Travel Desk

LOOKING for your next big holiday? Look no further as British Airways has revealed a major update to its summer 2027 schedule with flights to TWO East African destinations.

British Airways (BA) has announced that it will be launching new flights to Tanzania from May 29, 2027 – which last took off 14 years ago.

The flights will take off from London Gatwick Airport and head to Kilimanjaro before heading onto Zanzibar.

The flights will then continue for the season, until October 31.

In Kilimanjaro, you can obviously visit the famous mountain, which is Africa’s highest peak and the world’s highest free-standing mountain.

It takes about 45 minutes from the airport to reach Moshi – the gateway town.

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The National Park is home to rainforest, as well as an arctic summit.

In the region, there’s also Tanzania’s loved Northern Safari Circuit to explore, which is one of the continent’s most famous wildlife routes.

It includes the Serengeti Wildlife Park, where the Great Migration is found, as well as UNESCO World Heritage Ngorongoro Crater, which is home to the Big 5.

Or head to Tarangire National Park as well, which is well-known for its elephant herds.

Meanwhile, Zanzibar is famous for its white, sandy coast that’s home to an abundance of marine life including dolphins and sea turtles.

There’s also the UNESCO-listed streets of Stone Town to explore, with hand-carved wooden doors and coral-stone buildings.

Across the island, there are a number of spice plantations, giving visitors the chance to sample fresh vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Flights will take off three times a week from London Gatwick, landing in Kilimanjaro, before going on to Zanzibar.

Flights from London Gatwick to Kilimanjaro International Airport and then onwards to Zanzibar, will take off on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The flights will depart at 9:05am and land in Kilimanjaro at 8:20pm,before then taking off to Zanzibar at 9:20pm and landing there at 10:25pm.

Return flights from Zanzibar back to London Gatwick, will take place on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing at 12:25am and landing at 7:55am.

Flights will cost from £849 return.

Neil Chernoff, British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer said: “We’re excited to be launching flights to two exceptional new destinations that showcase the very best of Tanzania.

“From the vast plains of the Serengeti and the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro to the turquoise waters and white-sand beaches of Zanzibar, these new routes strengthen our footprint in East Africa and open the door to some of the world’s most extraordinary travel experiences.

“Alongside these new routes, we are strengthening our wider long-haul network, adding capacity to a number of popular destinations across Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean.

“By increasing frequencies and extending seasonal services, we’re giving customers more choice and flexibility, while deepening London’s connectivity to key destinations around the world.”

In addition to the Tanzania flights, BA is increasing its capacity to Latin America by 25 per cent.

There will also be new non-stop flights to Buenos Aires, Argentina and onward service to Santiago, Chile.

Additional seats have been added to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as well, and flights to San José, Costa Rica, will become year-round.

Las Vegas in America and Cape Town in South Africa will also gain additional flights.

A NEW hotel has opened at Bristol Airport that couldn’t feel farther from a classic pre-flight stay.

Each room is inside a former shipping container, it even has an orchard area and the airport is under a 10-minute walk away.

Called Nodpods, each room is self-contained and inside visitors will find a king size bed and en-suite with a shower.

There’s complimentary tea, coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits and there’s the option of a croissant in the morning.

There’s also a smart TV, WiFi, hairdryer, full length mirror, and towels are provided too.

One woman who stayed inside a Nodpod described it as being “really cosy” thanks to its small, snug size.

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And unlike airport hotels, the pods have some outdoor space too, it even has an orchard area where some visitors have spotted wildlife, like rabbits and squirrels.

Someone else who had stayed wrote in the comments: “I’ve stayed in this place, so convenient for Bristol airport, and it’s spotless.”

On Tripadvisor, the Nodpods have 22 reviews with a high average rating of 4.5 out of 5.

Lots praise the alternative accommodation for its convenience, others for their affordability.

One wrote: “Staying at nodpods has cut our pre-flight costs in half (we used to stay in a hotel in Bristol and paid for parking overnight) so we have more money to spend on holiday!”

The pods can be booked for as little as £90 for one night for two people which works out to £45 each.

Meanwhile, a stay at Hampton by Hilton Bristol Airport starts from £129.

At the Nodpods there is free parking at the pods, although it is caveated that this is for your stay there only – not for the duration of your holiday.

While there isn’t a restaurant at pod site, The Airport Tavern is a three-minute walk away, and The George & Dragon is a five-minute drive.

Bristol Airport recently submitted plans to expand with thousands more flights and long-haul journeys – so the NodPods would be a great option to stay before jetting off.

Along with more passengers the terminal will be larger, there will be new shops, restaurants as well as an extended runway at the cost of £500million.

The proposal revealed the airport had plans to reach “world cities within Europe and beyond”.

This includes a limited number of new flights to North America, the Middle East and Asia.

EVER dreamt of getting a World Record? Well, you soon can have a chance at securing one in a huge new UK attraction dedicated entirely Guinness World Records.

Guinness World Records London, which is the first permanent entertainment venue from Guinness World Records, will open at The O2 in Greenwich, this winter.

Spanning across 2,322sqm, Guinness World Records London will be home to 45 different official Record Challenges, in five arenas.

Challenges include Loudest Scream, Fastest Typist, Fastest Basketball and Fastest Buzzwire.

Visitors testing out the different challenges could even walk away a Guinness World Record holder themselves.

There will be a number of interactive exhibits as well.

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While no specific opening date has been revealed yet, on the attraction’s website it states “late 2026” as the expected opening.

The website adds that there will also be “themed food and drink”, as well as a shop with “record-breaking souvenirs”.

Ahead of the attraction opening to the public, Guinness World Record London are looking for the UK’s most competitive family.

The winning family will be the first to look at the new attraction and try out the different challenges.

Will Munford, Adjudicator at Guinness World Records, said: “Guinness World Records London will give every guest the unique chance to take on our line-up of brilliantly fun and exciting record attempts, and potentially walk away a world record breaker themselves.

“We know how competitive families can get, so we want to find out who is the most competitive of them all and get them along to our new attraction to see if they have what it takes to become our first record breakers!”

A STRIKE at a major airport in Belgium has forced Ryanair to cancel at least 30 flights, with more to follow.

The industrial action by air traffic control staff could continue well into October, affecting evening schedules.

Industrial action by air traffic control workers at Charleroi Airport started on September 16.

The strike will continue to take place during every night shift from 22pm to 8am the following morning until October 10.

It’s been reported that as a result, Ryanair has cancelled at least 30 flights so far.

Ryanair flies to Charleroi from three UK airports; Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh.

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Looking at today’s schedule, it’s mostly arrivals into the airport after 9.30pm that are affected.

Only two flights from the UK are affected by the strike action today.

The first is a flight from Manchester Airport to Charleroi which was scheduled for 10.55pm and has since been cancelled.

The second is a flight from Charleroi to Manchester Airport which was scheduled for 19.35pm and has also been cancelled.

Ryanair has asked passengers to monitor their Ryanair App for the latest updates regarding their flight.

In a previous statement, the airline said: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of these ATC strike delays/cancellations, which are entirely beyond airlines’ control.”

Yesterday, about 40 flights in total were cancelled at Charleroi Airport.

According to Skeyes, the Belgium‘s official national air navigation service provider, the nightly strikes are expected to affect more than 800 flights.

“The Pineapple” promised to be intense, but even hours before the show had begun, it had me startled.

I was warned, via a waiver attendees must sign to experience the production, to expect “intimate, and/or aggressive physical contact,” “confined spaces and passageways,” and that I may be asked to crawl, kneel or lie down. All of it would happen in a show that I was cautioned would present simulated violence or “disturbing imagery.”

As much as I love participatory, immersive theater — productions that often rely on some form of audience participation — “The Pineapple” was providing me with a checklist of things I generally avoid. It was a feeling that only grew when I reached the waiver’s end, and signed off that I was OK with claustrophobia (I am not).

What had I done?

None of it, though, had fully prepared me for what Candle House’s “The Pineapple” actually was. By the time the hourlong experience in North Hollywood had reached its conclusion, I had been straddled by a woman who forced a gloved finger down my throat, outfitted with hooded, vision-impairing face masks, grabbed by the wrists as they were taped together, ordered to crawl toward a blood-stained room, and spooned or kissed by multiple male performers.

“The Pineapple” is a secretive hourlong show that seeks to disorient attendees.

(Sona Earnest)

“The Pineapple” is a buzzed-about show among the tight-knit immersive community, one that fits into the medium’s long tradition of productions designed for a sole audience member. A short run last year in New Jersey sold out. Candle House has such a devoted following that its L.A. shows have been selling out almost as instantly as they are announced. While it’s thus far been shrouded in secrecy — “The Pineapple” will not even release a program or cast list until its run has concluded — it comes highly recommended from acquaintances who saw it on the East Coast. I was alternately excited and apprehensive to take part, and my editor would like me to note that I pitched this story on my own accord.

“The Pineapple” in its limited online description promises an alien encounter. Sign up, and an email will tell you that it will “change your life.”

For the passionate crowd of immersive enthusiasts who may want to experience “The Pineapple” and are worried I just spoiled the show, I call nonsense. For one, I believe audiences should know exactly what they are paying for, and two, I do not think “The Pineapple” can be properly spoiled. It was at times otherworldly, in moments psychedelic, and while there were scenes in which I felt fear, there were also others in which I laughed. While “The Pineapple” flirts with horror, torture and conspiracy nuts, it also provides space for Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville.”

And in “The Pineapple’s” best instances, it created a sense of personal intimacy with its performers. These were actors who may have earlier been needling at or attempting to push my boundaries. “The Pineapple” wants to toy with our trust, to create a safe space where it can intermix themes of abuse and empathy until their lines are blurred. Consider its waiver, then, not just a warning but an attempt to weed out those who may be offended or triggered.

“The Pineapple” tries to break us. And it charges nearly $250 for the privilege.

“How do I put this,” says the show’s core creator/director Evan Neiden when asked his intentions behind “The Pineapple.” “I think the show is designed to boil you. Like the lobster in the pot. It gets warmer and warmer and warmer and it’s slowly acclimating you to this new set of rules that keep changing to this new environment of degeneracy and conspiracy.”

“The Pineapple” teases an alien encounter. It is theatrical production designed for one guest.

