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CAREFREE Kate Moss holidays with daughter Lila — as it emerged creditors will not see any of the £2.9million owed after her wellness brand collapsed.

Kate, 52, donned a black swimsuit for a soothing dip in the Med while she relaxed on a £1,340-a-day hired yacht.

Model Lila, 23, opted for a bikini on the jaunt with friends to the Spanish island of Formentera.

But back home liquidator reports for Kate’s failed Cosmoss business disclosed £240,000 of remaining products would be destroyed as they cannot be sold.

Kate, worth £55million, launched the high-end brand in 2022.

The move sparked comparisons with Gwyneth Paltrow’s successful firm Goop.

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Kate sold natural, vegan and cruelty-free items including a facial oil, incense, a £120 fragrance called Sacred Mist and a £20 canister of Dawn Tea.

She wrote at the time: “I feel my most authentic self and I’m ready to open up and share with you.”

But the brand quietly shut down and entered voluntary liquidation last summer.

Kate has now withdrawn from a shareholders’ agreement involving her image and intellectual property rights — meaning the stock is worthless.

Paperwork filed at Companies House states: “It was confirmed that the products could not be sold on the open market.

“The stock was abandoned..”

The liquidator’s statement said there is just £3,454.88 left in the company’s coffers.

Fred. Olsen has launched the special offer on selected fly cruises visiting Spain, Greece, Italy, the Canary Islands and more this autumn and winter

Summer holiday season is well under way – and for those returning from abroad already dreaming of their next trip, there’s the option to book a getaway in autumn and winter when there are fewer crowds. For travellers looking to visit multiple destinations without the fuss of several bookings, a cruise is a top option with a number of money-saving deals now on offer.

Fred. Olsen has launched offers on selected fly cruises, offering holidaymakers the chance to skip the sea days and discover their destination sooner with flights from London or Manchester. Whether jet-setters want to soak up the sunshine in the Canary Islands or explore the picturesque coastlines of the Mediterranean, there’s plenty of options for swapping out the chilly UK weather for somewhere warmer.

The popular cruise line, favoured for its smaller ships which mean the fleet can visit ports that bigger cruise liners can’t reach, is offering passengers £150 on board credit per cabin to spend on selected fly cruises this year. This offer ends on September 30 and is in addition to half price flight offers on some trips – terms and conditions can be found here.

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The first cruise to be included in the offer is the Wonders of the Mediterranean holiday, a 21-night exploration of iconic landmarks and lesser-known ports starting from Limassol, Cyprus on November 9. Priced from £3,099 per person, the next stop after Cyprus is Alexandria in Egypt, followed by Marmaris and Istanbul in Turkey, then visits to Greece, Malta, Italy, Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, and finally Tenerife.

Also in the £150 credit deal is the Mediterranean Icons voyage from £4,299 per person, offering the chance for UK holidaymakers to escape the dreary winter weather for a whole month by setting sail on November 9 for a 31-night adventure. Also beginning in Limassol, this cruise adds an extra 10 nights on to the aforementioned Wonders of the Mediterranean trip, following the stop in Tenerife with visits to Las Palmas and Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, then Funchal, Lisbon and Matosinhos in Portugal.

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Fred. Olsen is offering holidaymakers up to £150 credit per cabin to spend on board selected fly cruises in 2026.

Alternatively, holidaymakers can opt to go Country-Hopping from Greece to Tenerife, and take advantage of half price flights as well as the £150 to spend on board. Beginning in Piraeus, Greece and priced from £1,499 per person, this 11-night cruise sails on November 19 to stop off in Malta, Italy, Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco, before finishing in the Canary Islands at Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Another winter sun option is the Mediterranean & Canary Islands Warmth trip, which is on offer with a half price flight at the start of the cruise as well as the £150 credit. Also starting in Piraeus, Greece on November 19 before embarking on a 21-night adventure around the Mediterranean via Malta, Italy, Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco, followed by stop-offs across the Canary Islands in Tenerife, Las Palmas and Lanzarote, before finishing in Portugal, this cruise is priced from £2,399 per person.

Rounding off the year is the Canaries Escape with the Fleet Fiesta, which also has a half price flight deal at the start of the cruise on top of the £150 per cabin spend. Priced from £1,329 per person and beginning in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on November 30 before embarking on a 10-night tour of the Canary Islands and Portugal, this holiday is centred around the festivities that come with the reunion of the Fred. Olsen fleet in Las Palmas.

