A Journey Through Ypres and the Fields of Remembrance

Few European towns blend history and beauty quite like Ypres. Nestled in Belgium’s West Flanders region, this elegant city charms visitors with its cobbled streets, graceful façades, and lively squares filled with cafés serving excellent Belgian beer. It’s a region I’ve visited many times, not only for its accessibility but also for its superb cycling, equally appealing to families and seasoned racers.

Scotland’s whisky landscape has rarely stood still, but the pace of innovation and reinvention is apparent at the moment. From the opening of a gleaming new distillery on the banks of Loch Lomond to the return of one of Speyside’s great family names to global travel retail, the country’s distillers continue to balance heritage with forward thinking. There are fresh releases from rising independents, mythical bottlings from cult retailers, and even a clear spirit that challenges our very idea of what whisky should look like.

If ever a bike surprised me and exceeded my expectations, the Harley-Davidson Pan America ST is it.

Founded in 1903, Harley-Davidson is an iconic American brand with a rich history that evokes a sense of tradition and authenticity. Harley-Davidson is one of the most evocative and recognisable brands in the motorcycling universe, and beyond. 

Where Alpine Peaks Meet the Art of Wellness

Some hotels offer you a bed. Others offer you a view. The 5-star Cyprianerhof Dolomites Hotel offers a philosophy. Its daily rhythm is seductively simple: climb mountains like an Olympian in the morning, surrender to spa decadence in the afternoon, then dine like a Renaissance prince by evening. In short: sweat, steam, feast, repeat.

Autumn has a way of coaxing us toward comfort with the warmth of a slow roast (I cooked lamb shanks over the weekend), the glow of a fire, and the kind of wines that bring a little light to darker evenings. This month’s selection travels from the Provençal slopes of the Rhône to the limestone valleys of the Loire, pausing in Rioja and Germany’s Pfalz along the way.

They say necessity is the mother of all invention, and this rings true in the case of the lovely Sarah Haran. Journalist, and self confessed bag lady Raj Gill (she could give Imelda Marcus a run for her money when it comes to handbag and shoe collections), had the pleasure of visiting Sarah at her fabulous Paisley showroom to learn more about her journey that led her to starting and creating a successful handbag brand.

After a season of sun, travel, and perhaps one too many al fresco drinks, skin often starts to look a little tired. Pigmentation flares up, pores appear larger, and texture can feel uneven. Autumn is the ideal time to reset - to undo the sun’s mischief and prepare for the colder months ahead, when skin naturally becomes drier and more sensitive.

Finally Dishoom has arrived in Glasgow; we have been eagerly anticipating this for the longest time. Dishoom have a presence in Edinburgh (the first one in Scotland), however each and every time we have attempted to dine out at the eatery, the queue has been up the street and around the corner, and in the dreary Scottish weather there was zero chance we would be standing in that queue, even us die hard foodies have to draw the line somewhere!

There are tastings, and then there are moments that transcend the glass — where wine becomes a vessel for memory, philosophy, and time itself. Such was the experience at The Dorchester’s Chef’s Table, where a select few were invited to a rare Champagne masterclass led by Alice Paillard, daughter of Bruno Paillard and steward of the maison’s legacy.

Images by Hayden Povey.

There’s something very likable about the Alpine A290 GTS. Yes, it looks fresh and funky in a 2020’s type of way but behind all that, it also feels nostalgic and charmingly analogue in a 1980’s type of way too. For the uninitiated, that squat stance and purposeful nose clearly trace a lineage back to the original ‘Hot Hatch’, the Renault 5, only now it’s reborn with a 52 kWh battery, 220 horsepower and more character than most electric cars at twice the price.