(Sona Earnest)

Neiden, the 27 year-old founder of Candle House, has long specialized in one-on-one phone productions designed to be done from the caller’s home. While drastically different in narrative content, his horror show “Claws,” in which its solo guest acts as an emergency line operator, is good prep for “The Pineapple” as it also seeks to push people to the brink of comfort.

If there is an artistic thesis behind the work of the New York-based Candle House, it is to cast its audience as performers, but then poke, prod and disorient until they stop performing and start reacting on instinct — or, in theory, become unguarded. It’s an idea that simply to get through the day we are playing a role of sorts, tuning our conversations to please others, or presenting exaggerated, false or tidied-up versions of ourselves on social media.

“In an experience like this, you’re alone with the inhabitants of the world, and they’re all there as part of your hallucination, your dream and your journey,” Neiden says. “You don’t need to worry about presenting a certain way or being perceived in a certain way. All the characters in ‘The Pineapple’ are degenerates, and this show invites you to become one as well. That’s very hard to do if someone from the respectable, outside world is watching.”

The setup for “The Pineapple” is simple. I was playing a respondent to an ad for a meeting with an alien. But things quickly spiral beyond clear narrative recognition, as piecing together the story becomes a puzzle unto itself. And it will shift depending on how one reacts, as there are multiple endings. But know only that in its opening minutes we learn that we have been swindled and are now part of a ritual of sorts to summon said alien.

“The Pineapple” offers intimate actor interactions designed to push boundaries.

(Sona Earnest)

You may find yourself, as I did, raising your voice, as “The Pineapple” did light research on me. My career was insulted, and I was mocked for fumbling around while attempting to juice a pineapple with a woefully inadequate kitchen utensil. Neiden says many attendees try to break the show itself, to push back and see how far its narrative can bend. This is typically not how I play, wanting to experience a production as its designers have intended and thus I let “The Pineapple” take the lead rather than trying to force my will upon it.

I am not easily offended and never used the safe word provided, although there were instances where I came close, namely when my feet were being aggressively, unwelcomely massaged. And yet there were scenes in which I thought about deeply personal relationships I have had, specifically when a character asked me to think of a time when forgiveness or an apology was craved from someone I am no longer closely connected with.

“The Pineapple” then began to feel like a metaphor. As I moved from darkened room to darkened room, ridiculed in one, flirted with in another, a thread of finding one’s own personal paradise in a hellscape began to emerge. Is it aliens we are seeking, “The Pineapple” begins to ask, or simply perhaps purpose? The act of forgiveness, Neiden tells me, was on his mind when crafting the show.

“I never really felt like I fully understand it,” Neiden says. “What is forgiveness? Some people say it’s letting someone off the hook. Others say it’s releasing yourself of the burden of a grudge. And it’s a word wrapped in religion and politics. There are so many definitions of it, and we hear it everywhere — forgiveness and its counterparts of guilt, shame and accountability. What does it mean? The show doesn’t answer that.”

Maybe. That’s up to the audience, not its creator.

Days after I’ve seen “The Pineapple,” friends and peers keep asking if I enjoyed it, and I don’t think it’s a simple answer. It’s not for everyone. I’m not sure it’s even for me. Simulated torture is not my idea of a good time. But “The Pineapple” did wear me down, and it’s beautiful in the way it highlights the lonely anguish at the heart of Buffett’s “Margaritaville.”

As its small cast obsesses over a fabled alien encounter and seems willing to stop at nothing to find release in a divine being, be careful, “The Pineapple” argues, of the personal Eden you seek.

At least that was my takeaway. You might walk away with an entirely different message.

“Maybe you just fell in with the wrong crowd and got abducted by aliens,” Neiden says.

We’re hunkered down in a dark stairwell on the side of a hotel facing a busy street in Hollywood. To passersby, we could easily be mistaken for two teenagers hiding in the shadows. In reality, I’m sitting with Kelela, the electronic R&B architect whose uncompromising vision has quietly reshaped the contours of alternative music.

Dressed in oversize sunglasses, an acid-washed tee, light blue jeans, checkered Vans and a vibrant auburn-colored French bob with micro bangs, she effortlessly rolls a joint with long ombre nails that mimic smoke and fire. She slips it between her lips and flicks a lighter stamped with a single word: Gotham.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Her lighter choice is pure coincidence, she says, but it fits the apocalyptic visual universe she’s built for “New Avatar,” her dark, guitar-heavy third album that merges her early D.C. indie roots with shoegaze, grunge, futuristic club music and R&B. Produced almost exclusively by Oscar Scheller — who has crafted tracks for PinkPantheress and Lily Allen — the 12-track project finds Kelela chasing intimacy, desire and emotional refuge in the midst of an increasingly chaotic world. From the color-inverted cover art to her icy white hair and bleached brows in the video for “idea 1” — a song that draws inspiration from Octavia Butler’s 1993 sci-fi classic “Parable of the Sower” — the world-building is unmistakable.

“I used it to describe the context … of these stories on the record,” Kelela explains about the Gotham visual concept. “It’s a basic reference, but it feels like it applies. It’s the context for people needing to be saved and everything being f— on some level, but there still being hope.”

Just a few miles from the Hollywood stairwell where we’re sitting, Kelela will translate her genre-flexing record for the stage at the Wiltern during two back-to-back shows on Sept. 21 and 22.

Although she’s a New Yorker now, Los Angeles plays a crucial role in her musical journey. In 2010, the Ethiopian American singer-songwriter moved to Venice to work as a nanny before taking a gig as a solar panel telemarketer — a job she picked to avoid moving back home but unexpectedly excelled at.

“I’ve sold solar power to hundreds of people in the L.A. area,” she quips. “I would level with people. I didn’t sound like a salesperson because I can’t sell something that doesn’t make sense.”

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The job funded her first solo apartment in MacArthur Park, but an insurance payout from a totaled car ultimately gave her the financial runway to leave sales behind and focus solely on music. That freedom manifested into her debut mixtape “Cut 4 Me,” featuring fan favorites like “Send Me Out” and “Bank Head.”

“It’s a very L.A. story,” she says with a laugh.

More than 10 years after the breakthrough record, Kelela returned to L.A. to record “New Avatar” with Scheller at his home studio in Silver Lake.

During their first session, she played him “Outta Time,” a track featuring British singer-producer A.K. Paul (Jai Paul’s brother) that she’d been holding onto for a decade until she was ready to make her first guitar-centered album. She also showed Scheller her “white bag” playlist — a collection of indie, rock and alternative tracks she loved as a teenager, from Incubus to Deftones to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He understood the assignment and by the end of their session, they walked away with two songs: the lead single “Idea 1” and the sensual, U.K. garage-infused “Don’t Piss Me Off.”

“I had a sketch and I think that felt very magical,” Kelela says.

Their natural flow was part of the reason why Kelela was able to release “New Avatar” sooner than previous albums. It arrives just three years after its predecessor, “Raven.”

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

But leaning into her “white bag” wasn’t just about nostalgia. It’s a return for the artist who was once the frontwoman of indie rockers Dizzy Spells and was rocking out with her then-boyfriend, guitarist Tosin Abasi (of Animals as Leaders). It’s also a direct confrontation with the industry’s racialized genre boxes — a phenomenon Kelela identifies as “sonic racism.”

“It’s designed to keep us apart, to keep us out,” she says, “and I think clocking that is really important.”

She points to the unspoken kinship that forms when Black fans who love heavier guitar music find each other in white-dominated crowds.

“When they meet it’s a different type of bond through the music — like ‘I’ve always felt on the outside,’ but also ‘We are so inside,’” she says. “That catharsis is another feeling and I knew so much of my audience had an experience with this music, but maybe had to compartmentalize and be on the outside in order to enjoy it.” With “New Avatar,” she wanted to “dismantle and disrupt” that dissonance without abandoning her R&B roots, she says.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

That philosophy echoes through the record’s lyricism. Where 2023’s “Raven,” a rave-inspired, post-pandemic offering that ruminated on the times and being firm in your boundaries, “New Avatar” is its older sister who is a bit more wise and speaks with even sharper conviction.

“We need space to feel over it,” she says, “and to not be considered Debbie Downers. That’s basically the role that Black women have been sort of relegated to — to be truth tellers. Then everyone’s like ‘Ugh, come on…’ But it’s like we’re laughing all the time. I’m so happy. I’m not unhappy.”

She adds, “The key is not rooted in escapism. The key is rooted in being honest about what you saw, and that’s kind of the tradition that I’d want my work to live in.”

On “Point Blank,” Kelela explores the emotional labor for a woman in a one-sided relationship: “By now, I hope you see/That bullet set me free/And the more I pour, the more you reap/And I’m too spent too weep.” As the title implies, “Don’t Piss Me Off” sees a woman losing her patience with a lover: “Know you want me/Tell me I’m wrong/Takin’ all night/Don’t piss me off.” But by the album’s closer “If We Meet Again,” she cuts ties entirely: “If we ever amend/Nevermind, over and out.”

“A lot of the songs are like “Y’all ain’t s—,’” she says laughing, “But I try to say it in an artful way.”

Two bright spots on the album arrive in the final act: the dream pop-infused “New Life Forms” featuring Fousheé and “The Bridge,” a song about yearning with PinkPantheress, who returned the favor after Kelela appeared on her track “Bury Me.” Directed by Yasser Abubeker, “The Bridge” music video features a memorable, sultry dance number between the two singers — a sequence Kelela encouraged fans to learn before her shows.

“I cried the first time that Yasser sent me the edit,” she says. “It’s like a love letter to Black queer culture, our intimacy. It’s so sexy without me and her having an overt love interest. It just feels so implied in this smart way.”

The day before we met in Hollywood, Kelela gave an intimate live performance for Spotify. Backed by an all-Black femme band featuring a string quartet, guitar, bass and backup vocals, she performed “Idea 1” and a cover of Incubus’ “Mexico” — a rendition that earned her praise on social media from Incubus’ frontman, Brandon Boyd, himself.

“It’s a really important image,” says Kelela about the video. “In addition to it sounding exquisite, I’m not gonna lie, it also tore visually and symbolically.”

She’ll also be backed by a full band during her “New Avatar Live” tour, which she envisions as a high-energy rave that could break into a mosh pit at any moment.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“It’s another medium for me to be able to articulate or dismantle those constructs around what makes sense together,” Kelela says. “It’s going to be first and foremost — like any record or anything that I do — cathartic for me.”

