travel

YOU might think celebrities are always off on lavish adventures to far-flung places, but sometimes they opt for a cheap stopover.

Katie Price, who is usually seen in the likes of Dubai or Ibiza, was spotted leaving the Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre after an evening at the UK Hair and Beauty Awards – and the rooms are really cheap.

Found in the heart of the city, the Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre is the perfect budget-friendly base for exploring the city.

Rates start from as little as £60 with rooms varying from standard and family rooms to suites.

Some of the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows as well as 50-inch flat-screen LED televisions.

There’s also 24-hour room service for all guests.

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In the mornings, laid out is a full buffet and cooked breakfast options. In the evening, guests can dine at the hotel’s RBG Bar & Grill.

The hotel has an outdoor terrace too with its own bar and plenty of room for drinks in the evening.

When it comes to facilities, this Radisson hotel has a fitness suite, heated pool, sauna, and steam room.

The Nu Spa offers a variety of treatments including facials, body treatments, and massages.

These facilities aren’t complimentary for all guests though as those with a standard booking will have to pay an extra £15 per room to use the pool, steam room, and sauna.

The gym remains free of charge for all bookings.

In the lobby is a self-serve refuelling station selling snacks and soft drinks throughout the day and evening.

For those who aren’t heading off to a glamorous event, the Radisson Hotel Manchester City Centre is in an ideal location to explore Manchester.

The AO Arena, which will see Hilary Duff take to the stage next month, is actually opposite the hotel.

Co-op Live is a short tram ride away which will welcome the likes of A$AP Rocky, Andre Roux, Karan Aujla and Westlife are performing in September.

It’s also near the National Football Museum, Printworks and Manchester Victoria Station.

EASYJET is cancelling all flights from a major UK airport for good.

The budget airline has confirmed that the axing of all flights from Leeds Bradford Airport will come into place from January 5, 2027.

Current routes from Leeds Bradford Airport include Barcelona, Majorca, Malaga and Paris, as well as Geneva and Belfast.

The airline said in a statement: “Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January.

“Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.

“We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand.”

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They also said that they had “contacted customers with bookings beyond this date,” with options including free transfer to other flights or refunds.

Other airlines still operating from Leeds Bradford Airport include Ryanair and Jet2.

EasyJet launched its first flight from Leeds Bradford Airport in 2010, to Geneva.

This followed other routes such as Belfast in 2021 and Paris in 2024.

Last year, Leeds Bradford Airport opened its new £100million terminal expansion, which includes more retail space, seating and new lounges.

Some of the recent new routes that are launching from the airport include Jet2’s Santorini and Preveza, from summer 2027.

The longest flight from the airport is to Hurghada, taking around 5hr40, although previously expressed plans to launch long haul flights in the future.

A NEW Therme resort is under construction in the UK and is making huge strides towards opening.

Therme Manchester is set to be complete by 2028 and will have everything from huge swimming pools, waterslides and even beaches.

The Therme Group has announced that they have reached their first milestone of 12 tower cranes being built.

It said the progress marked “the start of an exciting new phase of construction for Therme Manchester“.

On social media it continued: “Over the coming months, these cranes will play a key role in bringing our vision to life. Creating an amazing destination where wellbeing, relaxation and fun come together.

“This is just the beginning. Stay tuned as we continue to build something extraordinary!”

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One excited person commented: “Wow!!! Can’t wait!! We are watching the process everyday when we pass.”

Another added: “Can’t wait, no more going to Germany to the amazing spa.”

The Therme Group also announced it would be teaming up with Marriott International.

In terms of booking, Marriott Bonvoy members will be offered exclusive travel and lodging packages linked directly to Therme destinations – which when it opens will include Manchester.

The £500m resort will be set across 28 acres making it the “largest water-based wellbeing destination in Europe.”

Inside the resort, visitors can expect a large-scale waterpark with more than 25 waterslides as well as a wave pool.

It will be heated to 33C and will have lots of spa and wellness facilities that will be split into three distinct zones called Play, Relax and Restore.

The Play zone will focus on ‘next-generation’ water fun, as well as a a warm water pool, steam rooms, saunas as well as lounging and family dining experiences.

This zone will also have an outdoor beach.

In the Relax zone – which will be adults-only – there will be a “focus on premium wellbeing experiences” as well as indoor and outdoor pools, waterfall showers, mineral baths, steam rooms, saunas and casual dining.

Finally, in the Restore Zone – the second adults-only area – there will be “industry leading health, nutrition and wellbeing therapies”, “sauna rituals”, experience showers, wellbeing consultations and dining.

Therme Manchester is set to become “UK’s largest paid-for tourist attraction” and see just over three million people each year.

This will be the first Therme site in the UK, joining one in Erding, Germany and one in Bucharest, Romania.

Travel expert Simon Calder has advice for those heading abroad

Students celebrating their A-level results are being urged to think carefully about safety before setting off on gap years and adventures abroad.

Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a stark warning to young people preparing to head overseas – telling them that risk management should be at the heart of their plans. Calder, speaking on The Travel Expert podcast with Telegraph journalist Greg Dickinson, said he wanted students to return home “in one piece with nothing but happy memories”.

His advice comes as thousands of young people consider gap years, holidays or trips abroad before starting university. Calder, who took a gap year himself, said there was plenty to gain from seeing the world – but warned that students and their parents should not overlook the potential dangers.

His top three concerns are: drugs and drink, accidents in water and road safety. Calder said: “If you are going to go on a gap year, the main thing to do is risk management.”

He added: “I am absolutely concerned to try to make sure that everybody comes back in one piece with nothing but happy memories.”

Drugs, drink and the risk of spiking

Calder’s first warning was about alcohol and recreational drugs. He acknowledged that many people drink and some take recreational drugs, but urged travellers to understand the risks – including the possibility of their drink being spiked.

He also specifically warned students about methanol poisoning, which has tragically killed travellers overseas. His message was not simply to avoid excessive drinking or drugs, but to understand the potentially serious consequences of what can happen abroad.

And students should never allow alcohol or drugs to lead them into taking unnecessary risks. Calder warned against doing things such as hiring a scooter or going for a midnight swim after consuming drink or drugs.

Take care around water

Calder’s second major warning was about accidents in water. Young travellers heading to beaches, islands and other holiday destinations are urged to understand the dangers posed by strong currents.

One particular hazard is a rip current – a powerful current of water moving away from the shore which can quickly carry swimmers out to sea. Calder said travellers should “make absolutely sure that you know how to identify a rip tide” and understand what to do if caught in one.

The important message is not to panic or try to fight directly against the current.

Road safety

Calder stressed there was one danger that sat “absolutely top of my risk list” , which is road safety. He warned that road risks can increase sharply once travellers leave Britain.

“As soon as you leave the UK, risks start to multiply on the roads,” he said. His advice was to consider how you are going to travel around a country before setting off.

He suggested that, where appropriate, using trains or flying in countries with high road accident rates could reduce the risks faced by young travellers. Calder’s warning is particularly relevant to gap-year students who may be tempted to hire scooters or motorcycles as a cheap and convenient way of getting around.

Thailand warning

The discussion also turned to Thailand, a hugely popular destination for young British travellers. Dickinson warned that students should not assume the country is a place where drug use is tolerated simply because of its reputation for parties and nightlife.

He specifically highlighted the famous Full Moon parties – but stressed that Thailand has strict drug laws. Travellers can face serious consequences for possessing or taking illegal drugs. Dickinson said: “They’re extremely strict on drugs, so you basically need to not get involved with that whatsoever.”

