The Pinar de Can Camins is one of the few Mediterranean forests in its original state, with the 30-hectare Spanish forest belonging to the Natura 2000 Network and opening for just 10 days a year
A forest in the Catalonian hills receives only a handful of tourists each year(Image: Trendencias)
Millions of people worldwide enjoy hiking, with many taking to slopes, hills, mountains and other challenging terrains each year.
However, some trails are more popular than others, such as the Seven Sisters walk in southern England, which becomes particularly crowded when the UK transitions from winter to spring and summer.
Spain also has a thriving hiking scene, but there’s one route that sees not thousands, but merely tens of tourists annually.
In a world of overtourism, the Pinar de Can Camins is a haven of tranquillity, reportedly accessible only about 10 times a year.
According to Trendencias, the Pinar de Can Camins is one of the few Mediterranean forests that remains in its original state, with the 30-hectare forest currently part of the Natura 2000 Network, reports the Express.
The limited visitor numbers are due to the forest only opening on the first Sunday of each month, excluding July and August. Moreover, only the first 25 tourists are allowed entry.
These lucky 25 visitors are given a free guided tour of the area, starting from the Puerta del Delta at 11am. Reservations can be made via phone, in person or email.
While Spain’s Pinar de Can Camis successfully limits tourist numbers, another Spanish territory has urged tourists to reconsider visiting in 2026.
In recent years, the Canary Islands have been a hotbed of tension between tourists and locals, with residents voicing concerns about the impact of mass tourism on their communities.
Last year alone, the Canary Islands played host to approximately 7.8 million visitors, while the islands’ airports processed around 27 million passengers during the same period.
Fodor’s Travel, a renowned travel publication, has included the Canary Islands in its 2026 ‘No list’, which highlights destinations experiencing a surge in tourism that travellers might want to reconsider visiting.
The Canary Islands made the list due to the overwhelming number of people flocking to popular spots like Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Lanzarote.
Echoing this sentiment, an environmental group in Tenerife known as Asociación Tinerfeña de Amigos de la Naturaleza (ATAN) has raised the alarm that natural spaces are being “degraded”.
In a statement, they said: “Natural spaces are constantly degraded, with alarming losses in biodiversity. Overcrowding has erased peaceful places where we could once enjoy life there are no truly local spaces left.
“We are losing our identity, culture, and, ultimately, our right to exist as a community. Tourism has become unlimited, mass-oriented, and largely low-cost party tourism that doesn’t come to truly discover the islands, but to consume a fake backdrop.”
SHE was the blonde beauty that was catapulted into the spotlight after a starring role in this iconic 1989 movie.
The beloved Disney film was a box office success that would go on to span another two spin-offs, with fans lapping up the characters’ pint-sized adventures.
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The 90s star reenacted the famous flick’s plot with a giant spoon and ‘cheerios’Credit: instagram/@amyoneillofficialThe actress stunned in a sexy blue swimsuit for the fan eventCredit: instagram/@amyoneillofficialThe star posed poolside with a giant popcorn bag that’s a hint to the 1989 film
Now all grown up, aged 54, the star recently took to Instagram and wowed with with some fun swimsuit photos while celebrating the film decades later.
Amy O’Neill was just 19 when she played the role of Amy Szalinski in the hit film Honey, I Shrunk The Kids – but her new pics show she seemingly hasn’t aged at all.
Amy stepped out for the Disney+ ‘Dive in Theatre’ screening of the original movie in a blue and pink racer swimsuit, ready to soak up the attractions on offer.
The former child star looked incredibly youthful and svelte in her swimwear, which she complemented with a wide wicker hat and a patterned blue beach skirt.
In her Instagram caption, shared alongside the pictures, Amy enthused that the experience “transported us back to a different time and size”.
In one photo Amy is seen posing with a giant spoon and some giant ‘cheerios’ in a swimming pool, in what was a cheeky nod to her shrunken sized character.
The star later lounged poolside with her fellow movie-goers to rewatch the beloved movie and was snapped standing next to an old-school film screening sign bearing “Honey I Shrunk the Kids 1989 Now Showing”.
Talking to ABC’s On the Red carpet, Amy said: “This whole thing, when I saw the concept and got the invite I thought it was super cool.
“It’s been 36 years since Honey, I Shrunk the Kids came out.
“It’s only in the last couple of years that I’ve done fan events and I’ve gotten the chance to reconnect with fans and see how vibrant the movie still is in their lives and how meaningful it is to so many people.
Amy was also joined by co-star Thomas Wilson Brown, 51, who played Little Russ in the film, the neighbour’s offspring.
On her Instagram post, fans flocked to the comments, with one asking, “How was it reuniting with Thomas?”
Replying to her follower, Amy explained, “Wonderful as always. He brought his grandson to the screening- so adorable!”
While another said, “Just amazing! A shame the other child actors are absent!”
Amy replied, “I wish they’d been there also- but I wish all of you had been there too!”
A third fan penned, “Wow, that Thomas guy grew up to be a hottie!!”
Amy O’Neill starred in Honey, I Shrunk The KidsCredit: AlamyThe actress is still celebrating the film 36 years on from its releaseAmy looked eternally youthful at the special screeningCredit: instagram/@amyoneillofficialShe uploaded a snap watching the film from the poolCredit: instagram/@amyoneillofficial
Another added, “Another of my favourite classic comedy of 80s, everything looks great.”
“Nice pictures Amy O’Neill and Thomas Wilson Brown and you’re looking well by being grown up,” said a fifth in the comments.
