Castle tips

Visitors to Scotland will usually land in either Glasgow or Edinburgh, or enter the country from England in the south and make a beeline for these cities or the Highlands. We have all heard about the Isle of Skye, the island distilleries and the majesty of Edinburgh castle. But just south of all these famous Scottish wonders you’ll find landscapes, castles, forests and experiences to rival anything further north.

I just wrote about a game changing new golf resort that debuted on Barbados last month, and for travelers looking for new and different options for warm weather getaways this winter–whether they play golf or not–I’ve got an interesting one.

After a few roller coaster years, restaurants are back in a big way, and culinary creativity is alive and well. At dining tables around the world, passion, ingenuity and an enduring ability to dream are on the menu—along with spearfished seafood, purified rainwater and (highly palatable) sustainability education.

Salzburg’s Christmas markets are among the very best, and there are plenty of them too, with at least 10 main ones across the season. The Salzburg Advent festival (1-17 Dec) at the Great Festival Hall, Residenzplatz, is a memorable show and highly recommended. With snow falling most winters, the city has that beautiful wintry romantic atmosphere. And best of all is a horse-drawn carriage ride through the snowy landscape, wrapped in a blanket, with a hot drink in hand. Especially perfect for a couples getaway.Colin Snoad

A fresh Atlantic breeze blows up the estuary and rustles through a thicket of young lime trees by the Treaty Stone, the rock that witnessed the end of the Williamite war in the autumn of 1691. Just ahead, a seven-arch limestone bridge spans the Shannon River as far as the thick barrel towers of King John’s Castle. To the right, Limerick City’s quays and avenues bustle with new bars, hotels and restaurants. It’s a scene that contrasts starkly with the damp, smoky cityscape depicted in Frank McCourt’s book Angela’s Ashes.

This spa town in the Derbyshire hills – the joint highest market town in England (a title shared with Alston in Cumbria) – has beautiful Georgian and Victorian architecture and is surrounded by the Peak District on three sides.

Planning a wedding but want to go off-the-beaten path? Destination weddings are currently the rage with couples choosing such exotic locations as Talloires, France, the Greek island of Santorini, Fiji or Bora Bora.

Jordan is the ultimate adventure destination. Here you can experience the rich culture, Arab hospitality and cuisine, ancient ruins, out-of-this-world views, the adrenaline rush of rappelling into a canyon and the serenity of sleeping under starry skies – all in one day.

Edinburgh is like a scene from a storybook, its spiky turrets, soaring towers, grand squares and cobbled streets every inch the sort of places dragons and princesses would inhabit — not to mention, of course, one particularly famous boy wizard. The city was J K Rowling’s home while she wrote most of the Harry Potter books, and it’s not hard to see the spark of inspiration for her world of magic. Kids’ imaginations have been known to run away with them as they wander the higgledy-piggledy medieval streets of the Old Town up to Edinburgh Castle or march through regal Holyrood Park to the extinct volcano hilltop of Arthur’s Seat, which towers above elegant Georgian streets in the east of the city centre.

Exploring Jordan on a road trip affords you access to places unreachable by public transportation, giving you the freedom to choose your own adventure along the way rather than being tied to the timeline of a set tour. 

The walled town of San Casciano delivers storybook Tuscany—narrow pedestrian-only streets, covered stone passageways, a looming castle, and a café-lined piazza. Outside the walls, the archetypal landscapes of the Val d’Orcia unfurl in all their glory, with rolling fields of vineyards and olive groves punctuated by cypress trees and the profile of a hill town here and there.

The eight milkmaids have had a knees-up in the Elizabeth Salon – at least it looks that way – leaving a pastel-coloured tower of pails, cows, and three-legged stools under the ornate painted ceiling. Next door, seven sculptural swans are swimming through an elaborate silver centrepiece above a grand banqueting table, while six lifesize geese have laid Fabergé-style eggs in sparkling bullrush-fringed nests.

Against the backdrop of winter, the Welsh landscape – from towering fortresses to windswept coastlines – seems to really come alive. Without the summer crowds, you may even find you often have this raw-natured countryside to yourself. With such a bounty of riches, we’d understand if you can’t make up your mind where to start. So, we’ve curated highlights of Wales’ three national routes – the Cambrian Way, the Coastal Way and the North Wales Way – to put together three trips that’ll be sure to leave you relaxed, inspired and invigorated. Be it for a leisurely week off or a weekend break, there’s a “way” for you.

The Welsh mountains, valleys and beaches draw hikers, surfers and climbers all year round. Yet, it’s far more than a destination for the adventurous alone. These dramatic backdrops and deep-rooted traditions have galvanised generations of artists and poets, whose legacies play out across city galleries and literature trails. The rugged contours also reveal compelling tales of the country’s industrious past, and whether it’s centuries-old castles or cavernous mines given a new lease of life, Wales has a wealth of attractions to keep visitors inspired and entertained. We’ve chosen a range of cultural highlights that promise four great themed itineraries for your winter break …

Rome (Italian: Roma), the 'Eternal City', is the capital and largest city of Italy and of the Lazio (Latium) region. It's the famed city of the Roman Empire, the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita (sweet life), the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain.

By 2024 additional accommodation facilities are expected to open in the city, particularly in the luxury segment, offering almost 2,000 hotel rooms and over 18,298 square feet of meeting space. […]

Discover the magnificent scenery of the Scottish Highlands by booking your tickets on British Airways flights.

Ireland is a country of contrasts. To the west, its ocean coastline has towering sea cliffs, powder-soft beaches, medieval castles, historic villages and forlornly beautiful islands where locals still nurture ancient traditions. The midlands harbor lesser-seen towns and meandering blue trails that follow the path of the River Shannon along rich green countryside. Dublin and Belfast to the east and north offer all the rich culture and diversity you’d expect to find in a large, modern metropolis.

Germany’s Free State of Bavaria is famous for the stunning countryside, culture, history, pristine forests, clean air, beautiful lakes, high mountains, and of course, medieval castles. There are charming hotels and restaurants to choose from in each town and village welcoming you with laid back Bavarian hospitality. If you are visiting Munich, Bavaria’s capital and biggest city, be sure to extend your trip for a few days and experience a fairytale adventure in nature fit for a queen or king. Here are a few must-do experiences and attractions while in Germany.

If you find yourself getting restless as the year draws to a close, imagine ringing in a new season surrounded by the majesty of the Southwest. With plenty of natural hideouts, Arizona is a destination for all things wellness, and the state is home to

Clustered on the east coast of Scotland are seven tidal pools. These seawater swimming holes are the perfect harnessing of nature, and show how communities have found ways to immerse themselves in their environment for generations. St Monans, for example, sits where the North Sea beats ferociously against the cliffs and much of the coastline is inaccessible—this rectangular body of water, however, offers a safe swim. Traveling between these tidal pools on a road trip is about so much more though. It's an adventure connecting witch folklore, dolphin spotting, forest bathing, rock ‘n’ roll legends, fly fishing, and the most delicious smoked haddock soup you’ve ever eaten.