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THE comedian John Tothill has been appeared in pubs and gig venues up and down the country, performing his stand-up routine to thousands of strangers.

So he’s better qualified than most to judge where is the the most welcoming spot in Blighty.

It turns out, it’s a little seaside town called Wigtown in Ayrshire, Scotland

Fresh from his nomination for ‘Best Show’ at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards last year, John was back in Scotland to discover the country’s best hidden gems for a Channel 4 show called ‘Where To Next‘, with fellow comedian Fatiha El-Ghorri.

They quizzed plenty of Scots on the best lesser-known places to visit and ended up in Wigtown, after it was recommended by several people.

John told us: “Wigtown is probably the friendliest place I’ve ever been to in my life.

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“I didn’t meet a single person that wasn’t nice. It was full of enthusiastic people that loved living there.

“It’s a historic place, but of course it’s still modern because people live there. That’s why I think it’s a particularly lovely place to visit, it’s full of tourist attractions, but it’s not a museum.”

The town sits on the southwest coast of Scotland overlooking Wigtown Bay – Britain’s largest local nature reserve.

Wigtown’s claim to fame is that it’s Scotland’s National Book Town and has around 17 independently run second-hand bookshops.

This includes Reading Lasses which is not only a bookshop, but also a café with a selection of cakes which you can enjoy in front of a log-burning fire in winter, or in the garden area during summer.

There’s also The Book Shop which is the largest second-hand bookshop in Scotland, with over a mile of shelving that holds 100,000 books.

The town holds a yearly book festival, which will be between September 25 and October 4 this year.

For a quirky way to spend a long-weekend, you can check into the flat above The Open Book and ‘play-bookshop’.

Holidaymakers can essentially manage their own bookshop during their stay, volunteer behind the till, make their own displays, and of course, read.

The experience is so in demand it has a two-year waiting list on Airbnb with the next available dates in January 2028.

It doesn’t come cheap either, four-nights at The Open Book for one person is £878.

If you’re happy to stay somewhere without the bookshop experience then head to Booktown Bunkhouse where rooms start from £59 per night.

While Wigtown sits along the coast, it’s actually surrounded by marshes, and the bay is a nature reserve for birds like osprey and waders.

But you can still get beautiful sea views from the town, or if you want to head to the beach some of the nearest are Rigg Bay at Garlieston and pretty Monreith Bay.

40-minutes away from Wigtown is what John calls a ‘must-do experience’ while in Scotland.

Kitchen Coos & Ewes in Dumfries & Galloway offers a ‘hands-on highland cow experience’ visitors are given tours around the farm, and you can even give the younger calves a groom in the play-pen.

John said: “There were so many cows, and they were beautiful, really gorgeous.

“What the farmer told us is that highland cows don’t tire of human contact – and they don’t leave you alone.

“You have to stop grooming them because they will never have enough, so you have to set boundaries.”

Here you can have a guided experience, a selfie with the cows, groom them, tea and a bite to eat for £46 per person.

There are other options like the walking tour around the farm for £28pp, and even an ‘Insta Coo Tour’ where there’s ample time to take some enviable pictures from £24pp.

40-minutes in the other direction from Wigtown is Kirkcudbright, where John claims to have had some of the best food of his life at Swally n’ Scran.

You can pick up two courses for £19.95 – which includes scallops, haddock or crab.

John added: “The seafood is all locally sourced. I tried scallops andthe monkfish was incredible.”

You can see everything John and Fatiha got up to on Channel 4’s YouTube.

If you want to explore John and Fatiha’s itinerary for yourself then head to VisitScotland where you can see everywhere they explored.

For more on staycations, Sun Travel has some suggestions from North Wales to Cornwall and our favourite hotels.

And here’s more on the most popular Scottish city to visit in 2026, with Traitors castles and an epic road trip route.

After spending last summer interrailing around Europe, one journalist and ‘travel addict’ has named his favourite place – and it’s so close to the UK.

If you’re planning a holiday for this year, the choice of destinations can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are so many amazing places to choose from, many of which are just a few short hours’ flight away in Europe.

But one journalist and ‘travel addict’ who has visited 27 countries in total recently went interrailing around Europe and discovered his new favourite place.

It had ‘endless experiences’ to offer, from a rich history to amazing landscapes and underrated food too. Brian Dillon from The Express said: “Jumping from hostel to hostel between seven cities in these five countries, Germany blew me away. I had been to Germany in the past, and every time I go there, I have a completely different experience.”

He had previously visited Berlin but spent time in Munich and Stuttgart in the summer – and they all offered a unique experience.

But the highlight of his visit had to be Munich, as he explained: “This city simply blew me away. First arriving in the Bavarian city on a train from Vienna, I was impressed by the architecture. It seemed like at every turn, there was another stunning building to gawk at.

“The historic Old Town was superbly charming, and you really feel like you have been transported back in time to a centuries-old Germany. However, one aspect of Munich that I fell in love with was its local parks.

