Holidaymakers jetting off abroad to the Spanish island of Majorca this summer are being warned about ‘biting fish’ in some popular beach hotspots following several reports
There have been reports of ‘biting fish’ off the shores of Majorca, Spain(Image: Getty Images)
Tourists heading on holiday to Majorca are being warned about ‘biting fish’ following a string of reported ‘attacks’.
More than 2 million Brits jet off abroad to Majorca, also known as Mallorca, every summer for a sun-soaked Mediterranean getaway on Spain’s largest Balearic island. But an unusual phenomenon is threatening to dampen days spent along some of its pristine sandy shores and clear turquoise waters.
Following the weekend, there have been several reports of people being bitten by small fish while swimming in the crystal-clear waters off Majorca. The incidents were recorded around the beaches of Illetes and Cala Comtessa, which are in the municipality and resort town of Calvià.
The Spanish news publication Majorca Daily Bulletin said that “several people” reported seeing “small fish, which seemed to have about two teeth, biting our legs, but in the end, they actually drew blood and everything” over the weekend. At first, they believed the fish were “removing dead skin” rather than taking a nibble of flesh.
One witness to the fish-biting events recalled to the publicationfollowing the weekend: “The attacking fish are back in Mallorca waters, and I saw it for myself on Saturday in Illetas, groups of people leaping up and down as they were nibbled and even bitten by small fish.
“Last year I was bitten three times, so far I’ve been lucky this year, but it appears others have not. One man even joked that perhaps they are part of the anti-tourism movement!”
But this isn’t the first time there have been reports of small biting fish in the shallow shores of Majorca. Just last summer, a woman suffered a serious fish bite while at Playa de Palma, and a German tourist also claimed to have been bitten by several fish on two different occasions within the same week.
“Today, however, the bite was rather serious, and I got out of the water straight away, as it was even bleeding,” he told the Majorca Daily Bulletin last summer. However, they weren’t the only ones to report fish bites, and there’s thought to have been a string of minor incidents along the shores of Majorca dating back to the summer of 2023.
It’s thought to have become more common over the years, and local news outlets report a spike in fish nibbling on swimmers during the summer months. Further incidents have been recorded in Majorca, including Palma, Sa Ràpita, S’Estanyol, Cala Pi, and Cala d’Or.
Experts say rising sea temperatures could contribute to the bizarre happenings. “There are no studies into this, but the reason behind what’s happening could be that the temperature of the water is higher,” Ron Farage, Assistant Curator at Palma Aquarium, previously told the local publication, Ultima Hora.
“And these fish are less scared, in this case of human beings, when they are more hungry, which is a consequence in summer of this increase in the temperature of their natural habitat.”
Meanwhile, the expert added that beachgoers shouldn’t be scared of the fish, because “they’re not poisonous and they don’t do any real damage”. Instead, they tend to be curious about dry skin or existing wounds on people, which they can mistake for food.
Marine Biologist Silvia García from Oceana also told the Majorca Daily Bulletin that the culprits are likely young fish. “They are usually juvenile fish, only a few days or weeks old, so small and transparent that they are barely visible in the water.”
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
WITH all this warm and sunny weather, has there ever been a better summer for a camping staycation?
Known locally as Mochras, Shell Island in North Cardigan Bay, Wales, sits in the Snowdonia National Park and is the biggest campsite in the UK – and even one of the biggest in Europe.
Shell Island campsite in North Wales is the biggest campsite in the UKCredit: AlamyIt is also right by the beach, which is home to over 200 species of shellsCredit: Alamy
To get to the campsite, you’ll need to check tide times, as it is accessed via a Tidal Causeway – a raised road that can only be driven on at low tide.
With 800 pitches, there is plenty of space for campers across the 450-acre site, or if you don’t fancy sleeping under canvas, you could opt for one of the chalets on site.
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Guests have access to three large, golden sand beaches that look out across Cardigan Bay where you can even have a campfire on.
And what makes the spot even better is that the sunsets are some of the best in the country, painting oranges and pinks in the sky above the peaks of Llŷn Peninsula and Snowdonia.
At the park there are loads of things to do for guests including heading to the Tavern Bar for a tipple.
And for forgotten items, there is a useful supermarket on site as well as a gift shop, camping shop and off licence.
Kids can let off steam in the playground and football pitch or watch boats bob in the Mini Boat Pool before heading to the strawberry picking site.
There’s a large games room as well, next to the bar, where you can play pool, have a go on multiple arcade games and try and win on the penny machines.
At the campsite, you can head off on walks, head to the mini boat pond or visit the playgroundCredit: AlamyThe beach is just a few minutes away and is ideal for kite-surfingCredit: Alamy
Or head to the sports room, next to the games room, where you will find three TVs showing different sports.
The beach is just a few minutes’ walk away as well, which is a great spot to head kite-surfing, fishing and sailing.
The beach is known for having a large variety of shells, with up to 200 different species.
Along the beaches, there are a number of paths for walks as well as recommended swimming spots.
During the peak season, camping costs from £14 per adult per night and children cost £7 per night.
Dogs are welcome too, costing £2.75 per night.
And one of the most unique things about the park, is that you get to pick your pitch as there is no pitch allocation.
Says cost from £7 per child per night and £14 per adult per nightCredit: Alamy
This means you could opt for an area hidden in the sand dunes that overlooks the sea, to camp at.
One recent visitor said: “Shell Island is a fantastic campsite in an unbeatable location with a great mix of campers, mostly experienced old‑school types who know what North Wales coastal camping is really like.
“It’s great value for money; they keep pitch prices cheap.
“Loved the whole experience, can’t wait to go again, and the pub on site has great options on tap.”
Around Shell Island you’ll also find 13 species of wild orchid, amongst other wildflowers and crabbing spots.
Slightly further afield, there are a number of other to explore too, including Harlech Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage medieval fortress that’s just 10 minutes away.
And keen hikers can also head to Snowdon, Wales’ highest mountain.
The seaside town of Barmouth is nearby too, where you can explore cosy cafes and independent shops, as well as a large shingle beach.
The cruise line is returning to the Amazon for the first time in almost a decade, with their latest cruise also giving holidaymakers the chance to witness the dramatic landscapes of Antarctica
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Fred Olsen is the only cruise line offering trips to the Amazon rainforest from the UK(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
With summer holiday season in full swing, many Brits who are sick of the usual beach resort might already be planning something more unique for their next getaway. And the wow factor doesn’t get much bigger than with Fred Olsen’s newest cruise that stops off at an incredible 28 ports – but holidaymakers will need to have some hefty savings.
The Amazon and Antarctica Adventure has just been announced by the cruise line, and it’s one of the longest trips available to book. Setting sail from Southampton on January 5, 2028, this cruise aboard the Borealis ship is a whopping 87 nights long and visits dream destinations across five continents, from the Canary Islands all the way down to the Antarctic Peninsula via the likes of Jamaica, Costa Rica, Brazil and Chile.
The voyage marks the first time in nine years that Fred Olsen has offered a cruise to the Amazon – and it’s the only cruise line sailing from the UK to do so, offering British holidaymakers a unique opportunity. “Time ashore brings you closer to lush rainforest, with toucans, butterflies, monkeys and pink river dolphins among the wildlife to look out for,” the description of the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure teases.
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A place on this adults-only cruise understandably doesn’t come cheap, with prices starting from £11,499 per person. But with travel, accommodation, food and entertainment all included at under £140 per night, those with the cash to spare might consider it worth the investment to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
For those seeking something more budget-friendly, the longest cruise on offer from fellow cruise line Ambassador is the Caribbean Sunsets and South American Secrets holiday. Sailing from London Tilbury in January 2027, this cruise currently has 30% off all cabins with prices now starting from £3,233 per person, and visits 12 countries over 45 nights, including Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Belize.
This 87-night cruise sets sail from Southampton in January 2028 and visits 17 countries across five continents.
Meanwhile, TUI’s Marella Cruises is also offering last-minute summer cruise deals with flights included in their price. Among the cheapest options are the Highlights of the Mediterranean cruise, which is on offer for £944pp reduced from £1,623, and the Grecian Discovery holiday, now priced from £949pp down from £1,598.
