There’s a conker tree in my town; it stands silently alongside the only pavement into the centre, its branches sheltering the pedestrians. In April, during our first emergence from a period of self-isolation, my young daughter tightly gripped my hand as we walked to the shop for essential provisions. It was the early days of…
Something I have pondered over many times recently, is whether there is a requirement for travel writers to be honest about the destination they are writing about. It may seem a simple question, because morally of course we all hope that the excerpts we read are a true representation of place. But do readers want…
A few weeks ago I designed a dream board, detailing my goals for 2020/2021. I found committing my future plans to a board quite an emotional experience, as it signified how much life had changed during, and because of, the pandemic. One of my travel goals was a trip to North Wales for the mountains…
When I booked our camping trip in North Wales, I envisaged wrapping myself in a tasteful wool blanket whilst toasting marshmallows under the stars and sipping spiked hot chocolate. Our days would be spent kayaking on the campsite lake and climbing Mount Snowdon in beautiful sunshine, admiring the amazing view from the top whilst a…
Things have certainly changed over the past few months and I admit to a certain naivety when it came to my expectation of returning to pre-Covid 19 life. I’m still taken by surprise when new restrictions are announced, such as the recent requirement to wear face-masks in my little local bakery and butchers. So as…
We call it the ‘Sleeping Giant’s Toes’. It’s actually one of the first landmarks that you spot as you drive onto Dartmoor from Bovey Tracey. One of the busiest tourist areas, with many visitors never venturing further than the calloused granite rocks of Haytor. The children believe the formation looks like toes peeping out of…
