The Walled Towns and Fortifications of North Wales
The Norman castles and fortifications of North Wales are one of the area’s major tourist attractions. And rightly so: the buildings are majestic and offer spectacular views of the Welsh countryside. But why were all these fortifications necessary in the first place?...
Exploring the Architectural Folly of Portmeirion
Mention the Welsh village of Portmeirion to any Briton of a certain age, and chances are they’ll immediately say, “The Prisoner”, referring to the cult television show of the 1960s that was filmed there. Or they’ll say that they’ve got a piece of Portmeirion pottery...
St Winefride’s Well: The Lourdes of Wales
Everyone has heard of Lourdes, the French town that pilgrims have been flocking to since 1858 in the hope of miraculous cures. Yet St Winefride’s Well, in the north Wales town of Holywell, is much lesser known. Even though it has been a place of pilgrimage and healing...
The Story of the Eleanor Crosses
If you’ve been to London you may have noticed the elaborate monument in the forecourt of Charing Cross Station. But did you know that there were once twelve "Eleanor Crosses" between London and Lincoln? And did you know the story behind them? The Death of Queen...
Troy Town, the Somerton Turf Maze
If you’ve been following my explorations of ancient English turf mazes, you’ll know that I had just one left to visit: Troy Town, at Somerton, Oxfordshire. Uniquely among the surviving English labyrinths, the Somerton turf maze is privately owned, in the garden of the...
City of Troy: The Dalby Turf Maze
The Dalby Turf Maze, in a remote part of North Yorkshire, may be one of the oldest turf mazes in England. Or it could be a relative newcomer, dating back only to the 19th century. Like all of England’s remaining turf mazes, its history and origins are mysterious and...
Julian’s Bower, Alkborough: an Ancient English Turf Maze
Most of England’s ancient turf mazes have a rural location, set into a village green, or in the open countryside. But Julian’s Bower, in Alkborough, North Lincolnshire, must have the most enviable setting. Perched on a high hill, it overlooks the confluence of three...
Hay-on-Wye, a Bookworm’s Paradise
For me no trip to Wales would be complete without a visit to Hay-on-Wye. Not just because it is a pretty border village with history, country walks and a few quirks. But also because this is Britain’s Town of Books, its streets crammed with secondhand book shops....
A Trip Around Glamorgan’s Ghostly Vale
One of the perks of a travel blogging conference is the opportunity to explore a new area. So I was happy that this year’s Traverse conference was in the Welsh capital of Cardiff, a place I had only visited briefly in the past. I soon discovered that Cardiff was a...
Recapturing the Jazz Age at Coleton Fishacre, Devon
Even on a dull spring morning the gardens are a blaze of colour sloping down to the sea. And the house is an eclectic mix of 1920s architecture, a gateway to the Jazz Age. This is Coleton Fishacre, on the south Devon coast, one time residence of the famous D’Oyly...