Back at Fred Olsen, another highlight of the Amazon and Antarctica Adventure is the Antarctic Peninsula, described by the cruise line as a place with ‘vast glaciers and snow-topped mountains’ where there’s also a chance for passengers to spot penguins and whales. Here’s the full itinerary of stops and highlights on this 87-night cruise:
Santa Cruiz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
Santa Cruz de la Palma, Canary Islands
St John’s, Antigua
Samana, Dominican Republic
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Puerto Limon, Costa Rica
Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Willemstad, Curacao
Kingstown, St Vincent and Grenadines
St George’s, Grenada
Roseau, Dominica
Bridgetown, Barbados
Cruise past Barra Norte, Brazil
Santarem, Brazil
Cruising Amazon River, Brazil
Manaus, Brazil
Parintins, Brazil
Alter do Chao, Brazil
Fortaleza, Brazil
Buzios, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Punta Arenas, Chile
Cruise by Cape Horn, Chile
Cruise Drake Passage, Antarctica
Cruise Antarctica Peninsula
Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
Montevideo, Uruguay
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Salvador, Brazil
Mindelo, Cape Verde
Las Palmas, Canary Islands
La Coruna, Spain
As well as travel and accommodation, the price of a cruise also includes full board dining, from five-course à la carte dinners to afternoon tea, and selected drinks with lunch and dinner. And there’s no shortage of things to do on the ship, with the fare also including access to the swimming pools, fitness centre and classes, expert talks and lectures and a variety of other activities, as well as evening shows with live music and dancing.
For those looking to get away sooner, this isn’t the only bumper cruise Fred Olsen is offering. The cruise line’s longest holiday currently available to book is the World Cruise with Japan and Hawaii, which stands at a staggering 98 nights and sets sail from Southampton in January 2027 with prices starting from £13,999 per person.
The third-longest is departing from Southampton this September for a last-minute autumn and winter getaway lasting 71 nights. The Exploration of the Mediterranean is priced from £9,999 per person and visits Spain, Italy, France, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Gibraltar, Morocco, the Canary Islands and Portugal.
ENGLAND’s longest zip wire has finally opened to visitors after more than 15 years in development.
The new attraction boasts sweeping views of an iconic national park.
The country’s longest zip wire will finally allow visitors to soar down the Honister CragCredit: Honister Slate MineThe attraction features views of valleys and mountains in the Lake DistrictCredit: Alamy
Honister Slate Mine, in Cumbria, has revealed a brand new zip wire attraction, said to be England’s longest.
Visitors will now be led more than 2,000 feet up to the summit, before soaring 1,200 metres across from Honister Crag to the valley below.
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Set amid sweeping views of the Lake District and reaching speeds of up to 65 mph, the record-breaking ride follows the old Lancaster aerial flight that once carried Honister slate.
For more than a century, the area housed a historic slate mine, built on the foundations of more than 450million year old Westmorland Green slate.
The site briefly closed in 1989 before being reopened in 1997 by Mark Weir, who aimed to develop the area as not only England’s last working slate mine, but also an adventure site.
Weir’s sons, Prentice and Piers Wilkinson Weir, who now run the business, told the Cumbria Crack: “As we celebrate 30 years since our dad bought Honister, we’re proud to continue building on his vision while looking firmly to the future.
“This zip wire represents our commitment to investing in Honister, creating unforgettable experiences for our visitors, supporting the local economy and ensuring this incredible place continues to thrive for generations to come.”
Taking more than 15 years to develop, the zip wire will also continue to transport slate from the mountain as it was originally intended to do.
Tickets start from £110 for the 60-second experience, although only a limited number of riders will be able to go this year.
Other attractions at Honister include The Infinity Bridge, a 190m high-wire bridge strung between two mountains, and Via Ferrata, a 2,000ft semi-vertical ascent.
EMERGENCY crews are battling wildfires across the popular Greek island of Kefalonia, forcing tourists and locals to evacuate homes and holiday accommodation.
A firefighter works to extinguish a wildfire in the Megara Region, west of Athens on August 3, 2026Credit: AFPWildfires initially erupted in the dense pine forests of Kefalonia before spreading towards residential settlementsCredit: Getty
Here is your guide to where the blazes are located, how they started, and what the latest official advice says for holidaymakers heading to Greece.
Where are the fires in Kefalonia?
Wildfires initially erupted in the dense pine forests and scrubland near Pastra, in the south-east of the island of Kefalonia.
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The Greek Fire Service and local municipal authorities issued urgent precautionary evacuation orders via the national emergency alert system after flames threatened nearby homes and tourist lodgings.
Evacuations were triggered for several inland villages as flames moved close to residential zones.
While precautionary evacuations were ordered, local authorities and ground crews largely brought the fire near Pastra under control.
Though firefighters – supported by specialised water-dropping aircraft and helicopters – still remain on high alert for flare-ups.
Evacuations were triggered for several inland villages, including Kapandriti in the south-east of the island
While main coastal resorts remain open, drifting smoke plumes and shifting winds have affected air quality and visibility across nearby districts.
How did the fires start?
The outbreak of wildfires on Kefalonia comes amid an intense summer heatwave gripping Greece and wider southern Europe.
While official investigations into the exact ignition points remain ongoing, authorities point to a combination of extreme environmental factors.
Prolonged periods of temperatures exceeding 40C have left vegetation bone-dry, creating conditions where a single spark can instantly trigger a wall of fire.
In coastal areas, high sea winds briefly prevented water-scooping aircraft from operating safely.
Greece has suffered dozens of wildfire outbreaks in recent days, including severe blazes in Attica, Halkidiki, and Crete, putting emergency services under heavy strain.
While it has not placed a blanket travel ban on visiting Greece, officials advise all travellers to exercise caution, stay informed, and follow local emergency instructions.
Holidaymaker checklist:
Monitor Emergency Alerts: Ensure your mobile phone can receive emergency broadcast messages from @112Greece. If an evacuation alert is issued, follow instructions from local authorities immediately.
Contact Your Travel Provider: Major operators (such as TUI, Jet2 and EasyJet) are monitoring the situation closely. If your accommodation or flight is impacted, contact your provider before travelling.
Check Travel Insurance: Verify that your travel insurance policy covers natural disasters, trip interruptions, or emergency relocations.
Emergency Numbers: If you are in immediate danger in Greece, call 112 for emergency services. British nationals requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the Foreign Office on +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Travellers heading to unaffected resorts on the island can generally proceed with their plans.
But checking live traffic and local authority updates before set-off is strongly recommended.
A woman has sparked a heated debate after claiming a fellow passenger took over part of her plane footwell with his backpack before making her feel like she was the one being rude
A woman has opened up on her ‘manspreading’ ordeal (stock image)(Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)
While the seat comes with a few downsides, including having no entertainment screen within easy reach and slightly narrower armrests, she said the extra space usually makes it worthwhile. However, her latest journey didn’t quite go to plan. She claimed the man sitting in the row in front placed his large backpack in the empty space where a window seat would normally be.
Because there is no seat directly in front of her in the exit row, she said the bag ended up taking over part of the legroom she specifically paid for.
To make matters worse, she alleged the passenger kept looking back at her as though she was being rude whenever her legs came close to his belongings.
Alongside a photo of the seating arrangement, she pointed out her own backpack was stored correctly underneath the seat in front of her, while his had been left in the open space beside him.
She wrote: “Not a huge deal… just curious. Other than this guy is making me feel like I’m being an a***hole.
“I’m in the exit row 21 window seat where there is no window seat in the exit row in front of you. I choose this seat at times even though, in exchange for the additional leg room, I’m giving up a screen and have limited seat width due to the arm rests.
“This guy plops his large backpack down directly to the left of him, where the ’20A seat’ would be if there were one. And is constantly looking back at me like I’m being rude, for my legs being near his bag.
“Mine is under the seat directly in front of me. As it should be. I’m tired. I’m annoyed. And to be honest, I just feel like complaining, but not enough to actually say something since it’s only an hour flight. But am I wrong to be this bothered by it?”
The post quickly attracted dozens of comments, with many siding with the woman and arguing the bag should have been kept out of the shared space.
One person said: “Former flight attendant here! This is a safety hazard – the reason bags go under seats is so they don’t go flying.
“He’s directly putting you in danger in case of turbulence. If he won’t move it I’d call the flight attendant over.”
Another user added: “Regardless of etiquette, his bag shouldn’t be there at any time. That’s an emergency exit. I doubt his priority will be finding a place to move his bag in a water exit – it’ll just be the reason everyone rear of the lav drowns.”
He explained how he had specifically booked his seat in advance to ensure he was as comfortable as possible during the flight.
But after a flight attendant noticed a child sitting alone in economy while their parent was in business class, they reportedly made it their mission to reunite the pair.
GATWICK Airport is set to get a second runway by the end of the decade.
Plans for the new runway have received a huge boost today, after campaigner against the plans lost their bid to challenge it.
Gatwick Airport will be getting a second runway
The airport expansion was approved back in September and is set to cost £2.2billion.
It will involve moving the airport’s emergency runway 12 metres north and as a result, the airport will be able to host an extra 100,000 flights a year.
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The new runway is set to have planes taking off by the end of the decade.
