spectacular

A STUNNING UK railway route has officially welcomed back passengers for their journeys – following a £1.4m revamp.

Although this route spans only 26 miles, the overall stretch takes approximately an hour to complete.

The Conwy Valley Line runs across Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog, showcasing breathtaking Welsh scenery including waterfalls and rolling hillsides.

On Monday, October 27, the popular railway line welcomed back its passengers.

Network Rail carried out four weeks worth of intensive engineering work.

This forms part of a £1.4million scheme, intended to strengthen the railway’s resilience during harsh weather conditions.

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Furthermore, crews have cleared 600,000m2 of vegetation and removed dangerous trees along a track spanning 54 miles.

It is hoped that this will stop fallen trees obstructing the line in the event of a future storm.

In addition to this, Network Rail also tested out an innovative new rail treatment for the Conwy Valley Line.

A gel solution was applied to the rails, which is hoped to break down leaf contamination.

Overall, this gel remains effective for up to seven days before then reactivating with rain.

Network Rail said in a statement: “The Conwy Valley line is one of the most picturesque in Wales, but also one of the most weather-exposed.

“In the past decade, storms have forced the line to close for more than 500 days – disrupting passengers and the transportation of freight goods.”

Describing the rail line, an enthusiastic passenger wrote on TripAdvisor: “It’s utterly spectacular and crams more into an hour than the ECML does into four.

“One of the nicest little tours you can do in the UK is a loop of Chester-Llandudno Jn-Blaenau-Porthmadog-Machynlleth-Shrewsbury-Chester, though you’ll probably need to use a bus rather than the FfR for the middle bit at present.”

More Rail News

Earlier this month, Brits planning to head home for Christmas were warned to brace for weeks of rail chaos.

Commuters and holidaymakers will face more than a fortnight of disruption from Christmas Day through to the New Year.

This will see major stations all caught in the crossfire of an engineering shutdown.

Network Rail says the work will boost the power supply to trains and strengthen the railway’s foundations, but passengers can expect plenty of pain before the gain.

Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that a new £2.7million train station is coming to the UK – in a huge boost for a tiny mining town.

A revised plan to modernise train travel in the north of Newcastle-under-Lyme was completed and awaiting council approval.

Developed by East Midlands Railway and National Rail – the £2.7m project is backed by Kidsgrove Town Deal Board.

From the 18th century, Kidsgrove grew around coal mining, although the pits have now closed.

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The original proposals for the new railway were scrapped due to historical mining issues which would have cost up to £13 million to sort out.

A revised project to upgrade its railway station is only awaiting formal approval from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council reported RailBusinessDaily.

CITY boy David Beckham has spent the best part of a decade becoming a country gent — and is now proudly sharing his new lifestyle in an iconic magazine.

He has turned a Cotswolds farmhouse into the perfect family home and is pictured wandering its idyllic sprawling grounds with his working Cocker Spaniels Sage and Olive.

The father of four, nicknamed Goldenballs in his playing days, has planted hundreds of trees, put up 27 bee hives and created a lake with duck house and wooden jetty.

In a special edition of Country Life, he tells how he keeps chickens and has a vegetable plot, where he tends onions, radishes, carrots and kale.

East London-born David tells how he counts fellow converts Vinnie Jones and Guy Ritchie among his country friends.

But he recalls: “My earliest memories of doing anything in the countryside are when I was a Cub, then a Scout, and we used to go camping in Epping Forest.”

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His kitchen fitter dad Ted and hairdresser mum Sandra did not have much time for gardening — though grandad Joe would tend to the roses, often damaged by the young David kicking a ball about.

The 50-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid star’s interest in country pursuits grew after meeting Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director Guy, 57.

The ex-England skipper even made a cameo appearance in Ritchie’s 2017 flop King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword.

David says about Guy: “He’s a modern-day caveman, who has made me fall far deeper in love with the countryside and helped me to understand it even more than I did before.