For more last-minute fly cruise deals, TUI’s Marella Cruises is also offering trips with flights included in their price as a budget-friendly family option. Among the cheapest options are the Highlights of the Mediterranean cruise beginning from Majorca and stopping off across Corsica, Italy and Spain, which is on offer for £985 per person, and the Grecian Discovery holiday sailing from Cyprus to mainland Greece, Santorini, Turkey and Crete, now priced from £994 per person.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Cruise Line also has special offers on selected Caribbean fly cruises sailing this year. For those who can’t wait to get away, the earliest departure date is on the Atlantic Horizons and Caribbean Discovery cruise, which is priced from £1,499 per person with the option to get 50% off flight upgrades and free coach transport.

Back at Fred. Olsen, holidaymakers who want to plan ahead for next year can also choose from more than 20 fly cruises scheduled for 2027. The shortest option is the Scenic Greek Island Hopping trip from £1,349pp, while the longest is the Scenic Shores & Ancient Wonders of the Mediterranean from £3,899pp which lasts a whopping 33 nights.

Fred. Olsen has earned a rating of 4.6 out of five stars on Trustpilot based on more than 15,000 reviews. One of the newest reviews reads: “Fantastic suite with extras included. Great, friendly and efficient staff. Many varied activities available. Food was exceptional. Boat size was enough and the atmosphere was lovely and friendly.”

Another passenger fed back recently: “Cabin was spacious with plenty of storage. All the staff were superb and went the extra mile to look after everyone. Food was exceptional everywhere on the ship. It never felt crowded as everyone was doing their own thing all over in the numerous areas to relax. Our first cruise and no doubt we will do it again.”

And a third echoed: “Probably the cleanest ship we’ve ever been on! Staff were excellent with a good variety of food. Definitely will return!”

Regarding fly cruises, some customers felt that the schedule had room for improvement, with one writing: “Sadly the Fred. Olsen pre arranged flight back to the UK was too late in the day. It should have been arranged for early afternoon, which would have allowed us to arrive in Manchester by 6pm rather than 10pm.”

While a different reviewer suggested: “For guests joining the ship at various locations along the way a morning flight would be better, this would enable guests to settle in before evening meal and be refreshed for any excursions they have booked the following day.”

The initial concept for USC’s Bloom Football Performance Center was first born on the back of a napkin. It was late November 2021, and Lincoln Riley was on a plane to Los Angeles, where he was slated to be introduced as USC’s coach.

The then-hypothetical facility had been a critical contingency for Riley, who never toured USC’s facilities, but knew — like most people around college football — that the Trojans were seriously lacking in that department. For years, USC officials had resisted doing anything about it. The John McKay Center hadn’t even been around a decade, they’d inevitably say. Plus, there was the not-so-insignificant problem of where to build a new facility on campus.

Riley knew that. And he asked anyway.

“That was a little bit, in that moment, my way to test how committed SC was,” Riley said Thursday. “This honestly was probably the biggest test of commitment for, ‘How invested are we to get this program back?’ When that was met with no hesitations, that was a pivotal part of me taking this job. I think it’s fair to say, if that commitment hadn’t been made, I probably wouldn’t be here.”

The Bloom Football Performance Center on the campus of USC.

Almost five years later, the plans Riley sketched out that morning have been brought to life in one of college football’s finest facilities, the towering jewel of a $225-million capital project at USC that also includes a new baseball stadium (Dedeaux Field) and a women’s soccer and lacrosse field (Rawlinson Stadium).

The three-story, 163,000-square-foot football-only facility opened Wednesday night, with Riley reflecting back on that napkin and marveling at how far the program had come since. But this gleaming building and its array of amenities had far exceeded his initial expectations, he said.

He called it “magical.”

“You can say or promise that you’re gonna build a facility, and then you can halfway do it or you can do it right and just go over the top and just really not hold back in any way, and that’s what our university has done,” Riley said. “I’m proud and thankful for the university for making this happen.”

