With an entrance flanked by a line of Typhoons, Tornados and MiGs, this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo certainly knew how to make a big first impression. We were there from the moment the gates opened, and a little before in fact, and left only to the nagging tones of Read more…
I’m a big proponent for making the most of any time we have to spend with nature and the best way of doing that is to chose accommodation with as close a connection to the great outdoors as possible. Ideally that would mean that we’d be camping every weekend but Read more…
Last Saturday found us a few miles north of Castle Combe in the south west corner of Cotswold Water Park. Better known for its sporting and leisure activities the area also offers miles of walking routes stretching between several high quality nature reserves. One of these, Lower Moor Farm, is Read more…
If you’d mentioned Castle Combe to me this time last week then the only image which would have sprung to mind would’ve been the circuit on classic Playstation game TOCA Touring Cars (still one of the best racers ever made in my humble opinion – it’s a generation thing). I Read more…
For those of us who primarily blog about birds, June and July can often prove to be a little sparse. Thick vegetation obscures even the most persistent of investigations and once those fledglings have left the nest and their parents care, the whole family seems to go in to hiding. Read more…
We started day two of our Norfolk weekend feeling much more relaxed and fully enjoyed the English breakfast on offer at our hotel. Probably not the healthiest of options but we had a long days birding ahead of us and an even longer drive back to Wales, assuming of course Read more…
Friday before last found me wandering the streets of London in a state of some bemusement. For someone who lives their life pretty much entirely in the countryside the presence of so many people packed together was a little off-putting, as was my inability to see beyond the next street Read more…
Monday saw us bidding farewell to Emma’s parents but with no particular desire to leave the Peak District ourselves we headed North to Monsal Head. A world renowned beauty spot, and with good reason, its elevated position gives sweeping views across the River Wye at a point where the peculiarities Read more…
Day two of our Peak District trip saw us exploring one of the dales for which this area is so well known. Narrow, steep sided valleys cut deep through limestone by water erosion, they feel upon first entry very much like stepping back into some forgotten world. Cut off from Read more…
Say what you like about bankers but their penchant for taking the occasional long weekend means that we’ve just returned from three very enjoyable days in the Peak District. Our base of operations was a cottage on the outskirts of Wirksworth (currently on the market for £1.25 million if you’re Read more…