summer

I CAN’T say my weekends are usually spent dressed as a fox in the middle of a forest, springing about in an aerial bungee or learning Bollywood dance routines.  

But I certainly wish more of them were. 

I was at Camp Wildfire in Kent – a three-day festival that’s far from your average Reading or Glastonbury experience.  

A bit like an American summer camp but for grown-ups, Camp Wildfire incorporates outdoorsy activities like tree-climbing and paddleboarding with campfire singalongs – and, importantly, cocktails.  

Upon arrival, festivalgoers are asked to join one of four teams: Foxes, Badgers, Hawks or Squirrels.  

One pair of fluffy ears and face-paint whiskers later, I had made myself part of the Fox patrol. 

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Forget scouring a lanyard for your favourite bands’ set times – a weekend here begins by charging into a games arena with your new animal teammates to take on a series of Sports Day-style games like tug-of-war that will earn your team “Patrol Points”.  

You’ll fill your entire festival with your pick of 100 activities, from beekeeping to rifle shooting, all while collecting points for a grand finale at the end. 

I chose to begin with quad biking ­– I truly can’t think of a better wake-up call than riding into the breeze through the Kentish countryside, taking in whiffs of wild mint. 

Next came flower headdress-crafting, followed by a potion-making class that left me smelling of lavender and clutching some homemade skincare.  

By this point I was feeling like a total wilderness goddess, which gave me the confidence boost I needed to channel my inner acrobat for my final activity of the day: twirling on the aerial silks. All of this before 5pm left me in serious need of a drink.  

Thankfully, there are regular cocktail masterclasses, where visitors can learn to pour favourites like the perfect Pornstar Martini ahead of the nighttime acts. 

Evening entertainment at Camp Wildfire is some of the best I’ve experienced.  

Yes, there’s great music, with everything from Disney singalongs to reggae and techno dance tents.  

But there are also fabulous comedy acts, a board games bar and even an astronomy tent for stargazing. 

The music continues well into the early hours but with laser clay shooting first thing in the morning, I made sure to rest up.  

Precision was equally as important for pyrography, where I decorated a wooden coaster with a heated metal pen, although it was less critical for aerial bungee.  

If you’ve never jumped around in a giant harness, pulling Superman shapes and Spider-Man jumps, I highly recommend it – you’ll split your sides laughing and become more flexible, too. 

My final activity was a Burlesque class, where I managed to bag a Patrol Point, but sadly, it wasn’t enough for us Foxes to take the lead. 

That didn’t stop me cheering on the winning Hawk team at the dramatic closing ceremony, though, where all visitors are invited to enjoy an impressive drone show.  

We’ll get ’em next year, Foxes! 

• ULTRA-earlybird tickets for Camp Wildfire 2027 are live now and cost from £259pp for the weekend. Super-earlybird tickets go on sale from October 2 and start at £269pp.
• All tickets include general camping. For details or to book, see campwildfire.co.uk. 

THE summer holidays might only just be wrapping up, but I’m already deep in the database looking at where you should be booking for Summer 2027.

Before you accuse me of wishing the year away, there’s method in the madness.

Securing your booking now gives you plenty of time to spread the cost, turning a peak summer holiday into a manageable monthly payment.

I crunched live booking numbers to track down the resort areas where early bookers are securing the lowest average monthly direct-debit payments per person.

Couples are booking breaks from an average of just £40pp a month, while family packages are getting snapped up from just £45pp a month.

So, instead of clogging the list with ten resorts on the same two Spanish islands, I’ve broken down five top spots for couples and five for families across ten completely different coastlines – counted down from five to one.

FAMILIES: 5. La Cala de Mijas, Costa del Sol – £42pp a month

La Cala de Mijas is my top shout for families who want all the convenience of the Costa del Sol without being swallowed by the high-rise noise of the massive resorts.

It still feels like an authentic seaside town, with a wide sandy beach, a flat seafront promenade for buggies, and family tavernas that won’t cause an argument when the bill arrives.

Our booking data shows families booking in September 2026 to spread the cost until Summer 2027 are paying an average of £51pp a month for this resort.

I managed to beat that, though. I found a 7-night bed & breakfast stay at Gran Hotel Costa del Sol from £460pp, flying directly from London Luton on 25 August 2027.

Spread across 11 monthly payments, that specific deal comes out at just £42pp a month.

The direct garden access onto the sand here is brilliant too, meaning you can step straight off your breakfast terrace onto the beach without navigating busy coastal roads.

• Book a 7 night bed-and-breakfast stay at Gran Hotel Costa del Sol  from 25 August 2027, with direct return flights from London Luton, from £460pp.

COUPLES: 5. Mellieha, Malta – £46pp a month

Malta serves up a brilliant hybrid of sun, sea, and exploring, and Mellieha is the ultimate base if you want a proper beach holiday.

Mellieha Bay is the largest sandy stretch on the island, while the historic village sits elevated on the hill with open-air bistros overlooking the coast.

Couples booking early in September 2026 are locking in Mellieha for an average of £55pp a month.

But I found a 7-night self-catering stay at Luna Holiday Complex from £510pp, flying directly from Newcastle on 24 August 2027.

Spread across 11 monthly payments, that works out at just £46pp a month.

What makes this complex a steal is its rooftop panoramic pool deck – it’s a quiet, adult-friendly sanctuary looking out over Gozo, allowing you to avoid the busier beach crowds when you just want a relaxed afternoon swim.

• Book a 7-night self-catering stay at Luna Holiday Complex from 24 August 2027, with direct return flights from Newcastle, from £510pp.

FAMILIES: 4. Agadir, Morocco – £57pp a month

Agadir is a fantastic shout if you want an exotic North African beach trip that remains entirely hassle-free for kids.

The broad sandy bay is backed by a wide, paved promenade custom-built for evening pushchair walks, while modern resort hotels take the stress out of daily parenting.

The data reveals families booking early in September 2026 are spreading the cost at an average of £50pp a month for Agadir.

I found a 7-night all-inclusive stay at Allegro Agadir from £625pp, flying directly from Manchester on 24 August 2027.

Split across 11 monthly payments, the deal works out at £57pp a month.

Landing a full all-inclusive stay with meals, drinks, and snacks in August for under £650pp total is a massive result.

The on-site highlight is the property’s dedicated, shaded kids’ splash park that lets younger children cool off out of the intense midday sun.

• Book a 7-night all-inclusive stay at Allegro Agadir from 24 August 2027, with direct return flights from Manchester, from £625pp.

COUPLES: 4. Caleta de Fuste, Fuerteventura – £52pp a month

Caleta de Fuste is built for couples who want a chilled holiday without feeling stranded in the middle of nowhere.

The horseshoe bay keeps the Atlantic waters calm and flat, the marina is packed with waterside bars, and the resort sits barely 10 minutes from the airport – meaning you go from arrivals to the sunlounger in record time.

Booking data shows couples locking in summer 2027 trips this September are averaging £53pp a month here.

But I found a 7-night all-inclusive stay at SMY Tahona Fuerteventura from £570pp, flying directly from London Gatwick on 25 August 2027.

Spread across 11 monthly payments, that deal costs just £52pp a month.

The standout feature at this hotel is its low-rise bungalow layout built around three separate pool zones, allowing you to easily find a quiet sunbathing corner away from the main bar.

• Book a 7-night all-inclusive stay at SMY Tahona Fuerteventura from 25 August 2027, with direct return flights from London Gatwick, from £570pp.

FAMILIES: 3. Los Cristianos, Tenerife – £51pp a month

Los Cristianos is a classic for a reason: it makes family travel feel effortless.

You get a sheltered sandy beach, flat walking paths, loads of kid-friendly restaurants, and quick access to Siam Park just down the road.

Families booking in September 2026 to spread payments out until next summer are averaging £49pp a month for Los Cristianos.