She continues, “So I’m going to be living my best f— life and through that I know I will give a good show because it just excites me. It’s a dream come true to be able to pull these things together.”

This article details the history and observance of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross within the Armenian Apostolic Church. It describes how the sacred relic was recovered from Persian forcesin the 7th century and carried through Armenia during its return to Jerusalem. The text emphasizes Armenia’s status as the first nation to adopt Christianity and highlights the importance of Merelots, or Remembrance Days of the Dead. These memorial days occur following five major religious feasts, including the celebration of the Holy Cross. Beyond religious history, the source provides a snapshot of global news and current events from September 2026.

A major rule will come into force this weekend (Sunday, 20 September) for anyone travelling by train – and it’s good news, with the freedom to board other services

There’s nothing worse than your train being cancelled, even more so when you know the next one isn’t for another hour or two, or perhaps that was the last one of the day. Travellers risk being fined if they’re caught on board a railway line or route that differs from their original ticket, with others opting to fork out for a last-minute train ticket on another line, just so they can get home for the evening.

However, this travel dread is about to ease, as passengers will easily be able to board an alternative service with another train operator for free if their original train has been cancelled. The significant change will launch on Sunday, 20 September, in hopes of making rail travel easier, as more train operators are involved in the new scheme, as confirmed by the government.

While cross-operator ticket acceptance is already available across publicly owned train operators, from Sunday, four major railway companies will join the scheme: Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry and Great Western Railway. This means that a total of 17 train operators will be part of the initiative from this weekend, with East Midlands Railway also set to join, although a date has yet to be confirmed.

What train companies are involved in the scheme?

• c2c
• Gatwick Express
• Greater Anglia
• Great Northern
• LNER
• London Northwestern Railway
• Northern
• Southeastern
• Southern
• Thameslink
• South Western Railway
• Transpennine Express
• West Midlands Railway
• CrossCountry
• Great Western Railway
• Avanti West Coast
• Chiltern Railways

Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, said: “This is a simple, common-sense change that puts passengers first. No one should be left stranded because of a fragmented railway when their journey is disrupted. We’re fixing the railway from the ground up, making it simpler, fairer and easier to use, as we move towards Great British Railways and put public service back at the heart of our railways.”

What do I need to do?

If your original train and route are cancelled, you can simply use that same ticket to board another service with a rival railway operator included in the scheme. There’s no need to buy another ticket or to fork out for any additional fees. It’s important to note that the alternative train you’re boarding must depart two hours before or after your originally booked service. Additionally, the service must be a “direct or reasonable alternative route”.

Are there any other changes to train travel?

Elsewhere, new pay-as-you-go services will be launched across Greater Manchester, the Midlands and the south-east at more than 100 train stations by next year. This is due to a £156 million investment from the government as part of a ticketing scheme.

A new Great British Railways website and app are also in the works, in hopes of making train travel that much easier. Alex Robertson, chief executive of the independent watchdog, Transport Focus, said: “When passengers are delayed, they just want to get where they need to be, not worry about whether their ticket will be accepted on another train.

“This is a welcome change that we have long called for and should make it easier for people when services are cancelled. The key now is making sure passengers get clear information about their options whenever disruption occurs.”

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

Atokos is a tiny island near Lefkada in the Ionian Sea, off the coast of Acarnania. It is one of the most westerly and remotest of the Echinades Islands, home to no one but a colony of pigs

Pig Beach is an irresistible place. It’s a place where a family of adorable hogs, as pink as a Brit at the end of a long summer holiday, trot around on the sand, run through the shallows and piggy-paddle in the waves.

It’s not clear exactly how the colony of oinkers made it to their Bahaman paradise home. Some say the pigs were dropped off by a group of sailors who wanted to come back and cook them, only to get diverted, leaving the pigs to survive on excess food dumped from passing ships. Another tale suggests the pigs were survivors of a shipwreck, while a third argues that they were placed there as a cynical ploy to attract tourists.

If the final explanation is true, then fair play to the inspired swine herder responsible. The Bahamas’ swimming pigs are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole region, attracting thousands of porcine enthusiasts into the shallows each year. Pig Beach has about 20 individual piggies and a cast of piglets that varies in size each year, but other islands, including Eleuthera, Rose, Abaco, and Ship Channel Cay, have also gotten in on the action in recent years.

Charmed by the idea of splashing around in the warm waves with a lovely little swine, when I heard that Europe has its very own version of Pig Island, and that it was a short sail away from where I’d be exploring, I couldn’t resist.

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

Atokos is a tiny island near Lefkada in the Ionian Sea, off the coast of Acarnania. It is one of the most westerly and remotest of the Echinades Islands. No one lives on Atokos, not even its shipping magnate owner, Panayiotis Tsako. But it attracts a handful of brave yachtspeople who are allowed to anchor in the shallows.

My friends and I found ourselves in their number on a hot May day, jumping into the water and swimming onto the beach, wetsuit shoes providing crucial protection against the burning-hot pebbles. We’d expected to be met by a group of friendly pigs splashing around in the shallows, but the beach was empty. Of both pigs and people.

Assuming that the hogs were sheltering in the woods at the top of the beach, we walked in, finding them ringing with loud cicadas as we wandered down a path. At the bottom was a single two-storey house, which appeared habitable enough despite its doors being locked and its windows boarded up. Not a pig in sight.

We wandered back towards the beach down winding paths thick with pinecones and sticks, swiping away the thick spider webs that stretched between the trees. Despite the intense Greek sunshine and glistening blue water, the place had a spooky atmosphere, intensified by the empty chapel rising above the sand. I’d read it was well looked after by a visiting janitor, but it looked dusty and unloved. I flicked a large spider off my shoulder.

And then the pigs arrived.

Just as we’d resigned ourselves to returning to the boat light of a soul-cleansing frolick with the promised porsine inhabitants, guess who came snuffling out of the woods? Not a sweet piggy, but a hog. A big, hairy, grunting hog. I’m not an expert, but I’d put a 50/50 wager on it being a wild boar.

The pig wandered towards us, stopping about a metre away. He looked at us, and we looked back. Then out of the woods came three more pigs, seemingly a mum and two piglets. They joined the bigger, dad-looking pig.

There was something about the biggest pig’s tusks and the way it was looking at our now shivering, unprotected but for swimming trunks bodies, that made us feel nervous. These piggies didn’t look amenable to a quick pic.

Suddenly, the big pig roared and lurched forward towards us. I don’t know whether we’d strayed too close to his family, looked at him the wrong way, or stayed too long on the creepy island, but the noise was far from an Instagram-reel-friendly oink. To our shame, we ran. We ran all the way into the sea, powering through the shallows before launching ourselves into a swim. It was only once back to our boat that we risked a look back towards the Atokos and its inhospitable pig masters. There they stood, looking out across the water, unfriendly stares boring into us.

I headed to Eurocamp for the last week in August to enjoy the last of the summer sunshine, and found a lively park packed with plenty for the kids to do and an impressive location to explore Normandy

Finding a holiday that suits my family is a tough call. The age gap between my kids means I have a primary school aged child who wants to go to kids clubs and make friends by the pool, while my teenager would happily emerge at noon and sit on a sunlounger scrolling through their phone all day.

Eurocamp felt like the type of holiday that could be an excellent compromise. You get the convenience of a caravan break, separate rooms for the kids and living space, yet still get the entertainment for younger ones.

We picked Eurocamp La Vallée for a week at the end of August, and its location about three hours from Calais made it an easy journey down. I hadn’t been on a holiday via ferry for a while and forgot just how chilled it is compared to taking the kids on a plane. You can load up the car the night before, devices can be charged in the car, and once you’re onboard you aren’t stuck in a tiny seat for hours. Driving in Northern France is incredibly easy too, with flat, wide toll roads that had barely any traffic.

Arriving at Eurocamp we got a friendly welcome and drove through the maze of caravans, lodges, and tipi tents of various grades, trying not to run over the unsupervised children who’d occasionally dash into our path. Our caravan was a Premium Exclusive, which was set on a spacious area of the park and had its own little garden area with loungers and parking.

The main difference between accommodation in UK and French holiday parks is size. While our mobile home was clean and well-equipped, it was definitely smaller than accommodation at British parks. There’s an open plan area with a kitchen, which surprisingly managed to fit in every utensil known to man and a dishwasher, and a plasticky seating area, but it’s clear that the accommodation is designed for those who don’t want to spend their evenings sitting indoors and watching TV.

While the inside is compact, the outdoor terrace more than made up for any lack of space. Our wooden decking area had outdoor tables and chairs, a big comfy outdoor sofa, and a flat top griddle which was fabulous for cooking outside. We’d often spend the evenings drinking wine and playing cards on the deck as it got dark.

But the big draw of Eurocamp isn’t necessarily the accommodation. It’s the facilities and entertainment, which were definitely much livelier than we expected. Outside the kids’ club there was a daily timetable of events looked after by the colourfully dressed animation team, and separate activities for younger and older kids, so teenagers aren’t stuck doing crafts with a bunch of four year olds.

And of course, there are the pools, which in La Vallée were particularly impressive. There was an outdoor pool area with lazy river, a covered indoor pool, some rather terrifying looking flume things, and a big splash zone for younger kids.

Unfortunately, sunbed wars had broken out in the resort, and the lifeguards seemed reluctant to play the role of peacekeeper. The first morning we arrived, half an hour after the pool opened I found the sole remaining sunbed without a towel draped over it, only for a sunburned man to tell me “that’s my kid’s sunbed, my love”. I thought about arguing with him, especially for calling me ‘my love’, but was being glared at by a five year old in a Minecraft towel whose lounger I’d so rudely tried to take. It was a common theme of the week, rows of sunbeds with nothing but a scrunchie or pair of goggles to keep them occupied.

Despite the lack of sunbeds, the pool was much enjoyed by the kids, who swam in circles for hours and took part in the noisy dance and exercise sessions led by the seemingly infatiguable animation team.

