Travel to Gran Canaria with Katrina Cudmore!

Earlier this year, in desperate need of some sunshine after the long cold winter we had just experienced in Ireland, I decided to take advantage of my youngest son’s primary school May mid-term break and the two of us jetted off to the cheapest sun destination I could find! Gran Canaria.

 

I went with little expectations, having already holidayed on another Canary Island – Lanzarote which I found too barren and touristy. But I fell in love with Gran Canaria. For me it has all I want in a holiday – a relaxed atmosphere, stunning beaches with warm seas, great accommodation and restaurants serving good value food, the friendliest locals I have ever encountered and cool bars for the night time.

 My son having fun in the surf!

Travel to Greece with Pippa Roscoe

 

[caption id="attachment_1434" align="alignleft" width="300"] Pippa with Rachael Thomas[/caption]

Earlier this year I convinced Rachael Thomas to come to Crete with me on a research/writing trip. I know that I write better in the sun, outside. I’m not sure whether it’s the fresh air, or the warmth, or just being away from home but there’s something about it that helps the words to flow. We packed up our laptops and booked the flights and accommodation – something that was done with military precision worthy of any determined, accomplished Harlequin heroine! – and picked the most beautiful hotel in Crete. 



We arrived early in the morning, which meant that the first thing I did before we could check into the hotel was to get myself an iced coffee. Okay – so one thing I LOVE, to a really insane degree, is Greek Ice Coffee. It has to be sweet because, of course, I’m on holiday so the diet is OFF. On average I need about twenty minutes of alone time with this gorgeous thing before I could even think about eating breakfast. I may even need a second one!

Travel to Ireland with Kate Walker & Giveaways

When I was  growing up, the most exciting thing that could happen as part of the school holidays was  when my mother took us all to visit her family  in my grandfather's house just outside Dublin in Ireland.  It was a major undertaking -  there were five of us sisters and my mother, all  travelling across to the port of  Holyhead Anglesey,  getting on to the ferry and then traveling across the sea to the port of  Dún Laoghaire  where the ferry docked. I had so many wonderful memories of the journey (once the sea sickness was over!) of this beautiful country where both my mother and father had been born, where they had met  and married all those years before. So it was a special delight to be able to travel back there with my husband and my own son many years later.

   It was more than twenty years since I'd visited but memories came rushing back and I found I could retrace my steps  almost as easily as if it had been yesterday that I'd walked that way before.  I  found Dublin Castle, the General Post Office where the 1916 rebellion had  started.  I walked along the Dublin Strand  and from there, tracing my  childhood footsteps,  I was able to lead my husband  to my Grandfather's house in the little village of Sandymount  where I had spent all those wonderful summer holidays.  I even walked around  Trinity College where my mother and father had met  even more years before and then  across Stephen's Green  where  the magnificent gateway has a high wide arch where the names of all the Irishmen killed in the Boer War are listed.  There's one of my ancestors there  -  my Great Uncle Charlies  - Charles Walker - who was my grandfather's younger brother.  He was only 17 when he died and as I take my name from my grandmother Katherine Walker, he was her brother in law.   As you can see, the weather was pretty typically Irish  - lots of grey clouds and plenty of rain - the sort of day that in Ireland you learn to call it a fine soft day!

Travel to Italy with Pippa Roscoe

 

Last year I co-opted, arm-twisted and generally bribed Jennifer Hayward (okay, it didn’t actually take all that!) to come on holiday with me to the Amalfi cost. We travelled to Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi working our way through some of the best restaurants and stunning hotels along that glorious coastline and had the most amazing time. The sun shone, I managed not to get sunburnt – a feat with my Cullen-pale skin! – we laughed, indulged and saw so many beautiful things!

But for a few days there were terrible rainstorms and we were stuck in our hotel room. So we hunkered down and ordered room service. There we were, one night, looking out at Positano which was stunning even through the rain drops from our balcony! We could see the lights glittering on the hillside and the rain battered harbour. But then I saw a gorgeous private pool jutting out from one of the hotels.

 

Travel to Amsterdam with Jane Godman

I Love Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities. It’s vibrant, and fun, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I like wandering De Negen Straatjes (or Nine Streets) that thread between the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht and Herengracht canals. They’re lined with quirky shops, little restaurants and cafés.

The city is famous for its museums, some of them high-brow, others silly (and a few pornographic). No visit to Amsterdam would be complete without a visit to the imposing Rijksmuseum, and my personal favorite is the Van Gogh Museum. I find it quite moving to look at the brush strokes of the master himself.

Then, of course, there is the Anne Frank House. Located on the Prinsengracht, in the center of the town, it is quite simply a not-to be missed experience.  

