dumplings, we were stuffed. But in for a penny … We grabbed a takeout box of pastries from Baja, a vegan patisserie, to sustain us on the journey home. It turns out there’s always room for a Lotus Biscoff doughnut.

The trip was provided by the Warsaw Tourism Office. Doubles at Puro Stare Miasto from about £85 (413 złoty)

A year ago, we were all glued to our phones, namely the Watch Duty app, as we watched fires rip through beloved neighborhoods and landscapes. We braced ourselves for the death toll, the number of homes lost and what was harmed in our beloved mountains.

The Eaton and Palisades fires were the beginning of a crushing year for L.A.

I don’t believe in closure or want to push the idea of resilience, concepts too often forced in these kind of post-disaster narratives. But I do believe in pausing to discern what we have learned over the past year.

I recently spoke with trail crew volunteers, including two who lost their houses in the fires, to get their takes.

They each shared what’s helped them move through this past year, including what we can learn from the regrowth and recovery of our local forests. I left these conversations feeling inspired by both the natural and human spirit. I hope you will be too.

Lesson 1: Humans are adaptable like the trees and plants

After the devastating 2018 Woolsey fire, which burned much of the Santa Monica Mountains, photographer Jane Simpson made regular pilgrimages to Malibu Creek State Park to document the renewal process. She saw the hillsides start to green, and lupine and other flowers (and mustard) start to bloom.

It helped give her a baseline for what to expect when she started returning to the mountains scorched by the Palisades fire.

Simpson is a member of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter’s Santa Monica Mountains Task Force trail crew, known often by their nickname, the Trailies.

In November, Simpson worked alongside other Trailies on the Bienveneda and Leacock trails in Topanga State Park. The area was badly burned, but still Simpson noticed green sprouts peeking out of the ashy soil and from the branches of trees that the average passerby might assume were dead.

“I just want to think that the trees, the flowers, the [landscape] are not just responding blindly and dumbly — we know they’ve learned to adapt, and humans are learning to adapt as well,” said Simpson, who joined the Trailies in 2017.

Simpson has been forced to adapt. Her home in the Palisades Highlands was among thousands that burned in the Palisades fire, and she alongside her neighbors are grappling with whether to rebuild. Simpson grew up in Mandeville Canyon, and as a kid, she’d head out the door with a sack lunch and friends for a day of unsupervised adventures. It’s hard to imagine not living there.

Trail crew worker Jane Simpson observes a Humboldt’s lily in Santa Ynez Canyon last summer.

(Gaby Valensi)

Before the fire, Simpson could walk out her front door and quickly take one of about five nearby trailheads. She and a neighbor would often “just head out the door and go anywhere,” she said, like the many times they headed along Palisades Drive to Temescal Ridge Trail to Radio Peak, a local name for Temescal Peak.

Those trips helped them learn the local plants and how they changed with the seasons, like how the ceanothus would blossom with blue blooms in early spring. And in Santa Ynez Canyon, Simpson loved spotting the Humboldt’s lilies, knowing the perennials would come back every year.

Even after the devastation of the Palisades fire, she’s seen those lilies return to the same spot they’ve always been.

“A fire-scarred landscape may look dead, but spotting a familiar flower is like seeing old friends,” she said. “It’s reassurance — that some kind of normal is possible. Of course, when it is your own property, there is no normal there, but there is reassurance that for the earth, the wildlife, plants, things will go on, even if I don’t return.”

Lesson 2: We have our own ecological role to play

Trailie crew member Ron Dean is drawn to trail work for creativity. Every 10 minutes, there’s seemingly a new problem the trail crew faces, like, “Where should we put the trail? Should we put the rocks over here? Does this need a drain? How can we move this thing out of the way? It’s wonderful,” he said.

When I asked Dean, who joined the crew 12 years ago, to describe his relationship with the Santa Monica Mountains, he was quick to answer.

“When I’m out in the mountains, I feel like I’m hanging out with my best friend,” Dean said.

A Trailies volunteer works on the Leacock Trail in 2019.