A MAJOR budget airline cancelled around 100 flights at a number of airports over the weekend – and there could be more to come.

Travellers are being warned that there could easyJet flight cancellations due to strikes, in the next two weeks.

Between August 15 and 16, an initial walk out led to nearly 100 flights to and from France cancelled, impacting thousands of passengers.

And there is the possibility that cabin crew could start a number of strikes again over the coming days.

A notification for strike action remains in place until September 2.

The notice gives workers at the airline the option to strike with 48 hours notice.

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With the strike notice still in place for the couple of weeks, travellers are being warned that the chaos might not yet be over.

If further strike action is called, it is expected to take place on weekends as this will create the most disruption.

The previous strikes impacted all of easyJet’s bases in France including Paris Orly, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Lyon, Nice, Nantes, and Bordeaux.

According to The Connexion, no further strike dates have been confirmed at the moment.

Three unions are involved in the action, which has been called over poor working conditions and uncooperative management.

The Connexion added that easyJet has offer alternatives to all passengers impacted but the strike action over the past weekend, including other flight options.

Due to the strike action being called by easyJet’s staff it cannot be classed as ‘extenuating circumstances’ and as a result passengers should receive compensation and refunds.

Holidaymakers warned viral airport photo trend can turn dangerous in seconds

British holidaymakers are being warned against copying viral plane-spotting videos at a popular Greek island airport. It comes after two tourists were seriously injured by jet blast within days of each other.

Skiathos International Airport, officially called Alexandros Papadiamantis Airport, has become one of Europe’s most famous plane-spotting locations because its runway sits extremely close to the coastline and surrounding public areas. Aircraft pass remarkably low over spectators as they approach, attracting holidaymakers who gather nearby to photograph and film arrivals and departures. It features a short, narrow runway measuring 5,341 feet.

But two recent incidents have highlighted the risk when aircraft are taking off. On August 10, a 52-year-old Italian tourist suffered serious head injuries after the force from a departing aircraft reportedly knocked her to the ground.

She was initially treated at the Skiathos Emergency Clinic before being airlifted to Volos General Hospital. Just three days later, another Italian woman in her early 50s reportedly suffered a severe arm fracture after being knocked over by the jet blast from another departing aircraft.

Local authorities and the airport have consistently placed large warning signs around the perimeter fence to emphasise the serious risks of being near departing aircraft. The prominent signs displayed around Skiathos International Airport, Alexandros Papadiamantis, alert onlookers that the force of engine thrust can push people and objects away. Police and city officials keep reminding visitors to avoid congregating directly behind the runway.

Emily Matthews, travel advisor at Private Portugal Tours, says tourists should understand that standing near a runway to watch a plane land and positioning themselves directly behind an aircraft preparing to depart can expose them to very different risks. “The videos that make Skiathos famous can make the whole experience look like an unusual holiday attraction, but tourists need to pay attention to exactly where they are standing and what the aircraft is doing,” Emily said.

“Standing directly behind a departing aircraft to get a dramatic video is something holidaymakers should avoid. If there are warning signs telling you about jet blast, take them literally and move away.”

Take off is where tourists need to be particularly careful

Skiathos has sometimes been described as Europe’s answer to St Maarten in the Caribbean, where aircraft famously pass low over a beach before reaching the runway. That close approach is what many tourists travel to photograph.

However, watching aircraft take off can be more hazardous for spectators too close to the runway perimeter, as large aircraft generate substantial thrust as they depart. Warning signs at Skiathos specifically alert visitors to the danger of jet blast.

“People may arrive because they have watched a video of an aircraft flying low overhead, then assume that anywhere around the runway is part of the same experience,” Emily said. “The important distinction is what happens when a plane turns around and prepares to take off. If you are positioned behind it, you can suddenly be in the path of extremely powerful airflow.

“Do not choose your position because a video looked impressive from there. Look at the warning signs around you and keep well away from areas where spectators are being warned about jet blast.”

Do not assume the crowd means the spot is safe

Plane spotting at Skiathos is well established, and large numbers of spectators can gather close to the airport. Emily says that creates another risk for tourists: assuming that a location must be safe because dozens of other people are already standing there.

“A crowd is not a safety assessment,” she said. “It is very easy on holiday to think, ‘Everyone else is doing it, so this must be where you are supposed to stand.’

“That logic can be especially persuasive when people have their phones out and appear to be waiting for exactly the same photograph. But warning signs do not stop applying because a crowd has formed beside them.”

The August 10 incident is currently being investigated by local authorities, according to reports. The tourist was believed to have been standing at a plane-spotting area close to the airport when she was knocked down. Skiathos has also seen jet-blast injuries in previous years, reinforcing that the hazard is not theoretical.

The ‘perfect’ video is not worth standing behind a departing aircraft for

Emily also warns tourists against trying to recreate footage they have seen online frame-for-frame. Viral travel videos often show only the few dramatic seconds when an aircraft passes or begins its take-off roll. They do not necessarily show the warnings around the location, how far the person filming is from the aircraft or what happened immediately afterwards.

“Social media can flatten the difference between watching something and participating in the risk,” Emily said. “You might see people’s clothes and hair being blown around and think that is part of the fun. Once enough videos like that circulate, being hit by the blast can almost become part of the attraction.

“Two serious injuries within days should be enough to remind people that being knocked off your feet is not a harmless holiday experience.” She advises tourists who want to watch aircraft to choose a position away from the direct line behind departing planes, respect barriers and signs, and move if local staff or authorities instruct spectators to do so.

Keep children away from the jet-blast area

Families should be particularly cautious about bringing young children into crowded plane-spotting locations where departing aircraft are nearby. “Children are naturally going to be excited when a huge aircraft passes close overhead, but this is one place where parents should decide where the family stands rather than simply following the crowd.

“If you cannot clearly understand the warnings or you are unsure whether your position is exposed to departing aircraft, move farther away. You can still enjoy watching the planes without trying to stand in the most dramatic possible spot.

“Skiathos is famous for an extraordinary view that aviation enthusiasts cannot experience at many other European destinations. That does not make every position around the runway equally safe. The simplest rule is to remember the difference between the spectacular low approach people travel to see and putting yourself behind an aircraft as it powers up to leave. A holiday video is never worth ignoring a warning sign for.”

A NEW budget airline has announced routes across Spain with flights from as little as €19 (£16.26).

Fly2Galicia will begin operating later this year with eight direct destinations across Europe.

The Spanish airline confirmed its will begin service from its new base at Santiago de Compostela’s Rosalía de Castro Airport in December.

It will have internal flights to Alicante, Zaragoza and Granada.

Other routes will be to Brussels, Munich, Milan-Malpensa, Prague and Venice.

There will be 17-weekly departures which are due to start from December 1 – the first flight will be from Santiago to Zaragoza.

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Flights from Milan and Brussels will start at €39, while those to Munich, Prague, and Venice will start at €49.

Even the lowest fare will include two pieces of hand luggage which will be an eight-kilo cabin bag and one personal item.

Fly2Galicia won’t actually operate these initial flights – it will instead be run by another European operator which hasn’t been named yet.

The initial schedule is planned to operate through October 24, 2027.

It’s expected the airline will use an Airbus A320 and according to reports, it’s considering adding a second aircraft for the summer 2027 season.

Sadly Brits will have to head to mainline Europe if they want to catch one of these flights as there are no plans to launch any to or from the UK yet.

AN abandoned UK village will open to the public for a limited time at the end of the month.

The town, which has been frozen in time since World War II, remains cut off from the world for most of the year.