Travel to Andalusia, Spain with Jane Godman

Tapas, Flamenco, and Ice Cream (with some history thrown in) – A whirlwind tour of Andalusia

[caption id="attachment_1071" align="alignleft" width="225"] Alhambra[/caption]

I love Spain. It’s a two-and-a-half-hour flight from my home to the glorious beaches, or enticing cities, of one of the most beautiful European cities. It’s almost a hobby of mine to leave the English weather behind and soak up some Mediterranean sunshine.

Last year, my husband and I went on a tour of Andalusia. I’d wanted to visit Granada and see the Alhambra, so we decided to take in some of the other sights of the region as well. Our whirlwind tour started high up in the hills of Mijas, took in the ancient town of Ronda, allowed us to spend time in the vibrant city of Seville, included the incredible mosque at Córdoba, and ended with the iconic Alhambra.  

There were so many incredible sights packed into the tour that I’m going to leave the “wow factor” to the pictures and talk instead about the “yum factor”.

Travel to Rome with Mollie Blake

With Valentine’s love in the air, I had to tell you about my trip to Rome. Steeped in history this is a truly beautiful, romantic city, filled with exquisite art and architectural delights at every corner.

We stayed near the Spanish Steps, ideally located in central Rome, and declared by Charles Dickens as the meeting place for artists’ models, dressed in traditional costumes, hoping to catch the attention of a wealthy artist. Unfortunately work was being carried out during our visit so we didn’t see anyone resembling a model or a wealthy artist. But the steps were still impressive. The Trevi Fountain was a short walk away and we admired it in full sunshine and romantic dusk, simply breathtaking.

 

I can’t begin to tell you every wonderful sculpture, ancient ruin or impressive building we saw during our three days in Rome, but we couldn’t get enough of them. Despite the heat of August, it was a family exploration we all enjoyed and we were unanimous in declaring we would all return to this gorgeous city.

 

Lesser Spotted Destinations with Katrina Cudmore & Giveaways!

Lesser Spotted Destinations

 

A few years ago after a particularly hectic weekend break in a jam-packed London, I read a travel article in the English Sunday Times that really resonated with me. The article argued that in a time of ever increasing tourism and the associated concerns over the environmental impact on popular destinations, we should all be seeking out new and less visited destinations. The Cliffs of Moher here in Ireland are a case in point. Last year the cliffs had over 1.5 million tourists. Cliff erosion is now a concern at the site, as is visitor management. I don’t know about you but when I travel, I like to visit unique locations. I hate the feeling of being yet another tourist in a too predictable destination.

That why’s I thought I’d share with you two alternative coastal destinations in Ireland for you to consider, where more often than not you will be only one of a handful of visitors on any given day and where you will find a more authentic Ireland.

 

Geokaun Mountain & Fogher Cliffs on Valentina Island are located in County Kerry in the South West of Ireland at one of the most westerly points in Europe.



Valentina although an Island is accessible by a bridge and is a wild and beautiful place on the Atlantic coast full of stunning walks, in particular the 600ft Fogher seacliffs. The Blasket Islands can be seen in the distance from the cliffs and the area is renowned for its flora and fauna. Ferries leave from the nearby fishing village of Portmagee for the Skellig Rocks. Skellig Michael towers 714ft above sea level and is famous for its sixth century monastic settlement. The site, reached by steep steps, includes stone beehive-shaped huts, oratories and crosses. Thousands of puffins breed on Skellig Michael during the warmer months and it was a recent location for the filming of Star Wars movies.

December in Lapland by Karin Baine

A few years ago we decided to take our two boys to Lapland for the day. Although it likely cost as much as a week in the sun we figured it was a once in a lifetime experience we wanted to give them.

As a certified Christmas-a-holic I don’t know who was more excited at the prospect, me or 



the kids. Okay, it was me. Not least because we didn’t tell the boys where we were going until we reached the airport.

A Week Walking The Great Wall of China with Rachael Thomas

 

My previous post here on Traveling with Nasreen was all about my training walks in my local area as I prepared to take on a week trekking along The Great Wall of China raising funds for British Heart Foundation.

In October I took on that challenge and it was an amazing week and our twenty eight strong group raised over £52,000 for the cause.

 

 

 

 

 

 



For five days we trekked along the wall, some parts of it were in good repair and being close to Beijing a popular tourist area, while other parts were what we named, the wild wall. More often than not, we were the only ones on these stretches of the wall.

Letting the Train take the Strain with Liz Fielding

LET THE TRAIN TAKE THE STRAIN

I love trains. Step aboard and even the twenty-five minute journey from my home into the nearby city of Bath is an adventure.

