Learn about birds, bees… and pottery: Britain’s best residential staycation training courses, with many taught amid stunning scenery Songwriters can perfect their art on a five-night course in the Scottish Highlands The Field Studies Council offers three-day courses in natural history from £180 Painters can brush up their skills at the Norfolk Painting School near … Read more
Locations, locations, locations! TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp reveals why ‘diverse’ India is her favourite destination and that the village of Beer in Devon is her No1 UK spot By Richard Webber For The Daily Mail Published: 17:37 BST, 17 August 2020 | Updated: 17:37 BST, 17 August 2020 TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp checks in to … Read more
Johan Vandenhecke taught himself drone photography by watching ‘a ton of YouTube videos’ – and it’s clear he was paying attention. Because his aerial snaps are sensational. And now he’s set up a drone photography masterclass to save budding amateurs the hassle of churning through endless online videos like he did. The Belgian kick-started his … Read more
As a Cornwall resident, I’ve seen Rock, Polzeath and Padstow draw staycationers by the carload. But now there’s a great new diversion from the main drag: The Pig at Harlyn Bay, which will entice not only the hotel group’s faithful (and fashionable) following but grateful locals alike. A stroll away from Harlyn’s expansive beach, this … Read more
There is a horse on the ceiling. Not Pegasus, but Kettledrum, winner of the 1861 Derby. This, in the apse of a church, is surprising. Designed by Edward Pugin (son of the architect of the Palace of Westminster) and secreted down a remote country lane in the Ribble Valley, the tiny Catholic Church of St … Read more
She had scarcely travelled anywhere at all. Yet, recently separated from my father and keen for adventure, my mother, Mary, decided to whisk my sister and me to Athens. It was the late 1970s. I was 17 years old — and promptly fell in love at first sight. Not with a dark-eyed local boy, but … Read more
For all its frustrations and difficulties, lockdown had some silver linings. Simply being able to avoid crammed commutes was the biggest for many, while for others it was the opportunity to try new hobbies: watercolour painting, gardening or learning a language, perhaps. Now restrictions have eased, we can take these skills on holiday — or … Read more
The workout that rules the waves! Toned celebs love to paddleboard in exotic locations, but what’s it like for a beginner in blustery Pembrokeshire? Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is the world’s fastest-growing watersport Harriet Sime gave it a go with TYF Adventure in Solva harbour, Pembrokeshire She concluded it was ‘harder but far more invigorating than … Read more
A fascinating new series of maps and a mesmerising animation reveal Sydney’s eye-popping transformation over 250 years from a swathe of virgin land to a vibrant city with a population of over five million. The illustrations were commissioned by Budget Direct Travel Insurance and created using maps from the National Library of Australia and other … Read more
Live YouTube webcam showing sea life in Miami’s harbor just yards from the shore – from sharks to manatees – becomes an online hit Called Coral City Camera, it’s located next to an ‘urban reef’ in PortMiami A vast array of creatures has dropped by, including stingrays and barracuda It’s billed as a ‘real-life aquarium … Read more