For just 12 days out of the year, history fans and nature lovers travel to the village of Imber in Wiltshire, which has not been occupied since 1943.

During the second World War, the town’s 150 residents were given 47 days to evacuate their homes so the village could be turned into a military training area for American troops preparing for D-Day.

While they were promised they would be able to return after the war, the village is still occupied by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to this day.

Once every few months, the public is invited to visit the town for free, with roads opening through Imber until 6pm during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

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Public access has been granted to the village as well as the Grade I-listed St Giles Church, which will be open from 11am to 4pm daily.

The original surviving building is free to visit during open days with any donations going towards the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) for maintenance and restoration.

Along with an old pub, the church is one of the few remaining original structures in the village.

Most of the larger stone buildings were damaged during military training, and were subsequently demolished.

Meanwhile, houses in the village are either hollowed-out shells or have been converted into windowless buildings to simulate urban environments for military training.

Those who once lived in the village have the right to be buried on the church grounds, with undisturbed wildlife now the only living residents.

Imber also holds open days during the Christmas and New Year period as well as at Easter, with all visitors required to adhere to the public rights of way and designated areas, and comply with signposting.

A beach in the UK has been named among the top ten best in the world, beating all sorts of exotic destinations thanks to its white sands and clear turquoise seas that visitors love

If you were aiming to visit one of the world’s best beaches, you might think this would involve an extremely long flight, and possibly a boat to an island or trek through a rainforest to reach it.

But one of the best beaches in the world is right here in the UK, and it has been revealed in a ranking by Big 7 Travel. Its list of the 50 Best Beaches in the World includes many destinations you’d expect, from the Seychelles to Sri Lanka, but only two European destinations made the top ten, only one of which is in the UK.

The list explains the reason for the Cornish beach’s ranking, saying: “Hidden beneath towering granite cliffs in Cornwall, Porthcurno Beach is easily one of England’s most beautiful. The entire Cornish coast is known for its rugged coastline and significantly better weather than the rest of the UK, and with the clear waters and bright sands of Porthcurno Beach, it’s easy to imagine that you’re in the tropics.”

Found just a few miles from Land’s End, Porthcurno Beach is reached by a sloping coastal path and is surrounded by cliffs to protect it from high winds. This bay has soft golden sands and clear blue waters, and during the summer months there are usually safe places to swim marked out by the lifeguards.

When it’s low tide, the sea rolls back to expose a walking route to the neighbouring beach of Pedn Vounder; just be careful to check the tide times for your return, as people sometimes find themselves cut off. Overlooking the beaches is the iconic Minack Theatre, where a variety of plays and family shows are on the schedule, with incredible cliffside views as the backdrop. While it looks like something from Roman times, the theatre was designed by Rowena Cade and opened in 1932.

Another unique creation of Rowena’s was the Porthcurno Wendy House, which she designed for her lucky nieces and nephews. This playhouse was carved into the granite rockface of the cliffs and had a fireplace, glass windows, and two storeys of rooms. Sadly, it’s now closed to the public, but you can still see the exterior when you’re on the beach.

Porthcurno is a small village, which adds to its charm and the remote vibes of the beach. You’ll find a few facilities such as a pub and a couple of shops. But there’s one unique attraction that you might not expect. The village was once home to the world’s largest submarine station, and at the PK Porthcurno Museum of Global Communications you can learn about its role in WWII. You can even explore the tunnels that were built to protect its infrastructure in case of an attack.

Aside from Porthcurno, only three other UK and Ireland locations made it into the top 50. Luskentyre Beach in Scotland was praised for its white sands and rugged mountain scenery, while Keem Beach was named as “one of Ireland’s true hidden gems. Whitesands Beach in Wales was also on the list, with the guide stating: “While the coastline looks its wildest during winter, on a clear summer’s day, the sea views can rival those of any beach in the world.”

Ten best beaches in the world according to Big 7 Travel

1. Anse Source d’Argent – Seychelles
2. Entalula Beach – Philippines
3. Pink Beach – Indonesia
4. Sandy Lane Beach – Barbados
5. Ee Motu Beach – Cook Islands
6. Whitehaven Beach – Australia
7. Matira Beach – Bora Bora, French Polynesia
8. Cala Macarella – Menorca, Spain
9. Porthcurno Beach – England
10. Mirissa Beach – Sri Lanka

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

If you were once a child dragged to the British coastline, seemingly regardless of the time of year or weather, then you too will know how beautiful but also bleak it can be

Bleak or beautiful? When it comes to the UK coastline, it can be difficult to know what you’re going to get.

Camber Sands, Morecambe and Cromer are all picture-perfect places that belong on a postcard when the sun is shining and the chippy fryers are bubbling away.

But, when the clouds roll in and the temperatures drop, leaving the prom deserted but for the hopeless sound of ignored arcade machines, such beauty is replaced by a bleakness.

If you were once a child dragged to the British coastline, seemingly regardless of the time of year or weather, then you too will feel this particular brand of wist deep within yourself.

Inarguably, the bleak jewel in the Dungeness crown is its twin nuclear power plants, which once whipped a patch of nearby sea into a whirlpool but have lain dormant and decommissioned for the past 19 years.

The unique feel of the place has been best captured by artist, filmmaker, gay rights activist, and gardener Derek Jarman, who turned his home into Prospect Cottage—a point of pilgrimage for his fans and those who love the way he carefully manicured the garden into a concentrated miniature form of Dungeness.

But not everyone is a fan. In fact, many are left cold by Dungeness’ charms.

“Bleak is an understatement,” one detractor of the place recently wrote on Reddit. Another added: “Bleak to Dungeness is like ‘a wee bit cold’ in Antarctica. The missus loved it though…” A third wrote: “I find it dismal down there. Old nuclear power station for a view.”

Others love Dungeness and how different it feels from other parts of the UK.

The science writer Ben Goldacre recalled his experience of riding through Dungeness on the small railway that takes day-trippers down the coastline.

“The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway has a strange, dreamlike existence, on the border between fantasy and reality. You leave toytown in a cute miniature train, surrounded by excited children. But Disney, this is not. Suddenly, you’re riding through real life: past clothes lines, collapsing breezeblock walls, an abandoned washing machine in a back garden, chuffing along behind a miniature steam train. Finally, you’re ferried across a beautiful, windswept shingle peninsula, spotted with railway carriage houses and abandoned shipping containers. Then you are delivered to the foot of a nuclear power station,” Ben wrote.

“This meeting of toy train sets and grim industrial purpose is what makes the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway so perfect.”

Ben is not alone. Dungeness was named the seventh-best beach town in the UK in Which?’s survey of the British public last year. The consumer organisation surveyed more than 3,800 people about their experiences of UK seaside destinations and their opinions on beaches, scenery, food and drink offerings, accommodation, tourist attractions, and value for money.

The elevation of Dungeness into the top ten is a major scoop for the Kentish settlement, which languished in 35th place the year before.

A street located in a popular UK seaside town has been deemed totally “magical”. In fact, people think it’s so beautiful, they’ve compared it to “being in Italy”

There are so many popular seaside towns in the UK, but a certain location has captured the attention of many. In fact, the beauty spot in Wales has been widely celebrated for homing a street deemed totally “magical”.

Indeed, many visitors reckon it’s so charming it feels as though you’ve walked straight into a postcard, and it’s just one of numerous Welsh gems that people simply can’t get enough of. It previously came to wider attention on TikTok after UK Hidden Gems posted a video of the area, showcasing just how breathtaking it can be to wander around in Pembrokeshire.

