Learning on the Go, Planning as One Learns, Telling of One's Goings
Life is a canvas woven with countless detours, with some leading to dead-ends and others unfurling into adventures. Thus, anything that you find here is the result of those meandering roots, as are the Photo Gallery and the Outdoors Blog.
It probably is worth adding how my globe-trotting began. For a long time, my explorations were a decidedly local affair. Family ties may have kept me close to home, but there was plenty of traipsing around England, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man in any case. My eye for rural beauty, appetite for self-powered explorations and partiality to photographic capture of what I saw all meant that I was never short of inspiration.
More recently, a series of life events opened up new possibilities: trips to Scandinavia, the Alps and North America all ensued. So far, my passport has taken me to Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, the Channel Islands, Canada, and the U.S.A. Yet, there is a list of other possibilities that includes Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile; only time will tell if I ever get to these.
All that you find here is built on a foundation of personal experiences, occasional research and titbits gleaned from various magazines. That which started as a humble collection of destination directories has blossomed into something far more substantive. Also, tales of solo urban exploration find a home here, too. They do not fit in an outdoors blog, so this also serves as a personal travel log. It feels rude to go somewhere without telling others about it.
Our world is a treasure trove of wonders, and that is what keeps me exploring. The internet may be crawling with travel blogs, but I like to think my personal touch adds something unique. After all, no two journeys are alike, and I hope you will find something here that catches your fancy.
Sláinte to that, and here's to more adventures!
Irish Encounters
Until the last few years, I had not seen as many of the delights of the Emerald Isle that I ought to have done. After all, it is the land of my birth and upbringing. Most of the encounters have been in Ireland's southwest, from where I hail. Every county in the province of Munster has seen me visit some part of it.
However, that still leaves alluring spots in the others unvisited, though Galway and Connemara were the subject of my attentions on one trip. Mayo and Donegal are other counties with their share of wilder corners, and the Wicklow and Dublin mountains remain worth visiting. Northern Ireland has not seen much of me either; the Mourne and Sperrin Mountains might offer possibilities in the fulltness of time.
Articles:
Your First Steps in Ireland: Where to Begin and What to Expect
More than Hiking: Other Ways of Experiencing the Irish Outdoors
A Multitude of Treasures: Sampling Ireland's Scenic Regions
From Chance Encounters to Booked Beds: Looking into Irish Accommodation
Sea Links: The Evolving Story of Irish Ferry Services
Ireland's Air & Sea Links: From Traditional Ferries to Budget Airlines
Ferrying Oneself Around Ireland: Crossing Rivers & Reaching Islands
Northern Ireland: Beyond the Troubles to Natural Treasures
Kerry, A Land of Contrasts: From Coastline to Hilltop
A Stroll Through Galway City: Exploring the City and Its Surroundings
From Ancient Ireland to Global Legacy: The Remarkable Journey of the Hennessy Name
English Explorations
After living in Scotland, I moved to England for work and it really got my wanderings going. It is its northern and midland counties that I know best for many a walking trip has taken me around those parts. Indeed, such has been my interest in exploring hill country that the country's southern reaches have not be explored as much. What you find here is gathered not only from my own trips but also whatever has come my way in magazines and other periodicals too.
Articles:
Exploring the Diverse Landscapes and Heritage of England
Cheshire Uncovered: Hidden Gems and Local Favourites
Cumbria's Contrasts: From Lakeland Tourism to Hidden Corners
From Coast to Countryside: A Guide to Northumberland's Secret Kingdom
Encountering Yorkshire: Journeying Through Time and Landscape
Hidden Treasures of the North: Exploring Durham, Weardale, Teesdale, and Beyond
Derbyshire Delights: An Insider's Guide to the Peak District and Beyond
Uncovering England's Midlands: From Historic Castles to Natural Beauty
London Calling: A Compilation of the City's Attractions
Eastern Journeys: From Cambridge's Spires to Country Estates
Sampling the Delights of Southwest England
From Oxford to Oswestry: Towns & Cities That Merit More of My Attention
Scottish Connections
Scotland still charms me throughout these uncertain times. My time at university in Edinburgh was the making of me and its very special countryside has drawn me back many a time. Though other places now attract me, I have intention of giving up on the place yet. Places can be revisited and places can be seen anew. Many are stilly too and those are much prized in this unsteady age of ours.
Articles:
Gateways to an Enlightened Scottish Acquaintance
Roaming Scotland's Regional Riches: From Urban Centers to Remote Islands
A Personal Metropolitan Geography from the Scottish Capital to the Highlands
Castles of Scotland: From Royal Seats to Highland Strongholds
Rustic Overnight Stays in Scotland, Ranging from Wild Camping to Highland Hotels
Navigating Scotland's Transport Network: Moving Around Mainland and Isle
Scandinavian Sojourns
For many years, going north during the summer meant a trip to Scotland's highlands and islands. For a time, Scandinavian shores were calling for much the same reasons. Business trips to Denmark and Sweden have been followed by leisure excursions to Iceland and Norway. A return to Sweden's capital city came to pass. Though there may be an ongoing hiatus, there is enough left in Norway to draw me back again some day, and the Faroe Islands have been a temptation in the past.
Articles:
Welsh & Manx Wanderings
To anyone who knows more, this might seem a very odd pairing. There are differences of history, physical geography and current political arrangements so there are other reasons why I am bundling Wales together with the Isle of Man in this section.