“Sometimes, we sit for hours around a fire, just the two of us, and talk late into the night.”

Ritchie’s sweeping 1,100-acre estate Ashcombe House in Wiltshire is the inspiration for what David is trying to achieve.

And it was during late nights at the homely Georgian property that Becks got to know footballer-turned-actor Vinnie, who has appeared in a number of the director’s projects.

Guest editing 128-year-old Country Life, David admits: “When I was playing, he was one of those footballers you did not want to go near on the pitch.

“He would either grab you, throw you or kick you!

Sometimes, we sit for hours around a fire, just the two of us, and talk late into the night

David Beckham

“Back then, that was his thing and he made a successful career before becoming a pundit, when he did criticise me.

“I didn’t think he liked me. But when I met him later at Guy’s place, we didn’t stop talking.”

‘Solace in the country’

Former Wimbledon hardman Vinnie, 60, has a 147-acre farm in Petworth, West Sussex.

David adds: “He bought me a walking stick he’d made for me and he’s now a great friend, who, like me, has found solace in the country later in life.”

The three stars are now happiest in tweeds and welly boots, a world away from the glamorous lifestyles which made them famous.

Vinnie used to booze too much but tells how he prefers a teetotal life.

He comments: “You’ve got to commit. Do it on a Monday.

“Everyone who has done it says, ‘I wish I’d done it before’.

“You never hear anyone regret ­giving up booze.”

For the main article in the magazine — marking its 1,000th edition with a 288-page gold embossed issue — David, his tattooed hands ­poking from his cuffs, gives TV gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh a tour of the family estate

He and fashion designer wife Victoria, 51, bought the farm near Great Tew, in Oxfordshire, for £6million in 2016. It is now estimated to be worth twice that sum.

They have turned a 26-acre plot with one maple tree and a few derelict barns into a landscape of wildflower meadows, native trees and shrubland that form a home for insects and birds.

Proud David reveals: “I can still remember the morning when Victoria and the children were all due to arrive to see the refurbished barns for the first time.

The moment she walked in, she burst out crying

David Beckham

“It was still a complete mess. One of the guys, who was helping with the building work, and I were literally running around laying the rugs, sweeping up and getting all the dust out.

“Then I waited at the front door with a glass of wine for Victoria to arrive.

“And, the moment she walked in, she burst out crying because she couldn’t believe how perfect it was.”

Now the couple often serve their home-grown ingredients in meals served for friends and family.

And in the magazine, David gives the Queen’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, a taste of his culinary skills.

David, originally from Leytonstone, tells Tom: “There’s something so nostalgic about mashed potato, liver, bacon and lots of gravy.

“It’s one of those British comfort classics that my mum used to make for me and was also my grandad’s favourite dish.

“My gran was also a great cook, and it was always a treat going down to the pie and mash shop in Chapel Market.

“If I had to choose my last meal, it would be pie, mash, liquor and ­jellied eels.”

Previous guest editors of the Country Life have included King Charles, and the most featured face on the cover in the past was the late Queen Mother.

In his cover shot, David looks every bit the rural gent, leaning on a ram’s horn cane and dressed in a tweed jacket.

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American celebrities such as Beyonce, Jay-Z and Ellen DeGeneres have since followed the Beckhams to the Cotswolds — and it is easy to see why.

• David Beckham’s Guest Edit of Country Life is available now.

According to visitors, the ‘hidden gem’ is “pure magic” and has “stunning views”

A “hidden gem” in the UK has been hailed as a “bucket list must-see” by visitors. Nestled in Porthcurno, Cornwall, the tranquil spot is celebrated for its ‘stunning views.’

The Minack Theatre, perched on the cliffs of South-West Cornwall, hosts live performances throughout the year, including plays, musicals, opera, music and children’s events. While the theatre may look as if it’s been here forever, it’s actually less than a hundred years old.

The theatre, built by Rowena Cade, has been labelled “pure magic” and “breathtaking” by visitors. While it’s a well-known treasure among locals, the Minack Theatre offers a serene escape for those from further afield.

