A BRAND new visitor attraction is coming to a UK city – and it is opening tomorrow.
Zip World – a UK outdoor adventure giant – is opening its first ever city-centre site in Wales.
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The new Zip World Cardiff attraction will have three experiencesCredit: Huw EvansThese include a zip line, abseiling and rooftop walkCredit: Huw EvansTickets cost from £25 per personCredit: Huw Evans
The new destination will be located on top of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The attraction will open tomorrow and will have three experiences.
The first experience is a Stadium Walk, where visitors can step across the rooftop of the Principality Stadium and gain panoramic views of the city.
At Stadium Drop, visitors can abseil down the side of the stadium.
Finally, at Stadium Flyer, visitors can head on a zip line across a 60 metre high canopy.
Unlike other Zip World attractions, the Cardiff site will sell tickets to each experience individually – so visitors can chose one experience, two or all three.
Tickets will start from £25 per person.
The opening of Zip World Cardiff at Principality Stadium will be Zip World’s second city-centric location, following the opening of Helix and ArcelorMittal Orbit 360 in London last year.
The attraction is opening in partnership with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).
The attraction was previously branded under the name Scale and was operated by Wire & Sky.
Zip World will now be the new operator of the Principality Stadium roof top attraction after securing a deal with the WRU.
Andrew Hudson, CEO of Zip World, commented: “Bringing Zip World to Cardiff is a proud moment for us.
“It’s our first stadium location and our first city-centre location in Wales.
“It’s chance to bring something new to the capital, in a place that means a lot to our team and to the wider Welsh public.
“Taking on the rooftop operations at Principality Stadium marks the start of an exciting new chapter – one where Zip World will act as a strategic partner to help shape the stadium’s next phase.
“This is just the beginning.
Visitors can book the experiences individuallyCredit: Huw Evans
“Our team is working hard behind the scenes, and we can’t wait to introduce even more adventures to the stadium and bring a bit of Zip World magic to Cardiff – watch this space!”
Sean Taylor, founder and president of Zip World added: “As a lifelong rugby fan, I’ve got fond memories of watching Wales play as a young lad.
“The atmosphere was electric and the Andy Haden dive in 1978 is something I’ll never forget.
“To now be taking on the rooftop adventures at Principality Stadium marks a significant step forward for Zip World.”
Zip World also recently announced a new adventure attraction in one of the UK’s best loved beauty spots – with a huge underground zip wire.
ONE travel writer headed to Zip World in Llechwedd to see what it is like…
Zip World Llechwedd in North Wales is a bit different from your average theme park – and not just because of its location.
This vast cavern is twice the size of St Paul’s Cathedral and although there are no rollercoasters, it’s still crammed with exciting activities from an 18-hole underground crazy golf course and an adventure course that relies on wires, rope bridges and tightropes to a mega zipline above the quarry.
There’s even a deep mining tour that uncovers an underground lake at 500ft below which relies on a cable railway to get back to the surface.
My boys were most excited for Bounce Below, though – a sprawling and cavernous trampoline park which features nets set at different levels for adventurers young and old to explore.
You need to arrive about half an hour before your time slot to get checked in, but that gives you plenty of time to discover the site on the surface before you venture inside the mountain.
The boys had an absolute blast underground, exploring all the different levels of nets and the twisty slides that connect them.
The lights and music all added to the atmosphere and before we knew it, our hour was up and we were heading back along the tunnels to the mine entrance.
If you prefer to stay above ground, other Zip World sites in Wales, Cumbria , Manchester and London offer attractions like a toboggan ride downhill through the forest, high ropes courses and even a turn on the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide overlooking the 2012 Olympic Park.
There will be a natural history trail, venturing through parts of the nearby countryside as well, and a visitor centre with information boards.
Proposals were first submitted two years ago by Burlington Slate, which owns Elterwater slate mine and Zip World.
In the application, the mine said: “The proposed experience at Elterwater will provide a blend of heritage-based adventure through the caverns and offer a unique immersive experience within an underground mine that dates back to the middle of the 19th century.”
However, the first proposals were rejected.
A year later they were resubmitted and approved.
The proposed park isn’t without its controversy though as campaign group Friends of the Lake District has attempted to stop the project.
The group claimed that the planning permission has been wrongly granted and that the new experience would “take us a step closer to a Lake District of noise, chaos and degraded landscapes”.
However, this month, judgement from a judicial review was published and ruled in favour of the Lake District National Authority – meaning that the zipline was still allowed to go ahead.
Michael Hill, CEO of Friends of the Lake District said: “This ruling is a setback for the Cumbrian landscape, but in our 90 years’ history Friends of the Lake District has seen many of those.
“We remain unbowed in our determination to campaign for a Lake District that is tranquil, rich in cultural heritage and environmentally healthy and for protections in law for this and other National Parks to be maintained and strengthened.”
However, the project received a lot of opposition before it was finally approvedCredit: Getty
The International Council on Monuments and Sites – which is an advisory board to UNESCO – has also commented that they are opposed to the planned zipline.
The council explained that the zipline “would transform the quarry or part of it into a theme park and would trivialise the experience of an important aspect of the Lake District’s heritage”.
The ultimate worry is that the attraction could lead the Lake District losing its UNESCO World Heritage Site status, which is what happened to the Liverpool Docks in 2021.
The lake itself reveals a heart shape when the water levels drop, also exposing the 500million-year-old rock.
The site of the new attraction is a 40-minute drive from Windermere and an opening date is yet to be revealed.
I visited the UK’s biggest underground ‘theme park’ in caves – it’s twice the size of St Paul’s
TRAVEL writer Catherine Lofthouse recently visited one of Zip World’s other locations – here are he thoughts.