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1. Bronze plaques of previous USC players adorn the wall of the Mark and Mary Stevens Trojan Legacy Wall at the USC Bloom Football Performance Center. 2. The weight room of the USC Bloom Football Performance Center. 3. A wall of USC players drafted by NFL teams at the Bloom Football Performance Center. 4. Trophies won by the USC football program on display at the Bloom Football Performance Center.

The real magic was that it happened at all, considering all that changed or had gone awry. The athletic director who first agreed to Riley’s facility request, Mike Bohn, resigned. The university president who signed off on it, Carol Folt, retired.

The cost of doing business in college football also went up exponentially with the advent of revenue sharing, all while the university was going through a financial crisis. None of which helped when it came to asking for $200 million in private donations.

Then there was the matter of physical space. The only option to build the facility was to demolish the Trojans’ longtime baseball field and displace the program for multiple seasons.

Hot tubs at the USC Bloom Football Performance Center.

“Think of what Coach Stank and the baseball team, what they had to give up to make this work,” Riley said. “The importance of just getting everybody together and on the same page and pushing in the same direction, this building is one of the first real signs of that. Because this took everybody.”

Riley, in particular, proved to be “very influential” in the process, according to Jeff Fucci, USC’s senior associate athletic director for capital projects.

“Coach was tireless in making sure that this was something that was not going to just be a vision and something that was talked about and not followed through on,” Fucci said.

It also took endowing just about every physical space in the facility to raise the necessary $200 million to build it, from the “Peets Family Atrium” to the “Al Cowlings Defensive Tackles Room” to a hallway labeled as the “Mark and Mary Stevens Legacy Walk.” Even some of the bathrooms bear plaques from donors eager to get their name somewhere in the building.

The locker room at the USC Bloom Football Performance Center,.

“This has been a huge, huge investment from the university,” Fucci said.

The result is a facility that stands in stark difference from the John McKay Center, which cost $70 million when it opened in 2012. That building was “80% subterranean”, according to Fucci — with not nearly enough space to contain the football program, let alone the other sports programs that used it.

Natural light pours into Bloom Center, by contrast. Thirty-foot glass doors open up onto the Trojans’ practice field from a 12,000-square-foot weight room with towering vaulted ceilings. From above, an outdoor terrace is outfitted especially for hosting recruits or other luminaries, complete, for the time being, with basketball courts and pickleball.

“I love coming to the weight room in the morning,” said offensive lineman Tobias Raymond. “The sun is coming up, and you can see it, and you open the doors and you get the fresh air blowing in.”

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1. Jeff Fucci, USC senior associate athletic director, leads the media on a tour of the Bloom Football Performance Center on Thursday. 2. USC players make their way to the locker room. 3. Mannequins on display with USC football uniforms outside of the on-site cafeteria at the Bloom Football Performance Center. 4. The cafeteria at the Bloom Football Performance Center. 5. The weight room opens near the practice field.

Riley wanted the facility to put a special emphasis on recovery. So now, players have access to infrared beds, sensory deprivation tanks and AI-led massage chairs. There are hot tubs and cold tubs and a players-only sauna, while every locker is outfitted with a leather zero gravity chair. There’s even a barbershop.

“It’s hard to get our players out of here,” Fucci said.

Riley has been no different. Shortly after moving in, with his family out of town, the coach said he hunkered down for five straight days in the facility.

Before, that would’ve meant barely seeing the sun. But now, as the sun poured through the third-floor atrium of the Bloom Center, Riley couldn’t help but point out the symbolism of such an ambitious undertaking actually coming to life.

“They said it couldn’t be done,” Riley said. “But here we are.”

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1. The football practice fields next to the Bloom Football Performance Center. 2. The rooftop deck, an event-ready space at Bloom Football Performance Center. 3. USC football coach Lincoln Riley, left, speaks to the media in the team room at the Bloom Football Performance Center on Thursday. 4. The lobby of the Bloom Football Performance Center.

Injury update

Projected starting center Kilian O’Connor suffered a non-contact injury during USC’s camp practice Wednesday and will be out for the rest of the season, Riley announced.

“Tough one for the guys to see,” Riley said. “A great reminder for all of our guys just how nothing in this game is ever guaranteed. We’re fortunate to have enough depth on the O-line that we’ve been working on to continue to push forward.”

OLIVIA Attwood stripped off to a barely-there bikini as she soaked up the Ibiza sun without Pete Wicks.

