33 astonishingly beautiful pictures of North Wales

In much of Europe, summer 2023 will be remembered as a season of bad news for the travel industry. Wildfires have brought a new kind of danger to many southern resorts already suffering from a heatwave, forcing the British government amongst others to issue travel warnings at the height of the summer vacation period.

With its white-sand beaches and sparkling turquoise seas framed by palm trees, lush greenery and soaring mountains, there could hardly be a more romantic destination than the Caribbean. Whether you want to snorkel with spectacular sea life, indulge in a moonlit dinner á deux, have your cares massaged away or lounge together in a private cabana, the Caribbean offers the ultimate idyllic couples’ escape.

As holidaymakers were evacuated from wildfires raging across the Greek island of Rhodes and Corfu this week, some still in swimsuits, travel analysts are taking bets that the U.K. and northern European destinations will be the travel winners in the short-term. As Bloomberg notes, with thousands of tourists evacuated under the scorching European heat at the height of peak season, can the southern European tourist industry, worth $2 trillion, survive the impacts of climate change?

It may be hard to believe, but there’s a place in England where the sand is fine and white, the sea is turquoise blue, and the sun shines more than just about anywhere else in the country. In this dream-like place, you can surf, you can sunbathe (and even get a tan), you can hike coastal paths, valleys, and moors, and you can stuff you face with cream teas and pasties. You guess it, Cornwall, England, is a must-see when in Britain. Lucky for you, it’s only a direct train ride away from London.

Every journey starts with one small step, to paraphrase Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. But some journeys contain more steps than others.

Following the banks of one of the UK’s great rivers, a new walking way has been unveiled linking the north and south coasts of Cornwall and for the first time creating a circular walk around the whole of the county.

For a small country, Wales offers incredible diversity – so much so that it's one of our top travel destinations. Even better, many of Wales' (beautiful) landscapes and experiences remain surprisingly undiscovered. From pristine white-sand beaches and rolling, quintessentially Welsh valleys to tucked-away villages, here are the most beautiful places in Wales you really should visit.

Inspired by Newcastle's Great Exhibition of the North, we take you to another great city in the North of England – Liverpool.

Rough Guides writer and photographer Kiki Deere shares with us some pictures of Peru from her latest research trip across the country.

Last year our roaming photographer Diana Jarvis took some time away from her usual stomping grounds in Europe and headed to the far northeastern Indian state of Nagaland to witness the annual Hornbill Festival. Here, she shares 15 pictures of the region's fascinating tribes.

The new Wales Way is a trio of action-packed routes that snake their way through the glorious Welsh landscape. Tackled on a cycling, driving or trekking adventure, they encompass everything from historic sites and wildlife centres to a submerged forest. Norm Longley reports on some of their highlights.

How well do you know this green and pleasant land we call home? In part two of our Exploring England series we're revealing three more cities perfect for exploring along with their countryside charms – so you can experience the best of both town and country on a microgap escape. What is microgapping? It's taking a break from the norm, changing your perspective and maximising your enjoyment of this country we call home, without needing weeks to do it. Part one covered the south, east and west — and now it’s time to head north.