Zip World Llechwedd in North Wales is a bit different from your average theme park – and not just because of its location.
This vast cavern is twice the size of St Paul’s Cathedral and although there are no rollercoasters, it’s still crammed with exciting activities from an 18-hole underground crazy golf course and an adventure course that relies on wires, rope bridges and tightropes to a mega zipline above the quarry.
There’s even a deep mining tour that uncovers an underground lake at 500ft below which relies on a cable railway to get back to the surface.
My boys were most excited for Bounce Below, though – a sprawling and cavernous trampoline park which features nets set at different levels for adventurers young and old to explore.
You need to arrive about half an hour before your time slot to get checked in, but that gives you plenty of time to discover the site on the surface before you venture inside the mountain
The boys had an absolute blast underground, exploring all the different levels of nets and the twisty slides that connect them.
Obviously the caves are a bit cold and damp, so you need to wear warm clothes and sensible shoes, preferably not your Sunday best.
In other attraction news, these are the top 15 in the UK including six which are totally free.
The film saga has many fans, who’ve previously lauded the series on IMDb.
One person titled their 10/10 review: “One of the all time great seafaring adventures!”
The user added: “It ranks up there with the original Mutiny on the Bounty,The Sea Hawk and Master And Commander as one of the greatest of its kind.”
Another person said in their 10/10 review: “This is one of the most realistic historical dramas out there.
“Everything in Hornblower is played to perfection, from the sets (fantastic, towering ships) to the costumes to the cast. The actors are all so believable in their roles that it’s hard to pull yourself out of that world. I had only flicked onto it by accident on TV, but I couldn’t pull myself away.”
Robert Lindsay starred in the historical films (Image: ITV)
A third described the drama as a “True Swashbuckling Adventure” and added: “A great cast and the sight of the beautiful sailing vessels in full rigging — I’d forgotten how much I love them.”
Someone else commented: “Storytelling at its best!” and elaborated: “The first in the Horatio Hornblower series, this installment is absolutely stunning. After watching this, you will find yourself longing for more. There is enough action, drama, and humor to satisfy just about anyone [sic].”
Yet another person hailed the show as “top notch entertainment” and said: “I viewed this show with some trepidation, as the name Hornblower to me (as with many others) is synonymous with Gregory Peck.
“But this is a different Hornblower and the magic is very much the same – fancy uniforms, good guys and bad guys, lots of sailing ships and lot of blood and thunder. What more can one ask for?”
The film series focuses on the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars(Image: ITV)
Hornblower was a series of historical films led by Hollywood star Ioan Gruffudd and was based on the three of the 10 novels written by C. S. Forester.
The drama followed the fictional title character Horatio Hornblower, a Royal Naval officer during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
The films ran on ITV from 1998 to 2003, and there were eight in total.
Other cast members included Robert Lindsay, Paul McGann, Paul Copley, Sean Gilder, and Jamie Bamber.
The historical TV films have been praised by audiences (Image: ITV)
There were also some other big names who made appearances, including Denis Lawson, Ian McNeice, Samuel West, Cherie Lunghi, and Greg Wise.
Prior to the ITV films, there were other adaptations of Forester’s novels, with Hollywood star Gregory Peck taking on the character in the 1951 movie Captain Horatio Hornblower.
While David Buck starred in an American TV series as the character in 1963 and Michael Redgrave appeared in a radio adaptation in the 1950s
A BRAND new vintage fairground-themed playpark has just opened its doors in the UK.
The new Adventure Play Fair in Norfolk is “one of East Anglia’s largest themed play areas,” according to the attraction’s Instagram account.
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A new vintage fairground-themed playpark has opened near NorfolkCredit: Instagram/thursford_
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It features many different areas with climbing structures, slides and interactive elementsCredit: Instagram/thursford_
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Sprawled across the 30,000-square-foot park, wooden huts have been converted into all the things you would expect to find at a funfair.
A towering red and yellow Helter Skelter stands out in the play area and has a small climbing wall and exit to a bridge walkway on the side as well.
Then there is a wooden shed standing as a ‘Popcorn Hut’, with a rope bridge leading it to the ‘Hook a Duck’ hut with a slide and another exit to the ‘Hall of Mirrors’.
Read more on travel inspo
Another spot is ‘Tin Can Alley’, where kids can bang on long metal tubes that vary in length to create differently pitched sounds.
The Ferris Wheel, dubbed ‘The Big Wheel’ has a network of tunnels, bridges and different wooden ‘pods’.
While the giant play structure doesn’t move like a Ferris Wheel does, the different cabins have a variety of things to do, including one with a slide out of it.
The carousel also stands stationary, with wooden horses and a long rope bridge coming from its roof and stretching to another part of the park.
And scattered across the park are a number of multicoloured teacups.
Adding to the vintage steam rally theme, there is a train that kids can crawl through, and on hot days, they can have a splash in the UK’s first water fountain organ.
New seafront playground with unreal view and incredible theme opens minutes from busy city
Classic playground elements are in the ‘funfair’ too, such as swings, pedal quadracycles and trampolines in the ground.
For the parents, there are plenty of picnic benches with parasols to perch on and a cafe to grab refreshments or a light bite at.
One visitor, who headed to the open day yesterday, said: “[T]his is outdoor play on a whole new level.”
Tickets cost £4 per adult and £8 per child and the Adventure Play Fair is open Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 5pm.
While there, families can also explore the museum that has the world’s largest collection of steam engines.
For half price adult admission and free tickets for kids under 12, you can show your Adventure Play Fair tickets.