The sexy Love Island legend, 35, looked incredible as she enjoyed her solo holiday with her boyfriend, 37, nowhere to be seen.

Olivia and Pete started their relationship in March this year, shortly after Olivia split from her ex-husband Bradley Dack, 32.

But for her latest holiday, the former Towie hunk didn’t join his new girlfriend.

Soaking up the sun, Olivia showed off her enviable figure in the tiny bikini.

The plunging two piece also revealed her long legs and toned tum.

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The multi-millionaire TV star also showed off her designer gear haul.

Olivia proudly flaunted that she had been buying some treats from Dolce & Gabbana.

The star also showed off her new expensive Chanel handbag.

Meanwhile, TV star Olivia has kept tight-lipped about her romance with Pete.

The pair were first spotted looking very close while lounging on a boat in Ibiza last summer.

Then in March, following her marriage split, Olivia admitted she was trying to move on from her ex-husband.

“Yes, I’m dating,” wrote Olivia.

“Yes, I’m getting up every single day even when I have cried all night to film the shows I love filming, record my podcast, record my radio show, shoot campaigns and somewhere in there TRY to move on.”

Since then, Pete and Olivia haven’t been able to keep their hands off each other.

The smitten couple were recently spotted snogging in Saint-Tropez.

The pair are yet to officially confirm their romance, but have been snapped out on several cosy dates.

Olivia’s new romance came straight off the back of her painful split from Bradley, with Olivia accusing him of “cheating”.

The former couple first met in 2015, dated for three months, and then went their separate ways.

Olivia then went on Love Island in 2017, met Chris Hughes, 32, but they soon split, and Liv reunited with Bradley.

The footy star proposed two years later, and they tied the knot in 2023.

Meanwhile, Pete is famous for his Lothario reputation and has dated a string of beauties – including Maura Higgins, 35, Megan McKenna, 33, and Chloe Sims, 44.

The number of British tourists visiting Malta is said to be up by around 25 per cent in 2026, with flights available from just £45

A tiny European island boasting 300 days of sunshine annually is “having a moment” with British holidaymakers. The number of tourists flying to Malta from the UK is reportedly up by around 25 percent in 2026.

The island is now reachable from 19 airports across the United Kingdom, with flights available for as little as £45. Travellers swapping grey British skies for the 17-mile long destination can look forward to temperatures of around 32C throughout the summer months.

Journalist Angela Epstein recently made the trip to the island with her husband Mark. The couple visited Sliema, on Malta’s east coast, describing the charming coastal town as the “perfect base for exploring”.

On arrival, Angela couldn’t help but observe that the “blue wink of the Mediterranean is a constant presence” around Malta. Boasting bustling shops, baroque facades, and 17th century watchtowers, Angela says the town “scores highly” for the “views alone”.

She does, however, note that Sliema may not be the ideal destination for a traditional beach holiday, with “rocky bays and outcrops” rather than the sweeping sandy shores some tourists might prefer, reports the Express.

The island does have some sandy beaches to offer. Ramla Beach, which translates as red sand, is regarded as one of the island’s most stunning stretches of coastline, with its rolling sands and crystal-blue waters.

Nestled at the foot of a lush valley and surrounded by rugged hills, Ramla Beach holds blue flag status and provides a wonderful opportunity for snorkelling, diving, or simply unwinding in the sun. The Bugibba Perched Beach, situated in the northern part of the island, is an artificial beach that has become a firm favourite amongst visitors.

Once a jagged rocky outcrop, the beach has been transformed and now boasts an array of cafes, along with all the usual amenities including sunbeds and parasols, perfect for a spot of sunbathing.

Those seeking a more culturally enriching experience can venture to Malta’s capital, Valletta, which was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1980. UNESCO describes the city as “inextricably linked to the history of the military and charitable Order of St John of Jerusalem”.

The city is home to an impressive 320 ancient monuments within just 55ha, cementing its status as one of the most historically dense destinations on the planet. The island also boasts a collection of ancient temples, with the gantija Temples tracing their origins back to 3,600 BC.

Nestled within the Gozitan countryside, the temples are so vast that local legend once held that they were built by giants.

Eager to uncover more history, Angela made her way to Mdina, a fortified city with a heritage stretching back approximately 4,000 years. This hilltop settlement served as the island’s capital until 1530.

