WE watched from our balcony as the sunset bled into the sky, transforming its blue hues into a vibrant shade of pink.
We weren’t expecting a visitor, but a sudden arrival only made this serene moment more magical.
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A seagull flies over the stunning Algarvian coastlineCredit: GettyFlights start at just £42 and the journey only takes two and a half hoursCredit: GettyFor those who are keen to venture further afield, you’ll find plenty to do in the neighbouring town of Albufeira which is just a 15-minute taxi ride awayCredit: Getty
From the trees above, a fuzzy owl had swooped down, perching on the edge of our balcony just feet away from where we lay. He seemed to be enjoying the views as much as we were.
We weren’t shocked by his arrival — after all, this was just one of many incredible wildlife interactions my partner and I had here on Portugal’s south coast.
As well as spotting dragonflies and lizards roaming between the hotel’s ten swimming pools, we stumbled upon dozens of turtles sheltering in the shady streams while walking down to the beach one day.
The wildlife is certainly a highlight of a visit to the Marriott Residences Salgados Resort, in Portugal’s Algarve.
But it’s not the main reason holidaymakers head here. The sprawling resort is famous for its 18-hole golf course, one of the most challenging in the country as well as one of the most scenic, sandwiched between a beach and a nature reserve.
We were not here to practise our putting, though. Instead, R&R was at the top of our agenda.
With a state-of-the-art gym, huge spa hub and a health foods cafe which specialises in zero waste food, we couldn’t have picked a more appropriate place for our weekend of wellness.
Better still, at this time of year, flights start at just £42 and the journey only takes two-and-a-half hours.
We’d opted for a garden view room which overlooked the pool and an abundance of tropical greenery.
The suites here, which start at a bargain £116 per night, come decked out with a proper kitchen, including fridge and a washing machine.
There’s also a modern living area and large balcony complete with padded armchairs for soaking up the last of the afternoon rays with a glass of fizz.
With such extensive cooking facilities, you needn’t spend a penny on meals out if you don’t want to. But, with our focus on relaxation, the hotel’s buffet restaurant, In Season, became our go-to.
Ripe goodies
Daily breakfasts here were an exciting affair, with a fresh omelette station stealing the show. The fruit bar piled high with ripe goodies, freshly-pressed juices and a vast bread and pastry selection kept us more than satisfied until lunch.
The dinner options at In Season are limited to a small but excellent spread of buffet foods including a delicious freshly cooked tuna served in a salsa verde sauce and scorched BBQ chicken skewers.
The pool area at Residences SalgadosCredit: UnknownThe suites start at a bargain £116 per night and come decked out with a proper kitchen, including fridge and washing machineCredit: Vasco Celio
While the options for vegetarians were more limited, the salad bar and cheese plates more than made up for it with every salad topping you could think of plus a variety of dressings.
If you get the chance, make sure to visit the Italian joint in the neighbouring hotel, too — but don’t forget to book in advance.
Elsewhere, within the resort, there’s an Indian restaurant, pizzeria and, my personal favourite, Green Artisan cafe.
Treat yourself to a body scrub, foot bath or facial if you have cash to splash, although the calming atmosphere of the place is enough to soothe away troubles.
This wellness restaurant was our favourite of the bunch, serving made-to-order tropical fruit smoothies, healthy snacks and home-baked cakes, all made with natural and nutritious ingredients.
This isn’t where the wellness ends, though. Complete with hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna and ice cold bucket shower, the hotel’s spa is an ideal spot for whiling away the hours in blissful peace.
Entry isn’t automatically included for guests but it is well worth the additional 20 euros, with access from 9am until 7pm.
Treat yourself to a body scrub, foot bath or facial if you have cash to splash, although the calming atmosphere of the place is enough to soothe away troubles.
If you’re travelling with little ones, there’s a small splash pool and outdoor play area, as well as a kids’ club for children aged between four to 12, which costs an extra 45 euros a day.
And for those who are keen to venture further afield, you’ll find plenty to do in the neighbouring town of Albufeira which is just a 15-minute taxi ride away.
While it’s known for its wild party scenes, the old town is a pleasant place to take a stroll with colourful cobbled streets flanked by teeny shops and markets.
We booked a sunset boat cruise via GetYourGuide (£40pp, getyourguide.co.uk) which took us along the coast on a small yacht, watching the sun dip slowly behind the horizon while we bobbed peacefully on the water.
For those with a more adventurous streak, the local tour site has everything from Jeep tours and horse riding to parasailing and day trips to Seville for really decent prices.
We preferred to spend most of our days at the beach by the hotel, though.
During peak season the hotel offers a shuttle service to the sea, but why risk missing out on the wildlife?