(Jane Simpson)

Dean moved from Wisconsin to L.A. in 1970 for a job and stayed for the climate and landscape. Every Sunday for the past several years, Dean and his son Josh would hike in the Santa Monica Mountains, leaving Dean’s home in the Palisades and often hitting a loop trail to Goat Peak, also referred to by some locals as High Point. After the hike, they’d have brunch and watch football.

That home, which was built in 1951, burned in the Palisades fire. Similar to how he approaches trail work, Dean is looking at how to create a better home for today’s climate, adding solar panels, backup batteries, water recycling and a heat pump system.

Dean is comfortable tackling problems that seemingly have no end. He’s known among his fellow Trailies as the “mustard man” because whenever he sees invasive black mustard — the yellow flowers that cover L.A.’s hillsides in the spring before drying into quick-burning brown twigs — he yanks it out. “Will I win? Of course not,” Dean said.

A member of the Trailies works on Leacock Trail in 2019.

(Jane Simpson)

This is the kind of acceptance Dean has learned from our local mountains — that we can all do our part for as long as we’re here.

Lesson 3: Restoration is a form of reciprocity

In 2012, Rubio Canyon Trail Crew member Sean Green made it his personal mission to restore the Lone Tree Trail in Rubio Canyon. The path, built more than 100 years ago, was constructed so that workers from a municipal water company could reach the utility’s water intakes far into the canyon, Green said.

The trail had been abandoned for decades, but was rediscovered after the 1993 Kinneloa fire ripped through the area. “I decided I loved that trail and I restored it,” Green said.

The Rubio Canyon Trail Crew removes a landslide from the Gooseberry Motorway in 1997.

(Sean Green)

The trail crew’s work is part of a long history of give and take between humans and the canyon.

The lush landscape of chaparral, coast sage scrubs and creek beds was once a stop on the Mount Lowe Railway. The “railway climbed the steep Lake Avenue and crossed the poppy fields into the Rubio Canyon,” according to a local history website. “This part of the trip was called the Mountain Division. At this juncture stood the Rubio Pavilion, a small 12-room hotel. From there the passengers transferred to a cable car funicular which climbed the Great Incline to the top of the Echo Mountain promontory.”

The Rubio Cañon Land and Water Assn. has pulled water from the canyon since the 1880s, delivering it to nearby residents in Altadena. But in the late ’90s, in a still-debated controversy, the water company completed a construction project that sent thousands of yards of debris into the canyon, burying at least three waterfalls.

“Whether by nature’s hand or man’s, with time or with money, Rubio Canyon’s waterfalls will return,” Pasadena Star-News journalist Becky Oskin wrote at the time.

It appears that time has finally come.

Green said heavy rains pushed debris away from the once-covered Maidenhair Falls, a 30-foot cascade named after the Maidenhair ferns that once surrounded it.

The Rubio Canyon Trail Crew, which has worked in the area for more than 25 years, is busy bringing the rest of the canyon’s trails back too.

Claus Boettger, Phil Fujii and Jason Trevor backfill a new retaining wall along the Gooseberry Motorway in 2005. The original road was built in 1923 by Southern California Edison to install electric towers along the foothill ridges. It is now a single-track trail.

(Sean Green)

The Eaton fire ripped through the Rubio Canyon Preserve, seriously damaging the canyon’s chaparral, coast sage scrub and riparian habitats.

Green said his crew has almost finished restoring the Loma Alta Trail and has put in several hours on the Gooseberry Motorway, which takes hikers up and over a ridgeline, eventually into Angeles National Forest. The motorway was originally built by Southern California Edison to install electrical towers, Green said.

The crew has started seeing wildflowers, trees and wildlife all return to the canyon.

“The land is recovering,” Green said. “The Eaton fire caused a lot of damage, burning many houses down and burning the vegetation, but nature is very resilient and it will come back. … The canyon itself is going to take awhile to look like a vegetated canyon bottom because of all the debris that came down, but the rest of Rubio Canyon is going to regrow. It’s going to look pretty, and we’re going to get the trails in shape.”