Someone concluded, “Very cool. Still one of the best movies of the 80s.”
The award-winning classic movie, starring Rick Moranis and Marcia Strassman, celebrated its 36th anniversary this year.
Amy played Moranis’ daughter in the movie, which produced two sequels, Honey, I Blew Up The Kid in 1992 and Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves in 1997.
The original followed the chaos that ensued when scientist Wayne Szalinksi (Moranis) accidentally minimised his children and the neighbour’s kids.
Ghostbusters star Moranis went on to star in Parenthood, The Flintstones and the two sequels to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
As for O’Neill, she had TV roles in Murder, She Wrote and The Young and Restless before Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
She also appeared in the 1989 Christian Slater film Desperate for Love.
She starred alongside Thomas Wilson Brown in the 1989 filmCredit: AlamyThe two caught up at the special screening three decades on from the film’s releaseThe original movie went on for another two spin-offs which O’Neill also starred inCredit: AlamyFans couldn’t get enough of the original film with Rick MoranisCredit: Alamy
THERE are some places that thrive in the summer, but others are best explored when there are crisp orange leaves on the ground, and the grass is littered with frost.
On my recent adventure to Northumberland, I discovered sprawling National Parks, living museums, quaint village and plenty of cosy pubs.
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Northumberland is even better in November – especially for autumn walksCredit: AlamyYou can take a stroll past where the Sycamore Gap once stoodCredit: Alamy
My adventure took me to the site of the former Sycamore Gap tree – the story that seemed to upset the entire nation.
The famous tree was mysteriously cut down in the middle of the night in September 2023. Something about the hateful environmental crime captured the public imagination globally.
Before and after pictures appeared in the media around the world and tears were shed.
It would later emerge that the 120-year-old specimen tree – which had featured in the 1991 Robin Hood film as well as countless holiday snaps – had been felled by two oddball friends as some kind of warped prank.
The pair were eventually jailed this summer for four years and three months each.
The episode initially seemed to spell the end of one of the North East’s greatest tourist attractions – but in fact it hasn’t.
The following year, the area earned nine per cent more from recreational visitors than it had before the tree was felled.
But if that makes it sound like the area is overrun with tourists, it isn’t. Not at all.
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Unlike rivals such as the Lake and Peak Districts or the Yorkshire Dales, rural Northumberland doesn’t have quite as much mass appeal and it’s big and desolate enough to absorb the visitors it does get, so seldom feels busy.
Autumn is a particularly good time to go because the landscape and vernal colour palette seem to blend harmoniously together.
I love walking in Northumberland and found great pubs along the wayCredit: John SturgisThe local drinking holes are cosy in the autumn with crackling log firesCredit: John Sturgis
If you go at low season (and now that half-term week has passed, that’s pretty much right now) you will find it feels most of the time as if you have the place to yourselves.
And it won’t cost much either – there’s excellent value for money.
Like the Sycamore Gap itself, much of what you will see is dotted along or near Hadrian’s Wall, the 2000-year-old fortification line that snakes its way up hill and down dale through all this glorious countryside.
And, of course, it joins up various other Roman sites that pepper the area with historic interest.
Our favourites were Vindolanda, an excavated village, the museum at Corbridge and the Temple of Mithras which has a counterpart in the buzzing heart of the City of London.
But naturally this one has a very different vibe as it’s out on its own on windswept moorland, miles from anywhere – and so superbly atmospheric.
We based ourselves in an Airbnb in converted outbuildings of a farm just outside the small town of Riding Mill, about 20 miles to the east of the Gap.
Dogs are allowed back on beaches during the low season tooCredit: John Sturgis
It was modestly priced but very pleasant and made an ideal base when motoring.
A couple of times we went east towards Newcastle or Beamish museum, with its charming recreation of streets and buildings from different periods.
We could also explore the coast, from the sweeping sands at Tynemouth to the more dramatic cliffs northwards.
Heading inland to the west it was more remote. Even at more managed spaces like the stunning National Trust park at Allen Banks, we scarcely saw another walker.
Our dogs loved it as much as we did. And after every walk we seemed to find ourselves conveniently close to a decent pub.
The area teems with them. I even compiled a top ten of the many boozers we went to during our week in Northumberland.
Here are John’s top 10 pubs in Northumberland…
1. Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland – Ancient, spooky, cosy, perfect.
2. The Ship Inn, Low Newton – Understated gem on a gem of a beach
3. The Rat, Anick – Just a perfect country food pub.
10. The Sun Inn, Beamish Museum, Stanley – Technically a fake pub in a theme park- but so well done
It’s still worth going to see the former site of the Sycamore GapCredit: John Sturgis
Pubs aside, there was still the question of actually visiting Sycamore Gap itself – or what’s left of it.
We had put this off as it felt a bit sad but we had to face it before leaving.
It’s a short and very scenic walk from the village of Once Brewed, up to and then along in parallel with the surprisingly intact Roman Wall.
And going back to the question of its surprisingly enduring popularity, we saw more people here than on any rural outing.
It was still not exactly crowded but busier – and you realised that others too wanted to pay tribute to the lost tree, whether that was with a selfie or a quiet thought or two.
Even in this remote corner we weren’t far from not one but two decent pubs: The Twice Brewed Inn at Bardon Mill and The Milecastle Inn at Haltwhistle, both of which were delightful.
Visiting here is a way of putting two fingers up at the vile pair who are now languishing in prison, it’s also an absolute treat.
