Written by Bridget Blankley (One of two winning entries in the Off the Beaten Track Writing Competition.) The secluded village of Ystalyfera, which lies at the heart of the Welsh Dragon farming region, is at its most charming in the early autumn, when the hatchlings first stretch their legs on the gentle slopes of the Purple Hills. […]
Written by Andrea Wotherspoon (One of two winning entries in the Off the Beaten Track Writing Competition.) Caithness, the Kingdom of the Cats, is also known as the lowlands beyond the Highlands. Indeed not many people realise it’s possible to travel a further hundred miles north of Inverness, yet still be on the mainland. And those […]
The Off the Beaten Track Writing Competition closed on September 30th, 2016. Over 300 entries were received with about a quarter of them being fictional. Most of the entries were of publishable standard and it was clear that a lot of time and thought had been put into meeting the competition criteria. Our thanks to everyone who entered. The […]
Maybe the world is still recovering from recession and maybe the pound sterling has dropped since the Brexit vote, but that doesn’t seem to bother senior travellers in the UK. According to a recent Saga report, UK travellers aged over 50 are spending more than ever on holidays, both in the UK and overseas, with cruises being high […]
Written by Justin Miller (A highly commended runner-up entry in the Travel and Water Writing Competition.) Zanzibar, Timbuktu, Calcutta, Malacca. For me and probably for many British people, those names carry an air of exotic mystery. They bring to mind boy’s own adventure stories from the days of empire, Kiplingesque fantasies of colourful locals and […]
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Exploring History – Chernobyl Exclusion Zone
Written by Philippa Holloway (A Runner-up entry in the Off the Beaten Track Writing Competition.) When considering a holiday, most people don’t decide to visit an area that is heavily restricted or requires a permanent escort and Geiger counter as standard holiday attire. But then maybe you aren’t most people? So why visit such a site? […]