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And there is also a water fountain area that kids can play inCredit: Thursford
Thursford is also popular in the festive season for its Christmas Spectacular, which includes a three-hour show with over 130 performers.
There is also Santa’s Magical Journey, which includes a meet-and-greet with Father Christmas.
From November, visitors can head on The Enchanted Journey of Light – an immersive light trail with fairytale characters, lanterns and lit-up seesaws and swings.
And if you are looking for something else to do nearby, head down the road to Pumpkin House which has a maize maze, minigolf, tractor sand pits and pumpkin picking in October.
Or you could discover Hindringham Hall – a moated Tudor manor house with fishponds and historic walled garden.
There are holiday cottages at the house too, if you wanted to extend your stay in the area.
Growing up in a ranching community on California’s Central Coast, I reaped the benefits of being surrounded by vast landscapes — hikes in the nearby mountains, adventurous lake activities and family games under the sun. Now, living in the city, I crave these experiences. In planning vacations, I often daydream about trading office lights and parking meters for dusty boots and wide-open spaces.
Enter the dude ranch, a cattle ranch-turned-resort that lets guests live like a cowboy (or gal) — sans the early morning chores. California has several of these destinations spread across picturesque landscapes, from the oak-studded hills of Central California to the dramatic Sierra Nevada foothills. At these family-friendly ranches, you can choose your daily adventures among a full slate of activities and programming. You might take a morning wagon hayride in the mountains, try fly fishing or archery in the afternoon, kick up your boots at a line dancing soiree in the evening and end the night with a s’mores-filled campfire under the stars.
And you can ride horses, of course. Ranch staff and professional wranglers are usually on hand to tailor your experience, whether you’re a skilled rider or have a kid getting in the saddle for the very first time. At a weekly rodeo at Alisal Ranch in Santa Ynez Valley, intermediate and advanced riders can enter a team sorting competition, an exciting event where participants must move cattle against the clock.
At dude ranches, accommodations range from cozy log cabins to upscale lodges and usually include hearty ranch-style meals, often made from locally sourced ingredients. Most ranches offer all-inclusive packages, though some activities and excursions require an extra fee.
As more people live out their Wild West fantasies through travel, staying at a classic dude ranch has become a unique vacation style. But ranching has long been a way of life in California. The state’s ranching roots stretch back to the late 1700s when Spanish settlers introduced cattle and established sprawling ranchos. These vast tracts of land, worked by vaqueros (a.k.a. the original cowboys), laid the foundation for California’s farming culture. Since the early 20th century, ranches have been welcoming guests from the city, offering a taste of unplugged cowboy life.
Today, a dude ranch vacation is more than a peaceful getaway. It’s a connection to a rich, dusty legacy that helped define the American West. Step into the boots of a cowboy — if only for a few days — at one of these guest ranches across California.
Hello! I’m Mark Olsen. Welcome to another edition of your regular field guide to a world of Only Good Movies.
Greg Braxton did an interview with the ever-quotable Spike Lee this week. Lee’s newest film, “Highest 2 Lowest,” starring Denzel Washington, is in theaters next week and begins streaming on Apple TV+ on Sept. 5. Lee will make an appearance at the Egyptian Theatre next Thursday for a Q&A after a screening of the film.
The film is adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s “High and Low,” in which a wealthy businessman believes his son is kidnapped and must scramble to put together the ransom money. When his son is found, it turns out that actually it is the son of his driver who has been abducted. The criminals still want their ransom, creating a moral dilemma for the businessman.
Lee likens the relationship between “High and Low” and “Highest 2 Lowest” to that between the renditions of the song “My Favorite Things” as done by Julie Andrews in “The Sound of Music” and performed by saxophone great John Coltrane.
“It’s a reinterpretation,” he says. “There’s a history of jazz musicians doing reinterpretations of standards. We’re jazz musicians in front of and behind the camera.”
Spike Lee, photographed in New York in July.
(Victoria Will / For The Times)
Likewise, audiences will bring their own feelings to how they would respond to the ethical dilemma at the center of the film.
“That is what makes the whole scenario great,” Lee continues. “Everyone would answer that situation differently. [Toshiro] Mifune laid down the foundation. He handed the baton to Denzel and Denzel took it, and did not miss a motherf—ing stride. You know like those brothers in the Olympics? We don’t drop the baton.”
The new film marks the fifth collaboration between Lee and Washington, a collaboration that also includes “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Malcolm X,” “He Got Game” and “Inside Man.” Lee hopes it won’t be the last. Even at 68, the director maintains an enthusiasm and focus for his work and the future.
“I’m just getting started,” he says. “As an individual and an artist, when you’re doing what you love, you win. I don’t see the finish line, the tape.”
“Highest 2 Lowest” also features a performance by Latin jazz great Eddie Palmieri, who died this week at age 88.
‘Pee-wee’s Big Adventure’ turns 40
The late Paul Reubens, in his most famous role as Pee-wee Herman, on the big screen at the TCL Chinese Theatre for a special screening of 1985’s “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” at 2023’s AFI Fest.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
On Saturday the Academy Museum will present a 40th anniversary screening of Tim Burton’s “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” which finds Paul Reubens’ signature character on an epic quest to recover his beloved bicycle. As part of the evening’s program, the actual prop bicycle will be presented to the museum on behalf of Reubens’ estate.
The debut feature of director Tim Burton — who has recently found new success with the series “Wednesday” — “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” is an endlessly surprising and delightful film, one in which absolutely anything seems possible.
In his original review of the film, Michael Wilmington drew comparisons to Peter Lorre and Soupy Sales in attempting to describe the particular appeal of Reubens’ petulant, perennially childlike character.