I can enjoy the scenery. The river, the canal, the weir at Avoncliff, the soft hills, the blackthorn flowering in spring and, last week, those blackthorn heavy with sloes. Then, finally, the view of Bath laid out over the hills, golden in sunlight.

When I was ten years old I travelled with my family by train to Austria for a holiday in St Anton. There were horrible green upright seats on the French trains (my Dad slept on the floor, my aunt stayed awake and knitted socks). The Swiss train had park bench style wooden seats which were bigger and a more ergonomic shape but then our travel courier said there was a spare first class carriage and we were moved to luxury as we swept by Lake Geneva. And we stopped in Basle for breakfast in the station restaurant – stiff white cloths, silver cutlery, our first “continental” breakfast!

I once had a fabulous day out with the dh and the children travelling from London to York on a privately hired Pullman, a treat from the client for all the consultants working on a big project. A fabulous full English silver service breakfast, a day in York (if you go there do not miss the Yorvik Centre – a recreation of medieval York with all the sounds and smells) and then home with roast beef and all the trimmings, good wine and a disco on board. York was amazing, but it’s the train that lingers in the memory. I sometimes see a Pullman waiting at the platform in Bath, the tables laid, lamps lit and long to be one of the passengers stepping aboard.

Travel to Great Wall of China for #BritishHeartFoundation with Rachael Thomas!

For the last six months I have been spending lots of time preparing and training for a charity trek in China. Later this month I will be leaving my desk and flying out to Beijing and then onto The Great Wall of China where I will spend five days trekking to raise funds for British Heart Foundation.

My training has meant lots of walking and my dog, Poppy and I have done plenty of walking locally. We’ve spent many hours walking over our farm and the surrounding area.



I’ve also spent time walking along the coastal path near me. This is looking back down to Aberaeron on a very blustery autumn day.

Travel to Masai Mara, Nairobi with Mollie Blake & #Giveaway

Don’t we all love to dream of flying away to a tropical island, or a cosmopolitan city in a faraway place? Travel is something in which I take great pleasure. Packing? Not so much.

Now for a confession. Several years ago, we wanted to do a safari holiday. My research showed that the Masai Mara was a great destination to catch site of the big five – elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. What my husband didn’t know was that I didn’t want to look at any other, possibly equally qualifying, destinations. Why, you may I ask? Well, I am an author.

In addition to sharing a holiday of a lifetime with my husband and our son, I also wanted to do some research for my book, The Secret At Arnford Hall. I needed a location with a dangerous place, to send the protagonist to, a certain Gabriel Black, as he searched for a man who didn’t want to be found. I wanted to tie it in with a destination the young Gabriel would have travelled to with his parents and siblings. In addition to that I needed somewhere with seedy places off the beaten track, together with exotic destinations that would pull a person back. Kenya seemed to fit all my needs.

Two days in Nairobi gave me an insight into the “downtown” areas, populated with rundown buildings, and ramshackle shops and warehouses. Then you could turn a corner and see palatial hotels with hidden tropical gardens and areas to drink delicious coffee away from the bustle and fumes of the streets. This gave me the location for a car mechanic who fixed Toyotas. I remember everywhere I looked there would be a beat up Toyota on the road somewhere. Kenya seemed the perfect setting for the hapless mechanic to seek escape from gambling debts, get caught up in kidnapping by a violent gang boss, and feel the pull on his heart strings, leaving him wanting to return as a pilot to fly shuttle planes over the Masai Mari. We even took one of these flights ourselves to end our holiday on the beach at Mombasa.

So enough about the research, and more about our wonderful holiday. In Nairobi we visited an elephant sanctuary and a giraffe centre.

Travel to York with Nicole Locke #Giveaway

Peculiar York

My latest release, The Knight’s Scarred Maiden, is about journeys. A journey with food, with self-worth, with love – all while the characters travel to York.

You see, Helissent, is a maiden whose family died in a fire. She’s been working in an inn, but the owner sold her off to some ruffians, who intend to abuse her. Well, she’ll have none of that. So, she bargains with some travelling mercenaries to take her to York.

Enters the hero, Rhain, a mercenary with a price on his head. Though he has a vengeful warlord after him, he reluctantly agrees to take Helissent.

Along the way, they fall in love. And though Rhain tries to leave her in other locations (because he doesn’t want to risk her life), she’ll have none of that as well. She wants York. Why? Because from the fire that took her family, she’s terribly scarred on the right side of her body. She wants a large enough city to get lost in, but also where she can find employment.

York in Medieval times was everything Helissent needed. I’ve travelled there several times, and marvelled at the vastness of the City Walls, and the beauty of the Minster.