In a ruling on Tuesday, Lord Justice Holgate and Lord Justice Dove dismissed campaigners’ bids against the new runway.
It’s a few minutes after 10 a.m. on a recent morning and the thermometer is closing in on 95 degrees, but Marc Papas isn’t fazed. “The heat doesn’t bother me much,” he said, unloading his bicycle — a blue and yellow 1989 Trek 400 — from the trunk of his car on a side street in Reseda. “I just keep going.”
Papas adjusted the heart monitor underneath his T-shirt, checked the bike computer attached to his handlebars, then set off on the day’s ride; he’s taken it upon himself to bike every public street in Los Angeles. The Phoenix native has completed over 78% (about 5,840 miles) after two years. He calls it “The Project,” and says there’s about 7,516.07 miles in total, when you include various enclaves and adjacent cities like Beverly Hills or Burbank. Today he’s headed toward the longest continuous bike lane in Southern California — a stretch of Reseda Boulevard. It’s an unexpected amenity in a part of the city that seems otherwise hostile to pedestrians and cyclists, but one Papas wants incorporated around more of Los Angeles.
“Somebody once asked me on a Reddit Ask Me Anything what is one street you think needs a bike lane,” he said. “I wrote him a whole essay in response, because I can’t just say one street.”
Marc Papas estimates he covers about 75 new, unique miles each week, putting him on track to complete the entire city after nearly three years of riding.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Marc Papas sets his blue and yellow 1989 Trek 400 near a graffiti post along the Los Angeles River.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
After a few blocks on Reseda, Papas turned back into the neighborhood centered around Etiwanda and started tracing loops across the blocks. It’s his standard pattern for covering any area he rides for the Project. “I base my routes on a math theory called the Eulerian Path,” said Papas, a mechanical engineer by training. Each new segment of the city he rides is generally a rectangle bound by major streets. “Then, I start with loops around the edges and work my way in,” he continued. “It’s the most efficient way to cover an area without overlapping.”
Today’s ride would yield eight new miles for Papas. “So, I’ll be about 12 miles away from 80%,” he calculated.
Papas started his biking project almost by accident. He moved to Los Angeles in late 2020 after finishing his PhD at Georgia Tech. He had taken up biking around Atlanta as part of triathlon training and worried he wouldn’t be able to continue once arriving in L.A.
“I remember having a sort of fear around it,” said Papas. “I’d heard it’s just so car-filled and dangerous to be on the roads.” But riding along the beach and around much of the Westside quickly changed his mind. With perfect weather year-round and a mostly flat topography, why wasn’t everyone in L.A. riding bikes?
He was soon cycling to work in Monrovia from his apartment in Pasadena, and biking more than he ever had in his life. “Sometimes friends would be surprised to learn I have a car,” he said. “They thought I bike everywhere because I don’t drive.”
Then, on Dec. 31, 2023, Papas decided to get in one last bike ride for the year. He rode a section of San Marino that he and friends refer to as “The Mitochondria” for the shape the streets make when viewed in the tracking app Strava. After riding the Mitochondria, he decided to keep going — making a path up each street and block — until he was satisfied. It gave him the idea to ride every mile of street in San Marino. “It’s only 60 miles total,” said Papas. “That seemed doable.”
“There are beautiful pieces of art on the walls that you wouldn’t imagine,” says Marc Papas, who has spotted murals throughout the city.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Marc Papas cruises along the Los Angeles River bike path.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Finishing the 60 miles of San Marino led to completing the 400 miles of Pasadena. He next found himself taking detours to cover new streets in Northeast Los Angeles as he’d ride to and from Koreatown Run Club meet-ups at Los Angeles Community College. But it wasn’t clear to himself, or anyone else, what he was doing. “Friends were seeing my Strava activities and texting me like, ‘What the heck are you doing, man?,’” Papas recalled. One friend jokingly asked if he was drawing the Nazca lines across the city, but Papas wrote it off as just trying to clock extra mileage. “There’s a level of self-deception, because riding the whole city of Los Angeles seemed impossible to do,” he said. Still, his treks around Northeast L.A., East Hollywood and Los Feliz were starting to build up mileage — he had completed about 18% of the city.
When Papas drove out to North Hollywood in November 2024 specifically to track new mileage, he realized he had crossed the Rubicon. “At that point, I can’t lie to myself anymore about what I’m doing,” he said. “I’m driving out to these places to get miles more efficiently. When that happened, I was like, all right, I’m in it for the long haul.”
“Biking is like a superpower to gain familiarity with your neighborhood,” says Marc Papas.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
As Papas covered more and more of the city, he began growing an appreciation for various architecturally-significant neighborhoods as well as the many murals across large swaths of South and East L.A. “There are beautiful pieces of art on the walls that you wouldn’t imagine,” he said. “I want to take people to these places and do a mural tour.” He was especially moved when he was riding in Pacoima and saw a Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens mural that memorializes the tragic plane crash that killed both Holly and Valens. “So many of these murals are commemorating people and events that are culturally important to those specific areas,” he added.
The bike rides were connecting him to his city in ways he never expected. “I’m not necessarily saying that everybody needs to go out and ride their bikes,” said Papas, though he’d certainly love it if more Angelenos did. Instead, he hopes his biking project is showing people what’s possible — in the most extreme way. Yes, you can bike in Los Angeles, as many Angelenos often do out of necessity. It’s even enjoyable. And yes, you can do it across every single mile of the city, even if the cycling infrastructure isn’t perfect yet. “I think to me, success would be if people just go out and explore their own neighborhood,” he said. He views cycling as a form of civic engagement and a way to see things otherwise invisible when speeding by in a car. For beginners, Papas recommends sticking to bike paths and joining cycling groups. More experienced riders should venture out into new areas, said Papas. “Biking is like a superpower to gain familiarity with your neighborhood, but it just needs to be unleashed.”
“At this point, I can’t lie to myself anymore … I’m in it for the long haul,” says Marc Papas. He’s already clocked thousands of miles on his mission to cover every street in L.A.
(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)
Last September, Papas passed the 50% mark of his project and estimates he’s been covering an additional 1% (or about 75 new, unique miles) every week since. That puts him on pace to finish sometime around mid-December — should everything go smoothly — nearly three years after he first began. Does he know what his final mile will be? “Eldred Street in Mount Washington,” he said. He notes it’s one of the steepest streets in the entire country.
“It’’s a fitting end, like a final boss [in a video game], just one last all-out hard effort to completely finish things off,” Papas said. “It gives me goosebumps to think that would be the time and place that this years-long project would be done.” Of course, there’s always the rest of Los Angeles County to conquer.
AS the drought continues across Europe, low water levels in Europe are now threatening river cruise holidays.
The River Rhine and the Danube River have started to dry up with passengers being re-routed at the last minute after two ships ran aground.
River Cruise ships are being affected by the low water levels on the Rhine and DanubeCredit: AlamyBoth waterways have record low water levels due to droughtCredit: AFP
On the morning of June 29, the ship called Viking Einar ran aground on the Rhine River at Cologne in Germany.
Days later, the Viking Ullur ‘experienced a grounding incident on theDanube River‘ in Bulgaria with 186 passengers being evacuated.
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It came ‘into contact with a sandbank during a period of exceptionally low water levels‘, Viking said in a statement.
With no rain on the horizon, river cruise companies are having to take action with some having to change sailings completely.
One woman who booked with Riviera Travel wrote on Facebook: “We have just received an email to tell us that our Rhine and Switzerland cruise is being re-routed and will not be travelling to Switzerland but instead north to Netherlands and Belgium.”
She added that she was given the option to change the itinerary or “cancel with full refund and have been offered compensation”.
Riviera Travel, issued a statement about potential alterations on its website.
It explained that “individual sailings may continue to develop right up until departure and, occasionally, during the cruise itself.”
“Currently, our cruises continue to operate, although itineraries are being adapted where necessary.
“This may include adjustments to sailing schedules, excursions or mooring locations, and in some cases carefully coordinated ship swaps to help you continue your holiday with as little disruption as possible.”
Passengers are being contacted about alterations to their sailingsCredit: handout
Passengers who have booked after August 5 are being contacted up to two weeks before departure with updates and between 48 hours and 24 hours before departure to “explain the latest position, any expected changes and the options available.”
Talking to The Independent, Riviera Travel said that cancelling a cruise is always a last resort.
In another case, one woman heading on a river cruise with TUI shared her new itinerary on a Facebook page.
Instead of sailing from Basel, through Germany to Amsterdam, the new suggested route starts in Zaandam through to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Middelburg, Dorecht and Amsterdam.
In the email, TUI also offered a 15 per cent refund of the holiday cost with £150 holiday vouchers per person on the new sailing.
