January
A good way to start the new year is to go out into the wild to volunteer with the Wildlife Trust. We plan to fight erosion by doing so. Further tasks are guaranteed throughout the year. Fix the Fells in the Lake District needs volunteers to help maintain the sidewalks. The National Trust also has a number of interesting places to lend a hand.
The British seaside makes for a fantastic wild winter break with bargain prices skyrocketing. The new boutique Oyster House in Mumbles, Swansea Bay has a 2-night bed and breakfast January getaway package that includes a 3-course meal and a free arrival drink from his £250 for two. will be There are also many last-minute offers for cottages. Check sites such as independentcottages.co.uk for the latest discounts.
February
This month is a blast for art lovers. The most comprehensive exhibition of Johannes Vermeer’s work opens at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Vermeer left behind 37 known paintings of his, 28 of which are his. These include classics such as “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. In addition, he travels to the artist’s hometown of Delft to organize an exhibition on his artist’s life at the Prinsenhof Museum. Amsterdam is served by his DFDS ferries from Newcastle. The exhibition runs until June 4th.
march
Finding a pair of boxing rabbits is one of March’s great experiences. The Yorkshire Wolds have a healthy population. While you’re there, check out Robert Fuller’s gallery in Ticksendale. The artist’s wildlife camera has amassed many followers. Other rabbits are home to Rathlin Island off the coast of Anglesea, Orford Ness and County Antrim, and the Irish hare has golden hair and blue eyes. For those who want to enjoy rabbit watching from the comfort of their bed, organic farmers Rhodri and Sarah Lloyd Williams have a gorgeous tree on their West Wales farm a few miles away from Aberystwyth, where rabbits are very abundant. We opened two in the house. Also in Wales, Pendine Sands’ new Museum of Speed is due to open on his March 31st, and a new hotel, Kaban, overlooking the sandy beach, will open in the spring. In Scotland, two new moor huts, the Bracken Hide, opened in Skye this month. To mark the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Cairngorms National Park, Wilderness Scotland is offering his 8-day trek from the coast to the mountains (in a B&B he costs £1,055 for 7 nights).
April
The stunning sequence of British flowers that kicked off with snowdrops in February is really picking up steam this month. A field guide, British and Irish Wildflowers and Plants, will be released this month. Another book I’m looking forward to is Sarah Banks’ Wild Guide to North East England. Further afield, Inntravel is launching an interesting rail pilgrimage from Bilbao to Santiago de Campostela in northern Spain (he spent £1,105 on his B&B for nine nights). Also in Spain there is a spectacular new walking holiday through the canyons of southern Galicia from On Foot Holidays (£975 for 9 nights). If you prefer biking, starting this month, Visit Good Place’s new gourmet touring route starts from Trieste, Italy, heading south to the tip of Istria in Croatia. The Elan Valley in central Wales also launched a new bike hub this month.
in May
Speaking of May, this year it’s Eurovision in Liverpool. The former Lime Street Railroad Hotel, a Victorian landmark, has been completely renovated to become the latest he Radisson RED. If that’s not your thing, Hay Festival kicks off this month and there’s a new lodging in the town of Under the Thatch. In Pembrokeshire the puffins are returning from their winter break. Based at the newly renovated Old Point House, Celtic Deep plans his week-long celebration of swimming with puffins, freediving lessons and inshore foraging. A 16th-century pub in East Angle Bay (run by the people who created the great cafe mall). If you miss the puffins, there’s a similar week dedicated to blue sharks in September. In Gloucestershire, Elmore Court has opened a spectacular treehouse accommodation on his 100-hectare (250-acre) redeveloped land. Britain’s railways are contested and declining, but things are progressing rapidly in Europe. A new sleeper train linking Berlin, Amsterdam and Brussels began operating this month.
June
Also this month, Austrian company Nightjet sleeper trains will complete an overhaul of its carriages as part of a major upgrade. With this comes new routes connecting Amsterdam, Paris, Vienna, Genoa and many other major cities. For non-flying British travelers, this is important. Because he can get off the Newcastle-Amsterdam ferry (he runs once a week, on Wednesdays), spend a day in the city, and then take a sleeper to Vienna. Join us at Feschmarkt, an innovative design and art showcase from 2-4 June (Amsterdam-Vienna per night from around £27, private his cabin from £88) ). This month also marks his 400th anniversary in the wonderful Gothenburg, Sweden. In rail news, keep an eye on Rail Baltica, which connects all capitals of the Baltic countries with the borders of Poland. This is a significant turnaround from Russia and will transform land connectivity for these countries.
July
For that real summer challenge, why not bag a lot of classic Spanish summits? We are doing a 5 night Barnstorming Picos de Europa Epic including £730 with board. Brittany Ferries via Santander or Bilbao. Spain is definitely the flavor of the month. The Tour de France starts in Bilbao on July 1st. From Basque Country to Andalusia, get serious about Saddle Skedaddle’s new 865-mile cycling epic (21 days for £4,395)
August
Is there a better place to get away from it all than the Hebrides in summer? Check out our trip (we have top chefs on board). In Ludlow, Shropshire, watch out for Salopian Magnalonga. Continuing the Italian tradition, walkers take a leisurely stroll through the local terroir, sampling food and drink along the way. Very civilized and a lot of fun. If you want to try the original version, head to San Pietro (his April 23 this year) near Verona and get Valpolicella, not cider.
September
The season of missed foraging opportunities has come again. Instead of staring at those delicious mushrooms indecisively, find out if they’re actually edible at the Scottish Wild Food Festival just a few miles north of Glasgow. Many workshops, tastings and events take place. Nature Treks also offer a variety of day trips, including mushroom picking for beginners. If, like me, you love having a field guide on hand, there’s a new guide by Jens Petersen, Edible Fungi of Britain and Northern Europe. On the Corris Railway in central Wales, old-school rail enthusiasts can rent a line for the day, where he drives steam locomotives and pulls signals.
October
Salmon runs are not entirely predictable, but October is usually a good time. Especially after heavy rain. Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire is his one of the best spots. Head down Sydney Avenue to Weir’s Cafe. Other good spots are near Steinforth on the River Ribble in North Yorkshire and some places in Scotland. Yorkshire Coast and Nature launches a series of bird-spotting days in Spahn Head, East Yorkshire. If you’re lucky, you might spot bee-eaters, golden warblers, and other rare animals.
November
Winter walks are in full swing, and we hope that the long-awaited British coastal path will finally come true. November also means a timeless gem with the Kendall Mountain Festival, which runs from November 16th to 19th. A new Euro 7 visa waiver fee will begin this month for UK travelers entering Schengen countries. British travelers are estimated to spend £177 million annually. The 100th anniversary of Munich’s Beer Hall Pucci, where Adolf Hitler first drew attention, will be marked on November 8th. Watch for events at his NS-Dokumentationszentrum in the city, which focuses on the history of the Nazi party. It is a chilling evocation of that era. Closer to home: The Mortimer Trail through Herefordshire’s cider country has reopened.
December
On the 40th anniversary of abstract artist Joan Miró’s death this month, the Miro Mallorca Museum reopens its magnificent main building, which houses many of his works. Of course you don’t need a flight. There is a ferry from Barcelona.