It’s not the only Welsh location to have set tongues wagging recently either. Just a few months ago, visitors also raved about a stunning beach too.

Alongside the clip, UK Hidden Gems wrote: “Hidden just steps from the harbour, this narrow cobbled lane is lined with colourful doors, flower boxes and twinkling lights that feel absolutely magical as the afternoon light softens.

“Even though it’s one of Tenby’s best-kept secrets, walking here makes you feel like you’re wandering through a postcard.”

Unsurprisingly, Tenby is a wonderful place to explore in general, as the seaside town remains enormously popular. There’s a wealth of sights to take in and savour throughout the town.

Pembrokeshire’s Hidden Gem: The Magical Cobbled Lane in Tenby

Dozens of individuals have left comments since the footage was posted, eager to share their opinions and suggestions. The clip has also been watched thousands of times.

One person said: “Love Tenby. It’s a beautiful place. Last visited 15 years ago. So happy it’s not been ruined. Will now consider going again.”

Another added: “Oh wow, it’s like a little Italy.” A third replied: “OMG! I was there only last week.

“I came out purely by mistake to the back entrance of a gift shop and stumbled on this purely by chance. I was amazed. Great find.”

Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “This is a beautiful place to visit and even more stunning in person.”

One more also chimed in with: “We go tomorrow. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to.”

How to Find Tenby’s Picture-Perfect Street Off Lower Frog Street

UK Hidden Gems shared some information for those who fancy a visit. It was pointed out it’s situated off Lower Frog Street, Tenby.

They describe is as a “quiet nook with instant cosy vibes and tonnes of photo charm”. It’s reportedly an especially picturesque location to check out during golden hour or just before sunset.

This is when the lane is said to glow “in the best way”. It certainly appears to be the ideal place to discover and wander through on a bright day.

Indeed, many confessed they adore Tenby as they consider it so stunning. It’s difficult not to agree.

I hadn’t planned to enjoy any of this. As summer light fell on Stac Pollaidh – the summit’s teeth bared, the views stretching across the surreal emptiness of Assynt – I found myself ankle-deep in blanket bog next to a hiking path, back bent, hacking at the tough terrain with a heavy-duty mattock. Farther up the hillside, another hunched figure was cutting a deep brown scar into the moor grass and, while he worked, I stood back to look at my efforts. At my feet was a cross drain that I’d unblocked and repacked with new stonework to prevent storm damage and aid runoff from the path. A burble began to trickle, slow yet clear across the sparkling bedrock. It felt a little like appreciating a masterwork in a museum.

I’d come to Wester Ross with a bucket and spade, not for a beach break at particularly gorgeous Achmelvich or Clachtoll nearby, but with the notion of giving something back to the hills. The Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland (Oats) is a steward of many of the Highlands’ most famous mountains – developing, building and repairing paths and habitats – and I’d joined a group of volunteers for a two-day stint on the north-west Highlands’ most visited peak. Factoring in a free stay at Ullapool youth hostel and the promise of a home-cooked communal meal in return, plus an acceptable midge-free forecast, I’d driven north from Edinburgh the night before in a buoyant mood.

Oats’s purpose is to promote sustainable public access and these days that’s largely done through voluntourism, with helpers set to work lifting, resurfacing and filling pathways, yielding landscape-scale results. Iconic if traffic-heavy mountains such as An Teallach, Lochnagar and Braeriach are annual priorities, as are a throng of glens and estates from Skye to the Cairngorms. (Due to this summer’s devastating fires, some events in the north Cairngorms may be changed to a different location or postponed.) The trust’s volunteers even regularly get to work on the Lairig Ghru, arguably Britain’s most unforgiving mountain pass.

It might sound like all hard graft, but it’s not. Volunteers learn new practical skills and gain awareness of mountain path design and the causes of erosion – mostly a combination of human misuse and increasing extreme weather conditions – in settings with extraordinary views. No experience is required, but volunteers must be used to spending time outdoors, have good physical fitness and be capable of using hand tools.

We started that first morning from Stac Pollaidh’s car park, a space transformed by Oats two years ago to accommodate four times more vehicles – a result of the mountain’s accessibility from the North Coast 500, which hurtles past (from Kylesku to Ullapool) only five miles east, at the end of the road. But everyone comes with the same motivation. As we climbed the open moorland, Assynt’s surrounding sea of lochans (small lochs) sparkled. Stac Pollaidh’s summit, to the north, appeared even more welcoming with its porcupine ridge under a sky as blue as a newborn’s eye.

From below the hilltop to the lower forest’s edge, we worked the path – unclogging ditches, removing invasive grasses, dredging, stabilising the soil, repacking stone drains, replanting edges – all while the mountain came to life. Trail runners, dog walkers and hikers from across Europe weaved up the slopes, stopping to ask what we were doing. A French school group trooped past, the pupils plastered with blue Braveheart face paint. A Dutch couple stopped to offer biscuits. Everyone swallowed the stunning views of Suilven to the north.

Our group of seven volunteers – including two New Zealanders; three retirees, one from Inverness, one from Stirling and another from Forfar; and an Edinburgh IT worker using his annual corporate volunteer days – appreciated the smiles.

To a newcomer, the Highlands’ mountain paths may appear to have always been there, as if part of the landscape’s DNA. But as Oats’s volunteer coordinator Eva Kupska said, they are “always evolving and always at risk from erosion, because of the influences of nature and man … and it is our job to conserve them”.

Every volunteer is vital. Post-Brexit, with a lack of EU funding streams, Eva told me there is a drastic need for a public fund for path maintenance and habitat restoration, and the charity simply doesn’t have the manpower to tackle the deteriorating pathways or native tree planting alone. To complicate matters, some of the most popular mountain paths are on privately owned land, with no access to any public funding.

There are a further 12 one-day, plus three- and five-day, maintenance and conservation events scheduled to take place this year, including some dedicated tree-planting trips. It’s a joyful shared experience. That first afternoon, flasks of hot tea were unscrewed and homemade fruit loaf was shared. There was the warm smell of flowering heather and the earthy stink of the bogs, along with the satisfaction of time well spent in the wild.

That evening, back in Ullapool, the harbour abuzz with tourists eating fish suppers and gulls circling above the trawlers, we stood in the sea-view kitchen of Ullapool youth hostel sharing life stories and the day’s experience. There are plenty of excellent dinner options, including The Seafood Shack and The Dipping Lugger, but we settled on a night of each other’s company (delightful), local beers (necessary) and a giant gurgling stockpot of Eva’s courgette and tomato risotto (terrific). And boy, did I sleep well.

The next day brought a gossamer mist to the hills of Wester Ross. We arrived earlier, picked up where we’d left off and, largely, never complained as the sun slowly cracked through the clouds. But best of all was seeing our progress as we worked down the mountain, step by step, always avoiding the fragile vegetation at the path’s edges, creating something better and more sustainable for tomorrow. A staycation with a purpose – and it felt good.

The trip was provided by Outdoor Access Trust for Scotland, with support from VisitScotland. To register as a volunteer and to sign up for events on the annual path maintenance days programme, visit Oats’s volunteering portal. Overnight accommodation in a youth hostel or a bothy, plus evening meals and transport to and from the restoration site, are included

The Disney theme parks are entering their fan feedback era.

This past weekend’s all-things-Disney fan event at the Anaheim Convention Center was the first with Josh D’Amaro installed as CEO. And D’Amaro’s message to fans was clear: We’ve heard you, we know what you want and we’re working on it.