Dubbed the “Silent City,” its cobbled streets feel like being “transported back in time,” according to Visit Malta. The tourism website adds: “Oozing of luxury and nobility, Mdina offers visitors a most discreet insight that only a few people can experience and witness during their lifetime.”

Malta’s cobbled streets and stunning vistas have also caught the eye of Hollywood.

Blockbusters including Game of Thrones, Troy, Gladiator, and Assassin’s Creed are amongst the major productions to have used the island as a filming location.

Having explored the island herself, Angela found it “grew on her,” despite the volume of tourists. She concluded: “Given the weather, the scenery, the heritage, and the sheer breadth of things to do, Malta looks set to continue having its ‘moment’ for some time yet.”

The Retirement Abroad Index 2026 has ranked 20 countries across five key areas including healthcare, cost of living and visa accessibility – and the results may surprise you.

While you might be drawn to these sunny spots for a holiday, have you ever considered they could be the perfect place to spend your retirement?

As Brits approach retirement age, plenty contemplate purchasing a property in well-loved retirement havens such as Spain and France, but there are warmer, more affordable locations that could offer greater advantages, according to the latest figures.

The Expatriate Group, a specialist provider of international health insurance serving expats and retirees globally, has published The Retirement Abroad Index for 2026. The study assessed 20 countries, evaluating them across five crucial categories, including healthcare, visa accessibility, health insurance requirements, cost of living, and community and integration.

Drawing from these essential factors, it’s evident which destinations emerged as frontrunners for retirees and which have fallen in the rankings, with some surprising contenders.

Lee Gerry, director of Expatriate Group, said: “Retiring abroad has never been more achievable, but the decisions that matter most – healthcare access, visa routes, and the reality of day-to-day costs – are often the least well understood.”

“This index is designed to cut through the noise and give people an honest, data-led picture of where the real opportunities are.”

The top destination for retirement, according to the index, was the Philippines, with a Special Resident Retiree’s Visa that ranks among the most accessible globally. It requires a fixed deposit of roughly £11,000 for those receiving a pension.

What’s more, it achieved impressive marks for affordability and anticipated integration, which, combined with its tranquil beaches and stunning scenery, makes it an idyllic spot to enjoy your retirement years.

The second choice is perhaps less of a shock, as it’s certainly more familiar to Brits, though still not typically considered the top pick: Thailand.

The nation boasts several well-established and vibrant cities, each providing a flavour of its rich culture, but most prominently, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket all feature internationally recognised private hospital networks.

Thailand secured a perfect 20 out of 20 on the scoring index, excelling in the healthcare category alongside Spain and France. Regarding visas, their Non-Immigrant O-A Visa demands coverage of at least $100,000, approximately £74,000, per policy, per year, as a visa requirement.

The third country, which may surprise some retirees, is Colombia, offering one of the most straightforward retirement visa routes among the 20 destinations and, remarkably, achieving a cost of living score of 18 out of 20.

According to their findings, the report indicates a retired couple can generally enjoy a comfortable lifestyle in Medellín, the capital of Colombia, on roughly £1,000 to £1,500 per month. In contrast to most British cities, it boasts reliably warm weather and possesses a lively atmosphere that’s difficult to match elsewhere.

Portugal emerged as the first European nation to feature on the list as an ideal spot to spend your golden years, claiming fourth place. Joint fifth went to Sri Lanka and South Africa, while Malaysia and the UAE shared sixth position, before Mexico secured a solid seventh spot.

While Spain continues to be among the most favoured destinations for British retirees, it didn’t appear until eighth on the list, achieving 18 out of 20 for healthcare, though it was let down by the cost of living and visa complications.

It also shares eighth place with Indonesia, which is cherished for its relaxed way of life and renowned for its strong emphasis on wellness culture. Packed with stunning beaches and particularly attracting visitors to Bali, it has climbed to the top of countless people’s bucket lists as a must-visit destination.

Coming in at number nine is Panama, followed by Qatar. Panama has made headlines in recent years for its ‘Pensionado’ programme, which offers a generous range of discounts designed to make retirement far more affordable.

The scheme also requires retirees to demonstrate a lifetime income of just £738 or so per month, with an extra £184 for each dependant.

