On all of my trips, I keep track meticulously of how much things cost. I tally up every meal, every beer – everything I spend money on. My trip to Orkney was no different! I planned my trip to be a budget trip – I wild camped for the vast majority of it, which was free,… Read More How Much Does it Cost to Visit Orkney on a Budget?
My trip to Orkney in June was the adventure of a lifetime. I had so many bucket list experiences and got to see and do so much! This is an incredible destination, and one I can’t recommend visiting enough. But what do you need to pack for a trip to Orkney? What are the Orkney… Read More What to Pack for a Trip to Orkney, Scotland
Orkney… one of the most magical trips of my lifetime. This part of Scotland has been on my bucket list for years. After my 2020 trip was canceled due to the pandemic, I planned the trip of my dreams for June. This was one of the most exciting, fascinating, and rewarding destinations I have ever… Read More Orkney: What You Need to Know Before You Go
Today is a big day – it marks 6 years since I moved to England! I got off a plane back in 2016 and arrived in the UK. And wow, what a journey it’s been since then. I moved to be with my (now ex) husband, dealt with so many complex issues about living abroad and… Read More 6 Years in England: Then and Now
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I absolutely adore puffins. A lot of my trips this year were organized to be able to visit some of the best puffin-spotting locations around the country. One of the best places to see seabirds in Britain is the Farne Islands, in Northumberland. I’ve loved my trips… Read More Puffin Heaven: A Guide to the Farne Islands, Northumberland
The Big Easy! New Orleans is such a vibrant city and an excellent option for a city break in the US. I went mainly due to flights to get to my best friend’s wedding in Florida, but turns out New Orleans is one of the most fun cities I’ve ever visited. There is a lot… Read More New Orleans Travel Guide: What to Do and Where to Eat and Drink
Wondering what a bothy is? Or what you should know before you plan to stay in a bothy? I love spending time outdoors and hiking on my trips, and this year I’ve had some truly spectacular experiences staying in bothies around Britain. This bothy guide will hopefully answer your questions about bothies and get you… Read More A Bothy Guide for Beginners: What to Know About Bothies in Britain
There are so many wonderful hikes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, it’s hard to choose one. After exploring so much of Yorkshire in the last nearly 6 years here, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Upper Wharfedale. This is a great part of the Yorkshire Dales, and home to the Wharfedale Three… Read More Upper Wharfedale: The Great Whernside Hike from Kettlewell
I’ve been fortunate enough to have spent the last several years living in York. And one of the best national parks in the country has been on my doorstep: the North York Moors National Park. Over the years, I’ve explored nearly every single corner of this area – there are so many incredible places to… Read More The Best Hikes in the North York Moors
The Cairngorms National Park – what a place! My trip here over the extended Easter break was a wonderful introduction to this incredible part of Scotland. This is one of two national parks in Scotland and home to the Cairngorm mountain range – including Ben Macdui, the second-highest mountain in the UK (after Ben Nevis). For an… Read More Cairngorms National Park Travel Guide: What to See and Do
Have you ever been camping and been woken up at 2am to someone creeping around your tent and trying to get inside? That’s everyone’s worst camping nightmare, right? Well, it’s definitely mine, and it happened to me at a campsite in the Peak District a few weeks ago. #TentGate: What Happened I booked a small… Read More Experiencing My Worst Camping Nightmare in the Peak District
At 736 meters, Whernside is the highest peak in all of Yorkshire. And it’s also the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks – which include Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent. While a lot of people do all three mountains in the Yorkshire Dales in one single (very long) hike, I chose to do all of them as… Read More Whernside: The Highest Peak in Yorkshire
There’s more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam – although the capital definitely deserves a visit. This spring, my travels took me to Groningen, to visit one of my best friends who’s living there. I visited the Netherlands back in March 2014, during my year-long study abroad in Nottingham, but haven’t been back and have actually… Read More A City Break in Groningen, the Netherlands
Ben Lomond is the most southern Munro, a term given to a mountain in Scotland that is over 3,000 feet (914 meters). At 974 meters, Ben Lomond is one of the smaller ones – but it’s location on the eastern side of Loch Lomond means it’s a very popular one. On my trip to Loch Lomond… Read More Ben Lomond: Hiking Up the Ptarmigan Path
A little-known long-distance trail, the Foss Walk runs for 28 miles between the Blue Bridge in York, to the source of the River Foss and beyond to Easingwold. Having hiked Hadrian’s Wall last year, I fell a bit in love with multi-day hiking adventures and completing a trail. In the last two years of the… Read More The Foss Walk: Hiking the River Foss from York to Easingwold
At the end of last year, one of my best friends came to visit me in the UK. I had only a few days off work, but we decided to spend a few days in Scotland – specifically the Isle of Arran, in the Firth of Clyde. With mountains, glens, historic sites, and beautiful coastline, the… Read More The Isle of Arran: A Guide for Visiting Scotland in Miniature
Ingleborough is one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, the highest mountains in the Yorkshire Dales – Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside are the other two. While many people choose to do all three in a 24-mile, single-day challenge, that sounds like a slog to me. I hiked Pen-y-Ghent a few years ago, and am very glad with… Read More Hiking Ingleborough From Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales
Planning a day out walking from York but don’t have a car? There are plenty of great walks that are accessible from York without a car. This has been a much-requested post and perfect if you’ve already done some of the best walks in and around York! There are a lot of options for hikes… Read More The Best Car-Free Walks From York, England
Last year I had a delightful walk around West Tanfield, following part of the Ripon Rowel Trail. I’d never been here before and barely saw anyone else out walking, despite how great a walk it was and how sunny the morning started out! West Tanfield is a small village located just outside of Ripon in… Read More West Tanfield and the Ripon Rowel Trail
There are so many wonderful places to visit in Yorkshire, it’s hard to pick where to go. For any literary fans, one destination you simply can’t miss is the charming village of Haworth in West Yorkshire. This is where the Brontë family lived, including all three authors: Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, and Anne Brontë. This… Read More Haworth and Top Withens: Visiting Brontë Country in Yorkshire
