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
UPDATED JUNE 2024! 2021 brought me to Scotland for some amazing road trips around the country. One of the best experiences I had was getting to take my dad on a trip around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park! We had an amazing few days camping, hiking, and taking in the sights (and thankfully… Read More A Travel Guide for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Scotland
Having lived in Yorkshire for over 5 years, I’ve been fortunate enough to see a lot of this amazing area. While places like Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay, and Scarborough (and even more in the North York Moors) are very popular, there are a few gems just a bit further north. Having visited Staithes just once… Read More The Yorkshire Coast: Staithes and Runswick Bay
Last summer, I had the adventure of a lifetime hiking Hadrian’s Wall, an 84-mile, long-distance trail through Northumberland and across England. Having visited Northumberland pre-rona in 2020 (roadtripping along the coast), I fell totally in love with this underrated part of the north of England. After hiking Hadrian’s Wall, I set off to visit Alnwick… Read More Why You Should Visit Alnwick, Northumberland
For far too long, I’ve been guilty of driving through the North Pennines without stopping on my way to the Lake District. Last summer I decided that needed to change! I had a fantastic weekend exploring this underrated and beautiful part of the north of England. The North Pennines AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)… Read More A Guide to the North Pennines AONB: What to See and Do
I loved hiking Hadrian’s Wall! It was my first long-distance hike, and one of my biggest accomplishments to date. There are a lot of things I wish I had known before I went, including what to pack – and more importantly, what not to pack. If you’re thinking about doing Hadrian’s Wall, here’s my packing… Read More Hadrian’s Wall Packing List: What to Pack For Hiking Hadrian’s Wall
6 years ago today, I sat down and bought this space on the internet. I wanted to share my travels with more people, to offer tips and advice, and to let other people around the world go away with Maja. I’ve written these reflection posts every year since I started blogging. You can catch up… Read More My 6-Year Blog-A-Versary!
I planned my entire trip to the Isle of Mull around one experience – or really, just around a couple of hours. I wanted to see puffins on Lunga, and so off I went to Scotland in June. The best time to see puffins is between April and July, before they fly off in August.… Read More Isle of Mull Daytrip: Staffa and Puffin-Watching on Lunga
Swaledale was one of my favorite discoveries of 2020, both in Yorkshire and in the UK in general. This is a beautiful, scenic, and quiet part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and now one of my favorite places in Yorkshire. There are so many good walks to do in the area, but it’s also… Read More The Prettiest Villages to See in Swaledale
Last week I was lucky enough to attend the Jet2’s Christmas Event in Leeds! This was my first blogger event in ages – the first proper one I’ve been to since the pandemic hit. It was such a great event with fun activities, plus the chance to learn more about Jet2’s winter breaks! The event… Read More Event: Christmas Cheer With Jet2
There is a lot of planning, preparation, and training before setting off to do something like Hadrian’s Wall. I am so proud of myself for walking Hadrian’s Wall – especially because I did it all on my own! I planned it, booked it, prepped it, navigated it, and walked it all on my own, basically… Read More A 6-Day Itinerary For Hiking Hadrian’s Wall
A year ago I thought my life was over. My marriage ended and I thought I was done. The reality was that my life was only just beginning. Somehow I’ve made it through a year of hell – somehow, I’ve survived. This last year has taught me so much. The fact that I’m still alive… Read More What I’ve Learned About Life After Surviving A Year Of Hell
I truly cannot believe that I get to write this post – that I have been so lucky and so fortunate as to be able to have lived in my beautiful city of York for five years, and to get to live here indefinitely. Five years ago today, on 13 October 2016, I landed in… Read More 5 Years in England: Why I Love Living in York
After a fantastic trip to Dumfries and Galloway in May, I decided I needed to get back to Scotland ASAP, and made up my mind to (finally) visit the Isle of Mull in June! It is a truly phenomenal part of Scotland, and I cannot recommend it enough. Real talk? I decided to go here… Read More What to See on the Isle of Mull and Iona in Scotland
