Ireland holds a fascination for almost everyone. Its history ranges from megalithic tombs, Vikings and Normans, through heart-tugging tales of famine and emigration, to more modern day troubles. There’s the music, stories, and people who know how to pass the time of day, as well as stunning jagged coastlines, misty mountains and irregular patchworks of […]
I’m a Sydney girl born and bred, and I love showing visitors this beautiful city I call home. Knowing how much Sydney has to offer, I find it challenging to view my hometown through the eyes of a visitor … to think about what I would see and do if I was only here for […]
Samuel Johnson famously said: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford.” And I suspect he’s right. But what if you don’t have a lifetime to devote to London? What are the must-do highlights if you’re there for just a day […]
Before the days of “super” markets, people all over the world bought their food from local producers gathered together in a collection of dismountable stalls. Some operated daily in dedicated halls, others weekly, often in the town square, place or piazza. In large cities these markets grew into warrens of cobbled streets that were almost […]
Cape Town, a vibrant, multi-cultural city, dominated by the towering majesty of Table Mountain, has great places to eat, drink and shop an easy walk from the centre. But it’s also well worth heading south along the peninsular around False Bay to Cape Point and back up the Atlantic Coast; from the high pass of […]
My favourite meal in Scotland is undoubtedly breakfast. Although I’ve had some fine lunches and dinners in my father’s homeland, what always stands out for me is the quality (and often quantity) of Scottish breakfasts. Perhaps because of the cold climate, they are inevitably hearty affairs of smoked fish, porridge and various sausages, as well […]
I recently spent a wonderful weekend with friends in the Flinders Ranges at a self-contained lodge on a working sheep station. We did some sightseeing, cooked, drank some great wines, talked, relaxed, listened to music and enjoyed each other’s company. While holidays in hotels and resorts have their place, it made me think about how […]
I’m always surprised when people claim to have “seen Scotland” once they’ve visited the (admittedly wonderful) cities of Glasgow or Edinburgh – when just a few hours’ drive north, is some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The Scottish Highlands are full of beautiful bays, craggy snow-dusted mountain peaks, peat-stained streams and heather-clad […]
When I travel, I’m drawn to the wild and remote, places clinging to the edge of the world where cultures have been preserved and I can catch a glimpse of ‘the other’ – throw in some breathtaking scenery, and I’m hooked. A trip to the Faroe Islands ticks all these boxes and more. These 18 […]
Top 5 Glasgow (city guide) The name Glasgow is said to derive from Gaelic for “dear green place” … perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind when we talk of a city famous for its locomotive and shipbuilding industries, and which still seems perversely proud of its somewhat gritty, working-class reputation. Yet Glasgow […]