“That’s what makes the character work: this sense of absolute, crazed conviction. And it makes the movie work as well — for its own audience,” Wilmington said. “Be forewarned: This film is not for anyone whose taste in humor runs only to silky Oscar Wildean epigrams or naturalistic comedies of the ‘Tootsie’ school. The wrong crowd will find these antics infantile and offensive. The right one will have a howling good time.”
Paul Reubens in the HBO documentary “Pee-wee as Himself.”
(Dennis Keeley / HBO)
The recent documentary “Pee-wee as Himself,” Matt Wolf’s startlingly intimate documentary on Reubens, includes recordings made just a few days before his 2023 death and is currently nominated for five Emmy awards.
The film explores Reubens’ life and how the explosive popularity of the Pee-wee character came to overwhelm him.
“We’re all entitled to our inner lives,” Wolf said in an interview for the paper with Dave Itzkoff. “Artists, particularly, are many different people inside. Paul was no exception, except the way he went about that was more extreme than perhaps you or I.”
‘Children of Men’ in 35mm
Clive Owen in the movie “Children of Men.”
(Jaap Buitendijk / Universal Pictures)
Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 “Children of Men,” will screen at the Academy Museum in 35mm on Wednesday. (Frankly, the movie does not play out nearly often enough.) As part of the museum’s ongoing Branch Selects program, “Children of Men” was selected by the cinematographers branch in recognition of the work by Emmanuel Lubezki, whose work here is staggering for how often it hides the difficulty of what is being accomplished, creating a sense of naturalism amid complicated technical achievements.
Set in 2027 Britain, the film presents a frightening scenario in which no child has been born on Earth for 18 years. Theo (Clive Owen) is a former activist-turned-disillusioned bureaucrat resigned to a staid hopelessness. An encounter with his former lover Julian (Julianne Moore), who has become even more of a militant, leads him to shepherding a young woman named Kee (Clare-Hope Ashitey) to safety. She is well along in a secret pregnancy that could literally save the world.
In reviewing the film, Kenneth Turan wrote, “The best science fiction talks about the future to talk about the now, and ‘Children of Men’ very much belongs in that class. Made with palpable energy, intensity and excitement, it compellingly creates a world gone mad that is uncomfortably close to the one we live in. It is a ‘Blade Runner’ for the 21st century, a worthy successor to that epic of dystopian decay. … This is a world of rubble, fear and hopelessness whose connections to our own are never forced; Cuarón is such a fluid director with such a powerful imagination, they don’t have to be. This could well be our future, and we know it.”
Kevin Crust wrote a piece spotlighting the use of sound and music in the film, noting, “After a provocative ending that keeps audiences in their seats for the credits, ‘Children of Men’ continues to reward aurally, finishing strongly with two politically pointed songs. Leaving us with Lennon singing the anti-nationalist rant ‘Bring on the Lucie (Freda Peeple)’ and Jarvis Cocker declaiming global society’s ills with an unprintable refrain in ‘Running the World,’ Cuarón emphasizes the timelessness of this future-set film and stamps it with a humanistic double exclamation point.”
Points of interest
‘The Heartbreak Kid’ is back again
An image from 1972’s “The Heartbreak Kid,” starring Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd.
(LMPC via Getty Images)
We have mentioned Elaine May’s 1972 “The Heartbreak Kid” in these parts before, but any time it screens is worth mentioning. The Eastwood Performing Arts Center will be screening the film Friday and Saturday from the 2K scan of a 16mm print overseen by film historian and programmer Elizabeth Purchell. (I spoke to Purchell about creating the scan last year.) Cybill Shepherd, one of the film’s stars, will be there to introduce the Friday night show.
Long notoriously difficult to see because of rights issues, the film is back in regular rep-house rotation thanks to this new scan — a true treat for local audiences. Seeing the film with a roomful of people laughing along is an experience not to be missed.
Directed by May from a screenplay by Neil Simon, the film stars Charles Grodin as a man who deserts his new bride (Jeannie Berlin) on their honeymoon so he can pursue another woman (Shepherd).
In a review at the time, Charles Champlin wrote, “We are in the presence of a harsh social commentary, revealing again the dark side of Simon’s humor as well as some of Miss May’s own angers (reflected in her first feature ‘A New Leaf’) about the men having it their own way, to everyone’s discomfort.”
‘Bully’ and ‘Another Day in Paradise’
Brad Renfro, Bijou Phillips, Nick Stahl, Rachel Miner and cast in the movie “Bully.”
(Tobin Yelland / Lionsgate)
Though photographer-turned-filmmaker Larry Clark is now largely known for his 1995 debut feature “Kids,” he did go on to make other films. The New Beverly Cinema will spotlight two of his best with 2001’s “Bully” and 1998’s “Another Day in Paradise” as a double bill Monday and Tuesday.
“Bully” is based on the 1993 true story of a group of South Florida teens who murdered someone in their own circle of friends. Graphic, sweaty and sleazy, the film has an emotional and psychological intensity that makes it deeply disturbing. The cast includes Brad Renfro, Nick Stahl, Bijou Phillips, Rachel Minor, Kelli Garner, Michael Pitt, Daniel Franzese and Leo Fitzpatrick.
In a review of the film, Kevin Thomas compares “Bully” to “Over the Edge” and “River’s Edge” for its study of disaffected youth, noting, “Clark presents virtually all the young people in his film as doomed by clueless parents, a boring, arid environment saturated with images of violence and their own limited intelligence. Yet Clark so undeniably cares for these kids, illuminating their out-of-control rage and passions with such clarity, that it’s hard to dismiss him as a mere sexploitation filmmaker.”