Lesson 4: Hard work pays off

Lowelifes founder Rob Pettersen repairs a trail in Angeles National Forest.

(Erik Hillard, Lowelifes RCC)

The hiking trails of Angeles National Forest, as a whole, are in far better shape than they were 10 years ago. In spite of repeated wildfires — the Bobcat fire in 2020, the Bridge fire in 2024, the Eaton fire last year — and heavy rains, the trails remain.

I was so focused on the damage of the past year from the Eaton fire and heavy rainfall, I hadn’t zoomed out to consider the bigger picture until I spoke to Rob Pettersen, a founding board member of the Lowelifes Respectable Citizens’ Club.

The Lowelifes are among a dedicated coalition of trail crews that dedicate hundreds of hours every year to reestablishing damaged trails by lugging out fallen and dead trees, moving soil and rock, and more.

“We are moving forward, but Mother Nature has other ideas sometimes,” Pettersen said. “There’s no silver bullet for fixing these trails. They just need constant attention. It’s just the nature of our geology.”

Pettersen has volunteered on trail work crews off and on for the past 20 years, most consistently after Lowelifes was founded in 2019. Pettersen enjoys living in Los Feliz, but like most of us, is drawn to the solace and peace that the mountains provide.

After the 2020 Bobcat fire, which burned through Big Santa Anita Canyon and several other beloved places, the Lowelifes focused several months on restoring the Idlehour Trail, a six-mile jaunt through lush woodland.

“This time last year, Idlehour was in some of the best shape it’s ever been — and then it got melted” in the Eaton fire, Pettersen said. “It’s a very popular [and] special place for Lowelifes folks individually, and the fact we had just completed a lot of work there is kind of brutal.”

This ebb and flow of fire and flood, exacerbated by human-caused climate change, he said, is why the Lowelifes focus on restoring trails to a quality that can withstand harsh conditions.

“Even though we’ve had multiple years now where we’ve done a bunch of trail restoration work and then got hit by several inches of rain in 12 hours,” Pettersen said, “the vast majority of the trail mileage holds up because we do good work so the trail isn’t gone. But the trouble spots — the heavy drainages, the cliffy areas — those are always impacted by debris flow. So it’s a bummer, but it also feels good to be making a difference and doing good work for the community.”

Rob Pettersen cuts through a downed log during a Lowelifes work day on trails in Angeles National Forest.

(Matt Baffert, Lowelifes RCC)

Several Lowelife crew members lost their homes or livelihood in the Eaton fire, including Lowelifes president Matt Baffert. Additionally, the fire also burned up the crew’s tools, which were stored at Baffert’s home.

A year later, though, Baffert and others are rebuilding and moving back, Pettersen said.

That’s in large part because the community rallied behind the Lowelifes. The group received several grants and donations, and the Lowelifes as a nonprofit came out of the fire more financially secure than before. Pettersen said so many volunteers showed up to help that the Lowelifes had to turn people away because they couldn’t safely fit everyone who showed up on the trails to work.

“It’s amazing seeing how many people care about our Lowelifes individually and about our trails and our Angeles National Forest,” Pettersen said. “People care about trails, people care about public lands; that’s been positive and we want to keep building on that.”

This month, the Lowelifes plan — rain and snow permitting — to head back to the Idlehour trail.

The work continues.

3 things to do

Hikers with Hearts for Sight and the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter trek along a path together.

(Joan Schipper, Hearts For Sight)

1. Volunteer as a hiker guide in L.A.
Hearts For Sight and the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter will host their monthly White Cane Hike at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 18 in Griffith Park. Volunteers are needed to guide blind and visually-impaired hikers on a gentle hike from Franklin’s Cafe & Market to a heliport in the park. The hike is free, and lunch is provided. To register, call Hearts for Sight at (818) 457-1482.

2. Make new friends hiking in Elysian Park
LA for the Culture Hiking Club will host a beginner-friendly, free community hike at noon Saturday in Elysian Park. The group will meet at the Grace E. Simons Lodge parking lot before heading onto the Elysian Park West Loop, which offers stunning views of the city. Register at eventbrite.com.

