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
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
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
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
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