Other options were to rebook another river cruise with a refund in cost if the new sailing is cheaper, or if it’s more expensive, an incentive of up to 10 per cent of the value of an existing holiday.
Or there was an option to cancel the booking with a full refund.
On TUI’s website, it says “Most sailings go ahead without any disruptions, but water levels on the rivers can go up or down depending on the weather.”
Low water levels means ships are unable to dock in some casesCredit: Anadolu via Getty ImagesThere are alternative itineraries being offered to passengers as well as refundsCredit: Alamy
It continued: “If your cruise is affected, we’ll make every effort to complete your itinerary. To do this there may be changes to berth locations, modifying shore experiences or completing some sections of the itinerary by coach.”
Emerald Cruises confirmed that reduced water levels are affecting sections of the upper Danube between both Vienna and Budapest, and Regensburg and Passau near Pfelling.
On its website it has said that it may make “operational adjustments” with passengers possibly being transferred to a “sister ship” as well as embarkation and disembarkation being amended.
AmaWaterways said: “Due to unusually low water levels on sections of the Rhine and Danube rivers, operational adjustments to select sailings have been deemed necessary.”
It continued to add that “modifications may include changes to ports, embarkation or disembarkation locations, motorcoach transfers, ship scheduling or other itinerary elements”.
People should brush up on this code before heading on their next holiday
The ‘red flag’ system is used around the world to prevent this loss of life on beaches(Image: Getty)
Going to the beach or cooling off in the sea when on holiday is one of the most common activities tourists do – and not think twice about. However, when people enter bodies of water, there is always a risk of injury or even death.
Holiday hotspots – like Spain, Turkey and Greece – all have warnings listed on the official GOV.UK Foreign Office pages that provide advice to travellers swimming abroad. The Foreign Office says every year, “people drown in the sea and in swimming pools”.
People who are holidaying with young children should “always supervise” them around pools and the sea – even if they can swim or a lifeguard is present. Situations can change in an instant, even for experienced swimmers.
On the country’s Foreign Office advice page, it said: “Some beaches, especially around Spanish islands, may have strong undercurrents. Hidden rocks or shallow depths can cause serious injury or death. Do not dive into unknown water and do not swim at beaches where a river runs into the sea.”
It adds that most beaches, including those in tourist spots, will use a simple colour-coded flag system to indicate whether an area is safe. These flags follow a standard set of guidelines that are universally recognised, and one should be a clear warning to anyone setting up for a day at the beach.
The Foreign Office said: “Many beaches have a flag system. Make sure you understand the system and follow any warnings (a red flag means you must not enter the water). Take extra care and get local knowledge if there are no lifeguards, flags or signs.”
Beach lifeguards will frequently fly multiple flags at the same time to signal different types of hazards. For example, one flag might be linked to the strength of the water, while another can signal if there is marine life in the area that could sting, like jellyfish.
What do the different coloured flags mean?
Red flag (high danger)
Yellow flag (medium hazard)
Green flag (low hazard)
Purple flag (marine pests)
Black and white checkered flag
Red over yellow (lifeguarded area)
Red flag warns of water conditions that are unsafe, like strong currents, rough surf, or severe undertows. If you see two red flags flying together, the water is completely closed to the public.
Yellow flag warns of moderate surf, light currents, or rougher waters. While swimming is permitted, weak swimmers or children are discouraged from entering, and everyone should take extra care generally.
Green flag signals calm ocean conditions and a low risk of dangerous currents. While it means the water is generally safe, swimmers should still remain aware of their surroundings.
Purple flag warns beachgoers that dangerous stinging marine life is present in the water. This typically means an influx of jellyfish, stingrays, or sea urchins. Crucially, a purple flag is used for smaller marine pests and does not indicate sharks.
Black and white checkered flag designates a specific area reserved exclusively for surfboards, kayaks, and other non-powered watercraft. Swimming or bodyboarding is strictly prohibited inside this zone to prevent dangerous collisions.
Red over yellow flag marks the safest area of the beach. This zone is actively monitored by lifeguards.
ANTALYA has long been the default answer for families wanting guaranteed sunshine, massive all-inclusive resorts, and enough waterslides to make returning home genuinely depressing.
But after several years of Turkey completely dominating our booking charts, I’m noticing a clear case of Antalya fatigue with Brits.
Antalya has long been popular but there are some great swaps that could save you moneyCredit: On the BeachDestinations like Sharm el Sheikh offer the same amazing waterpark hotels and and beautiful beaches but without the costCredit: Alamy
It’s still a brilliant option, but holidaymakers are starting to shop around – and discovering that plenty of other destinations have caught up.
Egypt, Tunisia, Greece, Morocco, and even Spain now boast the same mega four and five-star resorts, waterparks, and hot weather that used to make Antalya so difficult to beat.
And crucially, they can be significantly cheaper.
I’ve crunched my booking data to find where the previously most Turkey-loyal customers have swapped Antalya for in 2026, and how much cheaper they are in comparison to a Turkey holiday.
1. Playa Blanca, Lanzarote – save 19%
Lanzarote might sound like a wildcard swap, mostly because the Canaries aren’t usually associated with budget all-inclusive mega-resorts.
Playa Blanca, however, serves up a proper lineup of big family hotels alongside golden sand, a smart waterfront, and guaranteed sun.
It feels more chilled and far more walkable than many of Antalya’s sprawling hotel blocks, plus the slightly shorter flight from the UK is a godsend if you’re traveling with kids who ask if you’re nearly there before you’ve even cleared the runway.
Our data shows that the customers who made this switch in 2026 pocketed a 19% saving on average.
And the hotel that topped the swap charts here is the four-star HL Paradise Island – where I clocked five nights all-inclusive here from £295pp, flying direct from London Gatwick this September.
And it’s easy to understand why people are making the switch here when you spot their on-site Dino Waterpark, which is packed with proper drop slides, splash zones, and multi-lane racers that keep kids of all ages busy.
Lanzarote – from £295pp
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This Rhodes hotel has nine outdoor pools – including a pirate splash parkCredit: On the Beach
Rhodes is the ultimate Greek swap for anyone who loves the scale of Antalya but wants a slightly fresh landscape.
The southeastern resort of Kiotari is tailor-made for this: it’s quieter and completely hotel-focused, featuring massive beachfront properties, reliable heat, and ancient Lindos sitting just 20 minutes down the road when you want to swap the sunlounger for a spot of culture.
Hundreds of customers shifted their booking from Antalya to Rhodes, saving an average of 20% in the process.
The absolute favourite with these switching customers was the four-star Kiotari Miraluna Beach Resort where you can grab five nights all-inclusive from £338pp, flying direct from Gatwick in late September.
It sits right on the sand and boasts nine outdoor pools – including a pirate splash park – alongside nine different bars and restaurants.
Plus, several room options here offer direct swim-up pool access straight from your terrace. And everyone loves a swim-up room, right?
Rhodes – from £338pp
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Switching Antalya for Calas de Majorca in 2026 saved Brits around 20%Credit: On the Beach
Majorca is the ultimate low-effort swap if you want the convenience of an Antalya all-inclusive without putting your kids through a four-hour flight.
Calas de Mallorca on the east coast is a purpose-built family pocket surrounded by quiet coves and crystal-clear water.
It’s far more relaxed than Magaluf or Alcudia, with the hotels doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to entertainment.
Switching Antalya for Calas de Majorca in 2026 saved Brits around 20%, according to the stats.
And the most popular hotel to switch to here was the four-star HYB Eurocalas – and I spotted five nights all-inclusive here from £318pp, flying direct from Birmingham on 24th September.
This hotel’s a massive family favorite on our board, packing in multiple pool zones, sports courts, splash parks, and a dedicated kids’ club. No brainer.
Majorca – from £318pp
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Marrakech offers both a proper city break AND a flop-and-drop resort holiday rolled into oneCredit: On the Beach
People usually associate Marrakech with bustling souks and rooftop tea, but step outside the city center and you’ll find some seriously massive all-inclusive resorts.
The Palmeraie area sits in a quiet palm grove outside the old city, giving you sprawling hotels, massive pools, and mountain backdrops.
You get something Antalya can rarely deliver: a proper city break AND a flop-and-drop resort holiday rolled into one.
Our figures show that customers who swapped Antalya for Marrakech for their all-inclusive resort holiday bagged an average 21% saving.
And the four-star Marrakech Ryads Parc & Spa is the value highlight and the most popular for a switch. I found five nights all-inclusive here from £240pp, flying direct from Gatwick in late September which is absolutely perfect weather-wise.
This hotel has the exact scale, massive pool footprint, and self-contained feel of a Turkish mega-resort, but adds a free daily shuttle into the medina when you want to explore.