3. Commune with nature and a notebook near Calabasas
California State Parks and Santa Monica Mountains Nature Journal Club will host a nature journaling meetup from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Malibu Creek State Park. Participants who are new to nature journaling are invited to take a free introductory course while experienced nature journalers can head into the park. The group will reconvene at noon to share their experiences. Guests are invited to bring a potluck dish to share. Register at eventbrite.com.

The must-read

(Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times)

One of the first places I go to research a trail is The Times archives because we’ve been writing about the trails and campgrounds of Angeles National Forest for more than 100 years. In all that time, we haven’t slowed down enough to write a comprehensive guide of the forest — until now. I spent the past few months researching and writing what is a part love letter/part guide to help you explore every corner of the 700,000-acre national forest playground that sits right in our backyard. I hope you save this guide and use it for many of your future adventures! I know I will.

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

After the recent rain and snowfall, there are new and serious hazards on our local trails that you must consider before heading out. We have already lost at least three hikers locally this winter. As I’ve written previously, you often need crampons and an ice axe, equipment you need to be experienced using, before heading into a snow hike with elevation gain. I have seen several images on social media of hikers celebrating at the snow-covered Mt. Baldy summit, the highest point in the San Gabriel Mountains, but anyone headed up Baldy needs to understand how dangerous the hike is in winter conditions. As Kyle Fordham, a 36-year-old experienced hiker, told my colleagues, the Devil’s Backbone trail is typically considered the easier option, but it becomes “a death slide” in the winter. “It basically becomes a giant ice cliff,” Fordham said. “If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can very easily die on it.” If you do run into a fellow hiker in need, please help however you can. It can sometimes be the kindness of a stranger that saves a life. Stay safe out there, friends!

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.

THE Sun’s Hols from £9.50 returns this week, giving you the chance to book a bargain break at over 300 holiday parks across the UK and Europe.

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A HOTEL owned by a major British sports star has closed ahead of a huge transformation.

Three-time tennis Grand Slam winner Andy Murray has closed the hotel he owns, just three miles from his hometown of Dunblane, in Scotland.

The closure comes ahead of a major transformation to the hotel, which sits on a Victorian country estate sprawling over 34 acres with its own chapel and small loch.

Over the coming months, the hotel will remain closed while a new 80-seat restaurant with a ‘living’ roof covered in plants is built.

A smaller, fine dining restaurant will be added to the hotel as well.

The current restaurant, The Glasshouse, will be transformed into an afternoon tea and event space.

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As for accommodation, three bedrooms will be added and there will be a new wellness cottage too.

Back in 2023, planning permission was also granted for nine new cabins to be built in the woodland, though whether these are going ahead is unclear.

The hotel is then expected to reopen in May of this year.

The tennis player and his wife, Kim, purchased the mansion back in 2013 for a rumoured £1.8million.

Via the hotel’s Instagram account, Cromlix said: “Our team is all set to pack away the house, but we’re already counting down to 15th May when we’ll welcome you back.

“While our doors are closed, our team is still here and ready to take your bookings for spring and beyond.”

Inside the hotel, guests will find a billiards room with vaulted wooden ceilings adding to The Traitors feel of the mansion.

Guests can also request in-room spa treatments such as a back, neck and shoulder massage from £80 or a full body massage from £95.

In the grounds, visitors will be able to spot beehives, chickens, deer and red squirrels across a number of woodland trails.

In classic Murray style, the hotel of course has outdoor tennis courts where guests can have private coaching sessions.

There are a number of different rooms in the hotel including ‘Turret Suites’ – though, they aren’t as small as The Traitors turret.

Inside the rooms, visitors will find statement furniture, country house patterns and botanical features.

In total there are 10 bedrooms and five suites, and they have different views, including of the garden and woodland.

Though, if you fancy something a little more private then you can book The Laurel Gate Lodge.

Inside there is a small turret, kitchen, living room, king-size bedroom and a family bathroom with a walk-in shower and separate bath.