Due to several countries sharing identical scores, the top 10 is actually made up of 13 nations in total. These are:

• Philippines
• Thailand
• Colombia
• Portugal
• Sri Lanka
• South Africa
• Malaysia
• UAE
• Mexico
• Spain
• Indonesia
• Panama

It’s midnight, in June. Powder pink and dark grey clouds drift across a pallid sky, the palette reflecting in the motionless water of Lake Inari. Islets of pine and just-budding birch create pools of distorted shade close to the horizon of this 420 sq mile (1,080 sq km) lake in Lapland, northern Finland. There is not a sound. It’s so silent, I barely breathe to avoid disturbance. Only me, the lake and a moonbeam-coloured moth, whose wingbeat is inaudible.

I am sat beside my car-sized campervan, with mesmerised reverence for the rose-tinged panorama. I do not wish to go to bed and miss this moment. And I am loving the wild freedom and deliciousness of being entirely alone, with nobody in the world knowing my exact whereabouts. Ordinarily, I would be long asleep by midnight, exhausted after a day of work and family life. But I have left my husband and (adult) children at home in England for an eight-week solo camping adventure through Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway, with the singular aim of reaching Nordkapp (North Cape) and Knivskjellodden, Europe’s northernmost point at the top of Norway, in time for midsummer.

Earlier in the day, I’d met Father Christmas. “If you’re driving north, be careful of the reindeer,” the costumed gentleman said as I sat beside him at Santa Claus’s Main Post Office in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, a place considered over-touristy in winter, but certainly not during my summer visit.

“We have 230,000 reindeer here in Finland, but only one of them has a red nose.” As it happens, I see countless reindeer, in Finland, as well as Norway and Sweden, creeping through forests and grazing at the coast. Not Rudolph to my knowledge, but many females with calves, all legs and ears.

My meetings with reindeer and the night beside Lake Inari are two of many memorable experiences on my road trip through the Land of the Midnight Sun, so called because north of the Arctic Circle the sun doesn’t set below the horizon during the summer months. It doesn’t set for long south of it either, including in Denmark, where (after I’d driven my campervan from the UK via Germany) my Nordic adventure started in Rødby, on the island of Lolland.

Other than reaching Nordkapp, I have no plan; no accommodation booked either. Instead, I am utilising the popular practice of Allemansretten (everybody’s right, as it’s known in Norway), which is also legal in Finland and Sweden: the right to stop off-grid overnight on uncultivated land, leaving without a trace. On my journey I’m able to park up and stay overlooking fjords, beside mountain passes, with lake or coastal views.

From the flat plains of Lolland, Denmark’s fourth-largest island, my route north takes me to Helsingør for the ferry across the Øresund to Helsingborg in Sweden, leaving a rear-view image of Kronborg Slot – “Hamlet’s Castle” – at dawn.

Luminous lupins and puce pinks litter the roadsides of my 370-mile cross-country route to Sigtuna, 30 miles north-west of Stockholm. The lakeside settlement of colourful timber houses is Sweden’s oldest town. Half an hour’s drive north is Linnaeus’ Hammarby, a pretty 18th-century farm that once belonged to Carl Linnaeus, the botanist who developed the binomial system of naming species we use today.

Hammarby is wonderfully representative of this Uppland region of Sweden. I walk 10 miles through the cultivated countryside along the Dannmark Trail between Linnaeus’s farm and Uppsala, a route he would walk with his biology students for nature studies. Students at Uppsala University (where Linnaeus was a professor) are celebrating finals when I arrive, mingling around ice-cream cafes and in floral parks and botanical gardens. Nearby, the vast twin spires of the city’s rust-red cathedral protrude above blossoming rowan trees.

From Uppsala, I follow the E4, a road that reaches the border with Finland, covering more than 600 miles over six days. Along the way I cross Scandinavia’s longest suspension bridge, the Högakustenbron, at the Höga Kusten, or High Coast, a Unesco world heritage site.

Vast stretches of empty road lined with little but pine trees provide a chance for contemplation. But it’s not until I arrive in the colourful town of Karasjok days later, having crossed from Finland into Norway, that I truly understand the scale of the Nordics. For Karasjok feels very far north, yet it is still a four-hour drive to Nordkapp.