The TikTok account @ukhiddengems posted a video highlighting the beauty of the theatre. The caption read: “Did you know about this place in England?”

In the clip, they said: “There’s a theatre in England built into the edge of a cliff and when the tide comes in, the ocean becomes the stage. It looks ancient like something the Romans might have left behind, but it was actually built less than a century ago, almost entirely by one woman.

“In the 1930s Rowena Cade carved this open-air theatre into the granite cliffs with her own hands, hauling stone and sand from the beach below. Today, it’s one of the most spectacular performance spaces in the world; a full working theatre with the Atlantic Ocean as its backdrop.

“You can sit on stone seats cut from the rock, watch waves crash beneath the stage and see plays under open skies, with gulls flying overhead. At sunset, when the light turns gold across the sea, it’s pure magic.”

TripAdvisor reviewers have also been praising the theatre, which has racked up an impressive 4.7 star rating. Among them, one person said: “Wow what a place! Little gem hidden away in Cornwall. Well worth going to take a look and take in the views. There was also a performance from a band with instramental which we sat and watched for a while. The views are unbelievable here!!”

A second wrote: “Stunning views, gardens and hospitality and entrance fee good value. Loved the effort made to tell the story and it made my trip to Cornwall.” A third review read: “Utterly breathtaking. We went on March 20th as part of a bucket list and we were not disappointed. Reading the astonishing history of this special place was in itself incredible. Seeing it in real life was amazing, we have vowed to book tickets for a performance.”

Another said: “What a beautiful place to visit! The views are breathtaking and can make some beautiful photos. I love the history of this and learning a wonderful women and her gardeners built this beautiful place when it was just a patch of grass, it’s crazy as it looks like it could be built by the Romans!”

The praise continued, with one person writing: “A truly incredible and beautiful place. All the passion and hard work by Rowena Cade and all those who worked alongside her can really be felt here. One of the most breathtaking places I have ever had coffee and cake and entry fee not extortionately expensive either. Pre booking is essential though. A bucket list must see.”

The Minack Theatre is open until December 31 and booking is essential for anyone hoping to visit. Local residents go free, but there is an entry fee for anyone else. Tickets include free readmission to the theatre for 12 months from the date of first entry.

The theatre is open for visits from 10am. Last admission may vary, depending on performance schedule, so it is worth checking opening times before you visit. The site is steep and includes many steps. It is open to the elements and surfaces may be slippery in wet weather.

Ken Griffin, the billionaire hedge fund manager and CEO of Citadel, recently turned heads after making a striking observation about Alphabet (GOOG 0.21%) (GOOGL 0.28%). During an interview at Stanford Business School, Griffin proclaimed that Alphabet wields comparable levels of computational power as the fifth-largest country in the world.

This is not mere hyperbole. Griffin’s remark underscores the vast scale of Alphabet’s technological infrastructure and its dominance in shaping the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

For investors, this comment is more significant than a memorable sound bite. It highlights Alphabet’s role at the center of AI’s growth, where demand for compute power and data processing is only accelerating.

Ken Griffin just made a bold statement about Google

When most people think of Alphabet, Google Search and YouTube are usually the first properties that come to mind. But the company’s influence stretches far beyond the internet.

Today, Alphabet operates across a diverse set of industries — ranging from cybersecurity through its investment in Wiz, to cloud computing with Google Cloud Platform, consumer electronics with Android, autonomous driving via Waymo, and even custom AI hardware with its tensor processing units (TPUs). In effect, Alphabet has quietly engineered one of the most powerful computing backbones in the world.

By comparing Alphabet’s resources to those of a nation, Griffin underscores the staggering scale of its capabilities in processing, storage, and advanced data workloads. For perspective, the world’s fifth-largest country in terms of electricity consumption falls between Japan and Russia — industrialized economies that power hundreds of millions of people.