The only downside to the constant activities is that it can be noisy. I’m travelling with two kids, so I’m under no illusion that I’ll be resting on holiday, but it can be an overstimulating environment at times. I sat with my espresso on the terrace one morning only for the thudding sounds of Timber by Pitbull to drift through the park at 10am. During an afternoon lull, I went to read my book and maybe take a cheeky nap, only for the sounds of Lady Marmalade to suddenly blast through the park. Voulez-vous coucher avec moi? You won’t get much coucher, alone or otherwise, before midnight.

But the upside to the lively environment is that the kids pretty much entertain themselves, reverting to a feral state where they run around barefoot and make friends from all over Europe who teach them French swear words. There were bouncy castles and a playground for the kids to enjoy in the evening, plus the mainstay of all French holidays, ping pong.

The mini disco also impressed my youngest, as it involved some guy dressed as a cat chasing the kids around in circles, and the evening entertainment was fairly basic but kept everyone happy. Sadly, we had to face it sober as the bar service was laidback, to say the least, so we mostly drank our own stash from the supermarket.

Location-wise, Eurocamp La Vallée is close to everything you’d want from a French holiday. There are the Normandy beaches, World War 2 history sites, seaside towns, and utterly charming rural villages just a short drive away. So if you’re looking for a holiday where your kids can join a Lord of the Flies-style pack and you find yourself increasingly relaxed about it as the week goes on, then Eurocamp is a winner.

Book the holiday

Seven nights from Saturday 3rd April 2027 (Easter) staying in a Comfort two bedroom holiday home that sleeps up to four guests, from £331.87 per party. Book at eurocamp.co.uk.

Seven nights from Saturday 3rd July 2027 (School summer holidays) staying in a Comfort two bedroom holiday home that sleeps up to four guests, from £856.80 per party. Book at eurocamp.co.uk.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

All the fun of the funicular in Switzerland

No doubt your first thought on hearing the words “double-decker” is of a bus. But in the Swiss village of Stans, an old wooden funicular carriage ascends to the station, where a double-decker cable car awaits. Inside, a spiral staircase leads you to an open upper viewing deck. At the summit, the views back to Lucerne are superb, and there are alpine marmots to spot too. There was a wedding ceremony going on at the summit on our trip!
Martin

Liechtenstein’s Route 66

Steinbock, marmot and elderflower jam are in abundance on Liechtenstein’s Route 66 track – a  multi-day hike that is popular with locals, but little known to others. The route traverses the Drei Schwestern (the Three Sisters), where you’ll experience white knuckles and lush valley views. After an easy 5km hike, you land at the first mountain hut, where a succulent homemade three-course dinner awaits you. Befriend the other walkers over a game of cards, as golden hour lights up the mountains.
Inez

Picturesque French Pyrenees

Luz Saint Sauveur in the French Pyrenees is the gateway to heaven. Whether it be by bike, car, motorbike or on foot, stunning surroundings, wildlife-a-plenty and quaint French shops await you at this picturesque market town. Eat the local saucisson, drink the jurançon white wine, marvel at the blue skies in the shadows of the legendary Tour de France Cols, jump in canyons and be merry with the surroundings. Simply beautiful and fun for all ages.
Will

High on the hog in Donegal

For mountain scenery without Alpine crowds, head to north-west Donegal. Errigal gets the attention, but don’t overlook flat-topped Muckish, whose name comes from the Irish for “pig’s back”. Drive the small roads around the Poisoned Glen and through Glenveagh national park, where each bend reveals another reason to stop. Allow far longer than the satnav suggests: our best moments came from pulling over for an unexpected view rather than racing between sights. Pack walking shoes and a picnic, then reward yourself afterwards in a cosy pub. Here, a mountain day can include Atlantic beaches and a well-earned pint.
Niamh Kerr

The quiet side of Italy’s Dolomites

The Brenta Dolomites seem to go strangely unnoticed, while the main Dolomites heave with Instagrammers. We based ourselves in Pinzolo, an alpine town an hour north of Lake Garda, then took the lift from Madonna di Campiglio for a three-day hut-to-hut trek, tackling two via ferrata routes across knife-edge ridges and limestone spires. Rifugio Agostini was the highlight: a warm welcome and hearty mountain food after a hard day’s climbing, with jagged peaks filling every window. We descended into the town of Molveno for a well-earned aperitivo by the lake.
Ben Bryant

A spectacular climb in Kosovo

After exploring Kosovo’s historic monasteries and wartime memorials, we escaped to the Sharr mountains national park, a 40-minute drive south of Prizren. The road winds through the spectacular Zhupa valley and follows the bubbling Lumbardhi river through its steep-sided gorge. At Prevallë, we left the car and began what turned out to be a strenuous climb over rocky paths and grassy slopes. We kept expecting the summit to appear, but every turn revealed another, until we finally reached our destination and were met with spectacular mountain views. Afterwards, we rewarded ourselves at Hotel Krojet with coffee and a reviving glass of raki.
Roy Messenger

Peaceful paths above Lake Como

This spring, my partner and I hiked the Via dei Monti Lariani, a 78-mile (125km) trail through the mountains on the western shore of Lake Como between Cernobbio and Sorico. Skirting the border between Italy and the Swiss canton of Ticino, the route passes through mountain pastures with views towards the Alps, and remote villages shaped by a history of cross-border smuggling. The accommodation is a highlight, ranging from Alpine rifugios to agriturismi, where we sampled regional specialities, including polenta uncia, polenta with local cheese and butter, and pizzoccheri, buckwheat pasta with cabbage and potatoes. Quiet trails, excellent food and complex history made it an especially rewarding route.
Ross Cameron

Grand canyons of the Spanish Pyrenees

This summer my family and I stayed at Fox House in the tiny village of Santa Engràcia in the Tremp valley, in the foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees. Perched on a cliff edge, the beautifully renovated guest house has panoramic views, eclectic art and a warm homely feel. Laura and Carl were excellent hosts, creating a relaxed atmosphere and serving delicious evening meals. Days were a mix of poolside downtime and outdoor adventure, including rafting, mountain biking, canyon kayaking and swimming in crystal blue lakes.
Maria

Campsite with a view in Austria

Camping Grubhof, in the small town of Lofer between Salzburg and Zell am See, is simply beautiful. It’s an immaculate campsite, surrounded by mountains. Lofer (and the campsite) have direct access to a huge network of cycle trails as well as to the beautiful village swimming pool (free with the local access pass). Walking high in the mountains, surrounded by cows with bells is simply beautiful. Come the afternoon, there’s time for an apple strudel at a mountain hut and a glass of radler low alcohol beer. There is a camping meadow where you can pitch a tent and cabins to rent, as well as the best shower blocks I’ve come across.
Mark

Winning tip: Stars, sunsets and glaciers in Italy

The views over Mont Blanc from Rifugio Bertone in Italy are incredible, but it’s the whole experience that makes it special – great food, proper mountain atmosphere, and the Balconata Val Ferret has some of the best walking in the area. It’s also near Courmayeur, which is a lovely town. Arrive for sunset, watch the light move across the glaciers, then look up at the stars as Mont Blanc disappears into the darkness. A brilliant place to eat, walk, breathe and simply take in the mountains. And it’s very affordable.
Eddie Campbell

‘I think my boots are falling apart!” shouts Nigel just as we hit the pinnacles, a whole range of them jutting up and out from the mountainside, all thrillingly tall, spiky and knobbled. Through them we painstakingly step, fingers aching in gloves, heads sweating in helmets – squashing up narrow chimneys, squeezing through mighty boulders and inching along slender ledges on a twisting path that’s only just discernible through swathes of sharp white scree.

I know how Nigel’s boots are feeling: the going is far harder than I was expecting. This is only the first day of our annual trip to the Dolomites, a vast range of breathtaking sawtooth peaks in northern Italy, but my head’s already full of the thought I have every year as we start out: “If only you’d got fitter.”

Hikers trekking along trails around Los Angeles know that, by late summer, most creeks and rivers have dried up for the season.

However, recent rainfall across Southern California has replenished our waterways just enough to bring back a little of their spring and early summer glamour.

In this week’s edition of The Wild, our weekly outdoors newsletter, I will highlight three L.A. trails where you can still find water flowing, offering a cool relief in a year when L.A. residents are sick of humidity, heat and high electric bills.

Before heading out, here are a few things to remember:

• Familiarize yourself with what poison oak looks like, as it will be prominent on all of these trails. Its leaves this time of year range from glossy green to red, orange and yellow.
• Practice seven Leave No Trace principles, including never leaving anything behind such as toilet paper or orange peels.
• Rocks and boulders in and along creeks will often be slippery from years of erosion. Take good care when climbing them or using them for leverage as you traverse an area.
• Wear insect repellent. Mosquitoes and ticks are both found along the routes below.
• Riparian habitats, like creeks flowing through canyons, are home to sensitive creatures including California newts, frogs and toads. Take good care to watch where you’re stepping, ensuring you aren’t crushing one of these little sweeties as you tromp along.

Now that we’ve all agreed to recreate responsibly, let’s talk about those hikes!

The Santa Ynez waterfall is an 18-foot cascade through a canyon carved by water for thousands of years.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

1. Santa Ynez Waterfall Trail

Distance: 2.2 miles out and back
Elevation gained: About 200 feet
Difficulty: Easy in the beginning with technical aspects near the falls
Dogs allowed: No
Nearest to: Pacific Palisades
Accessible alternative: Inspiration Loop Trail at Will Rogers State Historic Park

The Santa Ynez waterfall trail is a 2.2-mile journey along Santa Ynez Creek in Topanga State Park, shaded by large sycamores, oak trees and the canyon’s walls. You’ll notice a small cave-like structure in the canyon wall shortly upon starting the hike. Unfortunately, other visitors have carved into its sides. Don’t be one of them.

To begin your hike, you will park along Vereda de la Montura. Note that parking isn’t allowed daily between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

A small cave-like structure in Santa Ynez Canyon in Topanga State Park.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I thought I was in the wrong place when I first pulled up, given the trailhead sits in the middle of a neighborhood. I walked northwest along the street and found an open gate with stairs leading down. This is where you’ll start the trail.

I was immediately reminded of Sullivan Canyon (which is about 3 miles away, as the crow flies), as the two canyons feature rocky canyon walls and tall old trees. There are a few times when the trail splits off and returns to itself. Just over half a mile in, though, the trail splits in two, with Santa Ynez Canyon Trail to the west (or left) and the waterfall trail, which you will take to the north or northwest-ish.

