The English Coast Path is gradually building, eventually becoming the longest coastal route in the world at over 3000 miles. The most established part of this route is the South West Coast Path which currently measures 630 miles long and is the UK's longest national trail. Initially the South West Coast Path was used by the coastguard to combat smugglers off the south west peninsula during the 18th Century. The coastguard would regularly check every inlet and cranny, therefore their cliff-top walk became well established. This week we look at one of our favourite sections of the SWCP, the wa ..read more

Where is my favourite place to visit? It's the north of Spain. Best food in the world? North of Spain. Friendliest people I have met? North of Spain. Best mountain range for walking?..... ah, the north of Spain doesn't have any good mountain ranges. Or so I thought.  Time to add a new item to the list of being in love with northern Spain. In a nutshell  Spend some time walking in the beautiful, lush mountain range, the Picos de Europa. Explore the wildlife, natural beauty and culture of a hidden part of Europe. Distance: The full trip is 79km long with daily distances of 9 - 18km. Grade: This ..read more

You’ll be hard-pressed to find something more quintessentially Scottish than the Loch Ness monster herself (I’ve always liked to think of it as a she!) so I was excited to hear that I’d be walking the high route of the Great Glen Way this summer.  Following the banks of Loch Ness, Scotland’s second-largest Loch and famous for all things Scottish, I’d have a clear and unobstructed view of the mysterious and famously dark Loch.  Maybe I’d catch a glimpse of the big beastie myself? I decided on the Great Glen Escape, a short version of the Great Glen Way that starts in the beautiful village ..read more

You are heading out in the direction of Holy Isle, your last leg on the splendid St Cuthbert’s Way walk. The early morning mist rises ahead of you, slowly burning off in the hazy sun. The slippery damp grass folds underfoot as you follow the trail between the dripping overhanging shrubs and dense verdant bushes, their leaves bejewelled with the remnant gems of last night’s drizzle. The dying easterly wind carries the tang of seaweed and you take a deep breath of the coastal ozone rich air. Holy Island at dawn Suddenly the bushes ahead rustle and a small bird flits quickly across the path ..read more

Overtoursim is something that we are hearing about more and more. With the rise of Air B&B culture, there are very few Venetians left in Venice, young people in Barcelona and the Isle of Skye are struggling to stay in the place they were born because they can't afford the house prices. Many canny holidaymakers are choosing to avoid the big places, and indeed is this not what travel was always about, finding those hidden little corners? This week we focus on Bavaria. Firstly, while hugely popular, it is not particularly suffering from overtourism, however, we want to spread people eve ..read more

As a keen cyclist, I was very excited to do the Scottish Island Hopscotch Trip!  Arran, Islay and Jura all offer a unique cycling experience with scenic routes, quiet roads, beautiful beaches and history to explore… not to mention, an abundance of Whisky Distilleries! The stunning Goatfell on Arran We started our trip by getting the ferry from Ardrossan across to the Isle of Arran.  Once we had arrived and dropped our bags off, we explored Brodick and the surrounding area.  We visited Brodick Castle, The Arran Cheese shop, Arran Aromatics and found a sunny spot for lunch.  The foll ..read more

While I am a huge fan of all things wild and wonderful and tend to spend much of my walking time studying the fauna, there is one family of animals that I do tend to shy away from, the ticks! While all wildlife has its attractions, the fact that ticks pose dangerous health risks is the reason that you need to be aware of their presence also. What are they, where do they live, and what do they do? Tiny members of the spider family, they live and love to suck the blood of larger animals, such as deer, foxes, badgers and sheep. However, when your seismic footfall sends such large ..read more

Go back in time and explore a region that was at the forefront of Spain's historic 'Golden Era' on this week-long adventure that takes in the perfectly preserved medieval towns, restored medieval palaces, castles and convents of Extemadura.  In a nutshell Cycling through the rolling terrain of Extremadura by day with daily distances ranging between 32 - 69km you spend each night in a luxurious and historic Parador hotel, making this the ideal cycling holiday for history buffs - and those that appreciate luxury after a long day on the bike.  Where: After a relaxing nights sleep in the Parador ..read more

Last week I was lucky enough to go on our Walking the Catalan Coast in Style trip. There are not enough superlatives to describe this trip and for me, it was worth every penny. Each day exceeded our expectations! View from the balcony at Sant Roc Hotel Most people associate the Costa Brava coast with high-rise hotels and stag and hen parties. However, go further north of Tossa-del-Mar (yes there really is a place called this!) and you will find white-washed villages and towns, pristine coastlines and coves with glorious sea views at every turn. As a “world traveller” in my 20’s I h ..read more

Alpine mountain trails arguably provide the greatest scenery. With the extra effort of walking up there, you are generally rewarded with a little bit more in the scenery department. However, often with this amazing scenery comes extra people, all wishing to bask in the glorious surroundings. Wouldn't it be lovely to find a quieter part of the Alps, even better, one where the scenery is amazing, but you don't have to put in too much effort to enjoy it? Well, Macs Adventure has nailed it again. Welcome to the Classic Walks of Gran Paradiso. In a Nutshell: Where: The Gran Paradiso Nati ..read more