If a single company like Alphabet commands that level of computational power, it signals just how central the company has become to the global digital economy.

Image source: Getty Images.

Alphabet is purpose-built for the AI infrastructure era

At the heart of Alphabet’s AI strategy is TensorFlow, its open-source framework for machine learning. TensorFlow is more than a toolkit — it’s an ecosystem powering advanced applications in natural language processing (NLP), robotics, computer vision, and more.

Griffin’s observation ties directly to this computational muscle: Alphabet’s vast infrastructure is the foundation for training and deploying AI models, at a scale few rivals can match. This isn’t simply about producing isolated AI-powered products — it’s about providing the tools, frameworks, and cloud infrastructure that enable developers, enterprises, and entire global communities to innovate.

That network effect is what strengthens Alphabet’s competitive moat. Just as Google Search became the default gateway to the internet two decades ago, Alphabet’s AI backbone is positioning the company as an enduring platform on which the next era of computing is built.

The impact on investors

Griffin’s comment underscores why Alphabet should no longer be seen merely as a cyclical play on digital advertising. Viewed through the lens of AI, Alphabet emerges as a long-term compounder — an essential force powering the AI economy. For investors, the takeaway is clear. Griffin’s perspective shines light on Alphabet’s deeply entrenched position across various corners of the AI landscape.

The company’s ability to marshal computational power on par with a nation highlights not only the durability of its entire business, but stresses the importance of its competitive advantages across both hardware and software — domains with enormous capital requirements and high barriers to entry.

GOOGL PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts

Yet despite its technological leadership, the stock continues to trade at a steep discount relative to other megacap tech peers based on forward earnings multiples.

This disconnect suggests that the broader market has yet to fully price in Griffin’s astute insight — leaving long-term investors with meaningful upside potential as Alphabet’s position in the high ground becomes even more pronounced, while rivals scramble to keep pace.

Since the late 1800s, the island — a former military installation, quarantine station and immigrant processing and detention site — has had three navigational aids. There was a fog bell station with its own keeper on Point Knox, a promontory on the island’s southwest corner; and small lighthouses on Point Stuart (on the western end) and Point Blunt (on the east side).

After your ferry ride from Tiburon or San Francisco, walk past the park visitor center and up the hill to the paved Perimeter Road. Head to the red, abandoned Camp Reynolds hospital and, to the right of it, pick up the Point Stuart Loop, a narrow earthen path that will lead you to a point on the island’s edge. (Watch out for poison oak!) The unmarked Point Stuart Lighthouse, which clings precariously to the edge of the island below the trail, is off-limits and blocked off by a chain-link fence. But if you’re lucky, you can catch a glimpse of its red roof through the fence.

Get back on Perimeter Road and go south to the well-marked concrete remains of the military’s Battery Ledyard. Take a short but steep path down to those ruins and, from there, look at the rocky point below (which is not accessible by foot). Somewhat embarrassingly, I shouted, “Yeah!” when I saw what was still down at the ocean’s edge: the 3,000-pound bronze fog bell installed in 1886.

In July 1906, the wind-up clockwork mechanism that struck that bell malfunctioned as a dense fog rolled in, just three months after the San Francisco earthquake that killed 3,000 people and destroyed much of the city. Ships had been pouring in as the city rebuilt. The female lighthouse keeper, Juliet Fish Nichols, alone in the fog bell station, struck the bell by hand for a grueling 20 hours and 35 minutes at the same rate as the automated mechanism — twice every 15 seconds — until the weather cleared.

After marveling at the bell, take Perimeter Road east toward Point Blunt. From the road, you can plainly see the automated green flash of the Point Blunt Lighthouse, which is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard and off limits to the public.

The loop took me three hours, with stops. Cellphone service is surprisingly great, and I used Google Maps to help find the lighthouses. The welcome center was closed when I visited, but I got three well-earned stamps for my U.S. Lighthouse Society passport from the bike rental stand.

