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Camping in the Sahara Desert
Camping in the Sahara Desert was the absolute highlight of our trip to Morocco. What is it like to camp in the Sahara? I can only say that it was a fabulous experience and I would not have missed it for the world. Imagine, a moonlit camel trek over the sand dunes to a...
Little Petra: Jordan’s hidden gem
Is it worth visiting Little Petra? Everyone has heard of Petra in Jordan and it is the number one attraction in the country. Petra is phenomenal, an absolute must-see. But what about Little Petra, the miniature version of this fabulous historic site? This is the...
The Merrick: hiking Galloway’s highest mountain
The Merrick - have you heard of it? Perhaps not. When people think of Scottish mountains they usually think of Ben Nevis and the Cairngorms. However, The Merrick is a Scottish mountain and, in fact, is the highest mountain in the southern uplands of Scotland. It is...
Machaerus, the fortress of Herod the Great
Machaerus, also known as Mukawir, is an archeological site in Jordan. In truth, there is not a lot of it left, so one has to ask: Is it worth visiting Machaerus? Well, if you have any interest in biblical history, the answer is a resounding yes. Imagine standing on...
How to spend one day in Amman
We only had one full day to spend in Amman. We had just completed a fabulous trip through Jordan and returned to the capital the evening before we were to fly home. Our flight was not until quite late in the evening, so how to spend this one day in Amman? A little...
What is it like in Shetland?
Several words come to mind to describe what it is like in Shetland: remote, beautiful and rugged are just some words frequently associated with these Scottish islands. I have also heard Shetland described as featureless, boring and cold! We enjoyed Shetland enormously...
Visiting the Ruins of Jerash
Petra? Of course. Wadi Rum? Absolutely! The Dead Sea? Yes, please! The Ruins of Jerash? Err, what are they? Most people planning a visit to Jordan will have Petra high on the list of places to visit, along with Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. But what about the Ruins of...
The Rannerdale Bluebells
Wondering where the best place to see bluebells is? Look no further than Rannerdale Knotts! Rannerdale is the best place to see bluebells in the Lake District - and possibly within England. This area is one of my favourite places to hike at any time of year and there...
Swimming in the Dead Sea – and taking a dip in AI!
I had just spent a few hours creating a blog post about swimming in the Dead Sea, carefully researching my keywords, writing meta descriptions, endeavouring not to use the passive voice too much etc etc. Bloggers will know what I am talking about. Then, on a whim, I...
What is so special about Wadi Rum?
Wadi Rum, a Martian landscape on planet Earth, has become very popular in recent years. It is up there with Petra as one of the must-see places in Jordan. But just what is so special about Wadi Rum? Does it warrant all the hype? In short, is it worth visiting Wadi...
Inside Petra: exploring the Rose City, Jordan
Visiting Petra in Jordan had been on my wish list for quite some time. It did not disappoint! Our visit to Petra was one of the most memorable trips ever. Exploring inside Petra, seeing its beauty for ourselves, was a magic experience. Forget Indiana Jones! Petra has...
Is it worth visiting Quito?
Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was the start and end point of our trip to the Galapagos Islands. Since we were travelling all the way to South America, it made sense to add on a couple of extra days to explore one of the highest capital cities in the world. This is...
One day in Mindo – the Cloud Forest of Ecuador
Our research told us that whilst we were in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, we really should take a trip out to the village of Mindo in the cloud forest. By all accounts, it was stunningly beautiful with lots to see and do. Also, it was only a two-hour drive from...
A trip to the Galapagos Islands
I can’t remember who first said, “Let’s go on a trip to the Galapagos Islands!” Our ski buddies from the US were visiting us in the UK, the wine was flowing and the wanderlust took hold. I do recall us all agreeing that we did not want to go on a cruise, the usual way...
Huayna Picchu climb: best view of Machu Picchu?
“Climbing Huayna Picchu has the most spectacular views of Machu Picchu.” All the blog posts and tourist guides promised that the best views of this wonderful archeological site were from the summit of Huayna Picchu. Huayna Picchu - you know - that fabulous, pointy...
Rainbow Mountain Hike
Someone asked me recently what was the best thing we did in Peru. Without a doubt, this was the hike to Rainbow Mountain. Machu Picchu takes some beating, a trek over the Salkantay is fabulous, exploring the Sacred Valley is a must and Lake Titicaca is wonderful, but...
Stock Ghyll Force: a waterfall walk near Ambleside
Visiting Ambleside or Windermere and fancy a country walk, but have limited time? Stock Ghyll Force ticks all the boxes. Stock Ghyll is a 70-foot-high waterfall situated in a lovely, woodland setting. It is absolutely beautiful. The water tumbles down the hill towards...
Is it worth visiting White Sands National Park?
It is in a desert, miles from anywhere and in the middle of a missile range. Given these facts, is it worth visiting White Sands National Park? The short answer to this is: "Yes! White Sands National Park in New Mexico has the "Wow Factor." This makes it well worth...