Travel in county Ward

The first time Johnny Ward went to Chiang Mai, Thailand, he was 22.

The USA's capital is full of cultural and historical attractions but the gems that lie just beyond the city limits are equally extraordinary.

The amber, auburn and crimson colours of autumn cosy up on top of one another, each layer dotted with patches of green, waving gently in the wind. This description is not one of the Lake District landscape before me, though it does match those views. Rather, it’s of the cabbage and butternut squash sabzi that’s just been handed to me by Harrison Ward on the summit of Black Fell – cooked on a camping stove with red onion, diced garlic and ginger, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ½ teaspoon turmeric, accompanied by a freshly made flatbread and topped with coriander.

Those who grew up shopping at Chicago’s legendary Marshall Field & Co. on State Street or have fond memories browsing a Carson Pirie Scott may be intrigued by a new exhibition celebrating the now-shuttered but legendary retail institutions.

To say flying this summer has been a hassle is an understatement. From cancellations to delays to cantankerous passengers, the airline industry has been saddled with issues that can even make considering booking a flight unpleasant.

Take a rail journey through Japan for a sensory overload of the island country in microcosm. Its tangled network of tracks intersecting at various points along the line from Tokyo through Fukushima to Nikko offers a fine introduction to its staggeringly beautiful and diverse landscapes.