That means Disneyland Park is at long last getting its Tomorrowland makeover, a top fan request for much of the last decade-plus. Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is fixing its broken yeti, the star of thrilling roller coaster Expedition Everest that has been busted for about 20 years. Epcot’s fan favorite purple dragon Figment will soon be starring in a brand new attraction that resurrects his bearded creator, Dreamfinder, saving fans from suffering through its current half-hearted iteration in which “Monty Python’s” Eric Idle essentially treats the beloved character as a pest. (I ride it because I adore Figment, but I cringe throughout, and not just because at one point we’re annoyingly blasted with the smell of a skunk.)

And Disneyland Paris is yanking the marketing-driven “Star Wars” overlay Hyperspace Mountain from Space Mountain to return the coaster to its superior Jules Verne-inspired original. Disneyland officials take note: We don’t want Hyperspace Mountain here, either, but at least ours isn’t semi-permanent.

The long-broken yeti on Walt Disney World’s Expedition Everest will eventually be fixed. The above is an artist rendering of the attraction released by Disney Experiences.

(Disney)

It’s a sharp move, and may seem like a no-brainer, but following fan feedback doesn’t come without some risks. Fans, after all, rarely know best, often prioritizing nostalgia and lore over evolution. And Walt Disney Imagineering has remained one of the most respected corporate creative institutions for a reason. In short, fans, don’t let this go to your head.

But D’Amaro is also showing that he understands something not all Disney leaders have appeared to be well-versed in. And that’s the fact that the best IP of the Disney theme parks are the parks themselves.

Disneyland Park’s biggest selling point is not “Star Wars,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “The Princess and the Frog” or “Peter Pan.” It’s Disneyland itself, a temple dedicated to our narrative myths and communal play.

For too long Disney parks seemed to be, if not led, steered by its marketing teams. A franchise here, a franchise there. That thinking led to lesser designs such as a misguided remake of Paradise Pier into Pixar Pier at California Adventure, in which Pixar characters are basically treated as decals. It’s led me to argue in the past that Disney’s IP was squeezing the theme out of its theme parks.

Tomorrowland in its current state is a mess of ideas with a number of underutilized buildings.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Disneyland last attempted to revamp Tomorrowland in 1998, and while the concept was on point — a retro-futuristic, Verne-inspired look of sci-fi fantasy — the company didn’t fully commit to it and the land has largely been a mess of ideas since. Space Mountain remains a symbol of optimism dedicated to the joy and unpredictability of galactic exploration. But the rest of the land, save for the monorail, one of Disneyland’s most recognizable monuments, should be considered fair game.

Tomorrowland has become such an eyesore that even Disneyland President Jill Estorino recognized its negative press at a pre-D23 media event. “Painful to read,” she said to the assembled media as she rattled off stories observing the “little tomorrow in Tomorrowland” and describing the land as “tired.” Estorino conceded it was “all true.”

That made this past weekend’s announcement even more of a surprise. The reimagining, as Disneyland is calling it, is in good hands. Imagineer Emily “Emo” O’Brien, the creative producer overseeing the Disneyland Resort, recently worked on Fantasy Springs at Tokyo Disneyland, a highly acclaimed modern take on a Fantasyland-like area home to fresh takes on “Frozen,” “Tangled” and “Peter Pan.” O’Brien has been with Imagineering for about 30 years, and one of her first projects was hand-shaping the armrests of the approximately 2,000 seats of Disney California Adventure’s Hyperion Theater. The little details at a Disney park matter.

Promotional art for a reimagined Tomorrowland released by Disney. The project, according to Imagineers, is in its infancy.

(Disney)

“I grew up in my career with this legacy,” O’Brien said. “I understand the kind of gravitas and the responsibility that I have with our team to guide us through this journey of reimagining the only Tomorrowland that Walt [Disney] actually envisioned, designed and walked in.”

A remade Tomorrowland, to be clear, is years away. No questions were answered on Tomorrowland at D23, so fans will have to wait to hear what this means for the long out-of-work PeopleMover. And as previously reported, Estorino said the reworking of the original Disneyland area will come after California Adventure opens its “Avengers” and “Coco” attractions. The former two were given a 2028 date, while “Coco” still does not have an opening window. After Tomorrowland, the resort intends to tackle “Avatar.”

The fan favorite purple dragon known as Figment at Walt Disney World’s Epcot. The attraction Journey Into Imagination With Figment has been earmarked for renovations.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

At a Disney parks presentation Saturday evening, the Tomorrowland announcement received arguably the largest applause. But it was closely followed by the reveal of a reworking of what is currently known as Journey Into Imagination With Figment at Epcot. That ride has been a shadow of its former, glorious self since the late ’90s, even as the squeaky-voiced Figment has remained a popular mascot for the park. That’s no real surprise, but I, of course, am biased, as I have a Figment tattoo and the character was my childhood favorite.

Figment is a dreamer, his very existence the result of a dreamer. While I don’t necessarily trust the memory of my 10-year-old self, I remember Figment becoming an astronaut one moment and pretending to be a ship’s captain in the next. Visions of that ride are burned into my brain. Figment was a reminder to a video-game-obsessed kid that while you can’t do everything, you can at least envision anything.

And Imagineering appears to be doing just that at the moment. The projects, of course, will have to be conceptualized, designed and built, and there’s still time to make mistakes, such as attaching a known IP to the reimagined Imagination (don’t do it).

Concept art for the Maleficent attraction coming to Villains Land.

(Disney)

Tomorrowland has been flawed since the early 2000s and Disney can survive without touching it. Its attractions — Star Tours, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters — still, after all, draw crowds. The commitment to redesign it may be a crowd-pleasing one, but it’s also a reminder, a symbol of understanding.

If something’s broke, you correct it. You don’t let it sit in a derelict state simply because the financial math doesn’t justify new guest spending or increased crowds. The Disney parks are a home away from home for many a visitor, and they should be treated as such.

D’Amaro, of course, as CEO will be evaluated on much more than simply how he leads the parks. But he and and his partner Thomas Mazloum, the chairman of Disney Experiences, came to this D23 with one message: We’re one of you. Expect the Disney die-hards to hold them to it.

One more D23 thought

An Imagineering research and development project in which Grogu and the character of Hugo are represented as robotic figures serving guests.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

The Imagineering booth on the convention floor was full of delights and wonders, especially in its research and development section. I tend not to devote a ton of newsletter space to R&D, only because I’d rather focus on what guests can or will be seeing in the future, but the two “Star Wars” attractions shown not only deserve their props, but belong in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

One is a no-brainer, and it’s a snack stand featuring Grogu and Hugo from “The Mandalorian and Grogu.” The latter, voiced by Martin Scorsese in the film, is largely asleep and snoring in the food truck-like stand, while Grogu uses the Force to whisk orders across the counter. Fan were transfixed. And this seems like the perfect mix of corporate and creative desires, as no doubt many a Disney guest would order an extra soda if it came with a show featuring “Baby Yoda.”

An Imagineering research and development project featuring robotic Anzellan mechanics that can interact with guests.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

The other was an Anzellan work bench. Anzellans are tiny creatures introduced in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” known for their engineering skills, and here they were seen working on droid parts. But they also interact with guests.

Get close enough, and they’ll stop what they’re doing to quizzically look at you, ask you a question or maybe even repeat what you said to them. They’re as lifelike a robotic as Disney ever created, and the 14-acre Galaxy’s Edge is never not in need of more activity. Here’s hoping these little guys find a destination in the parks soon.