The past couple of years have been something of a whirlwind for Palantir (PLTR -2.52%) stock investors. When the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution kicked off in late 2022, it played to the company’s strengths. With 20 years of data mining experience and AI expertise, Palantir quickly developed its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), which has become the premier software system helping businesses make data-driven decisions. By integrating with existing business systems and layering generative AI on top, Palantir provides actionable insights in near real-time. Since the release of AIP in April 2023, Palantir has become a massive multibagger, with the stock soaring 1,760%.

However, the stock’s frothy valuation and questions about the ongoing adoption of AI have investors climbing a wall of worry, with many looking for signs that the AI revolution is on track.

Nvidia (NVDA -0.01%) has just provided the surest sign yet that the relentless adoption of AI is continuing.

Image source: Getty Images.

Enviable results

Despite facing tough triple-digit comps, Nvidia’s results were robust by any measure. During its fiscal 2026 second quarter (ended July 27), the company generated record revenue of $46.7 billion, up 56% year over year and 6% quarter over quarter. This drove adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.05, which climbed 54% year over year.

For context, analysts’ consensus estimates were calling for revenue of $46.1 billion and EPS of $1.01, so Nvidia scaled both bars with room to spare.

A record-setting performance from the data center segment fueled the bullish results. The segment, which includes chips used for AI, data centers, and cloud computing, generated sales that surged 56% year over year to $41.1 billion, driven by the ongoing adoption of AI.

It’s important to note that export restrictions prevented the sale of H20 chips to China during the quarter, which weighed on the results. Those restrictions have since been rescinded, and Nvidia is working on a follow-up to the H20, based on its Blackwell architecture — reportedly dubbed the B30A. The company is in talks with the U.S. government to determine the limitations of the new data center chip for customers in China.

The icing on the cake was a new record-setting stock buyback plan. Nvidia announced a $60 billion share repurchase authorization, in addition to the $14.7 billion remaining on its previous buyback plan. Share repurchases are generally a sign of management’s confidence that the company’s stock is undervalued.

What does this all have to do with Palantir?

Beyond the good news for Nvidia investors, the results have broader implications about what’s happening across the AI landscape. Nvidia has long been the bellwether for AI adoption, and despite the market’s tepid response to its report, the results help put things into perspective.

While Nvidia’s 56% growth is impressive by any measure, it comes on top of 122% growth in the prior-year quarter. This helps to illustrate the continuing demand for AI infrastructure as more companies adopt this groundbreaking technology.

It also gives additional weight to Palantir’s equally robust results released earlier this month. In the second quarter, revenue surged 48% year over year (and 14% quarter over quarter) to $1 billion. This powered adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.16, which surged 78% year over year.

Yet the overall results mask the truly phenomenal performance by the company’s U.S. commercial segment, which includes AIP. Revenue for the segment soared 93% year over year to $306 million, while its customer rolls increased 64%, fueled by record demand for AIP. Future demand looks even brighter as the segment’s total contract value soared 222% to $843 million. Even more impressive is Palantir’s remaining performance obligation (RPO), or contractually obligated sales that aren’t yet included in revenue, which soared 77% year over year to $2.42 billion.

The fact that Nvidia’s industry-leading graphics processing units (GPUs) continue to sell like hotcakes shows the ongoing momentum of AI adoption, which bodes well for Palantir.

The biggest AI-centric problem facing most business leaders is the lack of expertise required to implement AI into their operations, while ensuring a reasonable return on their investment. Palantir’s quarterly reports are rife with customer testimonials that detail just that.

For example, after deploying AIP, Cleveland Clinic reported a 38-minute decrease in emergency room wait times, a 40% reduction in unused orthopedic operating room time, and a 75% reduction in time spent calculating bed capacity. That’s one of dozens of AIP success stories.

To be clear, there’s still the matter of Palantir’s valuation to consider. The stock is currently trading for 185 times next year’s expected earnings. While that’s an egregious valuation to be sure, it might seem like a bargain five to 10 years down the road. CEO Alex Karp recently revealed ambitious plans to 10X revenue in the coming years. Given the company’s current growth rate, it could achieve that lofty benchmark at some point over the next decade.