If you do want to bring your kids, there is a pull-out sofa bed too.

Though it isn’t cheap, as it costs from £555 to stay in the lodge.

Prices for rooms and suites in the main building vary from around £300 a night.

For wider exploring, the hotel is sat between Glasgow and Edinburgh, with both cities just an hour away.

The mansion was previously passed down generations of the Drummond family.

In that time it has even survived a fire in 1878 and then later was transformed from a house into a hotel.

In other hotel news, these are 12 of our favourite UK hotels to visit this year – from cosy farm retreats to £55 all-inclusives in London.

Plus, Britain’s best hotels for 2026 have been named from seaside pubs to island B&Bs.

AFRICAN cities like Marrakech, Casablanca and Rabat have been a popular spot for Brits for many years.

But there’s another city very near the sea in northern Morocco that is getting direct flights from the UK for the very first time this year.

In March 2026, Royal Air Maroc will launch twice-weekly direct flights from London Gatwick to Tetouan.

The route will start on March 29, 2026 and will operate on Thursdays and Sundays in both directions.

Previously there were no flights from the UK to Tetouan, with Brits having to connect at other cities like Marrakech, Casablanca and Al Hoceima.

Tetouan, which is a port city, is 20 minutes from the coastline, and tourists might be surprised to learn that it has a big Spanish influence, especially from Andalusia, which you’ll still see today.

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One visitor wrote on Triapdvisor said: “If you’ve been to the Middle East or Spain being in Morocco is a combination of both”.

The city was once the capital of Spanish Morocco, nicknamed the “daughter of Granada” so a lot of its architecture feels more European than African.

The Tetouan Museum of Modern Art is actually found inside a former Spanish-style train station.

Although there are places where it will feel like Morocco, for example at its medina which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here you’ll find souks selling crafts, spices, leather goods and jewellery.

Top hotels in the city include Hôtel Al Mandari which has modern rooms – some of which have mountain views – in March it can be booked for £58 per night including breakfast.

In March, temperatures in Tetouan can be as high as 19C – so if you want to hit the beach, there are plenty of options not that far away.

Some of the nearby beach resorts include Martil which has very long stretches of sand and sits along the Mediterranean coastline.

One visitor on Tripadvisor described it as a “beautiful destination with fine golden sand”.

Another nearby beach town is M’diq which is 20 minutes away by car.

Its beach is popular for swimmers, especially in the morning when the waters are at their clearest – and you can easily get here via a bus from Tetouan.

If you’re more interested in exploring the city, then you’ll be pleased to know that Tetouan is much quieter than the likes of Marrakech as it sees fewer visitors.

When it comes to drink, a local beer will set you back around 25MAD (£2.01) and a meal for two at a mid-range restaurants without drinks is on average 175MAD (£14.10), according to Numbeo.

Another popular spot is Feddan Park which is in the middle of the city and some visitors have said has the ‘best view of Tetouan’.

From the park you get a good view of the whitewashed buildings and mountains behind them.

Dar El Oddi is a restored Riad that has since been converted into a museum.

There’s also the Royal Palace – although as this is still an active royal residence you can only view it from the outside.

Other nearby destinations include the beautiful city of Chefchaouen, also known as the Blue Pearl – which is an hour inland from Tetouan.

It’s full of bright blue buildings, hence its nickname, as well as steep alleyways and it’s surrounded by the Rif Mountains.

If you head to the edge of the medina, you’ll reach the Ras El Ma – a natural spring.

Marrakech is ‘the perfect short haul April holiday’ according to Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot…

Lisa Minot, Head of Sun Travel, filled us in on her recent trip to the Moroccan city…

She said: “I’ve just returned from a wonderful long weekend in Marrakech and the city is as exciting as ever.

“We were sunbathing on the roof of our riad in the Medina in glorious 22 degree temperatures – and I loved the amazing desert landscapes just 40 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the souks.

“Tourism is booming in the city and while the streets are as colourful and chaotic as ever, the influx of visitors has brought some gorgeous new bars, restaurants and stunning hotels.”