After all, both are small places that offer much to explore. From an outdoor enthusiasts point of view, each has dramatic coastal scenery to go with wilder stretches of hill country and that combination has been enough of a lure to keep me returning to them on walking trips over the years. There have not been enough of those to stop me making a return when such an opportunity arises.
Articles:
Alpine & Pyrenean Adventuring
2015 and 2016 offer opportunities for making acquaintances with the Swiss and Austrian Alps that only recently got followed up by an excursion to Grenoble in France. Much of what you find here came in useful for those trips, yet there is more than a lifetime's worth of exploration in these parts. While I recall saying that I would return to Switzerland again, that has yet to happen. Other distractions have intruded in the meantime.
Articles:
Austria's Alpine Treasures: Mountain Trails, National Parks and High Peaks
Exploring France's Alpine and Pyrenean Ranges - From Mont Blanc to the GR10
Germany's Alpine Corner: Exploring Bavaria's Mountain Haven
Italy's Alpine Soul: From Mont Blanc to the Dolomites
Slovenia's Alpine Heart: The Julian Alps and Triglav's Legacy
Southern Slopes: Exploring Spain's Pyrenean Parks and Peaks
American Possibilities
Much of what you find here has been expanded from collections of websites found during travel research before the pandemic arrived on European shores. There are other articles pre- and post-dating that global event that you find here, too. Some of the latter came into being during a recent content expansion using modern computing technology.
All has been inspired by dreams of American explorations, much of that involving wilderness areas. Thus far, there have been two visits to the U.S.A., one for business and another for leisure. The former took me to Pennsylvania and Delaware, while the latter had me spending time around the San Francisco Bay Area. No one can be certain about future escapades, yet I am more than open to following that first West Coast trip with others that take me elsewhere.
Articles:
American Mountain Huts: A Guide to Wilderness Stays
Pondering Car-free Explorations of American Wilderness
Wilder Parts of New York State
Alaska: A Land Where Adventures Can Become Expeditions
California's Golden Compass: Coastal Delights and Mountain Escapades
Colorado's Mountain Majesty: Adventure Towns, Historic Railways and Natural Grandeur
Montana: Where Wild Spaces Meet Western Heritage
Where Wild Meets Wonderful: Discovering Oregon's Natural Marvels
Beyond the Emerald City: Discovering Washington's Wild Heart
Canadian Opportunities
July 2019 was when I made my first and, so far, only venture to Canada, exploring Vancouver and the part of British Columbia immediately adjoining it. That was a good introduction and is one that I would like to follow up in the world's second-largest country by land area. Meanwhile, I have compiled what you find here from research ahead of that trip, converting a list of websites into something that, I hope, is more meaningful and substantial.
Articles:
Alberta: From the Rocky Mountains to the Prairie Badlands
British Columbia: From the Pacific Coast or Temperate Rainforest to the Rocky Mountains
Manitoba: Where Prairie Meets Wilderness
New Brunswick: Atlantic Canada's Hidden Maritime Treasure
Newfoundland & Labrador: Where Ancient History Meets Wild Beauty
Northwest Territories: Canada's Arctic Wonderland
Nova Scotia: Maritime Canada's Historic Gem
Nunavut: Arctic Adventures in Canada's Land of the Midnight Sun
Ontario: A Mosaic of Urban Delights and Natural Wonders
Prince Edward Island: A Maritime Haven of Beauty and Culture
Quebec: A Combination of Culture, Nature and Adventure
Saskatchewan: A Prairie Province Full of Surprises
Yukon: Where Wilderness Meets Wonder
Summertime Canadian Explorations Around Vancouver and Nearby British Columbia
Dreams & Experiences
It is not just Europe's north-western reaches that have got my attention, for parts of Central Europe beckon too. Here, it is the Alps that stand out for me. There have been trips to France, Switzerland and Austria and more may follow. A school trip to Brittany and Jersey has inspired outings to France and the Channel Islands. While North American escapades have taken me to Vancouver, BC and San Francisco, so far, other destinations may draw me across the Atlantic again. If I really get adventurous, New Zealand or Tasmania could take my fancy, or I may just consolidate my efforts instead. After all, the future is never known to us.
Articles:
Europe's Channel Islands: An Introduction to Island Exploration
Uncovering the Secrets of Mallorca's Mountains and Coastlines
Exploring the Natural Beauty of South Africa: From Mountains to Coastline
New Zealand: Faraway Islands with a Multitude of Scenic Delights
Cinque Terre and the Ligurian Coast: Savouring Some of Italy's Coastal Gems
Canary Islands: A Sun-Soaked Atlantic Archipelago Off Africa's Northwest Coast
Practicalities & Inspiration
This is where you find more general articles on travel, international and domestic. There are some that once were in a section dedicated to the U.K. which this replaces. However, time will change this as ideas for other articles come to fruition. As always, everything remains a work in progress.
Articles:
Travel Planning Evolution: From Agency Queues to Digital Discovery
Global Hostelling: From Scottish Beginnings to International Horizons
Exploring the World of Hotels: A Collation of Chains and Resorts
Heritage Railways: From Industrial Past to Tourist Present
Travel Reading: From Rucksack Companions to Coffee Table Glossies
Tour Operators and Travel Agencies: From Adventure Travel to Luxury Cruises
Global Travel Media: From Local Magazines to Worldwide Wanderlust