“Every major city has some nice parks to explore. But Munich does it differently. Not only are the green spaces here stunning, but they all have lovely beer gardens where you truly feel like you are living like a local when you sit there, sipping a local beer and taking in the unique surroundings. “

Stuttgart was quieter, but Brian was happy to spend the day exploring before moving on to his next destination.

And Berlin is a ‘thrilling city’ too – partly due to tourist attractions like the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall but also thanks to the unique bars, markets and ‘otherworldly’ nightclubs.

But it’s not just the cities that impressed Brian. The natural landscapes are beautiful too, as Brian wrote: “When I travelled on a sleeper train between Brussels and Prague, much of my journey was spent speeding through the stunning German countryside. The sweeping green fields, the old-timy villages and the staggering mountains were a sight to behold. Waking up in a train cabin and seeing all of this first thing in the morning is an experience I will never forget.”

So if you’re in need of some inspiration on where to book your next holiday, Germany is a fantastic option. Brian added: “If you were to tell me that for my next holiday, I had to go back to a country I had been to before, I would book a flight to Germany. Although I have been to three different cities and through stunning countryside, I suspect that this country has a lot more for me to experience.

“The port city of Hamburg, the historic Cologne, the Christmas markets in Dresden, and the classic architecture of Nuremberg are definitely on my bucket list.”

A globetrotter, who has explored every single country in the world and over 400 islands, has labelled one island as the ‘world’s best’ following an ‘unforgettable’ experience

A world traveller who’s explored over 400 islands worldwide has singled out one destination with towering peaks and dramatic glaciers as the ‘best in the world’.

Henrik Jeppesen has accomplished an extraordinary achievement that most of us can only fantasise about – setting foot in every country on Earth. That amounts to 193 nations, as recognised by the United Nations.

The 37-year-old traveller, hailing from Thy in northwest Jutland, Denmark, has also crossed off more than 2,000 locations from his ever-growing bucket list, encompassing over 400 islands spanning every ocean. From the Maldives to New Zealand and Seychelles, Henrik is well-versed in island destinations and holds a wealth of expert knowledge.

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However, one particular island eclipses all others, leaving Henrik with a “deep impression” – South Georgia Island, which forms part of the British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. The island, frequently characterised as ‘Antarctic-like’, boasts magnificent snow-capped peaks, enormous glaciers and profound fjords.

This stunning island has earned the nickname ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’ thanks to its sub-Antarctic fauna, hosting more than seven million penguins, upwards of 65,000 seals, and as many as 30 million nesting birds. Its landscapes resemble something plucked straight from a wildlife programme. Indeed, Sir David Attenborough has famously visited this isolated island on multiple occasions.

Dubbing it the ‘best island in the world’, Henrik told the Express: “This British island lies deep in the South Atlantic Ocean, in the sub-Antarctic, and feels like one of the last truly wild places on Earth. South Georgia is raw, dramatic, and overwhelming in scale – nature entirely on its own terms.

“It’s especially known for its enormous penguin colonies, among the largest in the world, where hundreds of thousands of birds gather on black-sand beaches beneath towering mountains and glaciers. It’s a sensory experience that’s both humbling and unforgettable.”

Yet those yearning to explore the untamed terrain must organise their trip far in advance, as it’s regarded as one of the world’s most isolated spots. Henrik explained: “Getting there isn’t easy. There are no flights. The only real way to visit is by expedition cruise, usually departing from South America.

“I did this on a three-week voyage through some of the most remote seas on Earth. While it was unforgettable, it also reminded me of an important reality of exploration today: Even when paying a lot for an expedition cruise, landings at remote destinations are not guaranteed.”

He added: “On the same trip, we were scheduled to land at Tristan da Cunha, another famously remote island – yet conditions prevented us from making that landing at all. Despite that, South Georgia alone makes the journey more than worthwhile.”

Attenborough made his first trip to South Georgia Island with the BBC back in 1981, later returning for a brief documentary broadcast in 2020. However, despite its striking beauty, Attenborough observed at the time that: “South Georgia is a global rarity – an ecosystem in recovery.”

Attenborough highlighted the danger climate change poses to the Antarctic, as ice blanketing large portions of the island continues to melt. He explained: “Since I was first here, the island’s glaciers have retreated, some by 500 metres. A 2.5 °C rise in air temperatures in the past 70 years means the Antarctic is one of the fastest-warming regions on the planet.”

Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of the British Antarctic Survey, commented at the time: “South Georgia is a real gem in the Southern Ocean. The stunning wildlife will fill you with awe and make you wonder at the incredible beauty of the island. South Georgia shows us how much better our planet can be if we learn to live in balance with nature.”

Henrik also remarked that South Georgia Island “reminds you that nature still rules the wild world.” Despite having explored over 400 islands, he’s discovered that the finest ones “aren’t about luxury or popularity, but defined by impact – how profoundly they stay with you long after the journey ends.”

Other islands that have captured Henrik’s attention during his globe-trotting adventures include New Zealand’s South Island, thanks to its “blend of epic scenery with safety and warmth”. He elaborated: “What makes the South Island especially unforgettable to me is not just the scenery, but the people, culture, and quality of life.”

