I may be a bit biased as I live here, but I think Yorkshire is one of the greatest parts of the world. There is so much to see and do here! Yorkshire also has so much history to explore – from the wonderful city of York, to castles and cathedrals and historic sites all… Read More The Best Abbeys in Yorkshire, England
UPDATED MAY 2024! Glasgow is all too frequently neglected as tourists flock to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. While I love Edinburgh and think it’s a fantastic destination, I felt like it was time to pay a visit to Glasgow. Glasgow is a larger city (both in terms of area and population), and definitely one to… Read More How to Spend 48 Hours in Glasgow
Inverness is often referred to as the “Capital of the Highlands,” and has a good central location in the north of Scotland! There is a lot to see and do both in Inverness itself, and around the city like Loch Ness. Whether you’re looking for a Scottish weekend away, or passing through as part of… Read More What to See and Do in and Around Inverness
One of the biggest surprises to me on my trip around Scotland’s North Coast 500 was the beaches. While there’s a lot of things to know about the North Coast 500 before you go, did you have any idea Scotland’s coast was dotted with incredibly picturesque, beautiful, white sandy beaches?! While I’d seen a few… Read More The Best Beaches on Scotland’s North Coast 500 Route
How far would you walk to see the most beautiful beach in the country? Well, after having done the hike to Sandwood Bay, I can say that I’d walk at least 4 miles to see the best beach in Britain. I heard about this beach two years ago in an article listing it as one… Read More Sandwood Bay: Hiking to Britain’s Most Beautiful Beach
UPDATED JULY 2023! The North Coast 500 was one of the most incredible trips I’ve ever done. During the shitshow that was 2020, it was a real highlight and I’m so glad I went! I’ve always wondered how much exactly it costs to do a trip like this – so in my true budget travel… Read More How Much Does it Cost to Do the North Coast 500 in Scotland?
The Lake District is one of my favorite places in the world. My most recent trip last month was my ninth time visiting this spectacular national park, which to me is simply heaven on earth. As the UK gradually eases restrictions and domestic tourism opens, the Lake District (also known as ‘the Lakes’) is undoubtedly… Read More Why You Should Visit The Lake District This Year
While a lot of my trips last year were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, I ended up doing a fantastic week-long road trip around the very north of Scotland, the North Coast 500. One of the best parts of the trip was the spectacular scenery of these remote northern regions. I loved all the… Read More Hiking Ben Hope: Scotland’s Most Northern Munro
The North Coast 500 was one of the most phenomenal experiences I’ve had in the UK so far, and one trip that definitely should be on your bucket list. However, you will need to do some prep before you go! This trip takes you to some of the most remote places in Scotland—there might not… Read More What To Pack For The North Coast 500 In Scotland
I first visited the Brecon Beacons National Park on a rainy weekend back in December 2013. And to be totally honest, I only spent a few hours in the actual national park limits. It took me a while, but I finally made it back for a proper trip to the Brecon Beacons last summer! This… Read More How to Spend a Weekend in the Brecon Beacons in Wales
UPDATED JULY 2023! While so many of my travel plans for 2020 were canceled due to the pandemic, I tried to make the most of the year and find the silver lining. For me, the silver lining of last summer (when I should have been spending a month in Minnesota with my family) was definitely… Read More A 7-Day Itinerary For Scotland’s North Coast 500 Road Trip
Wales truly has some spectacular scenery and the best way to enjoy it is to get outdoors hiking! Cadair Idris is one of the highest mountains in the south of Snowdonia National Park. It’s also spelled Cader Idris and known as Penygader—I couldn’t find any reason for spelling differences so just stuck with Cadair Idris!… Read More Cadair Idris Via the Minffordd Path: Hiking in South Snowdonia
There are so many amazing places in the Peak District! I have loved exploring more of this national park this summer and going on some incredible hikes. One of the reasons I love the Peak District so much is that it is so varied—the southern parts are so different from the northern parts. I finally… Read More Dovestone Reservoir and Saddleworth Moor: Hiking in the North Peak District
UPDATED JULY 2023! The North Coast 500 is one of the most epic road trips you can take in the UK! Having done this trip last year, I thought I’d do a full information post on what you should know before you go. This trip may require a bit more planning than you’re used to.… Read More What You Need to Know About the North Coast 500 in Scotland Before You Go
Hay-on-Wye is one of those places in the UK I’ve dreamed of visiting for years. When I visited the southern part of Wales waaaay back in December 2013 during my study abroad, it just didn’t happen due to limited time and bus schedules. On my most recent trip to Wales, I knew I had to… Read More What to Do and See in Hay-on-Wye, the “Town of Books” in Wales
I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve been living in Yorkshire for 4 years now, and I had only been hiking in the Yorkshire Wolds this summer!! The Yorkshire Wolds is an area of low hills, predominately in East Riding of Yorkshire and a bit of North Yorkshire. I thought it was mainly farmland and fields,… Read More The Wonderful Yorkshire Wolds: Hiking Around Thixendale
Five years ago today, I brought this space on the internet to life. Happy Five-Year Blog-A-Versary to me! I had no idea when I bought this domain in 2016 where it would take me, or what it would mean to me. This blog is my baby. During the times when I felt like I had… Read More My Fifth Blog-A-Versary: 5 Years Of Away With Maja!
This is probably one of the most painful blog posts I have ever had to write. The past few months have been the absolute worst of my entire life. I have experienced insurmountable pain and it has been so real and so raw. Unfortunately, I lost my job on 16 September, the day before my… Read More I Lost My Job, My Husband Cheated On Me, And Lockdown: Surviving The End Of 2020
The Peak District National Park is one of my favorite places in England. It’s such an incredible place but still so underrated! There are so many awesome spots to visit and it’s always nice to get away from the crowds. Thankfully, there are so many hidden gems in the Peak District and it’s easy to… Read More Hiking the Dragon’s Back: Parkhouse Hill and Chrome Hill in the Peak District
York is a fantastic destination to visit any time of year. Whether you come in spring, summer, fall, or winter, York will always welcome you. With autumn truly upon us now in the UK, the fall leaves have burst into color around the city. Here are the best places to see the autumn colors and… Read More Where to See the Best Autumn Colors in York