A lush tree canopy provides shade in Santa Ynez Canyon as hikers head to the waterfall.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

The first mile of this trail is primarily a nice stroll northward along a creek, the ground covered in green and brown leaves. However, just over a mile in, if you want to see the waterfall and small cave next to it, you will need to scramble up a large boulder and then rock hop through the creek. As of last week, there was a rope to aid hikers upward. (On my way down, I unintentionally slid quickly down the rock, feeling every peddle in the tuchus until I landed feet first in the creek — so take your time here.)

The waterfall isn’t roaring at the moment, but I found the trickling sound of water soothing. It’s also a geologically interesting area to look around, as the water has carved out the canyon walls into interesting shapes (and created a small cave near the waterfall).

The walls of Santa Ynez Canyon were carved by water, wind and time over centuries.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

As I was heading back from the falls, I noticed several bees circling an area high in the canyon wall where it appeared they’d built a nest. Pack accordingly if you are allergic to bee stings.

Slow down and look up as you hike through Santa Ynez Canyon, taking the opportunity to observe rock formations, plants and reptiles.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

I only saw three other people along the trail while there on a weekday. I was mostly alone, though, listening to the wrentits and spotted towhees as blue dragonflies darted to and fro.

Cold Creek in the Cold Creek Valley Preserve near Calabasas.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

2. Cold Creek Trail

Distance: 2.2 miles out and back (with option to extend)
Elevation gained: About 300 feet
Difficulty: Easier end of moderate
Dogs allowed: Yes
Nearest to: South of Calabasas
Accessible alternative: Nicholas Flat ADA Trail

The Cold Creek Valley Preserve, cared for by the TreePeople Land Trust, is a shady riparian habitat near Calabasas with a gently flowing creek that features multiple short cascades. The land was saved from development by several local residents and nonprofits, including Timothy B. Schmit, bass player for the Eagles.

The preserve features multiple public hiking routes, including the Cold Creek Trail.

“Located on an ancient trade route, the [I]ndigenous people of Southern California have used the area for hunting and settlement for generations, leaving a lasting influence visible on the land,” according to TreePeople. “The perennial Cold Creek is the keystone feature of the area, one of the cleanest free-flowing streams in the Santa Monica Mountains.”

The tree canopy along the Cold Creek Trail in the Cold Creek Valley Preserve provides a shady cool environment for hikers.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

To begin your hike, you’ll park in a bumpy dirt lot just off Stunt Road. Be mindful as you near the trailhead, as there will likely be construction crew members in the area. They’re working to install rumble strips and other infrastructure to slow down drivers and hopefully improve traffic safety.

At the start of the trail, you’ll find a portable toilet near the gate. You’ll walk southeast for a short bit before rounding the curve of the trail. You’ll officially be transported into this sylvan sanctuary (although I could admittedly still hear the construction workers communicating on their walkie-talkies).

The trail mostly runs parallel to Cold Creek, which you will hear flowing and have the opportunity to sit near at multiple points along the route, including on a few wooden benches. The trail crosses the creek about four times, but it isn’t overly technical to maneuver.

The Cold Creek Valley Preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

About half a mile in, the trail intersects with Lower Stunt High Trail. You can continue northwest along the creek. You will find another option, the Yucca Trail, just under a mile into your hike, a nice .68-mile loop through the preserve.

The park, open from sunrise to sunset, offers a sweet reprieve from the sun and is a great spot to take a deep breath and meditate in the woods.

The Gabrielino Trail is a multi-use trail frequented by hikers, bikers and horseback riders.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

3. The Gabrielino National Recreation Trail (multiple segments)

Distance: 28.8 miles
Elevation gained: About 6,000 feet
Difficulty: Challenging when done in its entirety
Dogs allowed: Yes
Nearest to: Arcadia and Pasadena, depending on the trailhead
Accessible alternative: Gabrielino Trail starting near North Windsor Avenue near Altadena

The Gabrielino National Recreation Trail is a 28.8-mile journey through the San Gabriel Mountains. Most thru-hikers start the trail at Chantry Flat and take the trail on a squiggly N-shaped journey all the way to its western trailhead near NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory near Pasadena.

However, it isn’t necessary to take the entire Gabrielino Trail to enjoy its beauty. The trail has several entry points, offering short day trips, including the following, which run parallel to at least one local creek or river:

Regardless of where you go, I hope you enjoy our last weekend of summer. That’s right: Summer ends Tuesday! Hopefully that means it soon feels like autumn in L.A.

3 things to do

Volunteers walk down the beach at a Heal the Bay coastal cleanup event in 2024 with Water for L.A.

(Heal the Bay)

1. Clean up public lands around L.A.
Heal the Bay will host L.A. County’s annual coastal cleanup day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in more than 60 sites. Participants should consider wearing closed-toe shoes and sun protection. Cleanup supplies will be available at sites but will run out at popular sites. Volunteers can pick a beach, river, park or trail near them by visiting support.healthebay.org.

2. Portray a bird of prey in San Dimas
The San Dimas Canyon Nature Center will host a guided sketch experience from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at 1628 Sycamore Canyon Road in San Dimas. Participants will learn how to draw a red-tailed hawk. Learn more at the center’s Instagram page.

3. Learn dangers from rangers in Newbury Park
Hikers can bring their four-legged besties to Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday for a B.A.R.K. Rangers event where rangers will educate dog owners on how to safely and responsibly enjoy public lands. Rangers will also conduct a special swearing-in ceremony, complete with a Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area B.A.R.K. Ranger badge, for pups who complete certain challenges. Learn more at eventbrite.com.

The must-read

A juvenile great white shark in Hermosa Beach in April, seen via drone.

(CSULB Shark Lab)

Yes, El Niño morphed our city’s usually pleasant Mediterranean climate into the largest hot yoga class in L.A. But did you know it has also resulted in our ocean water being warm enough to attract animals not usually seen along our coastline? Those fishing off the Malibu Pier were surprised in mid-August by a hammerhead shark swimming nearby. A giant whale shark was recently documented by a fish spotter between Malibu and one of the Channel Islands, a species that prefers warmer waters (and is the largest known fish on the planet). And in line with our predicted “sharky summer,” a juvenile great white shark was spotted a bit close to a swimmer off the coast of Santa Barbara. The best news is: Nothing bad has happened to any humans or animals during these visits, underscoring how well we can co-exist with these beings, despite our fears of them.

Happy adventuring,

P.S.

More and more wildlife lovers are heading into public lands for “recreational herping,” the practice of looking for amphibians and reptiles. Conservation photographer Mario Ramos recently raised concerns via his Instagram page about how the increase is leading some folks to unintentionally harm the animals they seek to observe. “A harsh truth about field herping is that our interactions with wild herps are often stressful and potentially detrimental to the animals, no matter how you frame it,” Ramos wrote. Ramos then outlined how to ethically look for animals that slither and slide in the wild. Always respect the locals, folks!

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.

IF you want a beautiful spa hotel with all the trimmings, you’re in luck.

Here’s everything you need to know about staying at Mottram Hall in Cheshire.

Where is Mottram Hall?

Mottram Hall sits in the heart of Premier League Wag country.

It’s rural but easily accessible from Manchester while Wilmslow, on the mainline rail line from London, is just three miles away.

What’s it like?

The Grade II listed building has a modern £15m spa and large gym attached to it, and looks out over an 18-hole championship golf course.

What are the rooms like?

We had a suite with a kingsize bed – the kind of bed where you have to reach over and check if someone else is still there in the morning.

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The room was smart and functional over trendy and gimmicky.

It’s very peaceful – we slept with the window open and even the birds seem to wake late.

Room only is £49.50 per person and a spa treatment can be added on for £60. See champneys.com.

What is there to eat and drink?

We visited in January when hotels usually are less busy but the main Carrington Grill restaurant was packed with hen dos and couples.

We had a hearty lunch in the spa so stuck to mains for dinner and tucked into a couple of steaks.

Both well-cooked and good value along with a lovely bottle of Malbec.

Attentive staff brought us a Mojito cocktail and a Cosmopolitan while we waited for our mains.

We finished with some tea and a cheese board.

If you’re staying for longer, Wilmslow is jam-packed with restaurants – Cibo is a favourite of footballers while Hickory’s Smokehouse is more family orientated.

What else is there to do?

Mottram Hall is an activity-based hotel.

There’s a busy golf course, and while the spa attracts a large crowd, the experience was still relaxing and we didn’t feel cramped.

I enjoyed the 20m pool, along with the jacuzzi, steam room and saunas.

The gym looked well-equipped, but I was on a rest day, ahem.

Instead, I saved myself for a Champneys massage which almost caused me to yelp, but made my muscles feel amazing two days later.

A tailored spa break including three-course dinner, breakfast and lunch is £560.

Is it family friendly?

There are some family rooms available that sleep up to three people, as well as kids menu at the restaurants

Is it accessible?

The hotel has disabled parking spaces, along with ramps to the main entrance and the restaurant.

There are also three accessible rooms which have been tailored to suit disabled guests.

Autumn is the perfect time to explore what’s going on across the UK

Autumn is here, and this season is when the UK truly shines. On a crisp bright day there is nothing more beautiful than a country walk, soaking in the technicolour trees as their leaves change from green to all the red and orange shades of autumn.

The only thing that is better is the promise of a cosy pub at the end with a roaring fire, tucked away on a high street that’s teeming with independent shops. This situation might sound like a utopian dream – but there is one place in the UK where you can enjoy all of this.

If it’s the autumn colour you want, you need to start your day at Stourhead in Wiltshire.

This National Trust home and garden was one of the first grand Palladian style homes built in England, and has been kept beautifully preserved.

The home is set within 2,650 acres of lush English countryside with walking paths criss crossing the land.

There’s a vast lake on the ground and at its shores is a hidden grotto where you can look out over the water and see the bright fiery trees reflecting in the still water.

The gardens are also home to several Roman inspired temples, including temples of Apollo and Flora. Once you have enjoyed the house and the garden and maybe even stopped for a cup of tea in the cafe, you can head to the charming town of Mere.

The town is just a 15 minute drive from the property, and is a quiet haven away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Mere is an historic town nestled beneath the South West Wiltshire Downs and close to the borders of Somerset and Dorset.