She added: “It pays to do your research and book restaurants and tours in advance though as even in February and the start of Ramadan, the souks were teeming and lots of places were fully booked.

“We did a three-hour food tour of the Medina with Get Your Guide and while stuffing ourselves on some fantastic street food I probably would never have had the courage to try on my own, our guide revealed the secrets of the city and its fascinating past. 

“With six stops along the way, there was more than enough food and it cost just £35 each.

“My favourite stop was deep in the souks – a dish the locals love where beef is cooked in a dry frying pan with tomato, spices and eggs that is eaten by scraping the delicious dish straight from the pan.

“Also worth the money was our very special day in the Agafay Desert. An hour’s drive from the souks and we arrived at The White Camel, a luxury tented camp. 

“After an afternoon of dune buggy fun we watched the sun set with a drink by their infinity pool before indulging in a fantastic four course meal.”

Plus, here’s another grand African city that’s much quieter than its famous neighbour.

And this other holiday hotspot just three hours from the UK dubbed ‘Marrakesh-by-the-sea’ – with sandy beaches and cheap hotels.

THREE brand new locations have been announced by an adult-only bowling franchise.

Known for its boutique bowling lanes, retro arcade games and lengthy cocktail menu, this venue turns into an adult playground after 7pm in most of its locations.

Lane7, which describes itself as an activity bar for adults, has revealed three new branches will open in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Leeds.

In Glasgow, Lane7 will take over a large event space underneath the central station which used to be the site of Platform, previously known as the Arches.

Since 2020, Edinburgh has enjoyed the bowling brand in its St James’ Quarter, making this recently announced site Lane7’s second location in the Scottish city.

But, the new Leeds site will mark the first Lane7 branch the northern city has seen.

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According to a Lane7 spokesperson, Leeds has been “a long-held target city” for for one of their branches.

Lane7 is sure that “guests will be thrilled with the new 23,000sq ft location in the heart of the City Centre”.

Currently there are 24 locations across the country offering adults a variety of drinks, food and games such as arcade machines, darts, mini golf, curling, and beer pong.

Reviews from customers in other locations rave about the “awesome” gaming facilities and “buzzing” atmosphere suggesting these new hubs are much anticipated.

Construction for the three new branches is expected to begin at the end of March.

Lane7’s managing director Gavin Hughes hinted at the bowling giant potentially more locations later in the year.

He said: “We’ll be starting development of three new sites by the close of the first quarter, taking in some new locations and expanding further in others.

“We know 2026 is going to be another transformational year for the group.”

The village in Norfolk is known for its natural beauty, archaeological sites, coastal erosion and beautiful beach walks, but in the 19th century, it was also the home of alleged serial killer Jonathan Balls

Britain is dotted with charming villages and towns, but few harbour a sinister history quite like Happisburgh, a coastal village in Norfolk. While celebrated for its stunning scenery, archaeological treasures, dramatic coastal erosion and picturesque beach walks, the village was also home to Jonathan Balls during the 19th century.

Following his death in 1846, he was posthumously accused of murdering at least 22 individuals, predominantly family members, between 1824 and 1845 through poisoning.

Little is documented about Mr Balls’ earlier years before these alleged atrocities, though he was regarded as a “bad character” locally, having previously served time for minor offences.

Who was Jonathan Balls and what were his alleged crimes?

Mr Balls wed a woman called Elizabeth at some stage and fathered three daughters, who each went on to have children themselves. The family lived in poverty, depending on relief funds to survive.

Yet as Mr Balls aged, he became increasingly reliant on his relatives for financial assistance, which is thought to have driven him to systematically poison family members so their money would pass to him, reports the Express.

It’s understood that Mr Balls started purchasing substantial quantities of arsenic during the 1830s from neighbouring towns, using the excuse of a rodent problem at his property. The first questionable death was that of his daughter, Maria Lacey, aged 24, who is thought to have succumbed to mistreatment by her husband and an unidentified illness.