I found a 7-night half-board stay at Sol Arona Tenerife from £558pp, flying directly from Bristol on 25 August 2027.

Across 11 monthly payments, that works out at £51pp a month.

For energetic kids, this place has a massive on-site climbing block and outdoor play zone, giving toddlers and kids a safe space to burn off their final energy reserves before dinner while parents grab a drink at the pool bar.

• Book a 7-night half-board stay at Sol Arona Tenerife  from 25 August 2027, with direct return flights from Bristol, from £558pp.

COUPLES: 3. Lloret de Mar, Costa Brava – £36pp a month

While Lloret de Mar has a famous reputation for high-energy nightlife, there is far more to the town than neon lights.

The main beach is enormous, the surrounding Costa Brava cove scenery is gorgeous, and cheap direct train links into Barcelona make day trips effortless.

Couples securing their 2027 spot in September 2026 are paying a destination average of £49pp a month.

When I went deal-hunting, I found a 7-night half-board stay at Clipper Affiliated by FERGUS from £395pp, flying directly from London Luton on 25 August 2027.

Split across 11 payments, that brings the cost down to just £36pp a month.

This hotel’s central location is perfect too – it sits tucked just two streets back from the main beach, giving you a quiet pool area during the day while keeping the coastal nightlife and seafront dining within a two-minute walk.

• Book a 7-night half-board stay at Clipper Affiliated by FERGUS from 25 August 2027, with direct return flights from London Luton, from £395pp.

FAMILIES: 2. Sidari, Corfu – £49pp a month

Sidari takes the runner-up family spot because of the sheer quality of the local beach infrastructure, offering shallow waters, traditional tavernas, and the iconic Canal d’Amour rock formations right around the corner.

Families booking early in September 2026 are locking in Sidari for a resort average of £48pp a month.

I found a 7-night self-catering stay at Megali Luxuries from £543pp, flying directly from London Gatwick on 20 August 2027.

Divided across 11 monthly payments, that deal works out at £49pp a month.

Booking self-catering here is a smart move because the property sits directly adjacent to Sidari’s main strip of family-run Greek tavernas, where you can get authentic local dinners without spending a fortune.

• Book a 7-night self-catering stay at Megali Luxuries from 20 August 2027, with direct return flights from London Gatwick, from £543pp.

COUPLES: 2. Magaluf, Majorca – £52pp a month

Hear me out: if your ideal couples’ break involves stylish beach clubs, modern seafront dining, and not being forced into bed by 9:30pm, modern Magaluf is one of the best-value options on the island.

The main beach is immaculate, high-end hotel refurbishments have elevated the waterfront, and quiet Palma Nova sits right next door.

Couples getting their 2027 plans sorted in September 2026 are averaging £47pp a month.

I spotted a 7-night bed & breakfast stay at Sol Guadalupe from £595pp, flying directly from London Luton on 25 August 2027.

Spread across 11 monthly payments, that deal costs £54pp a month.

The hotel features a huge lagoon-style pool setup with underwater lounger jets, giving you a sleek, high-end resort feel just a short walk from the seafront.

• Book a 7-night bed & breakfast stay at Sol Guadalupe from 25 August 2027, with direct return flights from London Luton, from £595pp.

FAMILIES: 1. Gerani, Crete – £52pp a month

Gerani takes the number one family spot on our board as an absolute value anomaly.

Tucked near Rethymnon, this peaceful Cretan village is built for families who want space, wide beaches, and a slow, authentic Greek pace away from commercialised tourist hubs.

Our booking data shows families getting in early in September 2026 pay an average of just £45pp a month to spread the cost to Summer 2027 – the single lowest family figure on the map.

And I found a 7-night bed & breakfast stay at Hotel Ideon from £575pp, flying directly from London Luton on 23 August 2027.

Divided across 11 monthly payments, that featured deal comes out at £52pp a month.

The highlight here for families is the studio room setup – every room features a wide balcony looking out over olive groves towards the sea, giving you a peaceful, spacious base for a fraction of standard hotel prices

• Book a 7-night bed-and-breakfast stay at Hotel Ideon from 23 August 2027, with direct return flights from London Luton, from £575pp.

COUPLES: 1. Tholos, Rhodes – £33pp a month

Taking the absolute overall crown is Tholos (also known as Theologos) on the breezy west coast of Rhodes.

It is infinitely more relaxed than Faliraki or Rhodes Town, serving up traditional tavernas, uncrowded beaches, and incredible Mediterranean sunsets.

This is the single cheapest destination average in our database: couples booking in September 2026 pay an average of just £40pp a month to spread payments until Summer 2027.

I found a 7-night self-catering stay at Sunlight Studios from £365pp, flying directly from London Luton on 25 August 2027.

Across 11 monthly payments, that featured deal costs just £33pp a month.

At under £38pp a month, that is quite literally the cost of one takeaway each – and a week under the Greek sun lasts a whole lot longer.

• Book a 7-night self-catering stay at Sunlight Studios from 25 August 2027, with direct return flights from London Luton, from £365pp.

A BELOVED 90-year-old lido has been forced to shut early this summer due to flash flooding.

Season ticket holders have been directed to a nearby lido, where they will be able to swim free of charge.

Letchworth Lido in North Hertfordshire has cut its summer season short due to local flash flooding and torrential rain.

In a statement on its Facebook page, Letchworth Lido said: “We are sorry to confirm that, due to the impact of localised flooding, Letchworth Lido will remain closed and will not reopen for the remainder of this season.

Bookings were set to be taken up until Sunday, September 6 at the heated lido, however, it will now reopen in winter for its seasonal ice rink.

Letchworth Lido had initially shut on August 27 due to “unforeseen circumstances”, where closures were expected to remain in place during the following week.

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This was the second time in just over a year that the pool had shut, with facilities also closed in July 2025 after flooding required a clean-up operation.

The historic heated outdoor swimming pool, located on Norton Common in Letchworth Garden City, originally opened in 1935 as a beloved destination for local residents.

Over 27,000 people attended the 50metre heated lido last summer, with facilities that also include a learner pool, sunbathing area and a cafe.

Customers with bookings before the closure announcement will be contacted directed and offered a full refund for all cancelled sessions.

Season ticket holders for Letchworth Lido will also be able to transfer their ticket to the nearby Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre to swim between now until Sunday.

The Doggy Splash sessions that were planned to take place at Letchworth Lido will now also be held at Hitchin Swimming and Fitness Centre on September 11, 12 and 13.

Letchworth Lido continued to say: “We’re very sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience caused by the early closure and thank customers for their understanding.

“We look forward to welcoming you back to Letchworth Lido later this year when it transforms into our festive ice rink.”

Premier League breaks its own record as four of its 11 most expensive signings have arrived in this transfer window.

The English Premier League displayed its financial power once again by smashing the summer transfer window record for the amount spent by its clubs on new players.

It had only set the previous record last year.

The spree continued deep into the final hours of the window, which shut on Tuesday, with several big-money deals completed before the 11pm (22:00 GMT) deadline for signings by English clubs.

Approximately 38 percent of the Premier League deals were made between the clubs from within that competition, up from 30 percent last year’s summer transfer window.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at major takeaways from the 2026-27 transfer window:

How much did Premier League clubs spend for the 2026-27 season?

A total of 3.46 billion pounds ($4.67bn) was dished out by England’s top-flight clubs, with 475 million pounds ($640.1m) being spent on deadline day itself, up from 391 million pounds ($526.7m) on the same day last year.

During the last summer transfer window, the combined spending of the league’s 20 clubs breached the 3 billion pounds ($4.05bn) barrier for the first time, while this year’s figure dwarfed the 1.13 billion pounds ($1.52bn) spent five years ago.

What were the most expensive Premier League and La Liga signings?