Clark’s second feature, “Another Day in Paradise,” is still arguably his most conventional film, something of a post-Tarantino riff on “Drugstore Cowboy” as a young drug-addicted couple (Vincent Kartheiser and Natasha Gregson Wagner) fall under the tutelage of an older drug-addicted couple (James Woods and Melanie Griffith) who introduce them to a life of petty crime.
In a review, Thomas said, “‘Another Day in Paradise’ is as mercurial and reckless in tone as are its junkie characters, and Clark catches all these quicksilver shifts with unstinting perception and even compassion. As contradictory as it is energetic, the film takes as many risks as its people do and as a result strikes a highly contemporary nerve.”
A riveting and shockingly candid feature by Richard Natale chronicled the behind-the-scenes struggles between Clark, actor Woods (also a producer) and co-producer and co-writer Stephen Chin over final cut of the movie. Things reached a head on the evening of the film’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, leading to this most unusual quote from Chin: “The Larry Clark that punched me out in Venice is not the Larry Clark I know as a friend.”
For his part, Clark, who checked himself into rehab soon after that incident, said the attack came after a day in which he did “about 40 interviews and had about 60 margaritas. I was out of control. I have no defense. My motto is to never plead guilty. But in this case, I plead guilty.”
Conscious Travel says it’s seen a demand for adventure travel over ‘fly and flop’ holidays including destinations where locals want tourists to come
15:30, 09 Jul 2025Updated 15:46, 09 Jul 2025
Ben Oakley – Mirror online travel – Supplied by BEN
Long gone are the days when holidays were just about just sitting in an all-inclusive holidays; nowadays, increasing numbers of Brits are seeking adventures and once-in-a-lifetime experiences on their getaways.
However, there’s a fine balance between exploring a new far-flung destination, without wanting to contribute to overtourism issues that many destinations are currently facing. (For example in the Canary Islands there have been anti-tourism protests, with locals calling for more support for infrastructure, including restrictions on holiday rentals).
That’s where companies like Conscious Travel come in. Founded by Nathan Stubbs three years ago, the company’s mission centres around ‘positive tourism’, organising trips for intrepid explorers who want experiences and time with locals, rather than just sitting on a lounger by a pool all day.
Ben Oakley, Travel Experience Executive at the firm, told the Mirror that they’re all about “finding places where tourists are welcome and people are getting really excited about it”. They also handpick local suppliers and boutique hotels when they’re creating itineraries for their clients, in a move away from big resorts and package breaks.
Ben himself has ticked off plenty of bucket list-worthy destinations(Image: Ben Oakley)
He explained: “For us, the way we try to encourage and promote positive tourism is to be working with boutique hotels. They’re obviously a lot smaller and I think the guests get a better experience as well.
“It’s also about using good local suppliers. We’re making sure that the money that is being spent there is going to the right places. You know, there’s not a big player who is taking a cut of it. Ultimately, I think that’s a better experience for our clients as well as they’re getting really stuck in and involved with the locals. That’s going to create a lot more memories than a package tour, which is what we’re about essentially.”
Ben is no stranger to adventure travel, having recently spent six months travelling around South America and ticking a host of countries off the bucket list including Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia.
No matter what sort of getaway you’re on, there’s one thing he always encourages holidaymakers to do.
He explained: “We always encourage people who are doing a tour to get stuck in and speak to the locals. Even if you don’t necessarily speak the language, it’s amazing how much you can actually communicate with people and get involved. For example at local stores, it doesn’t cost much and it’s nice to buy little trinkets here or there, and chat to the locals.
“Usually, it’s the experience that people have with others, rather than the place they’re going to see. We catch up with people and they say, ‘Oh we met these amazing people here, and their family was so cute and we had an amazing chat and they shared a meal with all of us’. They’re often the stories people talk more about than the amazing mountain views.”
When it comes to the types of trips that Brits are requesting, he has seen a shift in requests for boozy getaways and ‘fly and flop’ breaks, in favour of meaningful travel experiences. “It’s great for us, because it’s more exciting planning an adventure trip to the likes of Costa Rica or Norway!” he quipped.
Their team creates bespoke itineraries for clients whether for a honeymoon, long weekend or family holiday, offering various options depending on a person’s budget and ‘must-have’ experiences, and working with locals to find adventures that are off the beaten path. “When you’re actually working with people on the ground, every time you catch up, you’re learning a new thing about the country,” Ben added.