Marrakech – from £240pp
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The Hurghada coastline is wall-to-wall with all-inclusives, private beaches, and on-site waterparks,Credit: On the Beach
Hurghada is an absolute slam-dunk if you care purely about the resort footprint rather than the destination town.
The coastline is wall-to-wall with all-inclusives, private beaches, and on-site waterparks, while the guaranteed Egyptian heat makes it a goldmine for late-season breaks.
Hurghada was also the third most-popular destination that people traded Antalya for, bagging an average 21% saving.
And the most popular hotel people made the switch for was the four-star Rewaya Inn Resort.
Probably because this place gives you the full Turkish mega-resort experience without the hefty price tag – it’s a proper fly-and-flop complex anchored around an enormous lagoon-style pool network.
You can lock in five nights all-inclusive from £393pp, flying direct from London right at the start of September
Hurghada – from £393pp
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Don’t discount Benidorm as a great Turkey swapCredit: On the Beach
On paper, Benidorm and Antalya look like completely different beasts, but they serve the exact same holiday brief: tons of hotel choice, guaranteed sun, world-class beaches, and enough family entertainment to fill every evening.
Benidorm just pulls it all closer together – and cuts an chunk off your flight time.
Our booking data shows an average saving of 22% for Brits who switched from Antalya to the Costa Blanca, with their new holidays averaging £92 per person, per night. Not bad.
The four-star Rosamar Hotel topped the charts when it came to switches.
I clocked five nights all-inclusive here from £285pp, flying direct from Gatwick at the end of September.
It sits right near Levante Beach and has a brilliant on-site splash park loaded with slides and water features, essentially acting as a cheat code for tiring out energetic kids before bedtime.
Benidorm – from £285pp
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The Red Sea offers some of the best house-reef snorkeling in the worldCredit: On the Beach
Sharm El Sheikh is the single closest direct alternative to Antalya on the map.
You get scorching temperatures, all-inclusive mega-resorts, massive pool complexes, and hotels designed so you never actually have to leave the gates.
The massive bonus here though is the Red Sea itself, which offers some of the best house-reef snorkeling in the world right off the hotel jetties.
A staggering amount of customers swapped Antalya for Sharm El Sheikh – more than any other spot on this list – all while saving an average of 23%.
One of the most popular hotels in Sharm is the five-star Rehana Sharm Resort in Nabq Bay where I found five nights all-inclusive from £413pp, flying direct from London slap-bang in the middle of September.
This hotel’s a cracker too, and features a sprawling pool network, an aquapark, kids’ clubs, and several dining options – but best of all, it sits just six miles from the airport, so you can go from baggage reclaim to sunbed in record time.
Sharm el Sheikh – from £413pp
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Sousse combines massive beachfront resorts with an authentic historic medinaCredit: On the Beach
If your absolute priority is getting the maximum amount of resort facilities per pound spent, Tunisia should be right at the top of your list.
Sousse combines massive beachfront resorts with an authentic historic medina, fine sand, and the smart marina at Port El Kantaoui just down the road.
And hundreds and hundreds of people swapped Antalya for Tunisia, averaging a rock-bottom £70 per person, per night on their Tunisian holiday.
That makes it the cheapest destination on this list and delivers the biggest average saving at 25%. A popular Tunisian destination is the four-star Royal Jinene Sousse.
This hotel’s built directly on its own private sandy beach and features indoor and outdoor pools, waterslides, and a dedicated beach bar – meaning the distance between your lounger and a cold drink is virtually zero.
And if you fancy it, you can grab five nights all-inclusive this September from just £243pp. Bargain.
Sousse – from £243pp
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A stunning, European island escape just four hours from the UK will feel like you’re in Hawaii, and certainly warrants a visit with pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters
08:54, 04 Aug 2026Updated 08:54, 04 Aug 2026
The beautiful European archipelago has often been labelled the ‘Hawaii of Europe’(Image: Getty Images)
There’s no need to fork out on an expensive trip to Hawaii when there’s a European equivalent just four hours from the UK.
Thanks to its untouched beaches and glistening crater lakes set against the dramatic backdrop of green cliffs and cascading waterfalls, the Azores in Portugal have often been compared to Hawaii. They are both volcanic archipelagos, offering a breathtaking island escape, with turquoise waters and a sun-drenched climate, but one is a fraction of the price.
A week-long trip to Hawaii can cost anything from £1,500 per person, up to a staggering £4,500, once you factor in a long-haul flight, accommodation, transport, food, drink, activities, and excursions. Meanwhile, a trip to the Azores is a lot more affordable, with a budget-friendly getaway typically costing from £700 per person – that’s more than half of what you’d pay for the same time in Hawaii.
The main airport for the Azores, Ponta Delgada Airport, is reachable in just over four hours from the UK, meaning that you can avoid the jet lag altogether. One-way direct flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to PDL start from £118 per person, with flights also available from Liverpool and Edinburgh.
Against the beautiful landscapes of the Azores and sweeping beaches, you can also expect budget-friendly offerings, with a pint typically costing around €1.50 (£1.28), and a meal at a local restaurant costing between €10 to €15 (£8.57 and £12.85) per person, or €30 (£25.70) at a popular hotspot.
As the Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands nestled in the middle of the Atlantic between the United States and Portugal, there’s plenty to explore, with each island boasting its own stunning coastline and diverse landscapes, which are guaranteed to leave you in awe. One of the most popular places to explore is São Miguel Island, also known as the ‘Green Island’.
São Miguel Island is the largest island in the archipelago and is famed for its unique twin-crater lake, Sete Cidades, which boasts contrasting blue and green-hued waters. Classed as one of Portugal’s seven natural wonders, it’s certainly impressive with its fairy-tale setting.
From the popular lookout, Vista do Rei Viewpoint, offering panoramic vistas of the lakes and island, one traveller shared on TripAdvisor: “One of those places where you feel in communion with nature. The colours, the nature, the air you breathe, all make this place a refuge to regain calm. Just for these moments, it is worth visiting the Azores now that tourism is still at very acceptable levels.”
Elsewhere on São Miguel Island, there’s a plethora of striking volcanic beaches with black sand and crystal-clear waters for soaking up the sun. With Praia de Santa Bárbara, a well-known surfing hub, and Praia dos Mosteiro, with warm rock pools for a dip away from the ocean waves.
But the offshore islet at Vila Franca do Campo is perhaps the most striking shore of them all, with its curved sunken volcanic crater that has created an incredible natural pool. Yet, dotted around the Azores are hidden coves, shores and volcanic hot springs to explore, so you’ll be spoilt for choice on where to spend the day in this little slice of paradise.
One holidaymaker even declared on TripAdvisor: “The Azores are far superior to Hawaii.” While a local shared some recommendations for those eager to visit the Portuguese archipelago.
“Every island is different and very unique. If you are planning to visit, the best time is from July to mid-August. This is when there is an insane amount of things happening in all the islands, and when there is a flow of crowds travelling from island to island,” they shared.
They further suggested: “Start with São Miguel and enjoy their homemade food that is cooked in the caldeiras – steam that comes from the active volcanic action just below the surface. Visit their beautiful beaches and hiking trails, and enjoy the evening in the natural hot springs. Ponta Delgada has a beautiful marina and night scene. This is the biggest city in the Azores.”
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
The yearly sunbed wars are in full swing, and one TikToker has captured Brits pioneering a new way to queue for sunbeds without having to miss breakfast
Sunbed wars can put a dampener on your holiday (stock photo)(Image: Getty Images)
If you’re heading to a holiday hotspot such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, or Turkey, then the odds are you’ll see people reserving their sunbed first thing in the morning.
Whether the hotel is busy or not, you’ll often see a queue of Brits, and let’s face it, many other European nationalities too queueing up for the grand opening of the pool area so they can lay down their towel before they even hit the breakfast buffet.
But one TikTok poster has discovered a new hack that her fellow holidaymakers were using to avoid even needing to queue, and while it meant they could avoid needing to hang around the lobby, comments slammed it as ‘selfish’.
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The poster Sarah, who posts on TikTok as @mrsbainbridge, posted the video taken at the Hotel Best Oasis Park in Salou, Spain, showing a neat line of beach bags, inflatables, and other items holding peoples’ place in the queue while their owners are presumably doing something more fun.
In the caption, Sarah wrote: “Never have I came across somewhere like this for sun bed wars of a morning” as she panned across the variety of abandoned items. In a second video, she captured the massive queue, this time populated with people waiting to nab their favourite spot.