He added: “The locals are welcoming and friendly, the food is excellent, the country feels clean, and it’s consistently ranked among the safest places to travel in the world. This combination of breathtaking nature, warm people, and peace of mind makes the South Island a rare travel gem.”

Additionally, he praised Suðuroy, which embodies tranquillity and authenticity, alongside Greenland for its “culture, scale, and deep personality”. Henrik also noted Easter Island as one of the best because it shows “isolation, history and beauty combine into something unforgettable.”

You can learn more about Henrik’s travels by visiting his website.

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

An underrated horror film from 2013 starring Jessica Chastain is now available to stream on Netflix

Andy Muschietti, the director of It, has a lesser-known horror gem that’s just landed on Netflix.

First hitting screens in 2013, it boasts a standout performance from Jessica Chastain, who later took on the role of Beverly Marsh in the popular Stephen King adaptation.

The film, titled Mama, also stars Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Yellowjackets’ Isabelle Nélisse. It tells the chilling tale of two young girls who lose their parents in a tragic incident and are subsequently raised by a malevolent entity in a dark forest.

After being rescued by their father’s twin brother, they attempt to adjust to normal life, only to find that the ominous ‘Mama’ isn’t quite finished with them yet.

Despite being Muschietti’s directorial debut, Mama didn’t exactly wow critics, earning a modest 63 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it has cultivated a dedicated fanbase who believe it deserves another look, reports the Express.

One glowing Letterboxd review proclaimed: “I could happily sit through twenty turkeys to find one diamond like this. A masterclass in modern horror.”

Another viewer enthused: “I have seen many, many horror films in my lifetime. But I have rarely (if ever) seen one that has touched me so deeply, rewarded me so profoundly, and at the same time managed to scare the everliving s*** out of me so many times in one night.

“Mama has left me shaken to my very core, in so many good ways.”

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They added: “Mama is possibly the scariest film I have ever seen, but also one of the most touching, well filmed and memorable stories in a very long time.

“More ghost story than fairytale, it’s one that is sure to haunt me for all time, and I will think twice before I turn out the lights tonight..”

The accolades kept coming on IMDb, where one fan confessed “I wish there were more movies like Mama.

“This has become one of my favorite horror movies over the years, one I keep turning to as a prime example of what the horror genre should be,” they said.

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‘Dearest gentle reader’, as the fourth season of Bridgerton follows second son Benedict love story, there’s a way to watch this fairytale-like season for less.

Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan. This lets customers watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes the new season of Bridgerton.

Meanwhile, another bewildered enthusiast questioned: “Why is this movie so underrated??

“Mama wasn’t terrible like everyone says. It was so good! The ending was super emotional and wtf-ish.”

If you’re already hooked on the recent It films, be sure to discover where it all started for horror genius Muschietti now that Mama is ready to stream.

Mama is available to watch now on Netflix.

Writers from around the world have provided their top tips on how to get the most out of going to one of Disney’s many resorts, and how to save money along the way

A writer who has been on more than 50 Disney vacations has given their advice on what to do when visiting one of the parks. Kari Becker, a travel planner and freelance writer, has a vast amount of experience visiting various Disney locations.

After years of engaging in the experience of these places, Kari has discerned several major tips and tricks for getting the most out of the magical destination.

Her number one tip, she said, was to make sure to arrive as early as possible. This is due to the large crowds that continue to visit these parks.

She told Business Insider: “My No. 1 tip for visiting theme parks of any kind is to arrive early. You’ll get a huge jump on your day if you get to the parks as soon as they open, or just before.

“Crowd levels tend to be much lower at this time, meaning you can experience many attractions early in the day. By midday, the crowds usually significantly increase.”

As well as providing guidance on when to go, Kari also outlined some of the mistakes people usually make when either planning or physically going to one of Disney’s many parks.

These include cutting the trip too short, going during school holidays, as well as arriving too late, and over-planning.

On the latter, she explained: “Make a general outline of your daily agenda — with dining reservations and a list of must-do rides and attractions — but leave room for spontaneous fun.

“If you’re on too tight a schedule, you’ll miss all the good stuff, like unique character interactions.”

Kari isn’t the only writer to have provided some tips on how to experience Disneyland to the maximum with ReachPlc’s Portia Jones also providing some tips on how to do the visit yearly without spending a lot of money.

Her main tips were to skip the crowds, book tickets in advance, and, in the case of Disneyland Paris, take the train, plan as much as possible, consider a Disney meal plan, and bring your own food.

On the last matter, she told WalesOnline: “Disneyland Paris may be the happiest place on earth, but its food prices can bring you down to earth with a bump.

“Pack your snacks and bring a refillable water bottle to save money. You can bring food into the park, so load up on sandwiches, crisps, and fruit before you arrive.

“Plenty of water fountains are scattered around where you can refill your bottle, meaning you’ll avoid paying sky-high prices for drinks.”