Manchester City topped the list when they spent 125 million pounds ($168.7m) on signing Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea.

He’s the first player to be transferred twice for figures upwards of 100 million pounds ($134.7m), and his deal equalled the amount spent on Aleksander Isak when he moved from Newcastle United to Liverpool during the last summer transfer window.

Liverpool paid a close second 123 million pounds ($166m) to sign France forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.

Chelsea followed with 117 million pounds ($158m) spent on bringing England international Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge, while Manchester City dished out 116 million pounds ($156.6m) for midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

Which clubs spent the most money on summer transfers?

Manchester City’s signing of Fernandez capped the whopping 458 million pounds ($618.2m) spent as new manager Enzo Maresca assembled his first squad, which includes Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for 86 million pounds ($116.2m).

It was a new Premier League record that surpassed the 415 million pounds (560.3m) paid by Liverpool last year.

Chelsea also spent heavily, shelling out 349 million pounds ($471.1m) to back new boss Xabi Alonso.

Tottenham splashed out 303 million pounds ($409m) as they rebuild after two successive seasons close to being relegated.

Promoted trio Ipswich, Coventry City and Hull City spent more than a combined 400 million pounds ($539.9m) to prepare themselves for life in the top flight.

Sunderland landed highly rated Belgian winger Malick Fofana, 21, from Olympique Lyonnais in a reported 30 million pounds ($40.5m) deal after beating Crystal Palace to his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur also broke their club transfer record to sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United in a deal that could reach 100 million pounds ($134.9m).

Why did Julian Alvarez, Folarin Balogun and Lamine Camara fail to join a new club?

Some deals failed to go through on deadline day.

British media reported that Everton’s move for Folarin Balogun collapsed after the US striker decided against proceeding with the transfer, while Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara remained at Monaco after his reported 47.1 million pounds ($63.5m) move to Chelsea fell through.

Julian Alvarez’s dream of playing for Barcelona never materialised after Atletico held onto him despite strong interest from Barcelona and Arsenal.

Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin made his feelings quite clear about ⁠⁠Barcelona last week and ⁠⁠said Alvarez would never be sold to them.

“There has not been, and there will not be any negotiation with them [Barcelona] regarding Alvarez’s transfer,” Atletico’s board of directors said in the statement.

“Atletico de Madrid is open to standard transfer market negotiations when conducted in a professional, ethical and respectful manner,” the statement added.

RYANAIR warns the price of jet fuel could soar next summer – meaning the cost of flights could too.

The airline has warned that other competitor airlines could struggle to ‘survive’.

Conflict in Iran has caused jet fuel costs to climb due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and it will continue to affect holiday prices.

In a statement, Ryanair said: “If high oil prices continue through to S.27 (summer 2027), Ryanair believes short-haul airfares in Europe will increase materially to reflect higher oil prices as some less well-hedged competitors will struggle to maintain capacity or even survive this coming winter season.”

Ryanair said it currently hedges fuel (which means it pays a set price).

The airline added that 80 per cent of its jet fuel is hedged through March 2027 at about $67 (£50) a barrel.

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Currently the price of jet fuel is around $140 (£103) a barrel.

Ryanair isn’t the only airline to warn of higher costs on the horizon, easyJet has said the same.

Talking to The Times earlier this year, easyJet said it would increase minimum ticket prices of its winter 2026-27 flights “by two to three pounds” to offset higher costs and uncertainty around customer demand.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby also said he expects fares to keep rising into the first half of next year.

According to Reuters he said: “I think you’re going to still see gradual increases in fares. Not as big a jump as happened this year.”

When it comes to finding the cheapest flights right now – it’s best to use a comparison site.

Skyscanner is a great option for comparing the price of flights with various airlines – and it even have a price drop tool.

The feature claims to scour up to 80 billion prices a day and shows which destinations have seen flights that have dropped 20 per cent compared to the last week.

Google Flights is another search engine which compares flight prices and shows multiple airline options.

If you choose the ‘explore’ option, it can show the cheapest, direct flights across the world.

For even more hacks on when to fly, Expedia has put together a handy list on the cheapest days to fly – which is Friday.

Compared to travelling on a Saturday, jetting off the day before can save up to 18 per cent.

It also found that found that international travellers can save £93 on average by booking between 15 and 30 days ahead, instead of six months.

Where you fly from also makes a difference – some of the most expensive UK airports to fly from are London Heathrow, Humberside and Manchester..

For more hacks, head here.

A HIDDEN Greek island is set to boom next year thanks to a major blockbuster movie.

Ithaca in Greece is known as being the home of Odysseus from Homer’s Odyssey.

And thanks to the recent Hollywood movie release, the island is expecting more tourists.

Quieter than its famous neighbours, you’ll find olive groves across the island as well as secluded coves that are ideal for snorkelling.

In the capital, Vathy, you can head to one of the world’s largest natural harbours.

The town is also home to an Archaeological Museum with artefacts dating back to the Roman times.

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And if you hadn’t had enough of museums, you could then head to the Nautical and Folklore Museum, which dates back to 1923 and showcases the lifestyle of Old Ithaca.

Like many places in Greece, there are also a number of archaeological sites to explore such as the School of Homer.

Or you could visit Aestos – an ancient acropolis sat on a hilltop.

According to Sunvil, the island has “barely changed for centuries” making it the perfect Greek holiday without the crowds and influences of modernity.

There are several beaches across the island to explore including Gidaki Beach, which is a white pebble beach with clear waters.

You can get to the beach by hiking or boat.

Filiatro Beach is probably the most accessible; it is a short drive from Vathy.

At the beach you can rent a sunbed and there is a small beach bar as well.

A recent visitor said: “Love this beach, parking simple, turquoise waters, calm, great for snorkeling, toilets available, paddle boards to hire kept our kids happy, loads of shade under the olive trees.”

From Ithaca you can also head to a number of other islands, including Kefalonia and seasonally to Lefkada, Corfu and Zante.

There are lots of places to stay on Ithaca, though most of the options are villas – including ones with breathtaking views and pools.

The best way to get to Ithaca is by flying to Kefalonia Airport, which costs from £28 per flight.

The drive is around 30 minutes to the port of Sami where you can catch a ferry over to Ithaca, which takes around another 30 minutes.

DURING the school holidays I am a fan of making life as easy as possible.

So teaching my children to cook seems a major win, especially when it doubles as a fun day out.

I took my sons Henry and Nicholas, to a brilliant kids’ pasta making class at the Jamie Oliver Cookery School.

There are two London locations offering lessons for all ages and abilities, including joint parent-kid sessions – perfect for the summer break or weekends.

Our class was inside John Lewis’ flagship department store on Oxford Street, in a big, bright teaching kitchen.

Our instructor was Holly, who studied at culinary school, has written cookbooks and worked as a private chef.

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Holly explained what was on the menu and took us through the first part of the process – making our pasta dough.

It’s a great one for kids as the mixing and kneading allows them to get stuck in.

Standing in the flash kitchen with our ingredients laid out before us made us feel like we were on a cookery show.

The task does involve some skill, but no real prior expertise or fiddly equipment or techniques.

Holly and her assistant chef Robin circled the room and helped when needed, but gave the young cooks plenty of space to learn and explore for themselves.

Then, as our glistening, golden balls of dough ‘rested’ on our work benches, Holly brought everyone back together to explain how to whip up a quick tomato, basil and garlic sauce.

It was a new one on me, too, as I didn’t know you could make a delicious pasta dressing with just raw tomatoes and a grater – no cooking or chopping needed.

Then, while our sauce marinated, it was on to the rolling.

The kids loved it, and got the hang of the technique instantly, using the machine to gradually fashion a thinner and thinner dough.

Holly then showed the class how to use cutting tools to fashion tagliatelle, angel hair and farfalle (or ‘bow-tie pasta’, as we call them in our house).