A year on, on Christmas Day in 1836, a tragic event occurred when Mr Balls’ granddaughter, Maria Green, who was just 13 months old, died under mysterious circumstances. This was followed by the death of Ann Peggs, aged 8, on June 7, 1839, and the deaths of 13-month-old Martha Green and her three year old brother, William, both on October 31, 1841. All three were Mr Balls’ grandchildren.

In the subsequent years, several members of Mr Balls’ family met with suspicious ends, including one of his children and one of his parents. Both died mysteriously after relocating from their home to live with him.

Despite the family’s neighbours calling for an inquest into the deaths on two separate occasions, no investigation was carried out. In September 1845, another tragedy struck when Mr Balls’ grandson, Samuel Green, passed away, followed by his ailing wife, Elizabeth, just four months later.

The last confirmed victim is believed to be his granddaughter, Elizabeth Anne Pestle, who died on April 17, 1846.

Three days following the death of Ms Pestle, Mr Balls also passed away at his residence in Happisburgh, succumbing to an illness. In the wake of his passing, local residents requested the area’s coroner, Mr Pilgrim, to exhume and reexamine the bodies for cause of death.

Eventually, Mr Pilgrim authorised the exhumation of both Mr Balls’ and Ms Pestle’s remains. The post-mortem examinations revealed a substantial amount of arsenic in both bodies, prompting further investigation into other family members.

Interviews were conducted with surviving relatives of Mr Balls and several servants employed at the property. One maid, Sarah Kerrison, alleged she had witnessed Mr Balls adding a suspicious white powder to a teacup, which he then served to his bedridden wife.

Her health deteriorated progressively, leading to her eventual demise. After tasting some food prepared in the household, the maid fell ill, exhibiting signs of poisoning.

The case garnered extensive media coverage and was even a topic of discussion in Parliament.

The village of Happisburgh

Despite its murky history, Happisburgh is a must-visit if you find yourself in Norfolk. This coastal village boasts some of the UK’s earliest known human footprints, a significant archaeological discovery that places early humans in Northern Europe.

Believed to be the oldest human footprints in the UK, they date back 800,000 years.

The village’s rugged coastline boasts some stunning walking trails, with the sandy beach staying peaceful all year round. It’s also dog-friendly year-round, making it an ideal destination for dog walkers keen to discover this dramatic coastline.

That said, visitors walking along the cliffs or beach are urged to take care due to the danger of coastal erosion. The cliffs are composed of glacial till, which has resulted in the loss of land and cliffs in recent years.

One of Happisburgh’s most recognisable landmarks is Happisburgh Lighthouse, which dates back to 1790, making it East Anglia’s oldest working lighthouse. It’s also Britain’s only independently operated lighthouse, offering stunning coastal views from 85 feet up.

The Hill House Inn is a dog-friendly local pub serving up classics such as fish and chips, alongside a warm atmosphere and welcoming vibe. The pub has earned a rating of 4.3 out of five on Google, with one reviewer describing it as the “kind of pub you dream of stumbling into on a windswept Norfolk day”.

The review, from Neil, said: “The Hill House Inn in Happisburgh is the kind of pub you dream of stumbling into on a windswept Norfolk day. Perched not far from the cliffs, it has that mix of cosy charm and a bit of history woven into the beams.

“Inside, it feels like the sort of place where smugglers probably once traded contraband rum under the table while pretending to just be ‘popping in for a pint’. The ale is well-kept, the food hearty, and the welcome as warm as the fire in winter.”

Another review from Patricia added: “My first time visiting the inn. A lovely, typical village pub. Dog-friendly, with friendly staff. Nice sandwich, I had ham on the bone, and my friend had salmon, with chips and salad plus two coffees. Reasonable price too.”

Alternatively, there’s Smallsticks Cafe at Cart Gap Beach, located slightly further along the coast from Happisburgh beach. The cafe offers everything from coffee, cake and sandwiches to fish and chips and a full English breakfast.

This friendly, family-run establishment has earned a rating of 4.6 out of five on TripAdvisor, with visitors praising both the staff and the delicious food on offer.