From the trees above, a fuzzy owl had swooped down, perching on the edge of our balcony just feet away from where we layCredit: Supplied
The walk only takes about 20 minutes through the hotel’s gardens, following various streams down to the sea.
WHAT do you get if you cross Dragons’ Den with ice swimming? Frozen assets? It was time to find out . . .
I was in Oulu, on the north-west coast of Finland, which last year welcomed the return of televised event, Polar Bear Pitching.
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View of the mesmerizing celestial dance of the Northern Lights in Oulu, FinlandCredit: AlamyWinter Wonderland in OuluCredit: GettyEnjoy floating in icy waterCredit: Supplied
Visitors pay to watch up-and-coming entrepreneurs pitch ideas to a row of cash-fuelled investors, just like the BBC show.
Except these hopefuls must do it from a frozen lake, their pitch lasting as long as they can withstand the freezing waters.
It gave me goosebumps, and not just because of the -20°C chill.
I may not have had any start-up ideas to pitch but that didn’t stop me plunging into the chilling waters while I was here.
The Icebreaker experience is one I’ll never forget.
Dressed in a warm, waterproof bodysuit, I boarded a large boat which slowly made its way across the chilling sea, its hull carving a pathway as it broke through the ice.
We came to a halt and then it was time.
Hurling myself in, I bobbed between huge ice blocks in my floating suit, in awe of my surroundings.
This is an experience that will set you back a fair whack, but it’s absolutely something for the bucket list.
And with so many free things to do in the city, you can save your cash elsewhere.
Oulu is filled with wonderful traditions – so much so it’s been named the European Capital of Culture for 2026.
It’s calmer than Helsinki, with just 215,000 people, but no less fun.
The Frozen People Festival, a drum and bass-filled evening in the Pikisaari district, doesn’t cost a penny.
The event, traditionally held on a frozen lake, will take place on February 28 next year, with DJs, art installations and movies.
Due to climate change, we had to party on firm ground this year, but that didn’t stop me dancing the night away with a local cider in hand as snow fell.
Reindeer stew
Unfortunately, I missed out on the World Air Guitar Championships, a phenomenal spectacle that attracts contestants from all over the globe.
But this free event, held every August in the town’s square, is a fun must-see if you can make it.
With snow on the ground, it seemed only right to celebrate Christmas a little early with a trip to the Arkadia Reindeer Farm where Rudolph and his mates pulled me on a sleigh.
Later, I regressed into a giggling child when feeding them dinner.
Awkwardly, my dinner was a yummy reindeer stew served at the farm’s cosy cabin.
If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can head to the Arctic Foodlab, home to a collection of cafes, bakeries and breweries.
I sampled salmon soup and rossypottu, a potato, smoked pork and blood sausage stew.
If you’re still not warm enough, pay a visit to the sauna — you’ll find one in most hotels in the city.
The Finnish proudly enter naked, but my English propriety won out, and I wore a swimsuit. I was willing to try one tradition, though – running out into the snow afterwards.
As I pelted into the powdery white, wearing just my cossie and Doc Martens, something stopped me in my tracks.
A flash of green flickered in the sky and several colours danced between the trees above.
The wild swimming spot is popular with reviewers, who praised the ‘stunning’ views
The tidal pool’s ‘stunning’ views impressed reviewers (Image: Getty)
A ‘magical’ tidal pool that’s popular with wild swimmers has been praised as the ‘perfect’ spot for a winter swim. Found in Cornwall, the ‘stunning’ pool could be especially attractive to people who like to swim year-round, but who don’t always get the chance due to rough seas.
While it’s always important to follow water safety guidelines, swimming in the winter can be more dangerous due to unpredictable conditions and stronger currents. Bude Sea Pool often goes viral on social media and is highly rated by TripAdvisor reviewers. It’s also free to visit.
Friends of Bude Sea Pool, the charity that maintains the pool, explains: “Bude Sea Pool is a semi-natural tidal pool and is a safe haven for wild swimming on the edges of the Atlantic Ocean. There is no cost, no booking nor any other imposed restriction. Bude Sea Pool is for everyone to enjoy for free.”
The sea pool is open throughout the year, and the temperature typically ranges between 11°C and 18°C. The website advises unseasoned swimmers to consider wearing a wetsuit. It is also recommended to always swim at low tide.
On TripAdvisor, the tidal pool has an average rating of 4.7 out of five, and it earned a 2025 Travellers’ Choice Award. The description for the attraction reads: “Bude Sea Pool is a part-natural, part man-made tidal pool on Summerleaze Beach in the popular seaside town of Bude, North Cornwall.
“Built in the 1930s under the cliffs, it provides a safe swimming area away from the dangerous Atlantic currents. Measuring approximately 91m by 45m, the pool is naturally replenished by the Atlantic Ocean at high tide.”