Comments overwhelmingly agreed with Sarah. Some said they simply wouldn’t follow the informal system: “I’m not waiting in a queue behind a bag. Straight to back of the first human I see in the queue.”, while another agreed: “nah if you’re not physically in the queue then I’m walking to the front”.
Others questioned whether there were steps the hotel could take to minimise the impact. One person suggested: “The hotel should be taking all those bags and putting them into an orderly pile in the corner. Same with towels left on sun beds for more than 40 minutes”.
Other posters who claimed they’d visited the same hotel as Sarah shared their story. One claimed: “Was there start of July, worse when the doors open.. absolute chaos! Grown men pushing children out of the way etc,” while another added: “Just left there. Joke each morning. Kids nearly getting trampled on then people putting towels down and disappear for the day.”
Sarah isn’t the only one to post videos of the hotel’s sunbed wars. Another user named Mandy posted a video captioned “10am sunbed dash” showing a huge queue of families with towels and inflatables trying to reserve a spot. Warning: video contains strong language.
In June, @deajak1405 also posted a video showing a ‘rat race’ which showed the view of the daily sunbed grab from his balcony. The user is heard laughing as grown adults are shown pushing through the doors as they open, jogging towards the pool area to find their favoured spot.
Some reviews of the hotel on TripAdvisor also highlight the hotel’s sunbed issues. A review from July claims: “The set up for sunbeds at this hotel is ridiculous. The doors to the pool open at 10am, people queue from 9am, then others just run past for a bed. My daughter 14 years old was pushed to the ground one day then my wife and daughter were verbally abused on other day. We also witnessed to major arguments in the week.”
Hotel Best Oasis Park has been contacted for comment.
Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
This winding path has been used for centuries – and is just as popular today.
This is one of the oldest roads in Britain(Image: Getty)
A winding road which meanders through Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire is thought to be the oldest in Britain. The Ridgeway is an ancient path which has provided safe routes through the country for centuries.
The road follows a ride of chalk hills for 139 kilometres to reach Ivinghoe Beacon in northwest London. This same route is the one that travellers, farmers and soldiers have walked for more than 5,000 years.
Nowadays, the road is popular with cyclists and walkers as well as people who use mobility scooters.
Along the trail, walkers can gaze out over wide views of rolling chalk hills and find all kinds of archaeological marvels.
There are Iron Age forts, as well as the White Horse of Uffington, which is thought to be the oldest hill figure in Britain.
The White Horse is carved into the chalk hillside and is an incredible 374 feet in length. According to the BBC it’s thought to date back to 1,000BC in the late Bronze Age.
The path also takes walkers past Wayland’s Smithy – a Neolithic ruin that is thought to have once been the home of Wayland, the Saxon god of metalworking.
It’s an atmospheric area.
The visible ruin is actually a secondary structure – the original, which lies beneath the stones, is thought to have been a burial structure where 14 people were interred between 3460 and 3400 BC.
Wayland’s Smithy was constructed on top of the burial site, and has remained there over the centuries.
The track fluctuates between the wide open chalk paths along the hillside and the deeply embedded lanes between ancient beech trees.
Once you are East of the Thames, The Ridgeway travels through the sun-dappled woodland and the intimate hills and valleys of the Chilterns – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The walk is rich in history, but also makes for a stunning walk. You don’t have to tackle the whole thing at once – there are plenty of circular routes dotted along the trail, and multiple places to start and finish.
‘I miss my camels. I miss the sun. I miss the vast emptiness of the desert plains …” These are my thoughts as I trudge through thick conifer plantations and my fifth consecutive hour of rain at the start of the Affric Kintail Way in the Scottish Highlands.
My last big adventure was a world first. I became the first recorded person to walk the full length of Saudi Arabia, north to south, from Jordan to Yemen. It took three years to organise, then 112 days of walking half a marathon a day, and I had a backup team plus Juicy and Lulu, my naughty but nice camels.
It was a fantastic, life-enhancing, often brutal, endeavour but it is over. Adventurers have got to adventure though, and I was looking for something cheap in my own country that needed little organisation or backup. I am a proud Scot and, even though I spend so much time away, I feel a strong emotional pull to my homeland, an almost physical attachment to the landscape and the thousands of ancestors who have walked it before me.
There are an abundance of long-distance walking trails in Scotland, and after many happy hours checking out the options on Walk Highlands, I settle on the Affric Kintail Way. It’s a doable distance – 44 miles (71km) in four days; easy to get to and from by bus from Edinburgh; and according to my brother, Robbie, Glen Affric is one of the most beautiful areas of the country.
Alice Morrison and a guide crossing the Saudi desert. Photograph: Alice Morrison
Preparations are simple. I buy a map, read all the information on the dedicated website, download the route on the AllTrails app and pack my rucksack. I’m doing it solo, self-supported and wild camping, so need to take everything with me but also keep my pack as light as possible. In the end it weighs around 12kg, which is not bad. My luxury is four Ferrero Rocher chocolates given to me by my mum – one for each evening.
The bus drops me off at Drumnadrochit and I walk straight up into the forests. The rain is constant, but I enjoy the sharp smell of the conifers and the sound of the cuckoos. There’s plenty of up, but the way is easy to follow along the Forestry Commission tracks. I keep checking my weather app, which promises a half-hour break in the rain, as it is so much better to pitch a tent in the dry. It comes to 6pm and I get my tent up just before the rain starts again. I’ve done a respectable 5 miles or so since the bus dropped me off, in about four hours.
The next morning, I drop down into Cannich and history is waiting for me after a long pull up out of the village. My plan is to walk about 11 miles today. Comar Wood Dun is about 250m off the path. It is a jumble of stones perched at a lookout point over the strath. Once, it was a drystone fortified house and home to a family and their animals between 400BCE and 200AD. Life must have been so hard. It is cold and wet even in June. Barley was the main crop, grown in small clearances in the wood, augmented with meat and milk from the livestock.
One of the great pleasures for me of walking in these wild places, whether it is the Highlands of Scotland or the deserts of the Arabian peninsula, is finding these echoes from the past and wondering what life was like then. Were the people happy? Were there compensations for this hard life? How did they deal with all the extremes of nature that we have managed to smooth out with our air conditioning and heating? By hiking and camping, I am trying to get closer to them in some way.
The writer on the Affric Kintail Way. Photograph: Alice Morrison
I spend the night beside Dog Falls and the morning is another haul through the forests. Sitting in my midge net at the Glen Affric car park overlooking the inlet to Loch Beinn a’Mheadhoin, hunger kicks in and I wolf down a roll, a big bag of Revels and my emergency veggie sausage rolls – a large chunk of my provisions.
I’ve been walking steadily up and down through woodlands, interspersed with farmland. This area is one of the UK’s most ancient natural woodlands – more than 10,000 years old – and is dominated by gnarly Scots pines and silvery birch.
My heart yearns for the open spaces, though, and I’m glad when it starts to open up and I see the hills rise on either side of Loch Affric. I’m alone almost all of the time: in four days, I meet just eight people. It’s just me and the green of the hills and the deep black of the loch between them. My heavy pack hurts my shoulders, and my feet are sore from the hard tracks, but I feel so alive. I relish the adventure of being on my own, self-reliant and with no one to worry about or answer to.
When the rain stops and the sun comes out, the grassy uplands glow almost neon-bright. I stop to drink peaty water from a burn and fantasise about living in the tiny wooden hut on the sandy shores of the loch. It’s my third night of camping and the best so far, just me and the geese, but I feel completely safe and relaxed within nature.
The next day, my fourth on the trail, I’m on a mission. I need to get some provisions from the Glen Affric hostel and do a solid 10 miles so that I only have a shortish walk the day after to catch the bus. I hike as fast as I can until I finally see the hostel ahead – this tiny outpost is among Scotland’s most remote hostels. I put out my tent to dry on their fence and get to the door. “Shut between 10.00 and 17.00”.
Wild camping above Loch Affric. Photograph: Alice Morrison
Disconsolate, I sit at the side and contemplate my life choices. Then, a woman shrieks as she sees me unexpectedly – Chrissie, who runs the hostel and kindly lets me in to buy chocolate, crisps and a fizzy drink. Sugar and fat consumed, I feel whole again and happily share a story of camels and Saudi hospitality for the sound art project she is doing. She is recording poems, stories and songs from people who stay in the hostel for an exhibition.
I continue onwards, struggling on the ups. With a couple of miles to go, my pack feels as if it’s full of rocks. I try to focus on the waterfalls all around me, dashing loudly down the rocks to meet the rivers Affric and Croe.
I walk down to a small, flat clearing beside one of them. It’s the perfect camp spot, but if I stop now I’ve failed to reach my 10-mile goal. The sun comes out and I see there’s even a flat rock to sit on. I throw my manufactured goals and failure guilt to the wind and pitch my tent.