This week in SoCal theme parks

The vibrant, dance-focused “Magic Happens” parade will return to Disneyland in 2027.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

• Halloween is here! While the temperature may not feel like it, the fall Halloween season has arrived, and the Disneyland Resort’s Oogie Boogie Bash begins Tuesday evening. Additionally, the resort-wide Halloween Time launches Friday. There are still tickets available for many an Oogie date, and new this year is a Haunted Mansion-inspired street festival as well as the arrival of Yzma, the villain from “The Emperor’s New Groove.” Oogie is a good time, especially if you haven’t done it before.
• Looking ahead to Disneyland in 2027. With the new Avengers Campus not opening until 2028, the Disneyland Resort in 2027 will rely heavily on entertainment to lure locals back to the park. That means the fantastic “Magic Happens” parade is returning before next summer season. While it has the requisite mix of Disney characters, it’s also notable for its use of contemporary dance. Also returning is the original “World of Color” to Disney California Adventure and a refreshed version of the fireworks show “Remember… Dreams Come True” at Disneyland Park. Both are expected in February, shortly after the holiday season concludes.
• A blow to the in-park games of Disneyland. Reports surfaced Monday that the Walt Disney Co. was killing the Play Disney Parks app, which is home to the enjoyable Star Wars: Datapad game Batuu Bounty Hounters. The app was largely designed to give fans activities while they waited in lines, and was also meant to turn Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge into a live-in video game. The app will go offline Sept. 16, according to Disneyland officials.
• A new window on Main Street. Former Disney CEO and future Los Angeles Lakers co-owner Bob Iger has received a window on Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. The honor is reserved for those who have heavily impacted the Disney parks, and Iger certainly qualifies, as his many acquisitions — Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm — changed the tenor of Disneyland and beyond. Look for Iger’s window above the Emporium gift shop, where he is heralded as a “new century builder.”
• Good news for Disneyland’s ‘Monsters, Inc.’ fans. With the announcement that Disney California Adventure’s “Avatar” experience won’t arrive until after Tomorrowland’s redo, the attraction Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! will get to remain open a little longer. Previously, the attraction was supposed to close in early 2027, but Disneyland officials now say the dark ride will remain open for the foreseeable future. A closing window will be announced at a later date.

Tell us your stories. Ask us your questions.

Have a theme park tale to share? Whether it was a good day or less-than-perfect day, I would love to hear about it. Have a question? A tip? A fun photo from the parks to share? Email me at todd.martens@latimes.com. I may feature your note in an upcoming newsletter.

Ride on,

Todd Martens

P.S.

A still from the Smugglers Gambit game in Fortnite.

(Image from Disney)

The Disney theme parks this past weekend deepened its connection to “Fortnite” as part of a partnership with Epic Games. The latter’s Unreal Engine already fuels Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, as well as a new Pirates of the Caribbean audio-animatrionic. And now guests who utilize the Disneyland app and connect it to their Epic Games account can receive in-game rewards for experiencing the Millennium Falcon attraction, including the recovery of a unique crate on the ride.

I had a chance to play the “Fortnite” experience inspired by the ride, “Smugglers Gambit,” and appreciate the way park worlds are being used to fuel connection to them at home. “Fortnite,” admittedly, is not my game of choice, but “Smuggler’s Gambit” was more robust than I expected, and I’m happy see aspects of the fictional planet of Batuu represented in the digital space. Business writer Samantha Masunaga has more on Disney’s relationship with Epic Games.

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.

UNIVERSAL Orlando has revealed what guests can expect from it’s ‘delivish’ new food and drink menu for this year’s Halloween Horror Nights.

Running from August 28 to November 1, the spooky event is one of the most popular Halloween events in the world.

And the theme park has since revealed the spooky new menu of food and drink that will be served – and it isn’t for the faint of heart.

There is the Rigatoni Ritual Pie, a take on a pizza with garlic butter, cheese, rigatoni a la vodka, crispy sausage and pesto on top.

Or there is the Jack & Odd Dog, a footlong hot dog with all the trimmings, including Flamin’ Hot® Cheetos® cheese, peppers and onion, on an unusual purple ube bun.

Or how about the Torn to Shreds Pork Sandwich, with smoked pork shoulder in a Hawaiian pretzel roll, complete with a spicy jalapeno slaw.

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Other treats include a Fritos Walking Taco, along with Death Bringer Tempura Shrimp, Lasagna Burn and Birria Pizza Fries.

Sweet treats haven’t been forgotten about although you might want to close your eyes when eating.

The Meat Grinder Red Velvet is made up of ground up red velvet cake along with raspberry jam and puffed rice… designed to look like maggots.

Tickets can be booked for Universal Orlando‘s Halloween Horror Night now via the website here.

Running for it’s 35th year, last year saw scare houses based on everything from Ghostbusters and Insidious to A Quiet Place.

This year’s line up of scary events will include Sinners, Stranger Things 5 as well as other park exclusives: Jack & Oddfellow: Chaos & Control

• Cybergoria
• INVASION: Alien Abduction
• MADLANDS: Caged Cannibals
• H.R. Bloodengutz Presents: A Halloween Fright-Tacular!

Following Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights starts on September 3, followed by Universal Studios Japan on September 11 and Universal Studios Singapore on September 25.

The attraction was an adults-only zone where grown ups could unwind. However, this has now been closed, with customers who’ve booked their spot in advance being contacted for a refund

Butlin’s has confirmed the closure of an attraction in its Bognor Regis park, with customers who had bookings saying they’re “gutted” by the news.

The park was home to Ocean Spa, a part of the resort primarily aimed at the adult market, with 13- to 17-year-olds admitted only if accompanied by an over-18. The spa included a steam room, sauna, heated tiled loungers, a hydrospa, and a sun terrace, allowing for relaxing spa days and a variety of treatments.

The spa, the last of its kind in its parks, is now set to close on August 28. Butlin’s is contacting customers with existing bookings to offer them their money back. Previously, the holiday park operator also operated a spa at its Skegness park, which closed in 2021.

Josh Engleman, communications manager at Butlin’s, said: “We can confirm we’ll be closing our spa at Butlin’s Bognor Regis. We’ve contacted the small number of guests who had booked to visit the spa and they will, of course, receive a full refund.

“The spa has always been a small part of the resort experience. Our focus is on the activities and entertainment that families come to Butlin’s for, including recent additions such as PLAYXPERIENCE, which opened at Bognor Regis last year.”

Butlin’s customers have taken to social media to express their disappointment in the news. One posted a copy of the email she received confirming her cancellation, and commented: “We going in October and just got this. Gutted. First year my daughter is old enough.”

Another said: “What a massive mistake! This was one of the only things for adults to relax and have a break from the kids! Such a disappointment.” While another complained: “Why close the spa? We need a place to de-stress!”, accompanied by a string of angry emojis.

While the spa closure has been confirmed, Butlin’s has announced some new facilities in its parks in recent months. It recently added self-service bars to its parks, allowing people on both self-catering and all-inclusive packages to skip the queues and easily pour their own pints, soft drinks, and cocktails.

It also added bookable karaoke pods, where groups of up to 12 can choose from 45,000 chart-topping hits and throwback tunes, with a 55-minute session costing £36. You can even keep the party going by ordering drinks to your pod.

PLAYXPERIENCE was also added to Butlin’s Bognor Regis in autumn 2024, a 50,000 square feet activity centre that offers nine experiences across two floors for kids and adults. These include escape rooms, a virtual reality arcade, laser tag, and hi-tech mini golf courses.