The kids worked with care and precision to get their shapes spot-on and were delighted to see their tagliatelle appear like magic from the machine.

It was almost like grown-up Play-Doh!

The final step was to boil the pasta before stirring it into the pre-prepared sauce.

Clutching their steaming bowls of lovingly made pasta, the class wandered to the trestle tables in the cookery school’s dining room to enjoy lunch with lashings of grated parmesan.

Verdict from all the children: Delicious.

And for parents, what better way to spend a school holiday morning?

The only drawback for me has been that I am now being nagged to buy a pasta machine!

If you’re not a big fan of pasta, there are also classes in meatball-making,

Mexican street food, sushi, ravioli, Thai green curry and bread.

At this rate, I won’t have to worry about cooking in the holidays ever again.

That seems like money well spent to me.

WHAT if there were a destination as beautiful as Santorini or Mykonos without the crowds and sky-high prices?

Whisper it, but the tiny butterfly-shaped Aegean island of Astypalea could be Greece’s best-kept secret.

It has white-walled, blue-domed churches, idyllic beaches with turquoise coves and spectacular sunsets that paint the sky in shades of gold, pink and orange.

Chora, the capital, is perched on a conical hilltop overlooking the bay.

At the top sits a Venetian castle, surrounded by sugar cube houses which cascade down the hillside.

Its eight red-roofed windmills evoke the vibe of Mykonos.

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Yet, unlike its more popular neighbours, you’ll find yourself admiring the views in blissful peace.

And you can enjoy a trip around the historic citadel and a seafood dinner on the coast for less than the price of a cocktail on the more popular islands.

We took a British Airways flight to Kos before catching a ferry, which whisked us to Astypalea in under two hours.

The best way to arrive on any Greek island is by sea and our first close-up glimpse of this one left us spellbound.

As it emerged from the shimmering sea, it instantly rekindled awe-inspiring memories of our first visit to Santorini on our honeymoon, more than four decades ago — before the crowds arrived.

Which is probably why you shouldn’t leave it too long before you visit Astypalea.

It’s cheap and easy to get around, and with no giant cruise ship crowds pouring on to the streets, sometimes it feels like you have the place to yourself.

We stayed at the Arhitektoniki studios, which cling to the side of a cliff a short drive from Chora.

The well-equipped rooms combine traditional island charm and simplicity with a luxurious modern touch.

There’s a kidney-shaped swimming pool and a sun terrace overlooking the bay with spectacular views of the citadel.

It’s a pleasant ten-minute walk from here to Livadi beach, with a row of lively beach restaurants, bars and shops.

Astypalea has become a model for sustainability after the municipality and the Greek government teamed up with Volkswagen to develop a unique climate-neutral transport system.

All the hire cars are electric and there are charging points everywhere. All power comes from solar and wind generation.

If you don’t want to drive, just use the Astymove app to book an Astybus — an on-demand electric minibus service which will pick you up within 15 minutes and take you to your destination for just three euros.

It’s not just the transport that’s eco-Greco, the restaurants are, too.

We were served a delicious meal at Ducato di Astypalea, which ensures all its ingredients are sustainably sourced and prices remain refreshingly reasonable.

Be sure to try the delicious Asty pasta. At Aiolos Pizza we enjoyed the thick, homemade spaghetti, incorporated into the island’s cuisine when it was part of Mussolini’s Mediterranean empire. It’s best eaten with rosto — slow-cooked pork or lamb.

There’s no better way to work off lunch than meandering through Chora’s narrow, stone-stepped streets towards the castle to enjoy the view from the top.

Close by is the blue-domed church of Panagia Portaitissa, built in 1762 and the spiritual centre of the island.

Maltezana, named after the Maltese pirates who once wreaked havoc here, is just five miles from Chora — ideal for a day trip.

It features a beautiful sandy beach, some fine fish tavernas and some recently excavated Roman baths.

It’s also worth a trip to Vathi on the northeastern side of the island.

Close by is the Cave of Drakos, which is adorned with stalactites and stalagmites of many colours and was once used by marauding pirates to hide their treasure.

If two weeks of peace and quiet are too much, you can easily hop to a more lively island for a contrast.

We opted for Naxos, the largest island of the Cyclades, four hours away by ferry.

The first thing you see as you dock is the Portara — a colossal marble doorway which is all that is left of the Temple to Apollo, built in 530BC.

The seafront bustles with restaurants and shops and has a vibrant nightlife.

The best place to stay is on the south side of Naxos town.

Princess Mare Hotel is less than a two-minute walk from sandy St George’s beach and barely ten minutes to the seafront restaurants and ferry terminal.

Naxos is famed for its marble and many famous artworks and buildings — including parts of the Acropolis in Athens — are made from it.

Try exploring one or two picture-postcard mountain villages.

Aperathos and Chalki have pretty shops to explore and tavernas with spectacular views.

Naxos Bus Transfer does a full-day island highlights tour, which includes a stop for lunch.

It also takes in the statue of Apollo — though modern historians argue it is Dionysus — at Kouros.

It is 35ft long, weighs 80 tons and hasn’t moved in 2,000 years, either because it was too heavy or somebody didn’t pay the bill.

It’s only a two-minute drive from here to Apollonas beach, ideal for a swim or to relax in one of the shaded beach tavernas.

Before you leave Naxos town, be sure to explore the streets leading up to the 13th-century castle.

It’s a beautiful, labyrinth-like maze of historic, cobblestone and marble-paved alleys originally designed to confuse invading pirates.

As well as blooming bougainvillea, stray cats, art galleries, boutiques and tiny, centuries-old stone chapels, there’s a little museum at the top with a lovely rooftop bar.

After cramming so much into our three days in Naxos, it was good to return to the slower pace of life in our newfound hideaway, Astypalea

But secrets such as this rarely stay hidden forever. So whatever you do, don’t tell too many people . . . 

AFTER months of extreme heat, there is rain on the horizon, so where should you spend a bank holiday weekend when it’s a washout?

To keep the family entertained we’ve put together the UK’s best indoor waterparks with tropical temperatures, high-energy waterslides and family-friendly pirate ships.

Waterworld, Stoke-on-Trent

Waterworld describes itself as the “number one indoor tropical aqua park” with over 30 rides and attractions.

The waterpark is home to a wave pool and rapids as well as the Thunderbolt ride, which is the UK’s first trap door drop waterslide and riders travel at 25mph.

One of the newest rides, Hurricane, descends at 17mph with lightning effects inside the tunnels.

There are also dedicated water attractions for younger children like the interactive Jungle House and Toddler Boat slide.

For anyone looking for a moment to catch their breath, take a break in one of the waterparks’ bubble pools.

Waterworld also has a mini adventure golf course as well as a restaurant and cafe serving up pizza, burgers, salads and drinks.

At reception is a brand new dessert bar where post-swim you can pick up a milkshake or one of the 22 different flavours of ice cream.

Tickets for adults and children start from £17.70, children under three-years-old start from £6.10.

Coral Reef Waterworld, Bracknell

This indoor waterpark is one of England’s biggest, so it’s perfect for a family outing on a rainy day.

It has tropical temperatures of 30C along with a giant pirate ship and erupting water volcano, rapid river, bubble pool and children’s splash zone.

The pirate-themed splash area is centered around a huge ship called The Coralina – it also has water cannons and interactive water features.

There are five high-tech waterslides with an option for everyone from Aquaplash which is suitable for smaller children.

The biggest waterslide is The Cannon, which launches riders down a 67 metre-long chute like a cannonball.

Poseidon’s Peril is another popular ride where two people are attached to an inflatable raft as it rotates and swirls through a tunnel with colour-changing lights.

If you’re after relaxation, then the Coral Spa is the place to be with heated loungers, three saunas, a cool pool and a Japanese steam room.