Karasjok is the Norwegian administrative centre for the indigenous Sámi population of Sápmi, the cross-border cultural region that includes parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The parliament building resembles a traditional lavvu tent and, nearby, Sápmi Park offers an introduction to Sámi traditions.

Leaving Karasjok, the road winds its way alongside Porsangerfjorden, passing fishing hamlets, waterfalls, shaly mountain cliffs and tremendous viewpoints before dipping beneath the Arctic Ocean by tunnel to reach Magerøya, the island upon which Nordkapp sits. I chance upon fine weather as I climb beyond Honningsvåg, one of Norway’s northernmost towns, over snowy mountain plateaux to reach Nordkapp. A tear forms in the corner of my eye. I am alone, about 2,500 miles from home by the quickest route, and I wish my family could see what I can. But this is a solo adventure, and I have reached my goal, staying up all night to watch as the midnight sun sends orange beams across the Arctic Ocean. Captivating.

It is not by the quickest route that I return home, though. My journey back south through Norway (and ultimately Sweden and Denmark, too) is contorted, meandering west and east. Picnics beside turquoise sea coves on the Lofoten Islands, watching pods of dolphins in the Norwegian Sea. Bulging rivers and thundering waterfalls in Saltfjellet national park. Then small farms and meadows with emerald stripes of hay, amassed buttercups, and long lakes through the region of Trøndelag. It is Norway bursting into colour after the bleached landscapes of the north. Occasionally I’ll put in a long stretch in one day – 200 miles or so. Other days, I simply stay put, enjoying the view or stepping out for long walks.

Atlanterhavsvegen – a 22-mile national scenic route across skerries and strung together by bridges – is captivating. Then Runde, one of Norway’s westernmost islands, renowned for a colony of puffins that breed on the cliffs here. A steep mountain walk across the island reveals clusters of people perching on cliff edges in the hope of witnessing the spectacle of birds coming in to roost.

But it is the east of the island where I park up and sit alone for days, watching an otter swimming among the lichen-speckled black rocks, alerted by a clatter of ducks and ducklings, shelducks, wigeon and oystercatchers. Keeping my distance, I observe parent gulls sheltering fluffed-up chicks as curlew call overhead. Orchids, sea campion, clover and a host of other flowers smother the coastal ground. A memorable time.

So, too, my wild camp at the summit of Sognefjellet mountain pass, the highest road in Scandinavia. I set out from Lom, an attractive town that sits between three national parks and possesses a famous stave church and the fascinating Norwegian Mountain Centre. The road, also a designated national scenic route, runs alongside the pretty Bovra River initially, then climbs into some of Norway’s wildest scenery. My overnight is cold, with huge frozen lakes of glacial blue and roadside snow above the height of the campervan. In the morning, as Nordic skiers and a pack of snowmobiles head out to nearby glaciers, I brush snowflakes from my windscreen to begin the descent to the green and luscious Sognefjord. It’s as if I have stepped through a wardrobe and imagined the wintry summer scene.

I appreciate that being alone by choice is entirely different to loneliness. I am often asked of my solo travels, “Don’t you ever get lonely?” I can feel lonelier, I explain, in a crowded room than camping in the wild. Yes, leaving family behind creates a sense of “wish you were here”; special moments I’d like to share. Then again, this adventure is understanding that the memory is mine alone. The thrill, the excitement, the calm and occasionally the trepidation. I’d do it all again tomorrow.

The writer travelled in her own campervan, using Scandlines ferries between Puttgarden, Germany, and Rødby, Denmark. In the UK and Europe, hire of Roadsurfer’s smaller vehicles starts at £49 a night

A Welsh couple appeared on A Place in the Sun and broke down in tears after buying a Costa del Sol holiday home to honour their late family member.

A Place in the Sun presenter was moved to tears while discussing a heartbreaking family loss.

During a repeat episode broadcast on Wednesday, June 10, a Welsh couple were searching for a holiday home on the Costa del Sol, enlisting the assistance of host Jean Johansson.

Former body builder Darren and his wife Joanne, had a particularly poignant motivation behind their decision to purchase a property in Spain, wanting somewhere perfect for their three children and wider family.

They also decided to find somewhere following the sad death of Joanne’s brother Matt, with one of their final conversations being him encouraging them to “live the dream”.

