Travel in Isle Of Man

Wales’ best bits are often the ones hiding in plain sight – the castles, valleys and towns which many tourists might not be familiar with, but which are definitely worthy of a place on any visitor’s itinerary.

Whether you’re a repeat or first-time visitor to Northern Ireland’s capital, Belfast, the city’s neighbourhoods offer so much – from the centre with its trove of shopping options and ever-evolving food scene to the cultural edge of the burgeoning Gaeltacht Quarter.

Entering the European Union will get more complicated for non-EU nationals from autumn this year.

In the cruise industry, January through March is considered “wave season,” a time when cruise lines offer promotions, incentives and, often, their best deals of the year. Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or a newbie, it’s a smart time to book trips.

In the two years before the war in Ukraine, a private Boeing 737 linked to Russian oligarch Vladimir Yevtushenkov criss-crossed the globe, taking in the French Riviera, the Maldives and Seychelles along with world capitals and financial centres.

So much of travel marketing focuses on the transactional, with tons of airtime and budget given to selling hotels and other classic travel products. Yet a mammoth survey of 18,000 travelers underscores how experiences are rising in importance.

Sometime around 1933, two teenage cousins, Harry Hall and Will Cubbon, paid a visit to a new friend of theirs named Gef. Gef lived in a remote, windswept farmhouse on the Isle of Man. He was very shy, and the cousins could hear and talk to him, but never saw their new friend. From behind a wall, Gef would guess heads-or-tails when a coin was flipped or play catch with a rubber ball through a hole in the attic ceiling.

Everybody knows the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Skye. But what about the other 6000-odd British Isles? Yes, we did say 6000. From the chunky Shetland Islands in Scotland’s far north to the sunny Isles of Scilly slung out from the coast of Cornwall, the British Isles are made up of islands of all shapes and sizes. Pick the right one and you could even have it all to yourself.

We’re crunching through the snow, leaping from jagged cliffs and going behind the scenes in the Rough Guide to Everywhere podcast series finale.

Just a fraction of Britain’s more than 6000 islands are accessible – and even fewer are inhabited. If you’re dreaming of life, or just a holiday, on a remote coastal island you’ll know that islanders have a reputation for being rather quirky. Local traditions and customs are fiercely protected and every British island has a unique heritage.

The cliff-fringed Isle of Man is one of the most beautiful spots for nature in Britain, with coastal footpaths, pebbly coves and picturesque glens to explore. Despite its position in the Irish Sea – almost equidistant between England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland – it’s not technically part of Britain, but a Crown dependency, with its own government and Gaelic-based language. A visit to the Isle of Man is great for an adventure a little closer to home.

The Isle of Wight is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is just one of seven UK sites to bear this prestigious status (others include the Isle of Man, North Devon and Biosffer Dyfi). There is plenty to do on the Isle of Wight. Choose from family-friendly campgrounds, hike along coastal trails between quaint villages and enjoy sightseeing at a number of attractions. Here is our pick for the best things to do on the Isle of Wight.

What is it that makes British steam trains so captivating? Is it their invention by the British themselves? Or could it be the evocative imagery of peaked caps, billowing steam, and nostalgic tales like The Railway Children that stir a unique emotion in the hearts of grown men? Whatever the reason, there's something about the UK heritage railways and their steam trains that only a ride down the line can start to explain. All aboard our pick of the steam.