Adult tickets cost £20.55, children 5-16 cost £14.55 those aged children between 0-4 cost £1.95. Book tickets ahead online.

Splashdown Waterpark, Poole

If adrenaline-filled waterslide fun is what you’re after, then head to Splashdown Waterpark.

This action-packed waterpark has 13 indoor and outdoor flumes that visitors can use whether it’s rain or shine.

If you’re a daredevil, then check out The Screamer. The ride plummets a near-vertical 40-meter drop in under five seconds.

Or there’s Black Thunder which is a waterslide that’s completely in the dark. The Infinity waterslide plays music and has a flashing laser show too.

It’s not all about the big rides though, there’s plenty to do for the little ones with the interactive water cannons at Buccaneer Splash.

Admission for three hours costs £23 per person, £9 for 1-4-year-olds and £6 for children under 1. (Child tickets include entry for a companion adult.)

The Wave, Coventry

The Wave in Coventry is a giant indoor waterpark home to the largest wave pool in England.

The enormous pool has a wave machine which churns out more than 20 million litres of water per day – the rolling waves get bigger the further out you go.

When you want to relax, ditch the waves and bob along the lazy river.

There are six waterslides including The Riptide which is a half-pipe slide that blasts riders in a rubber ring down a near-90-degree drop.

The Cyclone spins swimmers around a giant open bowl, and The Rapids which is a ‘water-coaster’ hurl riders uphill before dropping them down through tight corners and tunnels.

For younger children, The Reef is its splash pad which has its own miniature slides, tipping buckets, jets and water fountains.

The Mana Spa has you a quieter spa pool, an aromatherapy room, sauna and steam room.

Tickets cost £15 per adult, £13 for children 11 and under and under ones go free.

Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

Sandcastle Waterpark is another of the country’s largest indoor waterparks that sits on the South Promenade opposite the Pleasure Beach.

Inside the tropical waterpark are 18 slides and plenty of them are white-knuckle rides.

One of the most popular rides is The Master Blaster which is the UK’s longest water rollercoaster.

Another is Sidewinder which is the world’s first indoor half-pipe waterslide, then there’s Aztec Falls which plunges riders into darkness before spinning them around a giant bowl.

The Caribbean Storm Treehouse is a spot for the kids – it’s a giant climbing frame topped with a huge coconut that drops 600 gallons of water on swimmers below every few minutes.

Little ones can also use the multi-lane Treetops Water Chutes and the interactive HMS Thunder Splash pirate ship.

While there’s lots of action, the Sandcastle Waterpark also has a place for relaxation – the adult-only Sea Breeze Spa which has saunas, steam rooms, foot baths and aromatherapy lounge.

For anyone wanting to push the boat out, the park offers premium Tiki Cabanas for adults with its own TV and private hot tub with a fridge stocked with soft drinks – VIP packages start from £60pp.

Tickets to the waterpark start from £23.31 for ages 8+ and £13.96 for kids aged 3-7, with under 3s going free.

Calypso Cove, Barnsley

Found inside the Barnsley Metrodome, Calypso Cove is the ultimate pirate-themed indoor waterpark.

The tropical island paradise feels like one too as it’s heated to 30C and there are some high-energy water rides here like Terror Torrent, one of the UK’s fastest indoor water flumes.

There’s also The Eruption, a volcano-themed ride that spins you around a large bowl before dropping you out at the bottom.

The Kraken is a family-friendly flume where riders can choose their own music before sliding down the slide.

Families with younger kids can climb onto the decks of the Sunken Galleon ship play area.

Parents with babies and toddlers can enjoy the shallow waters and water fountains at Barnacle Bay.

For a bite to eat, head to The Hideout poolside cafe which serves up quick dishes like burgers and chips.

Adult tickets cost £13, under 10s tickets cost £11 and under 3s tickets cost £4. All tickets must be booked in advance online.

A MAJOR UK theme park has been forced to close all day “due to adverse weather and flooding”.

Owners of the park have apologised for any disappointment caused by the decision, telling visitors “your safety comes first”.

Drayton Manor Resort will remain shut all day today after heavy downpours and thunderstorms caused significant flooding in the area.

Floods have swamped Birmingham and the West Midlands overnight, with locals reporting cars being “stranded” in flood water and homes being left inundated with water.

More rain is forecast to hit Birmingham and other cities throughout today, with a Met Office yellow warning for thunderstorms continuing into the evening.

Customers have been advised not to contact staff at Drayton Manor at this stage, saying they would contact visitors at a later date to rearrange visits.

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A statement on the theme park’s Facebook said: “Due to adverse weather and flooding, Drayton Manor Resort will be closed today.

“We know many of you were looking forward to visiting, and we’re very sorry for the disappointment and inconvenience this causes.

“There’s no need to contact us at this stage. We’ll be in touch with affected guests shortly with information on how to rearrange your visit for another date.

“Thank you for your patience and understanding while we make alternative arrangements. We look forward to welcoming you to Drayton Manor soon.”

Drayton Manor, located in Tamworth in Staffordshire, is considered to be the fourth-largest theme park in the country.

With over 50 rides and attractions, Drayton is home to Europe’s only Thomas the Tank Engine Land and a 15-acre zoo.

Bosses have not yet confirmed whether the park will reopen to visitors tomorrow or throughout the Bank Holiday weekend.

There are so many boys, girls, men and women with the name Rex living in Southern California that they could form their own football team.

“We have like 28 cousins,” said San Clemente High strong safety/receiver Jaxson Rex.

Every Christmas, the Rex adults and their children, ranging in age from 4 to 28, come together but the family football games have been put on hold.

“We don’t play football anymore because everyone will get hurt and the dads try too hard,” Jaxson said.

There were eight Rex siblings who grew up first in Hawaii, then Bellflower. All are married. The most famous is Bryon, who was an All-American tight end at Brigham Young and is Jaxson’s uncle. Byron’s son, Isaac, played tight end at San Clemente and BYU, and another son, Preston, is a senior running back at BYU.

Jaxson will follow the family tradition of playing at Brigham Young, committing during the summer despite a strong bid by UCLA’s new coaching staff to pull him away. “I loved how UCLA’s new coaching staff is,” he said.

Jaxson is so talented there isn’t a position he can’t play in emergency except on the line. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior was recruited by several schools to be a receiver but sees himself as a strong safety.

“What I’ve enjoyed is the physicality in football,” he said. “I grew up playing basketball and football and realized I wasn’t going to be 7-foot tall, so I tried to focus on football once I hit eighth grade.”

A motivational moment came when he was in sixth grade and moved from Long Beach to San Clemente. He ended up playing against seventh- and eight-graders, which meant he hardly played.

“I never want to be not on the field,” he told himself.

Jaxson doesn’t leave the field for San Clemente (2-0), returning punts and kickoffs besides catching passes and making tackles and interceptions on defense. If you like someone who creates turnovers, that’s Jaxson. He’s always trying to take the ball away from running backs, quarterbacks and receivers.

Last season he had five interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, and 68 tackles. He also caught 10 touchdown passes. He averaged close to 30 yards on kickoff returns. He had 12 solo tackles in the Southern Section Division 2 final loss to Los Alamitos.

“He does everything and then some,” coach Jaime Ortiz said. “He has a high football IQ. He’s tenacious.”

Former NFL tight end Dennis Pitta, an assistant coach with the Tritons, said, “He’s as hard of a worker and as good as an athlete you could ask for.”

Jaxson calls living in San Clemente “paradise.”

“We always have an ocean breeze, not too hot, not too cold,” he said. “I can always work out any time of the day.”

The end of the summer practices for San Clemente involves jogging from campus 1.8 miles to the San Clemente Pier.

“Everyone is honking their horn while we’re going,” Jaxson said.