The charming high street has florists, antique stores and tea rooms, perfect for a weekend wander. There’s also a selection of pubs to choose from – and the oldest is one of the best.

The George Inn, located at the Square in Mere is the town’s oldest pub and dates back to the 16th century.

The main bar has a large, roaring log fire with cosy seating and the menu serves up classic pub food, perfect for warming up after a chilly autumn walk.

The countdown to Christmas is on with millions of Brits planning to make a festive escape. But if you’re heading overseas time is running out to sort out any issues with your passport

Whether it’s a Christmas market, Lapland trip, or just seeing family, millions of Brits will head overseas during the festive season. And with only 99 days to go until the big day, one thing that Brits need to be checking right now is their passport.

Passport renewals usually take about three weeks to process after being received by the passport office, so family travel experts advise checking your document now to ensure you have plenty of time to put in an application if needed.

It’s also worth remembering that while three weeks is the general time the HM Passport Office advises for a passport renewal, at busy times of year such as the run up to Christmas this timeframe can be longer.

The advice comes from family holiday firm Lapland Famille who say that the cut off for a pre-Christmas passport application should be October 16, as this gives about a month for the passport to be issued, with around 10 weeks to spare should there be any issues or delays.

As we’re now inside the 100-day countdown to Christmas, this is the best time to check your passport and ensure it meets the requirements for your trip. It also warned that travellers should follow the official GOV.UK advise and not book a trip until they have a valid passport. It’s especially important to check child passports, as these last five years rather than ten, so make sure you check each family member’s document separately.

For those visiting the Schengen area, which includes all 29 European Union member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, a minimum of three months validity needs to be left on your passport from the day you plan to depart the zone. This means if you were planning to leave the Schengen area on December 28 of this year, your passport will need to be valid up until March 28, 2027.

Issue dates continue to catch Brits out due to post-Brexit rules. Check your issue date is within the past 10 years if you plan to visit the EU. You should also make sure you check the FCDO advice for your destination country as well airline document requirements in plenty of time before you fly.

Alex Dyer, managing director at Lapland Famille, said: “Four passports can look in date at a glance, and it’s easy to assume the whole family is ready to go. I’d rather parents find a problem while they’re still choosing a trip, because once you’ve booked activities and arranged time off work, one unusable passport can affect everyone’s holiday.”

Pre-Christmas passport check list

• Validity – should have at least three months remaining from your departure date if visiting the Schengen area
• Issue date – passports issued more than 10 years ago are no longer accepted in the EU
• Damage – rips, water damage, and marks can all see a passport rejected
• Blank pages – most countries require at least two blank pages for stamps

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

FANCY a fun day out at the garden centre, but need something a little more exciting than just bulbs and shrubs to keep the kids occupied?

These 10 garden centres have everything from enormous soft plays, to fun barns, autumnal pumpkin carving masterclasses, quad biking and even a sandy beach….

The Hollies Farm Shop, Cheshire

The Hollies Farm Shop has lots to explore, and is a favourite of ex-Love Islander Molly-Mae Hague.

The family-run business started as a simple honesty box on the side of the road back in 1959, but is now a major family destination with two sites.

Little Budworth is the original and larger of the two, with a farm shop, butchery, delicatessen, cafe, gift barn and even luxury forest lodges.

In the farm shop and deli, visitors can pick up fresh fruit and veg, as well as daily baked bread, cheeses, cured meats and a homemade range of cakes and juices.

In The Barn, there is an extensive collection of gifts and homeware to explore including Jellycats – visitors can also grab a bite to eat and a fully-loaded hot chocolate at The Friesian Rooms, where there is an outdoor terrace.

For those who want to spend their time at the farm, they can choose to book a luxury forest lodge, each with its own private hot tub.

There are six lodges in total to choose from, sleeping between four and six people – each has an open plan living area, kitchen and there’s a log burner.

The lodges cost from around £298 per night for four people.

Paradise Park & Gardens, East Sussex

Paradise Park & Gardens is described as a hybrid of a traditional garden centre and a family theme park.

Alongside its plant nursery, coastal gardens, water garden and coffee shop, it features an attraction zone to entertain the kids.

The indoor play area is suitable for children from toddlers to pre-teens, with token-operated arcade games, remote control cars, and a soft play with tunnels, slides and ball pits.

It also has a separate soft play area for children under three along with a miniature train and a mini golf course.

When it’s sunny, check out the outdoor play area with climbing frames, slides and a 9 hole crazy golf course.

Kids can dig about in the sandpit and even drive our remote controlled boats around the pond.

Coming up this autumn are some events too including the Halloween Trail where kids can meet Barry the Burping Monster, Squealbert the Sky Pig and naughty gnomes at the Undead Disco.

Tickets are included in entry to the park which start from £12.99.

Later on in the year there’s a Santa’s Grotto, where children can meet Father Christmas and get a little festive gift.

Tickets for children over three years old start from £21.99, and this includes all day access to the attractions at Paradise Park.

For children under three, entry to Santa’s Grotto with a Day Park Pass is £9 – accompanying adults with a Day Park Pass are £12.99.

Bury Lane, Hertfordshire

Tucked away just outside of Royston in Hertfordshire is Bury Lane which has plants and garden ornaments to take a look at and there is quite often a seasonal pick your own, from peonies to dahlias and tulips.

From early autumn, a pick your own pumpkin patch will open – so make sure to bring your wellies.

The farm shop offers an array of fresh fruit and veg, butchers, fishmongers and a delicatessen.

Then pop into the Farm Shop Cafe for hearty breakfasts, lunches and snacks with roast dinners served up on Sundays.

If you’re going as a family though, one place you cannot miss is the Fun Barn, which it added to its site about 10 years ago.

Inside is a multi-storey soft play with slides, cargo nets and activities along the way along with interactive role play areas.

It might not be what you’d expect in the countryside, but the Fun Barn also has an outdoor sandy beach with deck chairs and picnic benches dotted about.

Also outside is the adventure zone with climbing boulders, electric diggers, swings, a wooden boat to climb on, giant chess and football.

This year, the beach is open until September 27.

Tickets for the fun Barn Soft Play & Beach start from £2 (6-11 months old) and start from £2.50 (one year olds).

Tickets for two to four year olds start from £4.50, for five to 10 year olds prices start from £5.75.

For those aged between 11-17, prices start from £2 – the first adult per booking is free otherwise it’s an additional £2.

Bridgemere Garden Centre, Cheshire

With it being the country’s largest garden centre (according to The Guinness Book of Records), Bridgemere Garden Centre has plenty for a family day out.

The massive space holds a restaurant and tearoom on site, so you can feast on a range of deli goods and brunch specials, before enjoying a pastry at the patisserie.

The area has more than six acres of gardens, including the Cottage Garden and Woodland Walk – and kids will have plenty of space to run around.

To keep them even busier, head to the centre’s soft play and the role play area called Apple Tree Town.

Inside is a mini cinema, police station with its own cell, garage that has a car, cottage, shop, post office and vets – all of which have dressing-up options too.

When it comes to events, Bridgemere Garden Centre will have its own Halloween codebreaking trail through the autumnal gardens.

Children must find the pumpkins and decode the letters to solve the special word – hand in the sheet and get a Halloween treat.

Tickets start from £3.99, and if you fancy pumpkin carving too, tickets start from £8.99.

Coming up to the Christmas season, the garden centre will have its own Santa’s Grotto where children will receive a gift and get a photo.

Ticket prices vary on the day and are dependent on age of the child – head here to book in advance as Santa will get very busy.

Stay for the breakfast and order a festive fry up, a pancake stack or an Elf’s Benedict with Santa and his elves – and hear a festive story.

Tickets for a festive breakfast with Santa are £18.50.

Barton Grange Garden Centre, Preston

We couldn’t miss Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston off the list.

It was named the Destination Garden Centre of the Year by the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Awards – and its won the award six times before that too.

It has a huge garden area along with a farm shop, cook shop, clothing store, the Riverside Cafe and Willows Restaurant.

The children’s menu has hot meals for £9.60, as well as make your own lunch boxes from £7.20.

Throughout the year, the garden centre holds evenings from evenings with horticulturists to pottery painting sessions.

There are also pumpkin sculpting masterclasses where an expert demonstrates how to turn the squash into characters like Stitch, from Lilo and Stitch.

In November, it will be launching its Santa’s Grotto where children can meet Santa and his elves before selecting a gift from the present room, which is brimming with toys

Then there’s a stop at Mrs Christmas’ kitchen where children can decorate their own gingerbread house cookie.

Tickets to the grotto start from £30 for one adult and one child.

And while technically it’s not inside the garden centre, just across the road is the Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, which has crazy golf, bowling and a cinema for kids to enjoy.

Yarnton Home & Garden, Oxfordshire

Every member of the family will enjoy a day out at Yarnton Home & Garden.

It has beautiful plants, garden furniture, gifts and food is served at the Allotment Cafe.

The garden centre also has a children’s toy shop filled with puzzles, soft toys and books.

To entice kids out of the shop, head to the Magic Garden, a nature-themed indoor play area.

Designed for children up to 10, it has a climbing frame made to look like a garden shed along with tunnels, rope bridges and slides.

There’s also a see-saw, swing, foam gardening tools to play with, a teepee and for the parents, comfy sofas.

The soft play centre is completely free to enter.

If you fancy getting crafty, there are lots of events on throughout the year like the Pumpkin Workshop.

Kids can get hands on scooping and carving their own pumpkin for Halloween.

The workshop takes place every hour between October 26-30 from £6.99pp.

The garden centre also has its own Potting Shed Studio where you can create your own masterpieces or simply paint them.

You can book a table for up to six people for an hour session with a booking fee of £1pp.

Craft Nurseries, Essex

Whether you’re looking for plants, shrubs, seeds, or just a day out, Craft Nurseries in Essex is one to visit.

Its indoor soft play barn will keep kids occupied, along with a dedicated play section for young children and babies.

There’s also an outdoor area with a bouncing pillows, farm animals like pygmy goats and rabbits, and a mud kitchen.

Tickets to the soft play start from £4 (children aged 0-2) and £7.50 (children age 2+).

Accompanying adults must also have a ticket – these cost £3.

The garden centre also has a restaurant and coffee shop all set within the grounds.

