You may well find yourself in kinship with W. H. Auden’s soldier from his poem Roman Wall Blues at some point when walking Hadrian’s Wall. ‘Over the heather the wet wind blows/I’ve lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose/The rain comes pattering out of the sky/I’m a Wall soldier, I don’t know why.’ … Read more
Early snow cover at altitude in the Alps is the deepest in recent years. Sadly, we can’t enjoy it at the moment. But it’s my belief that the European ski season will have a strong second half from mid or late February until late April. In Austria, France, Switzerland and Italy too many livelihoods depend … Read more
British Airways and Lufthansa become first airlines to gain a Covid-19 safety rating from Skytrax, with both awarded a ‘commendable’ four stars The rating is based on a ‘detailed investigation’ of Covid-19 safety measures It covers ‘customer risk and concern elements in the airport and onboard’ BA’s airport standards were based on its operations at Terminal … Read more
Pictured: The incredible ever-burning ‘fiery mountain’ that locals use as a handy barbecue The inferno hillside, called Tashkooh, is located in Iran’s Khuzestan province – near the city of Ramhormoz The constant inferno is caused by natural gases combusting as they rise up and escape sulfur-rich soils Visitors are drawn to the hillside and … Read more
Breathtaking Lake Sarez in Tajikistan’s Pamir Mountains is one of the great natural wonders of Asia, but it is also a ticking time bomb, hemmed in by a landslide dam that if breached could cause, according to the UN, ‘the worst natural disaster in human history’. The cause for concern emanates from the way the … Read more
When London‘s renowned Connaught Bar in the opulent Connaught Hotel reopens following England’s national lockdown, staff will no doubt be popping a few extra Champagne corks – because it has taken the World’s Best Bar Award crown. The revered Mayfair bar has swapped places with last year’s winner, New York’s Dante, which takes the No2 … Read more
Inside the incredible ‘five-star hotel’ for HORSES, where the animals enjoy hypoallergenic bedding, marble stables, swims and hot tub sessions in a life of million-dollar luxury British travel photographer Simon Urwin , from Dorchester, was allowed inside the elite equestrian centre He was bowled over by the facility, which is home to 700 horses, from … Read more
The new lockdown will ‘decimate’ the UK’s hospitality industry – and it won’t begin to recover until the spring, says manager of Manchester’s five-star Lowry Hotel Adrian Ellis has called on the government to extend furlough beyond December He also says cut in VAT to 5% for the hospitality industry should be extended Overnight stays and … Read more
A post-lockdown trip to infinity and beyond: The incredible Toy Story-themed Airbnb with a Woody-style bedroom and dazzling living area Three-bedroom house is located in El Paso, Texas, and according to the listing, can sleep up to eight people Its striking, open-plan living area has images of the characters on the walls and an Etch … Read more
An Inspector calls… at an 18th-century coaching inn on Lord Bath’s Longleat estate that exudes ‘character and romance’ The Bath Arms in Wiltshire underwent a transformation during lockdown with its ivy facade stripped away The Inspector was shown to a room at the top of the house, ‘reached via various fire doors’ He was impressed … Read more