A weekend away at a stately pile fit for a Prime Minister in North Wales
February 7, 2024He was a four-time British prime minister and dominant figure of the Victorian era. Clashing regularly in Parliament with his arch-rival Disraeli, he was described by Queen Victoria as a “half-mad firebrand”. But a weekend visit to his ancestral estate in North Wales reveals his lesser-known passions for literature and… Read more
Why a Peak District village is the UK’s best place for the real Christmas spirit
December 29, 2023A festive, pre-Christmas break in the heart of the Peak District National Park. I was on assignment for Telegraph Travel to find the real spirit of Christmas away from the tacky gifts and gimmicky light shows. Here’s a taster of the text: Castleton’s tight-knit community grew from the building of… Read more
How to spent a winter-warmer weekend in Wrexham, North Wales
December 29, 2023A winter weekend in Wrexham. I was on assignment for the iNewspaper travel section as part of its Winter Weekend series. The North Wales city is an unlikely hot ticket for a UK city break in 2024 — and not just for football fans. Here’s a taster of the text:… Read more
How to spend a weekend in the French city of Carcassonne on a budget
November 3, 2023I spent a weekend in the southerwestern city of Carcassonne [pictured above] earlier this year. I was researching a guide to the city for budget travellers, exploring the attractions of the city split between its Unesco-listed citadel and medieval lower town. Here’s a sample of the text: Storm the ramparts… Read more
How to spend a spooky Halloween weekend in haunted Nottingham
October 31, 2023Nottingham is home to some of Britain’s most haunted buildings. I spent an autumnal weekend in the East Midlands city to get a feel for its dark-tourism heritage on a Halloween assignment for the Daily Mail travel section. My feature was published at the weekend and here’s a taster: The… Read more
What the HS2 decision means next for Crewe’s fledgling tourism industry
October 17, 2023What does the HS2 decision mean for rail-heritage-central Crewe? That’s the question posed by this article, a postcard from East Cheshire for Telegraph Travel. The story went live today but behind the paywall, so here’s my full, unedited draft, including an interview with former railwayman Brian Bailey [pictured above].… Read more
A slow-travel journey along the North Wales Way reveals hidden gems
September 27, 2023A summer assignment for Wanderlust Magazine took me on a slow-travel odyssey along the North Wales Way. It’s one of three new routes devised by Visit Wales to look afresh at regions most people think they already know. In terms of North Wales, visitors often drive from the… Read more
How to explore the traditional seaside town of Criccieth in Wales
September 20, 2023A trip to Criccieth, the old-school seaside town in North Wales, earlier in the summer. The assignment for the i Newspaper formed part of a summer series about classic British resorts. The story was published last weekend and outlines ideas for a weekend away by the seaside, including a visit… Read more
How to explore the newest part of the King Charles III England Coast Path near Liverpool
May 12, 2023While the focus was on Eurovision this week, a little bit of history was made on another part of Merseyside. The opening of the Merseyside section of the King Charles III England Coast Path follows the recent renaming of the path for the Coronation. It leads from Southport [Southport prom… Read more