In addition to family holidays, Butlin’s also continues to offer its adult-only Big Weekenders for visitors who’d prefer to enjoy the parks without kids around. These include themed weekends based around music genres and decades.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

Budget airline easyJet cancelled around 100 flights out of France last weekend with the possibility of further disruption this summer due to industrial action

Thousands of UK passengers are being urged to check if they are eligible for compensation after strikes by easyJet’s French cabin crew.

The budget airline cancelled around 100 flights out of France last weekend with the possibility of further disruption this summer. easyJet passengers flying through Paris, Nice, Bordeaux and Lyon are among those that have faced cancellations and delays.

Under EU regulation 261/2004, passengers can claim compensation if their flight is cancelled in certain circumstances. This can range from €125 (£106) to €600 (£513) – and this is per person.

How much money you are due depends on the length of the flight, plus how much notice you were given for the cancellation and the time of your alternative flight.

For example, if your flight distance was less than 1,500km and it was cancelled less than seven days before you were due to depart, you would be due €125 compensation if your rescheduled flight takes off more than one hour before your original flight, and arrives less than two hours after it.

You can find a full breakdown of the payouts below. But it is important to note that the airline normally only has to pay if it was their fault your flight was cancelled. This can include strikes involving an airline’s staff, including cabin crew, as this is deemed the responsibility of the airline.

Strikes outside of an airline’s control – such as air traffic control, airport security or baggage handlers – are seen as extreme circumstances, and would therefore be unlikely to qualify for compensation.

Consumer rights expert Martyn James said: “The strike compensation rules can seem a little confusing, but the rule of thumb is: if the staff work directly for the airline (cabin crew, pilots) then you should get compensation for delayed or cancelled flights.

“If the staff work as ground crew or for the airport, they don’t directly work for the airline, so the business can’t be considered to have ‘anticipated’ the situation and prevented it.

“Needless to say airlines don’t like this reading of the law. And in fact it was only clarified after they were taken to court by a disgruntled passenger.

“So remember to push back if they refuse your claim – or if they try to blame something else, like the weather or ground crew. As for a written response to your claim, especially if they turn it down.”

The flight you were on must have departed from a UK airport on any airline, or arrived at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline, or arrived at an airport in the EU on a UK airline.

If you believe you are entitled to compensation for a cancelled flight, you can make a complaint directly to your airline.

If the airline refuses to pay out, your next step should be to contact the relevant alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme.

Flight was cancelled between 7 and 14 days before departure

• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives less than two hours after it – €125 compensation
• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives more than two hours after it – €250 compensation
• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than four hours after your original flight – €250 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives less than three hours after it – €200 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives three to four hours after it – €400 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than four hours after your original flight – €400 compensation
• Distance; More than 3,500km – Rescheduled flight departs more than two hours before your original flight, and arrives less than four hours after it – €300 compensation
• Distance; More than 3,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than four hours after your original flight – €600 compensation

Flight was cancelled less than 7 days before departure

• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight takes off more than one hour before your original flight, and arrives less than two hours after it – €125 compensation
• Distance; Less than 1,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than two hours after your original flight – €250 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight departs more than one hour before your original flight, and arrives less than three hours after it – €200 compensation
• Distance; Between 1,500km and 3,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than three hours after your original flight – €400 compensation
• Distance; More than 3,500km – Rescheduled flight departs more than one hour before your original flight, and arrives less than four hours after it – €300 compensation
• Distance; More than 3,500km – Rescheduled flight arrives more than four hours after your original flight – €600 compensation

A MULTI-BILLION pound station is set to open in the UK as part of the huge HS2 expansion.

HS2 station Old Oak Common near Paddington Train Station in London, is set to open between 2036 and 2039.

The £2billion station will eventually serve 250,000 passengers a day and has just announced that it has completed its first platforms.

Six platforms that will be served by HS2’s new high-speed trains heading between London and the West Midlands, have been completed.

The platforms are underground and are each 400 metres long.

In the future, there will be a further eight platforms at surface level for Great Western Railway services and Elizabeth Line services.

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In fact, the Elizabeth Line will be the first service to use the station.

With 14 platforms in total, it will make the station one of the largest in the UK.

And while London Bridge might have more platforms (15 in total), the Old Oak Common station will actually be around two and a half times bigger than London Bridge.

There will also be 52 lifts and 44 escalators at the station.

Eventually, there will also be a public park area outside the station where pop up events will be hosted including markets.

Old Oak Common will be one of the UK’s best-connected train stations as well, reaching more than 100 destinations.

Kim Kapur, HS2’s Old Oak Common Area Director, said: “Going into the underground box at Old Oak Common, you can immediately visualise how it will look as an operational station, including where passengers will board or alight HS2’s brand new trains.

“The scale of the work – and the station now taking shape – is remarkable.

“However, there is much more to do. This includes construction of the conventional, surface level platforms, completion of tunnels either side of the underground box and installation of the impressive station roof, which will begin next year.

“Old Oak Common will be transformative for the local area, providing a new transport hub, with a new vibrant neighbourhood developing around it.”

THE summer holidays are still in full flow and there’s still plenty of time to head down to the beach.

If you’re stuck on which ones to visit, Skyscanner has just announced the best ones in the UK, making it much easier to decide where you head next.

The top picks were announced on its The Paradise Guide and were chosen from data like the average air and sea temperature to sun lounger availability and reviews.

At number one spot is Sandbanks Beach along the Dorset coast.

The beach is always highly regarded and has even been dubbed “The jewel in the crown of the English Coastline” by some.

Skyscanner said it was “ideal for families, swimming and watersports” thanks to its long and gently sloping sands.

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It holds Blue Flag status and has done since the awards began in 1987.

The beach also has an average peak-season temperature of 20.8C and a Tripadvisor rating of 4.6.

For a bit of sightseeing afterwards, head to Panorama Road which is also called ‘Millionaires Row’.

It’s home to celebrities like Harry and Sandra Redknapp, Graeme Souness and Geoffrey Boycott.

Other famous Sandbanks residents include Celia Sawyer, J.R.R Tolkien, John Lennon and Liam Gallagher.

In second place is Kent’s Botany Bay.

Skyscanner described it as one of the UK‘s “most distinctive beaches” thanks to its “striking” white chalk cliffs.

Botany Bay sits between trendy seaside towns Margate and Broadstairs.

Even better news for anyone keen to visit Botany Bay is that it doesn’t get much rain compared to other spots in the country.

On average, Botany Bay gets 58 days of rainfall each year – to put that in perspective, the UK gets an average 164 days of rain a year.

It’s also one of the warmest beaches in winter thanks to where it sits on the Channel with average temperatures of 9.5C.

Not only that but it even saw bright blue bioluminescent waters back in 2023.

In third place was St Andrew West Sands in Scotland.

Found in Fife, the beach is a 15-minute walk away from the town centre with “rolling dunes”.

Skyscanner said: “Made famous by the opening scene of Chariots of Fire, it’s a favourite for long walks, beach games and taking in sea views.

“At low tide, the expansive shoreline offers plenty of space to explore, while the nearby West Sands boardwalk provides an easy way to enjoy the surrounding dunes and coastline.”

While the beach is a little chillier at 15.8C, it has an average Tripadvisor rating of 4.7.

Skyscanner has introduced its new ‘beach match’ tool so travellers can find the ‘beach destinations that match’ their travel style.

Just pick the month you’re planning to travel and then choose from four categories.

These are ‘quiet and relaxed’, ‘lively and social’, ‘family friendly’ and ‘adventurous’.

Then choose amenities, the airport you’re flying into, how far you plan on travelling from there and a budget before finding your beach ‘match’.