One previous visitor said: “Bude sea pool is my favourite place in the world. I have visited it many times, in all months and seasons. It is never the same, but always magical and I am so happy that it continues to be free for everyone to enjoy. Wonderful place.”
Another visitor wrote: “A lovely spot. Perfect, safe place for a winter swim. A lovely spot.
“Perfect, safe place for a winter swim when the sea is rough. An amazing facility. Volunteer run and charity so pop in the ‘friends of’ shop for some swim-supplies or gifts to show support. Parking & toilets nearby.”
Someone else praised: “Awesome! What a stunning place for a swim! The Bude sea pool is a wonderful thing. It is backed by cliffs creating stunning views while you can swim in calm but fresh sea water. I recommend a wetsuit in winter unless you’re seriously hardy!
“But it is open and beautiful all year round whatever the weather. If you do swim please do donate to keep this wonderful resource going. Go there and enjoy!”
A HISTORIC Victorian bathhouse is getting a new lease of life after closing nearly 50 years ago.
Manor Place Baths in South London is a 19th century bathhouse that was once a huge swimmingpool complex.
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A Victorian bathhouse is reopening as a free attraction – nearly 50 years after it closedCredit: NikeThe attraction is a collaboration with Nike and Palace SkateboardsCredit: NikeThere will also be a huge skatepark insideCredit: Nike
It later became a boxing venue before closing in the 1970s.
However, a new attraction is set to open inside the bathhouse, as part of a collaboration with Nike and Palace Skateboards.
Inside will be a thee ‘zones’ – The Park and The Cage, The Front Room, and The Residency.
A free to use skatepark is in the area where the men’s swimmingpool use to be (having since been paved over).
The ‘world-class’ skatepark will be made of concrete, with ramps, ledges and benches.
There will also be an underground football cage which can be used for three-a-side.
The Front Room will be an art venue with workshops and pop ups, as well as having Nike clothing on sale.
And The Residency will be creative studio spaces, which will be on rotation every nine months.
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Events will include “skate jams,” women-only sessions and a number of others.
Opening from November 11, it will be free to visit and open six days a week.
Art shows and pop ups will be part of the entranceCredit: Nike
Palace co-founder Lev Tanju said: “We had an idea of creating a large space for the community that would be about skateboarding and sport, and a space you could generally hang out in.”
Gareth Skewis, also co-founder of Palace, said: “I want Manor Place to be somewhere safe and friendly where people can skate, play football and discover new things.”
It has even been backed by English footballer Lenna Gunning-Williams.
She said: “Manor Place is important for the next generation because it’s so accessible.
“It’s going to be a place where people can connect — and it’s not just for footballers, it’s for skaters and creatives too.”
THE UK’s oldest lido could never reopen despite years of renovation works, costing millions.
Cleveland Poolsin Bath, which was built in 1815 and is the country’s oldest, may never reopen to the public again.
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Cleveland Pools in Bath went through major restoration to open for 2023Credit: Cleveland PoolsJust four months later it was forced to close after flood damageCredit: Alamy
It was open for just four months in 2023 after receiving £9.3 million for a revamp. But it hasn’t reopened since, and it might never do so.
The trustees of the restored lido revealed in a report that it “might not be possible” to reopen the pool, according to the BBC.
The report stated: “The risk that the cost to repair the pools and the plantroom will be substantial and beyond the resources available to the trust.
“There is therefore a risk that the pools cannot be repaired and reopened.
“To mitigate against this risk the trust is exploring all potential avenues that would allow the pools to be repaired and reopened, including but not limited to legal recourse and external funding.”
The nextsteps for the trustees is to finalise the cost of repairs and work with the council and National Lottery Fund to secure money needed for the restoration.
Cleveland Pools is a Grade II listed lido, and is considered the oldest outdoor swimming pool in the UK.
It opened in the early 1800s and closed in 1984. It then took a huge campaign by the public, and almost £10million to reopen the lido in September 2023.
The money was raised by trustees from local donors, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
When it opened its doors for the very first time, tickets for the Sunday free swim were so popular that the system crashed.
Cleveland Pools is Britain’s oldest outdoor poolCredit: PA
The lido looked like it would have a very popular season, but it was forced to close months later due to flood damage.
Heavy rainfall during Storm Henk caused a huge amount of damage to the plantroom – where all the equipment to operate the lido is kept.
At the time, Cleveland Pools Trust apologised and Paul Simons, chair of the trust, said: “Once the river level has dropped the pools will be pumped out, jet washed down, re-filled and then the treatment circulation will recommence.
He added that the time frame for that “should take a number of days, not weeks.”
