‘Narrow Dog to Wigan Pier’ is a travel story about two 75-year olds, Terry Darlington and his wife Monica, journeying on a narrow boat along canals in Northern England, accompanied by their two whippets. However there is much more to the book than that. It is also Terry Darlington’s autobiography and his personal reflections on matters great […]
I came across Kutná Hora by chance a few years ago when trying to avoid motorway driving as I travelled from Prague to Bratislava. Although only about 50 miles east of Prague, it seemed a world apart. I found it had many fine historic buildings and good bars and restaurants, like Prague, but without the crowds of tourist. […]
After driving through some of the most scenic parts of Victoria, the next stage of my Round the World in 50 Days trip took me to Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, visiting Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory along the way. It is easy to forget quite how huge Australia is; what looks like a relatively […]
When considering a visit to Birmingham, I had visions of heavy industry, busy roads and a dated, unimpressive city centre. Not exactly Short Break territory. A little research soon showed that to be a completely unfair view of modern Birmingham. Over the last few years the central area has greatly improved as the 20 year Big City Plan rolls forward. The city […]
Four hundred years ago two massive and historically crucial battles were fought near Mohács, a sleepy little port on the Danube in south central Hungary. The Ottomans won the first in 1526 and swept north, the Habsburgs the second in 1687, finally driving the Ottomans out of East-Central Europe. However, I didn’t come to Mohács because of its interesting history, but rather […]
• For a £5 discount on new membership, use code STEW05 on the Historic Houses website.
• To get a £10 National Trust gift card with membership by direct debit, click on National Trust.
Lake Bled, Slovenia – Short Break
I suppose I am a bit of an East European lake fanatic. I have a house by Lake Balaton in Hungary and have holidayed by the Plitvice Lakes in Croatia and Lake Palić in Serbia. Hence it is not surprising that I should decide to check out one of the most famous lakes in Eastern Europe, Lake Bled in […]