Birchen Grove, London

Along with being a lovely garden centre filled with a collection of outdoor planes, houseplants, gifts and pots – the children’s play area at Birchen Grove is hard to beat.

It has a huge indoor play area called The Grove Playtown which has 11 themed rooms from shops to a police station, doctors, hairdressers, to an ice cream truck.

There’s also plenty of opportunity for kids to get dressed up with fancy-dress costumes.

To secure a spot it’s advised to make a booking, with children’s tickets from £8 and accompanying adult tickets from £2.

The sessions last an hour and a half.

The fun doesn’t stop there, as outside there’s lots of play equipment from swings to a climbing frame and quad bikes.

Kids can hop on and off – they just need a token from the tills and it costs £2 a go.

The quad bikes are open 11am to 3pm every weekend and during the school holidays (children under 90cm must be accompanied by an adult).

Vanstone Park Garden Centre, Hertfordshire

Vanstone Park Garden Centre in Caldicote is the perfect place for families to enjoy a day out.

The family-run business started back in 1976 selling plants and gardening essentials – but outside is where the fun begins.

The children’s playground has the usual swings, climbing frames and slides, as well as a bouncy castle.

For any fan of trains, hop onboard the miniature railway through the grounds and woodland.

Or take a walk around the Wildlife Lake, where you can spots birds like the Greylag Goose and Moorhen.

If you’re lucky, you might even spot a deer grazing nearby.

Don’t forget to pop into The Greenhouse Cafe for a hot dinner, toasted panini, sandwich or afternoon tea.

Brookside Garden Centre, Stockport

Brookside Garden Centre in Stockport might look like your average garden centre, but on some weekends throughout the year it has a funfair takeover.

It’s a vintage attraction with some rides and games dating back to the 1930s.

Think classic merry-go-round, hook a duck and swinging boat rides.

Its next upcoming funfair will be on September 26-27 between 11am and 4pm.

The following month, there will be a Spookside Halloween Celebration from October 31-November 1 between 11am and 4pm.

The funfair is completely free to enter, rides and games are paid for with tokens that you can buy on arrival.

The garden centre is also home to the Brookside Miniature railway where families can hop onboard a ride that’s over half a mile long.

They’ll be celebrating Halloween during Spookside too and the line will be kitted out with creepy decor.

The train fare is £2.50 for everyone over the age of two.

50 boats rushed across the sea to evacuate people from the beach as the fire spread

A couple have described their terrifying escape after a wildfire surrounded their holiday resort, forcing hundreds of guests to flee towards the sea. Stephen and Anna Saunders had been staying at the Gava Waterman resort on Brač in Croatia for a week-long holiday.

Guests at the all-inclusive four-star waterfront hotel were initially reassured there was “nothing to worry about” despite ash falling from the sky and a huge orange glow visible over the hills. The couple, from Rainham, Kent, had arrived on the island last Monday and were aware there had been wildfires in the area for several days.

Stephen said a guide warned them on Friday that lightning strikes had caused the blaze. Despite the fires being close by, he said guests were repeatedly told the situation was under control. But on Saturday evening, September 12, the pair went out to dinner with friends and said they could see an “orange glow” in the sky.

“There was ash falling into our drinks,” Anna said. Just after 9.30pm, the power went out at the hotel. Shortly afterwards, Stephen says ash was “visibly falling from the sky”. At that point, the couple returned to their room and decided to pack a small bag “just in case”. Within minutes, a friend told them that trees were on fire right next to the hotel.

Anna said: “The embers were blowing across. I quickly changed my shoes and we went down by the sea, but there were no lights, and no one from the hotel was present. The fire was just shooting across, and it just came down so quickly, so we thought the best thing to do was get in the water.”

The 52-year-old said hundreds of people eventually gathered on wooden platforms and in the sea as smoke and flames surrounded the bay. “Everyone was absolutely terrified”, she added. “There were hundreds and hundreds of people all on these platforms or in the sea. We were basically trapped.”

Stephen said the only staff members he saw were entertainment and restaurant workers. He says there was no emergency lighting, no clear evacuation route, and reception was empty. A spokesperson for Waterman Hotels and Resorts denied that guests “were abandoned by the resort team”.

Stephen said he had to rescue an elderly couple who became stuck in automatic glass doors. “There were families, elderly people and disabled guests trying to get down a steep, dark resort towards a rocky beach while the fire closed in behind us,” he added.

“Within minutes, the trees around the beach were burning. The flames were above us. It was getting really hot and burning embers were raining down from the sky. At this point, people were jumping into the sea and trying to get away from the smoke.”

Firefighters eventually arrived and helped to organise a sea evacuation, and local boat owners came to help rescue those trapped. Stephen said around 50 boats came to help and praised the firefighters and local people who came to their aid.

The 57-year-old electrician said: “If it weren’t for them, I don’t know what would have happened.” The couple, who booked the holiday through TUI, were moved to accommodation in Split in the early hours of Sunday morning – on Anna’s birthday.

They returned home on Monday evening, but Anna said the experience has had a lasting impact. She explained: “We’re not sleeping properly. You just close your eyes, and you’re going through it all the time.”

Stephen said their luggage is expected to be recovered, although other guests lost their possessions. He is planning to lodge a formal complaint to the hotel along with other people impacted last week.

A spokesperson for Waterman Hotels and Resorts said it recognises how “frightening and traumatic” the ordeal was for guests and does “not seek to diminish or challenge anyone’s individual experience” of the evacuation. They explained that the resort’s layout, the loss of electricity, heavy smoke and poor visibility, and the speed at which the fire advanced meant guests experienced different circumstances and had access to different information at different times.

“We would, however, like to correct one important claim that has appeared in some accounts: our guests were not abandoned by the resort team,” they said. They said staff at the resort, which also hosts easyJet and Jet2 trips, initially acted on “the official information and instructions provided by the authorities and emergency services coordinating the response to the wildfire”, and the resort had been instructed not to evacuate guests.

They added: “Conditions then changed with extraordinary speed. An extreme change in wind drove the fire towards the resort, power was lost, and heavy smoke severely reduced visibility.

“When our team on the ground saw that the situation had changed dramatically and that the fire presented an immediate danger to the resort, our reception manager made the decision to activate the alarm and begin the evacuation. Our employees then assisted guests throughout the evacuation.

“The final group of our employees involved left on the last boat used in the evacuation, after establishing that the guests had gone. Other employees travelled during the fire to assist guests and colleagues at the resort.”

Courage and extraordinary efforts

The spokesperson said reception, kitchen, technical and other resort staff stepped forward to help. They added that the company has received many messages from guests thanking them for their assistance, but accepts that “this does not mean that every guest had the same experience”.

“With more than 360 guests spread across a large resort, no electricity, heavy smoke, extremely poor visibility and a fire advancing at exceptional speed, it was extraordinarily difficult for information and assistance to reach everyone simultaneously,” they explained.

“We understand that some guests therefore felt they did not have the information or guidance they needed at critical moments. We take those experiences seriously.

“However, just as we would never question the fear or distress experienced by any of our guests, we believe it is important that the actions of the many employees who remained and helped others in extremely dangerous circumstances are also accurately represented.”

The team is currently working through inquiries from guests regarding luggage, documentation and other belongings. The spokesperson described the situation as an “extraordinary emergency”, with conditions changing “minute from minute”.

They said: “The courage and extraordinary efforts of the firefighters and emergency services, the solidarity of local people who came by boat and helped evacuate guests, and the commitment of our own employees are not things we believe should be called into question.

Deeply traumatic

“They are a source of profound gratitude and pride, and they are a major reason why far more serious and tragic consequences were avoided.

“We will examine our own actions with the same seriousness. We will conduct a detailed review of the events of that night, including our procedures and communications, and identify any lessons that need to be learned.

“Saturday night was deeply traumatic for our guests, our employees and the local community. Alongside that trauma, however, we will remember the extraordinary courage, solidarity and willingness of people to help one another in exceptionally dangerous circumstances.”

A TUI UK spokesperson said: “We know this will have been a frightening and distressing experience for those affected by the wildfire on the island of Brac. The safety of our customers is our highest priority, and our local teams have been supporting those impacted and working closely with the hotel and local authorities.

“We would like to thank the emergency services for their response to this rapidly developing situation.”

COBBLED streets, vintage shops, pubs with roaring fires all surrounded by rolling countryside hills – you’ll find it all in this Yorkshire village.

There’s no better time to visit than autumn, as the whole village gets a seasonal overhaul with huge shop displays and twinkling lights for the dark evenings.

The West Yorkshire village called Haworth has absolutely everything associated with autumn from cobbled streets to charming cottages and cosy cafes.

Main Street is full of independent shops – and was previously named as one of the most beautiful streets in the UK.

It gets a makeover for autumn with plenty of pumpkins, orange lights and leafy displays around shop entrances.

Popular stores include Mrs Beighton’s Sweet Shop which has over 500 varieties of sweets, Haworth Wholefoods for local artisan bread, and The Cabinet of Curiosities that’s filled with candles, oils and bubbling cauldron bath bombs.

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Other shops include Oh La La Vintage for items from the 1920s onwards, and Chocolate for sweet treats, along with galleries and bookshops.

For pubs, there’s the Fleece Inn which serves up homemade pies and Whitby scampi sold alongside its range of ales.

Rooms are available to book too with the double room with a walk-in shower available from £145 (£72.50pp) – a single room can be booked from £60.

If it’s a hot drink in a cafe that you’re after, then head to the Old Post Office for a slice of cake, or a warm Belgian waffle.

The village has caught lots of attention on social media thanks to its autumn feel with some comparing it to Starry Hollow from Gilmore Girls.

One woman who filmed her visit to Haworth on Instagram described it as a “village that feels like it’s been lifted straight out of a storybook”.

Comments on the post read:” Looks magical!” another added “this is so cute! Like you are in a fairytale”.

The town has literature connections too as it was home of the Brontë sisters, who between them wrote books like Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre.

Yorkshire.com explained: “Home of the famous Brontë sisters, Haworth is an undisputed literary mecca, attracting visitors from all around the world.“

“With its historic cobbled Main Street, iconic parsonage and rolling moors, the picturesque proportions of this Airedale village exude a vintage charm that makes you feel you’ve stepped into another era.”