For investors wanting in on the action but put off by Palantir’s exorbitant earnings multiple, I’d suggest establishing a small position and using dollar-cost averaging to build out a stake.

Say you are the president of the United States and the relationship with a significant chunk of your political base has become less than blissfully harmonious. What do you do?

Well, one option is to stage a summit, accompanied by much fanfare, with the president of Russia, ostensibly in order to end that country’s war in Ukraine.

And this is precisely the manoeuvre that was pulled by US President Donald Trump, who on Friday rolled out the red carpet in Alaska for his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The short-lived encounter was ultimately anticlimactic, with Trump offering the incisive assessment that “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”

Fox News reported that Trump had rated the much-anticipated meeting with Putin a “10” out of 10 and that he particularly “appreciated the Russian president’s comments when he claimed he would not have invaded Ukraine had Trump won the 2020 presidency”.

Fox went on to add that neither head of state had bothered to specify the “reasoning behind these comments”.

At any rate, the no-deal talks constituted a convenient distraction from current intra-MAGA strife, which owes to a couple of factors. There is, for example, the matter of the files relating to the late Jeffrey Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019.

When US Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed Trump in May on the Justice Department’s review of the content of the so-called “Epstein files”, she reportedly informed the president that his name appeared therein.

Despite having pledged while on the campaign trail to declassify the Epstein files, Trump changed tack earlier this year and angrily dismissed the investigation as a “hoax”. He went as far as to insult many of his Republican followers as “stupid” and “foolish” for continuing to insist that the Epstein details be released.

On July 12, the president took to social media with his signature preference for manic capitalisation to berate those demanding declassification: “We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and ‘selfish people’ are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein.”

And yet this is not the only headache facing the “PERFECT Administration” from within Trump’s own MAGA base, many of whose prominent members have become vocally critical of Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip, which Trump persists in aiding and abetting.

The genocide, which will mark its two-year anniversary in October, has officially killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians thus far – although the true death toll is undoubtedly many times higher. Apparently, Israel’s behaviour was entirely palatable to much of the US political establishment when it simply consisted of unending massacres, slaughtered and mutilated babies, bombed hospitals, and razed neighbourhoods.

Now that mass starvation has been visibly added to the genocidal mix, however, Israel seems to have crossed a red line even among formerly staunch devotees. As per Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the death toll from malnutrition has hit 251, including 108 children. Images of skeletal Palestinians have flooded the internet, and the United Nations World Food Programme has categorised food shortage in Gaza as “catastrophic”.

Furthermore, according to the UN, the Israeli military has killed at least 1,760 Palestinians since late May alone, as they sought aid, including at sites run by the nefarious so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Backed by the US and Israel, the GHF has not only served Israel’s plans for mass displacement and forced eviction of Palestinians; the aid distribution hubs have also functioned as a sort of one-stop shop for indiscriminate killing – which, after all, is the whole point of genocide.

And while Trump has intermittently chided Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the disagreeable optics of the whole spectacle, it has not been sufficient to appease the scrutiny of the likes of right-wing US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a traditional ally of the president known for such antics as wearing a hat imprinted with the words “Trump Was Right About Everything!”

In a social media post last month, Greene – a leading figure in Trump’s MAGA movement – was unexpectedly explicit in her condemnation of “the genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza”. Other MAGA fixtures like far-right influencer Laura Loomer – a self-defined “proud Islamophobe” and general bona fide sociopath – wasted no time in responding to Greene’s post: “There is no genocide in Gaza.”

Anyway, political tensions and infighting were at least temporarily removed from the spotlight by the Trump-Putin extravaganza in Alaska. It’s hardly the first time the old art of distraction has come in handy – Trump’s pal, Netanyahu, is the master of this trade. His commitment to waging genocide in Gaza has more than a little to do with his desire to stave off domestic opposition and avoid dealing with the assorted corruption charges in which he is presently embroiled.