One reviewer said: “We ended up here five times during our week in Norfolk! It was simply outstanding and so fabulous! The menu was great, such a fabulous choice, and the hardest thing was choosing what to eat! The whitebait was awesome and absolutely delicious, and cooked to perfection! Food was well-presented and cooked perfectly! Staff were so warm and friendly and so polite and true ambassadors to the establishment! ! ! Prices were fantastic and certainly won’t dent a hole in your wallet! So doggy friendly and the toilets were spotless!”

Another individual commented: “Very welcoming and the coffee and cake we had were lovely. Very friendly staff and a very pleasant way to spend an hour. Didn’t eat the cooked food, but what we saw looked very nice.”

The main ingredient in lomo saltado, the juicy, stir-fried comfort dish of my childhood, only takes a minute to cook. It can go by in such a flash that you can miss it if you’re not paying attention, so I always made sure to watch for that moment when the flames go up.

I remember standing in rapt attention at the edge of the stovetop as my mom tossed fresh, thinly sliced beef into an oiled pan set on maximum heat. The steak hissed and leaped in a dramatic dance as flames licked the pan from underneath. My mom turned to me and said, “This is why it’s called lomo saltado: the lomo is the steak, and watch how it’s saltando — jumping.”

“The secret is in the smoke,” says Miriam Ramirez, owner of Lonzo’s Restaurant in Culver City. “When you cook lomo saltado, the room should be filled with the smell of smoke. I remember getting it for lunch in Peru and thinking, ‘Oh no, my hair smells like smoke!’ But that’s how I knew it would be good.”

Lomo saltado consists of tomato, onion and bell pepper, seared with steak, traditionally in a wok, and served with sides of rice and potato fries. Peruvians call soy sauce, which is used generously in the dish, “sillao” (pronounced see-yow).

Newcomers to Peruvian cuisine might be surprised to find that soy sauce has a major place in recipes. My Peruvian family always says that in any good meat dish, sillao is the secret ingredient.

“When the dish is already so simple, every ingredient matters,” Ramirez says.

“See-yow” is also the pronunciation for soy sauce in Cantonese. Understanding how a Cantonese word entered Peru’s lingo is a long historical lesson that can be best explained by another Chinese-Peruvian word: chifa. Chifa, which comes from the Mandarin word “chīfàn,” meaning to eat, describes the thriving Chinese-Peruvian fusion cuisine and indirectly, the immigrant history of Peru.

According to researcher Patricia Palma, Chinese immigrants arrived in Peru in the mid-19th century, as laborers after the abolishment of slavery created a demand for cheap labor. As this population grew over the years, Chinese-Peruvian descendants carved out a niche in chifa that reflected their heritage alongside centuries-old Peruvian staples.

“L.A. is so diverse and that’s why I think Peruvian food draws people in. It has a multicultural identity too,” says Benny Gomez, owner of Rosty Peruvian Food in Highland Park. “There’s Chinese and Japanese communities who identify with the Asian influence but also Mexican people who are seeing a different type of Latino food.”

Peru’s lomo saltado is not only a beautiful marriage of the two cultures, but a perfectly balanced ode to each culture’s culinary traditions: Peru is reflected in the potatoes, aji amarillo and bell pepper, and China in the stir-fry technique and of course, the sillao.

“Peruvian food has 14,000 years of history,” says Ignacio Barrios Jacobs, lead chef of Merka Saltao in Culver City. “I think [lomo saltado] holds the story of Chinese immigrants who were cooking their food for people who said, ‘this needs my potato and chile peppers.’”

In Culver City, East Hollywood, and the San Fernando Valley, Peruvian restaurants are combining traditional flavors with distinctly Angeleno flair, like saltado burritos or California oak wood-fired rotisserie chicken.

“When my dad opened his Peruvian restaurant 30 years ago, Peruvian was not popular at all in L.A.,” says Dennis Tamashiro, owner of Mario’s Peruvian and Seafood. “Now, people are paying attention, because it proves that it’s unique.”

Here are eight takes on lomo saltado to try in Los Angeles, from classic versions that remind me of home, to creative takes that make the dishes distinctly L.A.