The Julian Alps are mostly in Slovenia, but I have gone on many trips to the little known Italian portion of this mountain range to visit old friends in the ski town Sella Nevea. The scenery is awesome: pointed white, limestone peaks above deep and mysterious pine-forested valleys. The books of mountaineer Julius Kugy romantically describe this large wilderness, the obscurity of which amazes me. Nature is abundant with various large mammals, bird life and flora. If you love alpine adventure but don’t like tourists then seek it out, there’s nobody there! Paul
Alone with orchids and sea birds, Sweden
Sunset on Stora Karlsö, one of the world’s oldest nature reserves. Photograph: Johner Images/Alamy
Stora Karlsö, off the west coast of Gotland, is one of the oldest nature reserves in the world and is a few hours’ journey by train and ferry from Stockholm. It’s a tiny, rugged limestone island, mostly just a high cliff with an alvar (grassy heath) plateau. There were lots of orchids and plenty of sea birds. Once sheltered from the wind, I found the fragrant air was incredible. I spent the night in a simple cabin and enjoyed a decent meal, but civilisation in the regular fashion was far away, and there was hardly any cell reception. Linda
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Pink marsh, pink flamingos, France
The wetlands of Hyères are rich in bird life. Photograph: Irina Naoumova/Alamy
Between Toulon and the Mediterranean, Hyères spreads across a series of headlands, salt flats and offshore islands. We based ourselves near the Giens peninsula, where the ancient pink salt marshes stretch out towards the sea, dotted with flamingos, herons and egrets. The coastal paths wind over rugged cliffs, with pine woods and scattered islands combining to create a setting of seabirds, wildflowers and open sea. Steph
Camino de Santiago with detours
A path used by pilgrims goes through the Meseta. Photograph: Achim Zeilmann/Alamy
In the spring of 2023, my wife and I walked the 500-mile (805km) Camino de Santiago across northern Spain. The beaten track was busy, so we took every opportunity to deviate off it along alternative sections. Walking across the Meseta, the expansive, high central plateau famed for its isolation, we took the detour from Calzada del Coto to Mansilla de las Mulas along the Via Trajana, the old, cobbled Roman road. We were surrounded by birdsong, wildflowers and the ghosts of legionaries. Apart from when we stopped for a comfortable night and an immense breakfast at the Via Trajana hostel in Calzadilla de los Hermanillos, we only saw two other people in two days and 20 miles of walking. Richard
Bears and wolves in the Romanian forest
A brown bear in the Carpathian forest. Photograph: Roland Brack/Alamy
The Carpathian forests of Romania, flanked by brooding mountains, are a brilliant place to lose yourself for a couple of weeks. On my hiking trip there last summer I spotted brown bears, wolves and lynx as I marched through valleys and woods. I came across medieval towns and villages that are rich in traditional folklore. One highlight was sampling local cheese and singing songs with villagers in the Barza valley. I was rewarded – or punished – for my musical efforts with a bumpy ride on a horse-drawn cart to the next village. Don’t miss a walk up to Postăvarul peak (1,800 metres) for great views over the area. Joe
A hike through Iceland’s myriad landscapes
The Thórsmörk valley. Photograph: Oleh_Slobodeniuk/Getty Images
Thirty-five miles and three nights in mountain huts in the southern highlands of Iceland: the Laugavegur trail is a microcosm of the landscapes of that incredible country. Geothermal springs, high-altitude snowfields, multicoloured rhyolite mountains, black sand deserts and otherworldly moonscapes. Finally, the magical valley of Thórsmörk – Thor’s Valley – amid birch woods enclosed by three glaciers. Staying in mountain huts means you’ll feel part of a multicultural, international community of travellers, with the warmth and camaraderie this entails, with tales exchanged and memories made. Bill Duncan
A beach on the Sinis peninsula. Photograph: Valerio Mei/Alamy
Between the popular north coast of Sardinia, where the super-rich anchor their yachts, and the populated south with the capital Cagliari, lie several quiet areas where nature flourishes. Much of the west coast is relatively undeveloped. We joined bareback riders on horses along tracks, watched flamingos wade in salt marshes, visited ancient Nuragic ruins and sunbathed on the white-sand beaches of the peaceful Sinis peninsula. Chris Allen
A Croatian island paradise
An inlet on Lastovo island. Photograph: robertharding/Alamy
On the remote Croatian island of Lastovo, part of the Lastovo Islands nature park, we watched honey buzzards soar overhead and heard shearwater chicks calling to be fed at dusk. Lastovo is a dark skies island and we loved seeing the Milky Way sparkle so brightly. Most of the island is forested and the place remains very undeveloped, as a result of being reserved for the Yugoslav army until 1988. It’s a natural paradise of pine-scented trails leading to quiet beaches and interesting flora and fauna. It can be reached by frequent ferries from Dubrovnik and Korčula. David Innes-Wilkin
Winning tip: The big beasts of Bieszczady in Poland
A red deer stag. Photograph: Szymon Bartosz/Alamy
I went on a hiking tour to see large mammals in Bieszczady national park in south-east Poland in 2022 and it was amazing – gorgeous landscapes, wild bison, red deer, wolves, brown bears, lynx and wild boar. We walked through haunting overgrown orchards as the landscape was abandoned after the second world war. I went as a solo traveller with a company called Wild Poland (I did a three-day tour that started and ended in Kraków – but there are lots of different options and prices on their website). Josie
A BEACHFRONT Haven holiday park has revealed plans for a huge new adventure attraction and Wetherspoons pub.
Haven operates more than 50 holiday parks across the UK and attracts more than four million visitors a year.
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A beachfront Haven holiday park has revealed plans for a huge new adventure attraction and Wetherspoons pub
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Haven’s Presthaven Sands Holiday Park has been given permission to refurbish its adventure village and extend its existing play areaCredit: Google
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A climbing wall will be one of the new pieces of equipmentCredit: Haven
Haven’s Presthaven Sands Holiday Park has been given permission to refurbish its adventure village and extend its existing play area.
They applied last year to Flintshire County Council for planning permission to carry out the works at its site.
The new equipment at the park will include an aerial adventure and zipwire, climbing wall, bungee trampolines, an inflatable arena, a “kids and tots” play area, and a “bark yard” for dogs.
The application has since been given planning consent by the council, albeit with some conditions attached.
These conditions include that the works start within five years and are carried out in accordance with the details provided in the planning documents.
A biosecurity risk assessment was to be approved by the council too.
Haven has since submitted a biosecurity risk assessment, which the council has accepted.
Extracts from a supporting statement from agents Planware read: “The proposal represents a major investment by Haven into the Presthaven Sands Holiday Park to enhance existing facilities and the customer experience.
“The existing site comprises a number of existing features and play equipment including crazy golf, play area and activity range, located between the existing entertainment complex serving the park and the swimmingpool facilities.
“In summary, the proposal represents sustainable development and investment into an existing operational holiday park.”
Award-winning holiday park in St Ives
Presthaven Sands caters to thousands of visitors annually reports Rhy Journal.