And while the Alaskan red-carpet stunt provided little to write home about, distraction may yet prevail as folks ponder what the hell that was all about.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

One spectacular train route, on the highest railway track in Europe and the steepest in the world, offers passengers a breathtaking journey between two beautiful European cities

Rail travel across Europe is one of the finest methods for discovering the continent’s hidden beauty, with one route offering a breathtaking journey.

Europe features countless railway journeys that provide sweeping panoramas of the continent’s most magnificent attractions. Numerous routes wind through spectacular countryside and awe-inspiring mountain ranges, delivering thrilling and picturesque vistas unlike anything you’ve witnessed previously.

Yet, when it comes to selecting just one, one particular route connecting two gorgeous European destinations could well be the ultimate choice. It comes after reports of a small fishing village with some of the UK’s best seafood but hardly any tourists.

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The Bernina Express holds the distinction of being Europe’s highest railway line and the world’s steepest, reports the Express. This extraordinary expedition runs from Switzerland’s alpine hub of Chur to Tirano in northern Italy, passing through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges while delivering passengers an absolutely stunning rail experience.

Gazing from the carriage windows, travellers encounter brilliant azure lakes, imposing viaducts, and expansive meadows that transform into magnificent snow-capped peaks as the journey progresses through the diverse terrains spanning both nations. The 76-mile voyage requires four hours to finish, and passengers can board the train in either direction.

The service features carriages with panoramic windows, plus an additional Bernina Express coach service linking Tirano and Lugano, which passes through gorgeous scenery and alongside Lake Como.

One traveller wrote on TripAdvisor that they “recommend everyone to go on the train,” describing it as a “fantastic experience ” and noting that the “adventure was beautiful.”

Another shared: “Once we mastered how to effectively book this train (train ticket first, later on seat reservations) the whole route from Chur to Tirano is spectacular. Observation cars are where most of the seats are, affording fabulous views.

“The train makes a stop for 15 minutes at a mountain viewpoint, so you can have a leg stretch. At Tirano we had 1.15 hours to have a potter and grab a drink. The engine runs round, so I.T. changes ends, so if you were sat on one side outwards you will be on the opposite side going back. Excellent day out.”

Ticket options include second class, first class, second class return, and first class return. Prices range between 66 CHF (£61.50) and CHF 226 (£210) for the full route from Chur to Tirano. Seat reservations are compulsory for the train and can be purchased on the official website.

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If you’re looking for a British beachside staycation for a large family gathering, The Pink House in Bude is perfect; sleeping 16, it has six bedrooms, six bathrooms, an amazing open space living area, and a balcony with spectacular views over the North Cornwall coast. We had four teens with us, with a bedroom available for each of them, but they decided to sleep in one room with four bunks as it was ‘so cool’.

The location of The Pink House is fantastic, and we only used our car once during our three-night stay; everything really is on your doorstep.

What to do around Bude

Crooklets Beach is a two-minute stroll away, and there are surfboards, buckets, spades and fishing nets at the house for you to use, along with an outside shower for washing off the sand when you get back. There’s a live DJ over the weekends in the summer months at Crooklets Beach Café, a great place after a day on the beach to chill and unwind.

You can walk for miles along the coastal path, and there’s also the famous Bude Sea Pool, a semi-natural tidal pool that’s free to enter; the kids and adults alike all loved this.

You can also explore Bude Canal Lower Wharf and Harbour via paddle board or pedalo. We booked paddle boards through Freewave Surf Academy, who have trailers dotted around Bude – simply book online, receive a code and pick up and drop off your board; it’s so easy.

We decided on the cinema one evening, and found the independent Rebel Cinema. It looked just like a film set, and there aren’t many places where you’ll find a field of cows next door to a cinema.