 

 

I love narrow streets of The Shambles, and always indulge in too much food.

I also have a favourite spot. It’s on the Wall, more specifically it’s a stone on the Wall, where it looks as if someone once played a game. Was it done in Medieval times or more recently? I don’t know. But I do know there’s a story behind it, and that’s why it’s my favourite, if peculiar, place in York.

 

Do you have a favourite, if peculiar, place in the world?

 

About Nicole Locke:

Nicole first discovered romance novels hidden in her grandmother's closet. Convinced hidden books must be better, Nicole greedily read them. It was only natural she should start writing them (but now not so secretly). If she isn't working on the next book in the Lovers and Legends historical series, she can be reached at:

Facebook     Twitter     Website     Goodreads

 

 

 

 

The Knight's Scarred Maiden (Lovers and Legends)

A maiden for the mercenary 



 

 

Mercenary knight Rhain is living on borrowed time. With a vengeful warlord pursuing him, he has accepted his fate—though first he must get his men to safety. 

When he rescues mysterious and deeply scarred Helissent from her attackers, Rhain soon wishes he wasn't marked for death. He can never be the man she deserves—his scandalous lineage alone dictates that—but Rhain can't resist the temptation to show this innocent maiden how beautiful she truly is… 

Lovers and Legends A clash of Celtic passions

 

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The Knight's Scarred Maiden

by Nicole Locke

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Travel to Skye Island, Scotland with Andie Brock

Recently my husband and I spent a few days on the Isle of Skye. An island off the west coast of Scotland, it really is the most beautiful place.



Over the years I’ve had many holidays in this part of the world. Although not Scottish, my father was raised in a little town called Thurso, about as far north as you can go on the mainland. My grandfather was a customs and excise officer there but he died before I was born. Dad always had a huge fondness for Scotland and as kids we had lots of family holidays there. But this was the first time I had been to Skye – and I wasn’t disappointed.

Travel to Pisa, Italy with Rachael Thomas

I’ve always had a passion for Italy and over recent years have been lucky enough to visit Pisa several times – and go up The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

[caption id="attachment_805" align="alignright" width="300"] Rachael Thomas holding up the Tower[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_806" align="alignleft" width="200"] Inside the Duomo[/caption]

The first thing to say is that the tower does lean. A lot! When you first walk inside it really unbalances you and as you wind your way up the 293 stone steps you can see how they are worn in different places depending which side of the tower you are on. It also feels strange when you come out on top of the Tower.

It was built as the bell tower to the Duomo and work began in 1173. It was finally completed in 1350 but was even then suffering from problems of leaning due to subsidence.

Everywhere you look around the Tower, are people posing for photographs to make it look as if they are holding up the tower. Naturally I had to have a go too.

Travel to La Gomera, Canary Islands with Christy McKellen

[caption id="attachment_718" align="alignleft" width="300"] La Gomera[/caption]

I’ve been to La Gomera in the Canary Islands for a winter break a couple of times now with my husband. While it’s not *hot* hot in the early months of the year, the temperature in the day usually reaches around the mid twenties (centigrade) which is more than warm enough to lie out in the sun for me (being a hardy Brit).

The island is the least touristy of the Canary Islands and in order to get to the other side of it where we stayed in Valle Gran Rey we had to get a taxi to drive us through dense forest of the Garajonay National Park along tight windy roads (a bit of a hairy experience!). Once you get there though it’s a really relaxed place where people gather on the beach in the evening to watch the sun sink below the sea-skyline. The bars and cafes are very chilled and serve a great range of locally sourced food and drink.

Travel to London with Liz Fielding #BookGiveaway

My very special day out was not exotic for me - I've been visiting London all my life - but I know it's a "bucket-list" destination for many people, even those living in the UK - and I want to share my very special day out on a very hot summer day.

[caption id="attachment_644" align="alignleft" width="300"] London[/caption]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a play-date with my daughter and grandchildren and the one thing we were determined to do was take a trip on the London Eye. The important thing if you're planning a trip to London in the summer holidays is to pre-book your ticket. You can do this on the internet - you get a confirmation email that you take to the office alongside the Eye and they will give you your tickets. They also have a place to safely leave buggies since you can't take them on the Eye. You can pre-book fast boarding for a little extra and I'm very glad we did that because the queue was very long.

 

 

Travel to London with Rachael Thomas #BookGiveaway

 

During 2016 I was lucky enough to visit London several times and I can’t wait to go again!

Living on a farm in the Welsh countryside is very different from a big city and London is so full of excitement from the moment I step off the train. There is so much going on, so many people, it’s fascinating.