If you want to arrive at the village in a truly Old England way, then there’s a steam train that links the town along the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

The train regularly features in films, such as the Railway Children, which was filmed in Haworth.

It has a regular timetable, while special weekend events like like vintage experiences and for autumn, one called The Spooky Express.

OUR Spotlight On column gives you the lowdown on what to see and do in some of the best holiday destinations abroad as well as some lesser-known spots in the UK.

With the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Megan and Harry, beginning their new life in the UK, we’ve decided to shine a light on the Cotswolds town of Witney as the couple and their children are reportedly settling into the historic region.

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey grew up there and has long claimed its an excellent day trip outside of the nearby busy Cotswolds towns of Burford and Bourton-on-the-Water.

Try Hunter’s Cake Cafe for insanely delicious sweet treats, and pick up some cute gifts from Lily’s Attic.

Or go just outside of town to Minster Lovell Ruins for the ideal picnic spots within the 16th century remains.

Here are some of my other top tips of places to go.

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MUST SEE / DO

Learn about the town’s history in wool at Witney Blanket Hall, which dates back to 1721 and is free to visit (make sure to pick up a blanket at the gift shop too).

And kids will love Cogges Manor Farm with 17 acres to explore which includes an adventure playground and animals they can feed and pet.

Tickets start from £12 for adults, see cogges.org.uk.

Otherwise a short drive away is Blenheim Palace as well as Jeremy Clarkson’s The Farmer’s Dog.

HIDDEN GEM

Only known by locals, head straight to Sandwich de Witney for one of the heartiest baguettes you’ll have ever seen.

Just don’t be too late – most of them sell out shortly after lunch.

For evening entertainment, catch some comedy or some live tribute acts at the very tiny Fat Lils music venue.

Previous comedians have included Greg Davies and Milton Jones. Tickets from £5. See fatlils.co.uk.

BEST VIEW

Grab a coffee and head down to the banks of the River Windrush which runs through the town.

The peaceful break from the bustling town is the ideal escape, where you’ll be mainly joined by joggers and a few cows in the distance.

It even used to host the World Pooh Sticks Championships, so grab a stick and get racing.

RATED RESTAURANT

If there is one thing Witney has an abundance of, its pubs.

And one of the finest in town for a meal out is The Fleece, a gastropub and hotel.

You’ll be licking the crumbs off the plate of the Devon crab cakes, and I’d go back just for Aubrey’s Cheeseburger, complete with the crispiest chips and pickles.

There’s a fantastic list of desserts, but my sweet tooth was satisfied by the bizarre, yet strangely delicious Banana Brulee Old Fashioned.

BEST BAR

If you love a beer, head to the Crafty Pint Bar.

It was recently named Oxford Pub of the Year by Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), with a number of independent beers both on tap and by the bottle.

Try the Little Ox which is brewed just down the road.

Otherwise for the best vibes on a Friday night, head over to the Como Lounge in the centre of town where you can get two cocktails for £13.25.

HOTEL PICK

The Blue Boar ticks all the boxes – central location, cosy-yet-modern bedrooms and a fantastic restaurant downstairs.

Originally a 17th century coaching inn, there’s just 20 rooms to choose from, each with four poster beds, DAB radios and Nespresso machines.

Some rooms have views over the town centre, and easy has lush bathrooms kitted out with fluffy towels and luxe toiletries.

After recent renovations to the bar and restaurant, it reopened last week. Rooms start from £81. See acornpubs.co.uk/blueboar.

WANT to know what true happiness feels like? You’ll need to ditch crowded European beaches for mud-covered, chill out sessions and freezing cold lakes.

Earlier this year, Finland was named the happiest country in the world for the ninth year running.

According to the World Population Review, Finland scored 7.74 out of 10 overall in the most recent index – compared to the world average which is 5.57.

The happiness score factors are calculated across six categories including social support, life expectancy and freedom to make choices.

Win one of five incredible holidays to Turkey, the Norwegian fjords and Spain by voting in The Sun’s Travel Awards – enter here to win.

The report also mentions that top-ranked countries tend to have a combination of a higher income average, longer life expectancy and great freedom.

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So on a recent trip to Finland, I really put those stats to the test exploring different parts of Finnish life and culture to find out just why they are so cheerful.

Saunas

If the Finns are known for one thing, it is their saunas.

With a staggering 3.2million saunas compared to 5.2million people, there is nearly a sauna per 1.6 people.

And until experiencing the sauna culture in the country for myself, I didn’t get the hype.

But being in a sauna is the ultimate relaxation.

And they aren’t all the same kind – you get saunas of different temperatures, wood-fired saunas, smoke saunas and so on.

My favourite was the peat sauna, where I covered myself in mud and let it harden before scrubbing it off in the shower.

It is meant to do wonders for your skin and I did feel very refreshed and clean afterwards.

Saunas are also proven to be good for your health, with benefits for your heart, circulation and stress levels – promoting relaxation, better well-being and a decent night’s sleep.

Free foraging

In Finland, there are Everyman’s Rights – a traditional legal principle that allows everyone to freely explore nature without the landowner’s permission or having to pay a fee.

Whether it be swimming, walking, cycling or even riding a horse, you are allowed to do it all – even on privately owned land.

As part of the rights, you are allowed to pick wild berries, mushrooms and flowers as long as they are not protected species.

And Finland is abundant with tasty berries such as blueberries and lingonberries and mushrooms, such as chanterelles and porcini.

I love UK forests and it is always fun to see different mushrooms, but having such a variety that are safe to eat is something a little more special.

Forests & lakes

Seventy per cent of Finland is covered in forest and 10 per cent of the land area is lakes.

With that in mind, there are a lot of lush green places to walk and open calm waters to swim in.

In total, Finland has around 188,000 lakes with the largest being Lake Saimaa, which is where I visited.

Despite the water being a chilly 17C, thanks to the Everyman’s Rights you can dip in and out as much as you like.

The refreshing dips truly are invigorating and very relaxing if paired with a session in a sauna.

Most of the lakes are surrounded by dense forest with towering trees that look like they have been ripped out of a fairytale.

You can spend even longer enjoying it as you are allowed to pitch a tent for a night or two freely.

Kota culture

Across the parks, forests and at the edge of lakes you will find these cosy-looking indoor-outdoor cabins.

These are actually nicknamed ‘kota’ or ‘Grillikota’ and are shelters invented by the indigenous Sami people of Lapland around 4,000 years ago.

Over the years, the huts have been modernised relevant to today’s uses and now they are usually hexagonal or octagonal wooden cabins along hiking trails used to grill sausages and make food while enjoying outdoor adventures.

Public huts, such as those I found on one of the many islands on Lake Saimaa, are unlocked and free to use and are usually managed by the Finnish Forest Administration.

There only tends to be one rule and that is that the space must always be made for the newest, most exhausted hiker who arrives.

Firewood is also provided for free at public kotas and you must leave no trace.

Less people

Finland is about 1.4 times bigger than the UK, yet the country’s population (5.2million) is just over half the population of the UK’s capital, London (9.1million).

While initially I felt a little uncomfortable when walking around Imatra and seeing no people, it means that everywhere is so peaceful and constantly clean.

The entire time I was in Finland I didn’t see a single piece of rubbish – but with an incentive of around 20 cents per bottle you recycle, it’s easy to see why.

IN LESS than five years the UK is set to get a new theme park that’s the only one of its kind in Europe.

Universal United Kingdom Resort, as it is officially known, will be located in Bedfordshire and is set to open in 2031.

Universal has always been at the forefront of new theme park upgrades, from letting guests use wands to cast spells in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to interactive dragon robots at How To Train Your Dragon – Isle Of Berk.

Now the company has applied for FOUR new patents, giving fans a sneak peek at what to expect at their theme parks in the future.

These include a hybrid ride vehicle that can transition between being suspended from a track – as if it is floating through the air – to floating on the water.

Images show that the boat-style car would connect to an overhead arm and then when it enters the water it would detach from the arm and float like a normal boat.

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Another patent reveals an AI guide – an audio tour that would be able to see your surroundings and then talk to you.

It isn’t clear yet what the AI guide would be used for by Universal, but it sounds like it could be along the lines of a Google Lens or Pokemon Go experience.

It is also unclear whether these patents are specifically for the UK park or all parks.

What we do know though, is that this week the Universal United Kingdom Resort announced the 23 contractors, engineers and architects that will be used for the project.

Contractors include the team behind the 2012 London Olympic Stadium as well as The Eden Project in Cornwall, the O2 Arena, a number of airport expansions and Battersea Power Station.

Previously announced details about the first Universal destination in Europe include that it will be located on a site in Kempston Hardwick, Bedfordshire – about 45 miles from London.

The park will spread across 476 acres and feature the theme park as well as hotels, restaurants, shops and even room for possible future expansion.

The theme park will be split into four “zones” – the Core Zone, Lake Zone, West Gateway Zone and the East Gateway Zone.

Accommodation and business hotels will be in the Lake Zone, as well as an entertainment complex and a convention centre.

West Gateway Zone and the East Gateway Zone will be where guests arrive by train and car, with restaurants and hotels.

This is also likely to be where the Entry Plaza area will be, as well as parking and a 500-room hotel.

When it comes to what will actually be inside the theme park itself, there are plenty of rumours flying around.

What we do know is that there will be indoor and outdoor rides, as well as areas for shows and entertainment.

The plans state: “[Guests will] experience blockbuster attractions, adrenaline-pumping coasters, and mind-blowing spectaculars.

“They’ll come face-to-face with incredible creatures, heroes, and villains.

“They’ll discover great food, new laughs, new ways to play, and step into immersive worlds they’ve only ever dreamed of.”

There will also be a maximum height of anything in the theme park of 115metres – which if this were to be a rollercoaster, it would take over from Red Force at Ferrari Land (part of PortAventura World) in Salou, Spain, as the tallest in Europe.

Despite Universal not confirming the park map or rides that will feature, industry speculation expects the attraction to focus on its British roots with much-loved franchise Harry Potter featuring.

Other famous films set to play a part in the theme park include Paddington Bear and James Bond.

There are also rumours that Jurassic World, How to Train Your Dragon, Despicable Me/Minions and Shrek could also feature.

Rail lines near the theme park will also get upgraded with a new station on the East West Rail and Midland Main (Thameslink) Line.

It is expected to cost £5billion to bring to life.