Travel

One of the great benefits of Lavenham  is that it is not really on the way to anywhere for most people.   This village has grown to be a small town but the centre still has the feeling of a village community.  This is possibly because so many of the houses in the centre are of the same Tudor period as there are over 350 Listed buildings from the very grand Guildhall to former bothies.  They must share the same endless problems of living in delightful but high maintenance houses.  If Lavenham had been in the Home Counties, property developers would be salivating at the numerous sites that th

London-based handbag designer Esin Akan launched her Eponymous label in 2012 and hasn’t looked back since. An award-winning graduate of London Business School and Central St Martins, Esin designs ‘smart bags for smart women’, which cleverly adapt to different situations throughout the day.

Norfolk was quite a surprise, whilst certain aspects took our minds back even as far as the 1950’s, there was a pleasant buzz about so many refreshing facets of life outside the Home Counties.   People have time to be polite, the roads were generally uncongested; we found some real treasures.  Some were unspoilt villages, wide open spaces of countryside seemingly largely unpressured by too much development.  There are several very grand houses including two very different National Trust properties; Blickling Hall for its exterior – even better than the photographs - and the modern planting

The Maldives are rightly known as heaven on earth, just over a thousand islands all reflecting an idyllic vision of paradise. Tiny islets of fine golden sand dotted throughout a crystal glass sea, basking in glorious sunshine that stays between 25 and 35 degrees all year round.

Whistler sets a standard that many other ski resorts have to match; right up there with Aspen and the best resorts in Europe but for very different reasons. The main concern for many is the flight; eleven hours but you do not lose skiing time as it is overnight and you are chasing the sun outbound.  Passing through Vancouver airport is quick and the transfer is less than two hours to Whistler, the roads are good and it’s worth keeping awake for the stunning scenery.  

I’ve been to Liuwa Plain National Park before, last time in November and I was captivated by the distant storms, the forked lightening, the pink sand lillies and the wildebeest babies being born; Liuwa Plain is home to the second biggest wildebeest migration on earth.

The ancient city of Bath is well positioned from so many aspects from an historical point of view through beautiful countryside to its arguably un-equalled Georgian architecture.  Whilst the city is fairly sophisticated, it has not lost its lust for life with its vibrant atmosphere.  It does cross your mind that this could offer the alternate lifestyle away from the pressures of London.  There is a combination of individual shops as well as the usual big high street brands, plus a few good restaurants and less formal eateries.   
 

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
One of the most highly regarded countryside hotels in this country is the charming Manoir.  Set in beautiful gardens in the picturesque Cotswolds noted for its honey coloured stone houses it is everybody’s idea of England at its best.  Charming and an homage to Raymond Blanc with its two acres of gardens including the renowned Kitchen Garden set out for everyone who visits to admire. Although, I have to admit my favourite garden ‘room’ was Chris Beardshaw’s ethereal Wild Flower  Meadow which was truly romantic and fragrant.

If when taken blindfold to the middle of the village square in medieval Piran; when you open your eyes you would fully expect to be in the centre of a film set.  Not a jarring building to behold, looking one way you will see a Venetian church tower on the hill overlooking everything, on the square itself is another church.

Linking the world renowned city of Dubrovnik with the virtually unknown tiny historic centre of the inland town of Kranj in Slovenia is more than unusual, but there are elements that they share in addition to just bringing much pleasure and beauty into the equation.