Joanne emotionally told Jean: “My brother sadly passed away ten years ago and one of our last conversations was that I had to make sure that we have as much fun as possible and live the dream with our children,” reports Wales Online.

“Because he loved the beach and being abroad so much we thought this would be the perfect way to honour his memory.”

After viewing several properties, with a budget of £205,000, the couple submitted an offer of £170,000 on one apartment they were keen to add to.

At that moment, Joanne shared: “I do feel emotional, I just know this is what my brother would want and I am sure he is just looking down now with a big smile on his face.”

While their initial offer was turned down, their second bid of £178,000 was accepted, leaving Joanne overcome with emotion.

Breaking down, she shared: “This is for you, Matt!”

Expressing her gratitude to Jean, she continued: “We can now live the dream in my brother’s memory.

“The family can come here and think about him, my mum and dad just feel so close to Matt when we are at the beach and they can come here anytime they want now!”

Visibly moved, Jean responded: “I am so happy, I’ve never been happier for a couple.”

Raising a toast, Joanne said: “To Matthew and the family, and to living the dream!”

Jean added to the camera: “That was an emotional end to an exciting search, Darren and Joanne have the dream property for them and the whole family, and I know they are going to have loads of amazing holidays here in Malaga.”

Speaking after the episode originally aired in May 2024, Joanne told A Place In The Sun that they were “definitely living the dream”.

She said they get very emotional when they walk through the door, as the home is so linked to her brother, who loved the beach, but tragically died of cancer at the age of 27.

“We’ve taken out all the children and showed them the places we visited on the TV show, such as Lake Vinuela,” Joanne said.

“It already feels like home and I’d say we are definitely living the dream.”

A Place in The Sun is available to watch on Channel 4.

If you’re dreaming of sitting on a Spanish terrace with a beer in your hand, then you might want to check the weather, as new laws could see outdoor terraces closed to holidaymakers

For many British holidaymakers jetting off to sunnier destinations like Spain, few pleasures compare to dining outdoors for lunch or dinner, basking in the sunshine while enjoying a chilled beer and tapas.

But for Brits heading off to Spain in the next couple of months, new restrictions could put a dampener on plans for al fresco dining, and mean you have to enjoy your paella indoors.

A weather phenomenon known as El Niño, which delivers prolonged warm temperatures across the Pacific Ocean every two to seven years, is predicted to drive up temperatures and could lead to red weather warnings throughout Spain. Currently, forecasts are still being reviewed, but the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated it could be a ‘strong event’ this year, meaning particularly scorching temperatures in the next couple of months.

This weather news comes shortly after an amendment was made to the National Labour Agreement for the Hospitality Sector (ALEH), which safeguards workers including waiting staff, meaning that during periods of extreme weather bars and restaurants will be required to shut their terrace areas on health and safety grounds.

According to Majorca Daily News, when Spain issues orange or red weather warnings due to soaring temperatures, establishments with outdoor terraces will be compelled to either scale back or stop outdoor service altogether. They can, however, continue serving customers indoors. Businesses must also ensure adequate cooling systems are installed inside, or adjust staff shifts to lessen the impact of the heat.

Businesses that fail to comply with the new regulations – for instance by compelling waiting staff to work outdoors during a red alert – could face fines exceeding €50,000 (around £43,000) imposed by the country’s Labour and Social Security Inspectorate.

Parts of Northern Spain are currently under an orange weather alert after a 40C heatwave was followed by rain and thunderstorms. Earlier this week, a yellow warning was issued in parts of Andalucía as afternoon temperatures hit the 40s, and the weather is likely to become more intense as the busy summer season reaches its peak, which could force diners indoors.

A reduction in al fresco dining isn’t the only change Brits will encounter this summer. Holidaymakers touching down at Spanish and other EU airports will now be required to use the EU Entry/Exit System (EES), which has reportedly triggered lengthy queues at some of the busiest airports.

More Spanish cities, including the port of Vigo, are also introducing tourist taxes in an effort to manage the effects of overtourism, while Barcelona is redirecting cruise ships to a port further from the city centre to tackle overcrowding.

Spain also has a number of existing rules that Brits must abide by, including a crackdown on vaping and smoking in public spaces, restrictions on the type of footwear permitted while driving, and even a ban on going shirtless in certain well-known beach resorts.

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