No billionaire is richer than I am that night in that place. I sit on my rock looking out over the peaks and listening to the music of the water. Tomorrow, I will eat my porridge and walk out by the river to the bus and everyday life. But for tonight I am queen of the world.
This source provides a historical overview of Emancipation Day and the annual Carnival celebrations in Antigua and Barbuda. It explains how the 17th-century sugar industry led to the reliance on enslaved African labor until the practice was eventually abolished. Notably, the text highlights that Antigua granted immediate freedom to its people in 1834, bypassing the transitional apprenticeship period used in other colonies. Even though Barbuda was under private ownership at the time, its residents were also liberated during this landmark period. Today, these events are commemorated through vibrant cultural festivities that honor the islands’ uniquely early path to total freedom. This historical co …
EUROPE is sizzling through a major heatwave, but that doesn’t need to melt your getaway plans.
These waterpark hotels will ensure kids stay cool in the sun — and they are all in areas currently deemed safe from wildfires.
These waterpark hotels will ensure kids stay cool in the sun — and they are all in areas currently deemed safe from wildfiresCredit: GettyMake waves at Aqualand in CorfuCredit: Supplied
With plenty of deals still out there, Sophie Swietochowski picks some of the top waterpark resorts across the continent.
TURKEY – The Land Of Legends Kingdom Hotel and Aqualand
Slide on in at Aqualand at The Land Of Legends KingdomCredit: Jet2Holidays
Thrill-seeking teens will be bowled over by this giant theme park in Antalya, on the southern coast.
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Often labelled as the Disneyland of Turkey, it is home to a thrilling 62metre Hyper Coaster, a mega shopping district and a waterpark.
Typhoon Coaster is the highlight, hurling riders at mega speeds from 43-metres up, in to a splash basin.
There’s plenty for youngsters too, including a mini wave pool and slides, and a lazy river.
Guests staying at the onsite Kingdom Hotel get unlimited access to the parks.
GO: Four nights’ all-inclusive at the 5* The Land Of Legends Kingdom Hotel is from £972.50pp for a family of four sharing, flying from Stansted on August 26. Details at onthebeach.co.uk.
This resort, attached to the well-known Aqualand park, offers round-the-clock ice cream, pizzas, and burgers for hungry little mouths, as well as tasty Mediterranean-inspired grub for the grown-ups.
Guests get unlimited access to the waterpark where the whole family can get stuck in, thanks to the massive mishmash of rides.
Mum, Dad and the youngsters can head for the family rafting ride, down a 180metre tube, while the brave can tackle the 24metre-high free-fall slides and the open flume “kamikaze” slides.
With 15 pools and swimming areas, the kids will never get bored.
GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the 4H Aqualand Resort and Waterpark is from £943pp, based on a family of four sharing and including flights from Liverpool John Lennon on August 17. See firstchoice.co.uk.
For adventurers, Tui offers a special package that combines a stay at the 4* Evenia Olympic Park with complimentary access to adjacent WaterWorld Lloret, one of Europe’s largest waterparks.
If it is too hot for the ten- minute walk, you can catch a free shuttle and then cool off straight away in the splash lagoon.
Meanwhile, older kids will want to make a beeline for X-trem Mountain, a 260metre watercoaster with steep drops, dark tubes and sharp bends.
There is also an onsite waterpark at the hotel with multi-lane racer slides, and a pirate ship.
GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Evenia Olympic Park and Waterworld Lloret is from £876.53pp based on a family of four sharing and including flights from Manchester on August 22. See tui.co.uk.
One of the best holiday destinations for waterpark fans, but don’t just take my word for it. It is frequently ranked among the best in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards.
The kids’ activity pool, featuring a series of mini slides and water jets, will ensure under-12s don’t miss out, while adrenalin junkies are catered for by the Tornado King ride.
When you are not splashing around, there are five onsite restaurants as well as kids’ clubs, an escape room and cinema.
GO: Four nights’ all-inclusive at the 4* Leonardo Laura Beach & Splash Resort is from £965pp based on a family of four sharing and including flights on August 12 from East Midlands airport. To book, see thomascook.com.
SHOREDITCH has never been short on style – and this hotel in its centre captures the vibe perfectly.
Here’s everything you need to know about staying at Hart Shoreditch.
Head to the UBA bar to enjoy cocktails like the Smoky Dragon and Mandarin Star – all £14Credit: Hart Shoreditch
Where is Hart Shoreditch?
This hotel is in London’s Shoreditch – the creative heart of the city that blends the best of fashion, street art and nightlife into one gritty, industrial setting.
Hart Shoreditch sits on Great Eastern Street, just a fifteen minute walk from must-see spots Brick Lane and Columbia Road Flower Market.
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Liverpool Street, Old Street and Shoreditch High Street stations are all about half a mile away, giving you access further into the city.
What is the hotel like?
This swanky hotel leans into Shoreditch’s industrial, cabinetmaker heritage – the interior mixes exposed metal and wood details with soft warm lighting, warm orange and red tones, plus plenty of bookcases packed with carefully-chosen items that nod to the area’s history.
If you’re into your interiors, you should check out the huge wrought iron spiral staircase, illuminated by moon-shaped chandeliers.
In fact, the hotel regularly puts on immersive art exhibitions that use this staircase to stage the artist’s works – it is currently displaying the works of artist Mali Mowcka.
What are the rooms like?
The hotel’s 126 rooms follow the theme – inside you’ll find crisp, white beds topped with orange throw pillows, plus copper details and familiar wooden flooring.
You’ll also find a Marshall Acton III on your bedside table – possibly the coolest Bluetooth speaker that looks like a mini vintage guitar amp.
Your tea and coffee making station is actually done properly here, too. You’ll find great-quality mugs and espresso cups, plus a Nespresso machine and tea from Brighton-based blenders, Hoogly.
Rooms start from £207 per night on a room-only basis. See hartshoreditch.com.
Rooms stay on-theme with warm lighting, burnt orange decor and a warm yet industrial feelCredit: Hart Shoreditch
What is there to eat and drink?
If you’re visiting for the weekend, don’t bother researching somewhere to go out for lunch.
Walk just next door to the hotel’s Asian restaurant, UBA, and sit down to enjoy one of the best bottomless brunches out there.
The new Weekend Brunch offering is far from your typical dry toast, cheap Prosecco and mushy avocado with eggs.
Here, you’ll feast on dishes like Korean crispy fried chicken, rock shrimp tempura, kimchi loaded fries, buttermilk chicken katsu buns, seafood dumplings and more.
The bottomless brunch I ate UBA was one of the best I’ve ever had – and great valueCredit: Hart Shoreditch
The bottomless offer costs £68pp, and includes two small plates, one bun or dim sum, two sides, dessert plus unlimited drinks – including a selection of cocktails.
Considering one cocktail in London can set you back £20 nowadays, you’re getting your money’s worth on drinks alone.
And trust me, the small plates were far from small – and I could have easily eaten just one side as my main meal.
Pair that with bottomless, high-end cocktails like the Blushing Geisha, infused with Asian flavours, and you’ve truly got yourself one of the best-value bottomless brunches out there.
What else is there to do there?
There are also wellbeing sessions like sound healing available at the hotelCredit: Hart Shoreditch
This hotel offers much more than just a place to sleep.
There’s a 24-hour gym with plenty of cardio machines like treadmills, an elliptical and exercise bike, plus strength machines, free weights and benches.
Plus there’s quirky wellness sessions like infrared sound healing, plus guests can claim 20% off on massage at a nearby wellness centre.
You can get involved in making art yourself, too, with oil painting classes, collage and sculpting workshops.
Check out the What’s On page to see upcoming events.
Is it family friendly?
The hotel offers queen-sized, interconnecting rooms which are ideal for families.
There’s even summer screenings of kid-friendly shows and films in the Byrd Lounge on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the school holidays.
And when it comes to food and drink in UBA, children can enjoy a kids’ bento box.
Is the hotel accessible?
Inside the hotel feels warm and inviting yet sleek with a sharp edge – perfectly capturing London’s ShoreditchCredit: Hart Shoreditch
The hotel is fully accessible, with wheelchair-friendly rooms and a step-free entrance.
Make sure to mention any specific requirements you may have when booking.
ONE airport in Europe has just become the most busy on the continent – beating London Heathrow’s record.
It’s about to get even busier too as it’s preparing to open a fourth runway later this year.
Istanbul Airport will open a fourth runway later this yearCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe hub that opened in 2018 is hoping to get millions of passengers by 2028Credit: Alamy
In the hope to get up to 200million passengers by 2028, Istanbul Airport in Turkey is increasing the amount of runways it has from three to four.
