Highlands, Scotland

The Scottish Highlands is a spot we had been keen to visit for a long time. So we hopped on an 8 hour train journey (highly recommend) and landed in the wonderful city (town?) of Inverness. Inverness is really beautiful and is a great place to base yourself for a few days. The main sites…

Arrábida Natural Park, Portugal

Arrábida Natural Park is a fantastic way to get an appreciation of the Portuguese coast. The drive into the area is truly spectacular and you can stop at any number of viewpoints for some gorgeous views of the area. Arrábida Natural Park is a protected area and is fantastic for both hiking and swimming –…

Alentejo, Portugal

While in Portugal we spent a few days in the rural Alentejo region. We absolutely loved our time here as there is so much to see and do, you will need to rent a car. We based ourselves in the tiny village of São Pedro do Corval and stayed at Casa Rico Frade Garden, which we could…

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is one of the best cities we have ever visited! I know I know, big call, but I’m sticking by it, it is certainly the nicest European city that we have been to. We stayed in the Baixa District which is part of the historical downtown area. I recommend this area as a place…

Yorkshire, England

Yorkshire is rolling hills and stone fences as far as the eye can see. It is a beautiful part of England and well worth a trip to soak up the fresh air and Northern accents. The city of York is one of the main places to visit, this medieval city is every history buff’s dream…

Hampshire, England

Hampshire in England is where all your fantasies of village England come true – old churches, village greens and many a pub. We based ourselves in the small village of Rockbourne (staying with family, but there are plenty of farm-stays and AirBnBs around), and spent some time exploring the area. The village of Rockbourne is…

Cornwall, England

Cornwall is rugged coastlines and sleepy seaside villages. It is full of hiking opportunities, swimming spots and knick knack stores, basically there is something for everyone. It is a stunning part of England and reminds us a bit of home in New Zealand. However, do note that the crowds can be daunting over the summer so…

Glasgow, Scotland

We were warned that Glasgow would be a bit gritty and dangerous, but we did not see that at all. Maybe we needed to be there for a Rangers vs Celtics game… Instead we found a lovely historical city, full of good food, drinks and plenty of sights to see. A lovely way to explore…

East Sussex, England

If you’re in need of some fresh sea air, then heading out to East Sussex is the ideal escape. We have spent a couple of weekends out there and loved it each time. Accommodation is not the cheapest, but everything else is, so it kind of evens out. The big ticket city in East Sussex…

Dorset, England

Relive your childhood by walking in the footsteps of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and discover a country of rolling hills and impressive beach cliffs. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is famously dramatic and there are plenty of beaches that show it off. We visited in both the winter and the summer and had a fantastic time. For…