Bude itself is a quaint little town easily within walking distance, with lots of cafés, bakeries and independent shops. Bude Castle is another must, overlooking Summerleaze Beach.

We had keen golfers with us so we also had to pay a visit to Bude and North Cornwall Golf Course, visible from The Pink House.

Where to eat in Bude

For traditional pub food, we loved The Brendan Arms, overlooking the harbour, and Rosie’s Kitchen is a lovely family-run diner on the beach that uses local produce where possible, with outside and inside seating. We tried their famous breakfast baps plus the slightly healthier avocado, chilli oil and egg on toast – it was so good we decided to come back to try their dirty fries for dinner. The teens all said they would make the five-hour drive just for these fries and breakfast baps.

Electric Bakery was another great recommendation, and so good the locals queue; we arrived at 8.30am ahead of its 9am opening time and the queue was already out of the car park. Its baked goods were well worth the wait, however; the sausage rolls, and cinnamon and red velvet croissants were our favourites.

How much does it cost?

The Pink House costs from £1,615 per week up to £3,940 per week in peak season. Book via Aspects Holidays.

An enchanting courtyard apartment, dubbed something ‘out of a fairytale’ and located at a castle in the Scottish Highlands, which dates back to the 12th century, is available to book

You can now book a stay in a historic castle nestled in the Scottish Highlands, which has been hailed as “straight out of a fairytale”.

Foulis Castle, with roots tracing back to the 12th century and once home to Clan Munro, stands near the old burgh of Dingwall in Ross and Cromarty. The Courtyard at Foulis Castle is on Airbnb, inviting holidaymakers to book their stay for a nightly rate of £160, not including additional taxes.

Located on the northeast wall of the castle’s courtyard, the Courtyard offers accommodation for two with one bedroom. It comes after reports of a small fishing village with some of the UK’s best seafood but hardly any tourists.

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Overlooking the Foulis Castle arboretum, guests staying at The Courtyard can enjoy views of landscaped gardens and ponds. They also have free rein to roam the castle grounds and are welcome to pick fruit from the walled arboretum, reports the Daily Record.

The interior boasts a kitchen area facing the courtyard, equipped with modern amenities and a cosy table for two. The snug and sleek bedroom, with a generous double bed, also boasts a 32-inch flat-screen TV.

A shower room with a toilet and sink completes the facilities, which, along with the kitchen, bedroom, and entrance hall, feature traditional flagstone flooring.

For those keen on exploring further, guided tours of Foulis Castle are available but must be arranged in advance through the Airbnb host. In addition to the unique stay at Foulis Castle, there are plenty of local activities to enjoy, such as horse riding, mountain biking, stalking, and fishing.

For those who prefer hotel accommodation, the Kincraig Castle Hotel and Kiltearn Guest House are popular choices in the vicinity. Foulis Castle has earned a remarkable 4.83 out of five rating on Airbnb with over 900 reviews, making it one of the platform’s most cherished homes, according to guests’ feedback.

One guest enthused: “We loved our one night stay in the beautiful Foulis Castle! The courtyard and surrounding gardens were gorgeous with many flowers in bloom.

“We wished we could have stayed longer. The apartment itself was clean and comfortable. Kitchen was stocked with the basics. We would certainly recommend this place to anyone traveling to the area.”

However, not all feedback was glowing, with one review stating: “Mixed experience-beautiful garden but comfort issues. The highlight was undoubtedly the stunning garden, lush, vibrant, and beautifully maintained.

“However, the apartment itself had drawbacks: extremely cramped, poor ventilation (only one openable window), and an uncomfortably hot atmosphere. The noisy boiler and poor bedding further impacted sleep quality.”

Another delighted visitor commented: “Staying at Foulis Castle was truly a dream come true. My fiancé and I felt incredibly lucky and grateful to spend a night in such a historic, family-held national treasure. The entire property feels like a sanctuary for the soul-peaceful, timeless, and straight out of a fairytale.”

More information about The Courtyard is available on the Airbnb listing.

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