Kadri Samsunlu, the CEO of İGA revealed the fourth runway was being been constructed at the cost £428million, according to local media.
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At the moment, the hub has a rare triple runway – and it was the first hub in Europe to have one.
Essentially, it means the airport can have three flights take off or land at the same time.
Istanbul Airportis the second airport in the city and officially opened in late October 2018, before becoming fully operational in April 2019.
Istanbul Airport in Turkey is now the busiest airport in EuropeCredit: Getty
It was even announced as being the ‘world best’ in 2024, according toTravel + Leisure.
Inside, the airport has sleep pods for anyone with a layover who wants to take a nap.
It also has business pods for those needing to take work calls.
For passengers aged between 15 and 30 years old, there is a Youth Lounge Area with lots to do, it has a PlayStation, music, snacks and four hours of free Wi-Fi.
What is it like to travel through Istanbul Airport?
THE Sun’s Assitant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski visited the airport in 2024 – here’s what she found…
“If there’s one airport I wouldn’t mind being seriously delayed in, it’s Istanbul in Turkey.
“The place is vast and shiny with enough food (for any budget), shopping (think chic clothes and hand-painted kitchenware), and entertainment (there’s even a library home to 2,000 books) to keep you occupied for hours on end.
“Better still, if your flight gets cancelled you won’t even need to endure the faff of security again as the large Yotel sits airside.
“I visited last year and couldn’t have been more grateful for the size of the place, meaning I could whizz straight past the screaming kids in the massive Lego store and head straight to the food courts where I had no problem finding a quiet seat for a drink – Çay Saati has traditional Turkish tea.
“In fact many stores in the airport blend Turkish traditions with the modern world and you could certainly get a flavour of Turkey without ever leaving the terminal.
“The size of the place comes with a downside, though. Make sure you keep an eye out for your gate as it will take you a while to walk there – and try not to get lost on the way.”
A theme park less than two hours away from the UK is adding a brand-new land with two rides and five Japanese-inspired eateries.
Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen will open the area in a few weeks’ time with “thrilling adventures for the whole family.”
Tivoli Gardens is opening up its new Japan-themed land later this monthCredit: AlamyThe new area is called Hikari and will have two new attractionsCredit: Anne-Sophie Rosenvinge/@asrosenvinge
The theme park, which opened in the 1840s and even inspired the creation of Disneyland, currently has 30 rides and will be adding a few more.
Called Hikari, the upcoming Japan-themed area is the biggest development in the park’s history and said to cost a ‘three-digit million amount’.
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It has been under construction for two years and has actually been made up of elements from Japan.
It has reclaimed doors, windows, artwork and around 60 tonnes of traditional Japanese roof tiles.
It will span across more than 2,000 square metres – the park itself is 80,000 square metres in total.
There are two new attractions, the first is Hotel Hikari where ‘nothing is quite as it seems’.
It’s essentially an immersive family funhouse with illusions, a vortex tunnel, tilted rooms and infinity mirrors.
Another new attraction is called Typhoons Eye which gives riders the feeling of weightlessness. According to Tivoli, it’s the only attraction of its kind in Scandinavia.
The zero gravity attraction is a rotating drum ride that suspends riders against the wall as the floor drops away.
The final ride in Hikari is actually one that will be familiar to previous visitors.
The Demon rollercoaster has undergone a transformationCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
Called The Demon, the rollercoaster has stood in Tivoli for years but has undergone a transformation to blend into its new home.
There aren’t just rides either, there are five new eateries in Hikari.
Yaki-Tak! will serve up Japanese street food from yakitori skewers to yakisoba noodles.
Katsu Kitchen is where visitors can pick up chicken sandwiches to popcorn-style karaage to crispy prawns.
The new attraction has taken two years to buildCredit: Tivoli GardensVisitors can grab tasty street food and treats from its eateriesCredit:
Hikari will have three attractions and five eateries
Comé Rice Kitchen will have onigiri, otherwise known as Japanese rice balls, served with the likes of spicy tuna, Teriyaki chicken and shiitake mushroom.
For sweet treats there’s Oishii Bubbles for creative drinks from fruit teas to slushies, or Kawaii Bites will have fish-shaped waffles and mochi ice cream.
Two new shops will open too; one selling Japanese-style ceramics and gifts, another will have a mix of snacks, drinks as it’s inspired by konbini, Japanese convenience shops.
The project has taken two years to build and will open later this month – no official date has been announced yet.
For anyone who wants to visit, Copenhagen is easy to get to as it’s under two hours away from the UK.
IF you want to live like an A-lister on your next holiday without paying eye-watering French Riviera prices, you’ll want to check out this Turkish hotspot.
Dubbed the St Tropez of Turkey, Bodrum delivers boutique beach clubs, yacht-packed marinas, and turquoise bays on a budget.
Bag yourself a boujee break in Bodrum for nearly half the cost of a St Tropez holidayCredit: Getty
The best part? Holidays here can cost you hundreds of pounds less when compared to its French rival.
According to travel experts at First Choice, holidaymakers who swap St Tropez for Bodrum can save an impressive £440 per person on their trip, which is 43% cheaper.
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This is based on comparing a seven-night, all inclusive stay at the four-starBodrum Holiday Resort and Spawith a week-long stay at the four-starHôtel Brin d’Azur in St Tropez.
While the St Tropez holiday would cost you £951pp, the Bodrum holiday would cost just £590pp.
And if you’re on a tighter budget, you can even bag yourself a break from £313pp with First Choice.
The holiday savings don’t stop when you land, either.
A three-course meal for two in Bodrum sets you back roughly €46 (£39) compared to €68 (£58) in St Tropez.
Local beers are also more than 50% cheaper, making going out for food and drink around one third cheaper overall.
Everything you’d be looking for in St Tropez – a glamorous waterfront, celeb-spotting, fancy bars and beach clubs – can also be found in Bodrum.
Famous figures including Kate Moss and even Royal Family members have been spotted strolling its glamorous streets.
Book in for a holiday at Bodrum Holiday Resort and Spa with First Choice from £481ppCredit: First Choice
Beyond the glam beach clubs and sunset cocktails, Bodrum packs in world-class history.
Visitors can explore the ruins of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Or you could wander medieval Bodrum Castle, built using stones salvaged from the ancient tomb itself.
Late summer and early autumn are prime times to visit for prices, temperatures and beating the crowds.
Average temperatures sit around a warm 29°C in September, meaning you can soak up the sunshine long after the peak summer rush has passed.
For the ultimate day trip, you can even tick off two countries in one holiday.
Daily ferries zip across the Aegean to the Greek island of Kos in under an hour for just €35 (£30) return – meaning you could eat your breakfast in Turkey and dinner in Greece.
Alternatively, hop aboard a traditional wooden boat at the harbour to sail around hidden coves and quiet swimming spots, giving you a taste of the glitzy sailing life for a fraction of the cost.
The glamorous Turkish resort of Bodrum has been dubbed the St Tropez of TurkeyCredit: Getty
A POPULAR beach has been partially closed for the remainder of the summer holidays.
Sea dredgers will pump thousands of tonnes of shingle onto the beach to extend part of it by 25m and protect the coastline.
Aerial view of Hove beach and seafront in East SussexCredit: AlamyHove Beach is near to a long esplanade and a cycle laneCredit: AFP via Getty Images
A groyne is also being added at Hove beach, located near Brighton, East Sussex.
Hove was described by The Times as one of the best seaside towns in the UK and “far less crowded and chaotic than Brighton with its relentless stream of boozy day-trippers”.
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The partial closure, which begins today, forms part of a wider project that started earlier in the year, to add nine new groynes – known as a groyne field – to the beach, which is scheduled to reopen at the end of August.
A spokesperson for Brighton and Hove City Council (B&HCC) said: “The new shingle will extend the beach between the King Alfred Leisure Centre and Second Avenue by around 25 metres out to sea.
“Helping to protect the area from flooding and coastal erosion, the larger beach will also reduce the amount of shingle washing up onto the promenade, like we see during storms and windy conditions.”
The spokesperson added that the work is scheduled to take around four weeks and needs to be done around high tide.
“During the work, this section of the beach will need to be closed to keep everyone safe,” they added.
Hove Beach is backed by a long esplanade with a cycle lane as well as a grassy area where visitors can find cafes, an amusement arcade, crazy golf and the King Alfred leisure centre.
As previously reported in The Sun, the leisure centre is set to be demolished to make way for a £65 million “entertainment zone”.
The red-brick building has dominated the seafront of one of the UK’s most popular resorts since the outbreak of the Second World War.
Campaigners vying to save the centre were hoping for a last-minute reprieve from Historic England but B&HCC has now approved the plans.
