Exploring the world, one place at a time
On my second day in London, I headed into town bright and early to start the day with a little touristing. My destination? Westminster. Situated on the banks of the River Thames in the heart of London, the historic district is home to a slew of the capital and the country's most iconic landmarks, including... Continue Reading →
If you've been reading my blog a while, you'll know I'm a sucker for an old ruin – be it a castle, an abbey or even a burial mound. So when I was driving through Carmarthenshire in west Wales earlier this summer and saw a sign for Talley Abbey, I made an immediate detour. I'd... Continue Reading →
With 800 acres of parkland, roaming deer, an abandoned castle, a ruined abbey, a farm and two of the best children's playgrounds I've ever come across, Margam Country Park makes for a great day out. Situated not far from the south Wales coast and close to the industrial town of Port Talbot, Margam Park is... Continue Reading →
If you were looking for a picture-perfect spot on which to build an abbey, Tintern, on the banks of the River Wye in Monmouthshire, would tick all the boxes. Beside a bend in the river, Tintern is surrounded by steep hills covered in lush, green forest and is so lovely it's inspired artists and writers,... Continue Reading →
Settled around two extinct volcanoes and steeped in history, Edinburgh is a cultural, culinary powerhouse boasting dramatic scenery, excellent food and fabulous shopping. With lots to see and do, it's a great destination for a weekend city break. If you're planning a trip to Auld Reekie, here's my mini travel guide to the Scottish capital...... Continue Reading →
Famed for its Roman Baths and gorgeous Regency architecture, Bath is a compact, picture-perfect city. Despite its undeniable good looks, I have a complicated relationship with the city as I once spent a month living there and loathed every minute. Nine years after vowing never to set foot in the city again, I decided the... Continue Reading →
In the middle of the Firth of Forth is Inchcolm Island, a small, pretty, idyllic island home to a medieval abbey, tunnels dating back to the First World War, and lots and lots of seagulls. It's also a very relaxing place to spend a sunny afternoon. I caught the ferry to the island from South... Continue Reading →
One of the Queen's two residences in Scotland (the other being Balmoral), Holyrood is situated in the centre of Edinburgh at the bottom of the Royal Mile opposite the Scottish Parliament and boasts magnificent views of Arthur's Seat. Inside the palace, you can tour the state apartments, which are open to the public whenever the royal... Continue Reading →
Waltham Abbey's claim to fame is that it's reputedly the burial place of King Harold II, the last of the Anglo-Saxon kings who was beaten by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. It was also the last abbey in England to be dissolved by King Henry VIII during the reformation. At the heart of... Continue Reading →
On my recent jaunt to Torquay, I stumbled across Torre Abbey, an ancient abbey founded in 1196 that was transferred into private hands when it was dissolved in 1539 on King Henry VIII's orders during the reformation. Split across multiple levels, the Abbey is now a museum that charts the history of the Abbey and its... Continue Reading →
Little Old World 