Plans to open aJD Wetherspoon pubat the park have also been given the go-ahead.
The supporting statement added: “As part of the constant review of improvement, Haven are seeking to upgrade the existing adventure area between the entertainment complex and swimmingpoolcomplex.
“The site of the proposed development lies at the centre of the holiday park, and comprises an existing limited activity range, crazy golf range, play area and show area for new caravans.
How to survive six weeks of school summer holidays
IF you are struggling with the six week summer holidays, you’ve come to the right place…
BATTLING BOREDOM: Despite hours of activities and playdates, if your kids are already complaining there’s nothing to do, parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi says: “Don’t feel you have to organise every second of the holidays. Kids benefit from boredom and learn to make their own fun.
“Boredom can trigger creative and imaginative play but you need to encourage kids to get used to not being told how to spend their time.
“Ride out the pleas of boredom. Counter it with comments such as, ‘What do you think you could do?’ and maybe have a list of ‘I’m bored’ activity ideas on the fridge.”
SCREEN OVERLOAD: It’s tempting during the holidays to rely on a digital babysitter but don’t let them gawp their whole summer away in front of a screen.
Liat says: “It’s unfair to expect older kids to power down but it’s important to set some ground rules.
“Set family tech rules together. If you’re often distracted by your phone, follow the rules too. Maybe tell the kids they aren’t allowed any screen time until they’ve done set chores, some exercise, or a board game.
“Are there times when you’d like to ban screens completely? Perhaps during dinner or when they have friends over to visit.
“Tech is a battleground for parents, but you have to set boundaries. Stand firm and be prepared to be unpopular.”
TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS: You love your kids, but being with them 24/7 can be exhausting. Do not feel guilty if you need a bit of downtime.
Liat says: “If you’re juggling work and household tasks as well as occupying the kids, it’s normal to start feeling overwhelmed or jaded and in need of some peace.
“If you can’t afford or don’t want to send your kids to all-day camps, look for free kids’ workshops so you can get on with jobs or have a break for a couple of hours.
“Seeking a spell of quiet every now and then doesn’t make you a bad parent — in fact it will probably make you more positive and enthusiastic when you are with the kids.”
SCHEDULING CONFLICT: Schedules can go out the window during holidays, but late nights and early mornings can mean tired and unhappy children.
Dr Tamara Bugembe, paediatrician and founder of Helperbees.co.uk says: “Children get grumpy, test boundaries and become challenging when routines are broken.
“Sticking to some kind of routine during the holidays is a good idea.
“We release hormones at different times of the day and when regular meal times and bed times are broken, it causes dips and peaks in mood.
“Holidays are about having fun but an early night once or twice a week will make everyone happier.”
EXCESS ENERGY: Make sure kids get out in the fresh air to tire them out — and make them healthier and happier.
Dr Bugembe says: “Sunshine also tops up vital vitamin D levels which helps improve bone strength and energy levels in children. Our levels run low in winter so let the kids stock up in warmer weather.
“Letting them run around in shorts and a T-shirt is the best way to top up. Make sure they’re wearing sun cream, get outside and have fun.
“Encourage them to try healthy habits such as cycling and walking. They’ll hopefully get hooked and want to carry them on when the weather gets colder.”
“This area is currently underutilised given its prominent location within the park, and accessibility to main facilities.”
Previous planning applications at the site which were approved included a “jump tower” and a “junior ropes course”.
The application also involves the introduction of seating areas with LED screens, a sand pit, a briefing room, and storage areas
Existing features at the park will be retained, including the mini golf area, container bar, and Sweet Treats and Chopstix food outlets.
The refurbished adventure village will solely be for the use of holidaymakers already visiting the park.
Standing near the ledge of a magnificent canyon in Utah’s Dead Horse Point State Park in the hours before sunset, my fiancée Gia and I looked each other in the eyes as we read our vows. But our officiant was nowhere in sight.
That’s because she was darting around the rocks, seeking the perfect angle to capture the moment with her camera. We hired Aimée Flynn as our photographer, but she became our officiant as well. She was also our location scout, wedding planner and even our tour guide. On the short hike to our ceremony spot, she told us about the park’s flora and fauna and how “Thelma and Louise” was filmed at a spot below where we stood.
For Flynn, it’s all part of her job as an elopement adventure photographer. Those who pursue this style of specialized wedding photography forgo old-school events for unique adventures, guiding couples through the most intimate ceremonies in nature’s most spectacular settings. Flynn, who’s based in Flagstaff, Ariz., photographed one couple embraced in a Spider-Man-style kiss while climbing on sheer rock face in Moab and another under the moonlight at Yosemite’s Glacier Point after a middle-of-the-night hike in total isolation.
Aimée Flynn goes to great lengths — and heights — to get the shot.
(Aimée Flynn Photo)
Elopement adventure photography was born in earnest 10 years ago, pioneered by Maddie Mae, a wedding photographer who’d grown disillusioned with traditional weddings. “There was a lot of discontentment from people feeling pressure to do things they didn’t want, like the garter toss, or who had family members trying to make the event about them,” recalls Maddie Mae, who goes by one name. “Eighty percent seemed like they just wanted it to be over with.”
There were already photographers taking couples out in gorgeous outdoor settings, but “I didn’t see anyone offering a full-day experience treated with the same importance as a big wedding,” Maddie Mae says.
Maddie Mae changed the game — her elopement adventures took people wherever they wanted to go, giving them permission to have whatever kind of ceremony they desired. When she shot her first elopement in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, she was transformed. All the traditional wedding details were stripped away: There was no venue, no decor, no distracting crowd, no strict timeline. Just two people committing their lives to each other in nature, which she calls “the most sacred of sanctuaries.”