Imagine if 28 Rex cousins were participating. The noise would be so loud the town might think a parade was taking place.

Jaxson has an 11-year-old brother learning to play safety.

As long as players named Rex keep coming through San Clemente, the football team will be more than fine.

THE year is flying by, so much so that it’s time to think about your next holiday. So where is set to be big in 2027?

With events like the Ryder Cup, football tournaments, eclipses and K-pop festivals – these are the spots you should book a holiday to next year.

Algarve… for Formula 1

The Algarve could be a great should for fans of Formula 1 as in June, it will return to Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão.

It will be the first time the F1 has been to the track since 2021.

If you fancy a holiday there as well as a thrilling race, Portimão has an old quarter to explore along with a busy marina and lots of pretty beaches.

From the UK, you can get direct flights from 21 UK airports to Faro – which is the gateway airport to the Algarve region.

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Burgas… for Eurovision

After their win in Vienna with 516 points, Bulgaria will host the Eurovision Song Contest next year.

Anyone wanting to witness countries going head-to-head with bizarre performances should head to Arena Burgas next May.

The city on the Black Sea coast is also one of the cheapest spots for a family holiday with 89p beers and all-inclusive holidays for under £280.

One-way flights to Burgas can cost as little as £17 and are direct from nine UK airports.

Brazil… for FIFA Women’s World Cup

The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will have 64 fixtures across eight host cities throughout June and July.

Locations include Salvador, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro which according to Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey is ‘just like the movies’.

It’s home to Sugarloaf Mountain where you’ll see one of the Wonders of the World, Christ the Redeemer, and the city also has the famous Copacabana Beach.

Rio de Janeiro has direct daily flights from London with British Airways, taking just over 11 hours.

Luxor… for the eclipse

For those who enjoyed the recent partial eclipse in August – a total solar eclipse will block out the sun over parts of North Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Luxor in Egypt is a spot that will see a lot of the eclipse – it will be dark for a total of six minutes and 22 seconds.

The city is known for having the historic Valley of the Kings tombs, and Karnak Temple.

There aren’t any direct flights to Luxor – indirect journeys can take nine hours with a stopover at Cairo.

Australia… for Men’s Rugby World Cup

Between October 1 and November 13 2027, rugby will dominate Australia at the Men’s Rugby World Cup.

Matches will take place across the country in Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Sydney, Brisbane and Townsville.

Of course heading to Australia isn’t just a weekend break for Brits – so make the most of it by planning excursions, heading to its beautiful coastline and even go on a safari.

It’s about to get easier to travel to as with new direct BA flights to Melbourne next January while Qantas will launch the longest ever flights called Project Sunrise between Sydney and London in 2027.

Madrid… for UEFA Champions League

The Premier League season is already underway and soon enough the UEFA Champions League will be too.

Paris Saint-Germain are the ones to beat – and the final match will take place at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid on June 5, 2027.

There’s plenty to do in Madrid too from visiting its world-class art museums like Prado and eating at Mercado de San Miguel where pintxos (open sandwiches) start from £1.30.

One-way flights take two and a half hours and start from as little as £13 and depart from six UK airports.

Limerick… for the Ryder Cup

The Ryder Cup golf tournament between teams from Europe and the US will return after two years being held at the Golf Course at Adare Manor in Limerick.

The competition takes just three days, so there’s plenty of time to explore the city.

Take a stroll along the riverside, tour King John’s Castle and enjoy a pint at JJ Bowles which is considered the oldest pub in Limerick.

The nearest airport is Shannon which is a 30-minute drive away from the city. One-way flights are as little as £15 and it takes an hour and a half from UK airports.

Florida… for Disney

Any fans of Disney will want to head to Florida next year, with a number of new exciting launches.

There’s the new Disney World attraction at the Glob Theatre called “Welcome to Monstropolis”, with the monsters in the show introducing visitors to Monstropolis.

And the new cruise ship Disney Believe is set to launch in late 2027 – with a Moana-inspired Grand Hall, Tinker Bell on its bow and Woody and Buzz Lightyear on the stern.

Airlines like BA, Norse, American Airlines, Finnair, and Iberia offer direct flights to Orlando.

Seoul… for K-pop

Calling any K-pop fans – you might want to book flights to Seoul.

Next December it will launch Fanomenon, a festival with concerts and award shows centered around K-pop will debut on December 2 which hopes to rival Coachella.

Head of Sun Travel, Lisa Minot, even tried out a K-pop dance class when she visited as well as exploring K-beauty shops in Myeong-dong and popped into a cat cafe.

Virgin Atlantic launched new flights from Heathrow to Seoul earlier this year, with return flights from £840.

Goodwood… for the races

If you don’t fancy hopping on a plane, then stay right here in the UK.

In West Sussex the Goodwood Estate hosts races throughout the year, and scheduled for 2027 is Qatar Goodwood Festival between July 27 -31.

It will also host a motorsport Festival of Speed between July 15-18.

There’s also live music, lounges, a roof garden, private bars and boxes.

SINCE the introduction of EES, there have been reports of huge delays, missed flights – and now a new problem has arisen.

It appears that Brits aren’t being correctly recorded as leaving the Schengen Area, meaning they could be banned from entering the EU again and face a hefty fine.

The UK Foreign Office has altered its advice to Brits asking them to carry evidence of when they last left the EU, to avoid being wrongly refused entry.

Brits travelling from the UK to Europe can spend 90 days out of every 180 in the EU – staying over this limit will mean both refusal of entry and a fine.

In some cases a fine can be as much as £8,550.

Before the introduction of EES, Brits would be stamped in and out by officials at passport control.

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Now Brits are being electronically recorded as leaving – but in some cases where EES has been suspended due to long queues, they aren’t.

Without being officially noted as returning home, the clock continues to count down which could cause problems when attempting to re-enter the EU.

Advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) reads: “If you believe you have been incorrectly entered into EES or your record of time spent in the Schengen area is incorrect, approach border officials when you next cross the Schengen border and request a correction.

“If you are exempt, carry documentation confirming your status. If you believe your time spent in the Schengen area has been recorded incorrectly, raise this with border officials and be prepared to provide supporting evidence if requested.”

It doesn’t explain what ‘evidence’ is needed but it’s likely to be confirmation of flights out of the country.

Some Brits who have either not been stamped out physically, or electronically by EES have revealed their issues in returning to the Schengen Area.

Talking to Sun Travel, one woman revealed how she got stuck entering Finland after a trip to Rome.

She explained: “I was stopped at the border in Finland last November by border control who said my record was showing I was still in Italy.

“While I had registered with EES going into Rome, it hadn’t recorded me leaving.”

She added: “After a lot of back and forth with border control officers and around 45-minutes of waiting, it was recognised as an error and I was let into the country.”

In another case, Martin Farrall told The Guardian, didn’t have his exit recorded for the Schengen zone.

Martin and his wife arrived by ferry at Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands.

He said that Dutch border officials enrolled them into EES, but that they had no entry stamp on their passports.

Then 55 days later when he returned to the UK via France, they were not given an exit stamp.

Back at home, Martin checked how many days he had left to travel through the Schengen – and it’s continuing to count down. Meanwhile his wife still has 90 days despite both having travelled the same route.

In another case, one passenger who had returned from Ibiza back in April had two entry stamps, but no exit stamps.

They told local media: “On my last two occasions visiting Ibiza on direct UK flights, my UK passport has not been exit-stamped by Spanish immigration authorities upon leaving Ibiza back to the UK.

“I now have two ‘un-closed’ Spanish visits in my UK passport, making a nonsense of the 90-day rule, and running the risk of me being accused of overstaying my rolling 90 days’ allowance. Which I haven’t.”

For more advice on travelling as a family and the new EES system, head here.

SUMMER may be on its way out, but Brits are still heading abroad – so double check these rules before you go.