Here are Skyscanner’s best beaches…

The UK’s Best Beaches

1. Sandbanks Beach, Dorset, England
2. Botany Bay, Kent, England
3. St Andrews West Sands, St Andrews, Scotland

The World’s most talked-about beaches

1. Palm Beach, Oranjestad, Aruba
2. La Jolla Cove, California, USA
3. Siesta Key Beach, Florida, USA

The world’s most underrated beaches

1. Embleton Bay, Northumberland, England
2. Rendezvous Bay, Montserrat
3. Castlerock Beach, Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland

A THEME park that has been left abandoned for a decade is set to reopen as a new attraction.

Pleasure Island Park in Cleethorpes closed back in 2016 but is now set to become a “Center Parcs-by-the-sea” style destination.

The £70million park is set to have 272 holiday lodges, as well as hotels, restaurants and shops.

There would also be a Lidl superstore at the site.

Spanning across 60 acres, just a short walk from Cleethorpes Beach, plans include two hotels including one with 148 rooms and a casino, a drive-thru coffee shop as well as a cycle-hire destination.

The abandoned theme park currently has a lake in the middle, which would be turned into an angler’s hub.

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Councillors previously said that the plans were “an effective use of the land” and would “contribute to the local economy and the vitality of the resort”, reports Grimsby Live.

In the latest update, councillors will decide on the plans “ideally as soon as possible”, according to a councillor.

However, only a few checks have been completed.

Planning was submitted back in 2023 but the process has been delayed due to environmental assessments needing to be carried out as well as legal challenges.

Little else is currently known in regards to the holiday park, such as when it would open if given the go-ahead.

The theme park opened back in 1993 and featured six themed areas including Africa, Kiddies Kingdom, Morocco, Old England, Spain and White Knuckle Valley.

Attractions included rollercoasters, a carousel and dodgems.

A lot of the rides were sold off in 2018, but most of the buildings remain abandoned on the site now.

In the surrounding area, visitors can head to Cleethorpes Beach which features a long stretch of golden sand as well as the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway.

Anyone who is flying back home has been warned about the serious consequences

Travellers flying home after a holiday are being warned not to bring back certain items, even if they were purchased at a duty free shop. According to government rules, people who disobey risk facing a £5,000 fine or possible prosecution.

In an alert posted on social media by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Brits returning home should not bring sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into Great Britain. The agency also states that this applies regardless of whether it is packed or packaged, or whether it has been bought at duty free.

It explains: “Help protect UK farmers from the devastating threat of African swine fever (ASF) and foot and mouth disease (FMD) by not bringing back meat or dairy products from the EU into Great Britain in your personal luggage. This includes items like sandwiches, cheese, cured meats, raw meats or milk into Great Britain – regardless of whether it is packed or packaged or whether it has been bought at duty free.”

The government agency says it is illegal to bring in most meat and dairy products from abroad for personal use. This is to protect the UK from devastating livestock diseases circulating in Europe and beyond.

Most personal meat and dairy products are now banned from entry into Great Britain. You must not bring in sandwiches, meat (raw or cured, such as ham and salami), dairy (milk, yoghurt, cheese) and animal-derived products. That includes items bought from duty free.

If you declare banned food products to Border Force officers at customs, they’ll take them away and destroy them. If you do not declare banned food products, you could be fined up to £5,000 (in England) or you could be prosecuted. Border Force can take away (‘seize’) your products if they think:

• you’ve brought something into the country illegally
• you’ve brought in too much of a restricted product
• it’s been cross-contaminated, for example with blood from meat – if any clothing or a bag the item’s in is contaminated, it’ll be destroyed

These rules are in place to protect the UK from highly infectious viral diseases of livestock, such as foot and mouth disease and African swine fever. These viruses can persist in meat and dairy products for several months, posing a risk to susceptible animals.

Neither disease affects humans. Livestock diseases like foot and mouth and African swine fever have a devastating impact on animal welfare, farming, trade and affect food security

The Animal and Plant Health Agency reminds travellers: “If you break the rules, you are breaking the law. If you break the rules, you are risking our food and economic security. If you break the rules, you could be responsible for the death of millions of animals. If you are found with undeclared illegal meat and dairy products, you will have these confiscated and risk a hefty fine.”

What are you allowed to bring into Great Britain?

You can bring the following into Great Britain from any country without any restrictions:

• bread, but not sandwiches filled with meat or dairy products
• cakes without fresh cream
• biscuits
• chocolate and confectionery, but not those made with a lot of unprocessed dairy ingredients
• pasta and noodles, but not if mixed or filled with meat or meat products
• packaged soup, stocks and flavourings
• processed and packaged plant products, such as packaged salads and frozen plant material
• food supplements containing small amounts of an animal product, such as fish oil capsules

The area frequently pops up in rankings of the best places to live, but its beaches have a dirty secret, with an average bacteria score that’s over twice as high as the national average

A district that includes one of the UK’s best places to live, and home to an iconic seaside town, has been named as the local authority with the ‘dirtiest’ sea water in England in a recent ranking.

The study carried out by online tour operator Exoticca.com looked at the Environment Agency’s publicly available bathing water statistics for all designated coastal swimming spots across England. The Environment Agency has an online tool where anyone can check the quality of beach and bathing water.

Water quality scores are based on two types of bacteria – Escherichia coli (E. coli) and intestinal enterococci – which can be an indicator of faecal contamination on beaches. Using this data, the study was able to rank local authorities across the country, and a surprising spot had the highest mean bacteria score.

The local authority with the highest mean bacteria score was Folkestone and Hythe, with a mean bacteria score of 3.273. Across all beaches in the study, the mean was 1.033, meaning bacteria levels on its beaches appeared to be three times higher than average.

Included in the study was Littlestone, which had a score of 8.213, making it the third dirtiest beach in England, while Dymchurch had a score of 4.173 and came in tenth, meaning both these beaches were rated poor by the Environment Agency.

However, the area did have two beaches where the waters were ranked as excellent; Hythe and Seabrook scored 0.627 and 0.504 respectively.

A Folkestone & Hythe District Council spokesperson said: “We continue to champion the district as an extraordinary place to visit – whether that be our stunning coastline, breathtaking countryside or world-class creative and cultural scene.

“This council believes there should be out-of-season testing (between October and April) to try to establish the reasoning behind the deterioration of bathing water classifications. We continue to make this case to the Environment Agency and Southern Water.”

Folkestone beach itself ranked at number 20 in the list of individual beaches with potentially contaminated sea water in England. That comes as a surprise, given the seaside town has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. In 2024, it was included in the Times’ 2024 Best Places to Live guide, ranking as the regional winner of the best place to live in the South East of England.

Despite its appearance on the list, Dymchurch was once named best beach in the south east in The Sunday Times best beaches guide back in 2022. In the same year, it was one of the Kent beaches to receive the Seaside Award from Keep Britain Tidy, which according to the BBC “is presented to the best beaches in England and is used to celebrate the quality and diversity of resorts”.

A spokesperson for Exoticca.com said: “It’s important to remember that a local authority’s overall average doesn’t always tell the whole story for a specific beach. Coastal water quality can change a surprising amount in just a few miles.”

They added: “In Folkestone and Hythe, the local authority with the dirtiest water on average. Here, Seabrook’s water is classed as excellent with a score of 0.504 and Littlestone, which is just nine miles away, has the third dirtiest water in the entire country with a score of 8.213. A local authority average gives a great idea of a region’s water cleanliness, but it’s always best to look at the specific numbers for the exact beach you plan to visit.”

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