“It was the first time I’d seen a couple where they were fully present in their eyes the entire day,” Maddie Mae says. “It was the purest form of a wedding.”
Other photographers followed in Maddie Mae’s footsteps, especially after she began leading workshops on elopement adventures; the three other photographers I interviewed for this piece, Flynn, Traci Edwards and Karen Agurto, all took her courses.
Karen Agurto photographed a couple in the Lava Tube at the Mojave National Preserve in the Mojave Desert.
(Karen Agurto Photography)
Elopement adventures remained a “very niche” field until the COVID-19 pandemic, Flynn says. “People couldn’t have their big weddings but still wanted to get married.” (Maddie Mae received 284 inquiries in May 2020 alone.)
The photographers emphasize that their job involves much more than taking beautiful pictures. “These couples are rejecting the default template, which opens this world of possibilities,” Maddie Mae says. “But then they wonder, ‘Where do we go, what do we do, how can we make this ours?’ Elopement photographers are experience creators.”
Traci Edwards captured an elopement at Yosemite National Park.
(Traci Edwards / Adventure + Vow)
Maddie Mae photographed a couple who kayaked and said their vows on an Alaskan glacier.
(Maddie Mae / Adventure Instead)
For starters, the photographers double as trip planners. Sometimes, Agurto, who’s based in Orange County and shoots entirely in California, says she has some blanket recommendations — no Death Valley in the summer or Big Sur during mudslide season, for instance — but each couple is different. Some have clear visions for their adventure while others are more open. Edwards, similarly, has seen all sorts of requests, from a couple who would go anywhere in the desert under a night sky (she chose Joshua Tree) to one who wanted to be photographed on a specific 11-mile hike in Washington. She encourages couples to choose a place that “matches their relationship.” During the elopements, her husband Bill takes photos via drone and shoots video.
(Maddie Mae, who is in a different echelon in terms of pricing and clientele, has photographed elopements in more than 20 countries, including at the Dolomites in Italy, the deserts in Namibia and glaciers in Iceland. She says at this point in her career, clients often give her free rein.)
My fiancée and I knew we wanted to get married somewhere beautiful in a location new to both of us, and we found Flynn after searching online. We had originally planned for Canyonlands rather than Dead Horse Point — not because of the unromantic name but because we’d never heard of it. But Flynn explained that the national park had more restrictions and less privacy while Dead Horse offered equally monumental vistas.
She educated us about the pros and cons of sunrise versus sunset shoots (we chose sunset), recommended hair stylists and makeup artists for Gia, made restaurant suggestions and encouraged my idea of a kayaking trip on the Colorado River the day after our wedding as a nice contrast with our hikes in Canyonlands and Arches the two days before the ceremony. (Quick aside: We found lodging on our own. If you’re heading to Moab, definitely go to Red Moon Lodge, which features cozy rooms that open onto majestic views, a garden, a pond and an outdoor space where one of the co-owners, Danny, teaches yoga classes.)
Aimée Flynn left her former career as a therapist and started chasing what she calls “peak existence on top of the world moments.”
(Aimée Flynn Photo)
Flynn says communication is crucial, which keeps couples calm if things go awry. The photographers build flex time into their schedule so if bad weather looms, they can shift ceremony timing by a few hours or even a day.
Another must is a bag of emergency provisions, in case they have to save the day. Agurto’s bag includes hairspray, Band-Aids and Tylenol; Flynn’s has safety pins, blankets, clear umbrellas and eyelash glue (“when people are hiking, their eyelashes can come undone”); and Edwards says snacks are a critical item (she witnessed one person almost pass out in a remote area), as is a sewing kit (“I’ve sewn several brides back into their dresses after a zipper broke or sleeve ripped on the trail,” she says).
Above all, the photographers prioritize creating emotional connections as much as capturing epic pictures. “With AI, you could fake these photos, but the people who hire elopement adventure photographers want the full experience,” says Flynn.
Maddie Mae has photographed couples on all seven continents.
(Maddie Mae / Adventure Instead)
At ceremony time, Agurto, who used to teach yoga, starts her couples off by asking them to close their eyes and do a breathing exercise. “I want to calm them and get them in the moment,” she says. (We adopted that idea and it helped us savor the experience.) The photographers also make sure to give couples as much privacy as needed — that’s what zoom lenses are for, Flynn notes, while Agurto adds that she offers to wear headphones during the vows.
After exchanging vows and rings, Gia and I sipped prosecco, ate brownies and danced to Langhorne Slim’s “House of My Soul,” while Flynn continued shooting (taking a break only to share some bubbly), sometimes asking for specific poses but mostly letting us be.
And while the ceremony is obviously the emotional centerpiece, the day doesn’t end there. For us, the rest of the evening was almost as memorable, a mix of jaw-dropping beauty and carefree fun. Flynn took us to different spots for more photos as the sun was setting. Then she took out lanterns for us to pose with in the moonlight. Flynn’s infectious enthusiasm made us feel like models or movie stars on a photo shoot. (Enhancing that feeling was the way people reacted when they saw us hiking in formal wedding attire and boots.)
Later still, we drove to Arches National Park, with Flynn enjoying her work so much she went well beyond the four-hour window we had hired her for.
The evening ended with Gia and I standing beneath North Window Arch, illuminated by the nearly full moon, with a sky full of stars behind us. It was as romantic and as visually stunning as it sounds. Because Flynn does her job so well, we were able to fully relax into the moment, trusting that we would have both our memories and exquisite photos to preserve this day forever.
The author and his wife Gia under the stars in Arches National Park.