If you fail to check these then you might not get to go on holiday at all.

Expiry date

The very first thing to check before you head on holiday is the expiry date on your passport.

To be valid for travel British passports must have been issued within the last 10 years.

Figures have shown up to 100,000 holidaymakers a year face being turned away at airports if their passport is more than a decade old.

So, before you travel, check the start date, not the expiry.

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For example, if a passport has June 2016 start date but a November 2026 expiry, it has technically expired.

Not realising this soon enough could result in a costly mistake.

Tom Vaughan, travel insurance expert at Confused.com said: “Our research shows that 1 in 5 (21 per cent) Brits have had to renew their passport within just a few weeks of travelling, and less than half (43 per cent) know that EU travel requires a passport issued within the last 10 years.

“If you do get caught out, sorting an emergency passport can now cost up to £240, and that’s before you factor in time off work and a trip to a passport office.

“Unfortunately, travel insurance won’t cover the cost, or any flights or holidays you miss as a result, and children face even longer delays as same-day service isn’t available for their passports.

“So before you finish packing, check two things: the date your passport was issued, and how long is left on it. Our passport checker can help you avoid a last-minute panic and ensure your holiday starts the way it should, stress-free.”

Additional months

A number of countries also require British holidaymakers to have a few additional months left on their passport to travel.

Any Brit heading to Europe will also need at least three months of validity left on their passport after the day you plan to leave.

If there is less than three months left on your passport, you will be refused at the gate or even beforehand and will have to renew your document.

Some other countries require even longer with some wanting six months left on the passport – this includes UAE, Egypt, and Chile.

Spare pages

Some countries actually require blank pages in your passport for manual stamping.

If you’re heading to Europe, one page of blank space is fine.

Countries requiring at least two blank pages for entry include Austria, Italy, Germany, The Bahamas and other tourist hotspots.

Standard UK passports have 34 blank pages, but you can pay extra for one with 54 if you’re a regular traveller.

THE sun was beating down on the harbour walls where parents and their children were perched, gawping down into the water.

One youngster was giggling with delight at her bucket, which was filled with scuttling crustaceans from her succesful attempts at crabbing.

Holidays in the UK don’t get much better than this.

And with Britain basking in weather as hot as the Med over the past few months, there’s been even less of a need to fork out on flights abroad.

I was in Wells-next-the-Sea, a quaint Norfolk town home to trendy boutiques, quayside pubs and a pretty beach backed by rows of colourful beach huts.

As a large family of five, we’d decided to ditch the pricey hotel in favour of Pinewoods Holiday Park, which occupies a gorgeous perch, set a short way back from the ocean.

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It was the first time in a while that a place had exceeded my expectations.

When we arrived at our six-person lodge, I heard a swift declaration of “I could live here!”

The spacious Saltmarsh Lodge — there was ample room for our group, plus the dog — embraced its position near the coast with its wooden panelling and white slatted ceilings, and its three cosy bedrooms were spotlessly clean.

The master bedroom came with a kingsize bed, spacious en-suite and chic dressing area while the other two had twin beds and a separate bathroom.

My favourite part was the open-plan dining, kitchen and living area, where light poured in from the glass doors, large windows and skylight.

We spent most of our evenings in here, settled on the squishy sofas and armchairs playing cards and board games in front of the coal-effect fire.

Afternoons were spent on the wraparound deck, which was delightfully cool thanks to the trees that offered shade from the sun.

The fact it was all enclosed was a big selling point as it meant our furry friend could pad about freely with little chance of escape.

And as we sat on the decking with a tipple, we couldn’t believe how quiet and peaceful the setting was.

Apart from the obvious visual giveaway, you’d never have guessed that there were more than 100 pitches surrounding us.

Around the corner from our lodge was an on-site playground, an allotment (reserved for holiday home owners) and a shop for all the essentials. We’d stocked up on everything we needed for tasty breakfasts, such as pastries, eggs and condiments.

When in Norfolk, you have to buy the locally made Krusty Loaf bread, which is baked fresh every day and raved about in the area.

The white loaf, with lashings of butter and scrambled egg, went down a treat.

After an indulgent first breakfast, we took a mid-morning stroll to the beach where the dunes are backed by brightly decorated beach huts and, beyond that, a pine forest.

With the sea reachable in just ten minutes, it meant that the dog could be frolicking in the water in no time.

You could easily spend a whole day here, with a pit stop at the Wells Beach Cafe, which serves up cracking bacon butties and frothy coffee.

It also has a pizza corner and an ice cream bar, as well as soft and hard drinks, including Prosecco.

But if you’re not much of a beach lover, the main town centre on the other side of the holiday lodge is well worth a potter around.

The port town has a history dating back more than 400 years and is still renowned for its fresh seafood.

I was drawn more to its trendy shops than the fish, though — Glitter & Mud does some excellent trinkets, from homeware to clothing.

Make sure to pop into The Golden Fleece for a pint, too, which we enjoyed on its small patio while seagulls squawked overhead.

Before we knew it, three nights had rolled by and we had to wave goodbye to our cosy lodge.

But we couldn’t leave until we had ticked off one British seaside staple: fish and chips.

A lengthy queue forms outside Plattens every evening — and for good reason.

Its batter is wonderfully crispy and its curry sauce packs a punch.

Like I said earlier, holidays in the UK don’t get much better than this.

Former England bowler Kate Cross has announced she will retire from cricket at the end of the summer.

The 34-year-old, who played 102 times for England between 2013 and 2025, has been playing in domestic cricket since losing her England contract last year.

“It is incredibly hard to imagine ever saying goodbye to playing the sport that has been such a huge part of my life and shaped me into the person I am today but the final chapter is in sight,” Cross said.

“I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to play the game I love professionally and get to do it at the highest level.”

Dame Sarah Storey, the chair of Lancashire where Cross made her debut aged 14 and became the first woman on the county’s academy, described Cross as a “true Lancashire legend”, adding she “made an incredible contribution to both Lancashire and England Women”.

Cross, who played in The Hundred final for Sunrisers Leeds last weekend, is due to play the reminder of the season for Lancashire, including against The Blaze on Sunday in Nottingham.

Cross made her England debut aged 22 in a T20 in West Indies and featured in England’s 2013-14 Ashes win – their most recent victory in the Women’s Ashes – that winter.

The seamer fell out of favour after a run across formats, meaning she watched England’s iconic 2017 World Cup win at Lord’s from a hospitality box.

But Cross regained her place and was a regular in the Test and 50-over England side until being left out by new coach Charlotte Edwards last summer.

Her last international was an ODI against India last July.

She finishes her career with 25 Test wickets, 101 in one-day internationals and 14 in T20s.

England all-rounder Sam Curran has been ruled out of the remainder of the English season with a groin injury, ending his hopes of a potential Test comeback this summer.

Surrey’s Curran, 28, last played a Test in 2021 but had been considered for a recall for the series against Pakistan as England look to balance their side after the retirement of Ben Stokes.

Selector Marcus North suggested Curran could have been picked for the ongoing first Test had he not been managing his fitness through The Hundred and said he would come into contention for the third Test on 9 September.

Further assessment has revealed Curran requires surgery on the groin issue, however.

He will have an operation on Friday, ruling him out of the remainder of the season with Surrey and England’s white-ball matches against Sri Lanka in September.

In March, Curran pulled out of this year’s Indian Premier League with a groin issue.

The MI London captain missed one of his side’s Hundred matches and did not bowl his full allocation in four of their other seven group games.

Without Curran, Stokes or another seam-bowling all-rounder, England opted not to pick a frontline spinner for the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley.

They instead attempted to balance their side by picking Dan Lawrence to bat number six and fill the role of spin bowler with his part-time off-spin.

England all-rounder Will Jacks, who filled a similar role in the Ashes last winter, is also absent from Surrey’s squad for Thursday’s County Championship match against Nottinghamshire after having an operation to remove his appendix.

His availability for the T20 and ODI series with Sri Lanka will be assessed.

Best known as the voice of Love Island, Iain Stirling is trying something completely different as the host of Race Against the Tide

Love Island’s Iain Stirling has stepped away from the villa and onto the sands of Scotland in a bold new series.

Race Against the Tide, which has just launched on BBC Two, sees Stirling take centre stage as host of a distinctive sand sculpture competition.

Prior to the series launch, Stirling said: “Audiences are going to love Race Against the Tide! It’s got everything you could want from a summer show – stunning Scottish scenery, incredible creativity, and, of course, lots of sand puns – you can be shore of that. I can’t wait for everyone to see what our teams create.”

Filmed on St Andrews Beach, the show welcomes seven teams to compete in a race against time, with pairs given just six hours to construct sand sculptures before the incoming tide washes them away. Each duo comprises one professional sculptor and a complete amateur.

The contestants hail from a diverse range of backgrounds, including a leather craftsman, cake decorator, plasterer, stationery designer, carpenter, art teacher and fine art student.

The sculptures are assessed by industry professionals Sadie Clayton and Jamie Wardley, who judge each creation on technical ability, creativity and storytelling, reports the Daily Record.

The debut episode aired on Tuesday (August 18) evening and fans were genuinely impressed, taking to X, formerly Twitter, to share their verdicts.

One viewer enthused: “Watching #RaceAgainstTheTide on # iPlayer. It’s actually quite fun.”

Another added: “#raceagainstthetide – fantastic fun and silly summer television and completely pointless. Great stuff.”

A third delighted viewer chimed in: “Loving #RaceAgainstTheTide with @IainDoesJokes on @ BBC @BBCTwo a great fun new show. Who doesn’t love making sand castles on the beach. This is that x1000! Original idea! Well done.”

However, the programme failed to win everybody over, with one critic posting: “I think this is better viewed on mute #raceagainstthetide.”

Each episode of Race Against the Tide centres on a fresh challenge built around a distinct theme. The opening instalment tasked the contestants with creating a sculpture inspired by the phrase ‘Life’s A Beach’.

When the challenge concluded, Rachel and Athena secured the title of Sand Champions, while Zara and David were eliminated from the competition.

Across the upcoming five episodes, the other couples will be eliminated until one team claims the first Race Against the Tide crown.

Race Against the Tide is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

IT can be hard to relax on holiday when kids are running riot – so check out these hotels where children’s clubs take centre stage.

Kids can play games, try out new sports, check out the waterparks enjoy the mini disco, and even have a whole plan curated for them – here are some of our favourites.

Parklane, Cyprus

Not only will the Parklane Hotel in Limassol be a hit with the adults but kids will love it too.

The Explorers Kids Club at Parklane covers more than 3,000m², making it one of the largest kids clubs in Europe.

With its sensational castle kids club, pirate ship splash pool and sports facilities, for children aged from four months to 11 years.

Flights and a stay in this hotel start from £699pp.

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TUI BLUE Sensatori Akra Fethiye, Turkey

The TUI BLUE Sensatori Akra Fethiye is another fab family spot with five swimming pools, six restaurants and seven bars.

The Kids’ Club runs six days a week, with activities like Silly Science and Water Mania.

There are activities designed for teens too, including mocktail-making sessions – every evening kicks off with a children’s show but there are also cabaret performances and silent discos.

You can get a 7-night all-inclusive stay here from £1058pp.

GF Victoria, Tenerife

Children will be obsessed with the kids’ club play area at GF Victoria in Tenerife which has a whole programme of activities.

There’s a Baby Club too where little ones can play and craft at the Mini Club; kids can race around on the track. There’s also a Teen Club with gaming, DJ sets, table football and air hockey.

For more action, there’s an adventure park with a climbing wall, hanging bridges, zip line and tree houses.

A family of four can stay here for seven-nights in September from £659pp.

The Land of Legends Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Antalya, Turkey

This hotel is a children’s haven thanks to its ample amount of activities not to mention warm weather.

When it comes to activities, Club Nick offers unforgettable experiences for children with themed activities, play areas, and beloved Nickelodeon characters.

It doesn’t stop there either as there are themed rooms inspired by SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Dora, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Star Trek.

Also included is free access to the Land of Legends theme park – seven-night stays start from £1,635pp.

Daios Cove Hotel, Crete

This hotel sits on a hillside overlooking its private bay on the north-east part of Crete.

Run by Scott Dunn, this hotel has a specially designed programme for children from babies to 11-year-olds.

For children aged 5-7, the Voyagers Kids Club includes activities like watersports, semi submarine trips and mocktail masterclasses.

A family of four can stay here for five nights from £3,988 or £199pppn in October.

Prices correct at the time of publication.

OFFICIALS in Italy are cracking down on anyone attempting to bag themselves the best beach spot by leaving items on the sand all week.

From sunloungers to parasols, those caught trying to reserve a space in the morning or late at night could receive a fine over £400.

On a coastal suburb in Naples called Torre del Greco, officials like coastguard staff and police have been removing ‘reserved’ spots.

Tourists have been leaving items on the beach overnight in order to keep their place.

During a morning sweep of one of the beaches called Laghetto, authorities seized up to 40 items, as reported by The Guardian.

Others have complained that items like sun umbrellas and small tables have been left unattended for days by tourists reserving the space to use later on.

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The port authority said: “It is a practice that recurs each summer, but it is expressly prohibited.

It added that “occupying the beach in this manner violates the regulations governing the management of maritime public domain areas.”

Anyone caught leaving belongings on the beach after sunset to keep their spot will be fined up to €500 (£425).

Beaches in Torre del Greco include Spiaggia libera Il Laghetto and Moon Beach.

This isn’t the only spot to crack down on sunlounger hogging.

These rules are being enforced by the Calpe Town Council, which affects the Costa Blanca.

Local authorities in the Spanish resort have the right to remove sunbeds, towels and parasols put on beaches before 9.30am.

Anyone whose belongings taken away will have to pay to get them back and could face a fine of up to €250 (£216).

Across Europe, other crackdowns include smoking on beaches and wearing swimwear in public spaces that aren’t the beach.

MORE Brits are facing problems at the border in Europe, with many being stopped and facing even longer queues – and it could affect thousands.

The new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires biometric checks from Brits, has been in place since April.

But a new report from The Telegraph has found that those with ‘faded fingerprints’ are being rejected by the machines – a problem associated with older passengers.

One 80-year-old woman told the publication how EES failed to recognise her fingerprints on a trip to Palma in Majorca.

Angela Evans said: “I tried several times, on different machines and with assistance from a member of staff, but to no avail. My fingerprints would not register.

“I suspect this is because of my age – 80 – and that my fingers are probably worn smooth and not ‘ridgy’ enough to record.”

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Another holidaymaker, Barbara, struggled to register her fingerprints at Salzburg Airport.

After holding up a “long line of passengers”, Barbara said she discovered she has “no fingerprints”.

Both women had to then see a member of airport staff and queue to have their passports manually stamped.

Another older couple couldn’t get through the EES gates at Naples Airport and had to join a queue that was so long it went outside the terminal.

After waiting for two hours and missing their transfer pick up, the couple were seen by a member of staff but said they were “put off flying” as a result.

While fingerprints don’t technically ‘fade’, they do change as skin loses its elasticity with age.

The surface is then less defined and harder for digital scanners to read.

It’s not the first issue to come with the introduction of EES.

One woman who is an identical twin faced a problem when she was mistaken for her sister.

In some cases, Brits have been left in queues of up to six hours while waiting to register with EES.

Some holidaymakers have even missed their flight because of delays at passport control.