Category: Western Europe

Taking a Le Boat cruiser on the Caledonian Canal, Scotland

Taking a Le Boat cruiser on the Caledonian Canal, Scotland

By on Sep 23, 2021 in Cruises & Boat Travel, Europe, Regions, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

Some afternoons and evenings a bagpipe lament lingers over Laggan Locks. It is not a tourism stunt. Dressed in a tartan kilt, a resident hones his musical skills. It is an appropriate soundtrack for Le Boat’s base at Laggan Locks, on the waterway that runs from Fort William on the east coast to Inverness on […]

magic fountain montjuïc

La Mercè Festival, Barcelona: History and tradition

By on Sep 23, 2021 in Europe, Events, Regions, Spain, Travel Miscellany, Western Europe

La Mercè is an annual festival that takes place in Barcelona, Spain. It has been an official city holiday since 1871, when the local government first organised a program of special activities to observe the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, or La Mare de Déu de la Mercè in Catalan. The […]

New to Mykonos: Kenshō Psarou Grand Villa

New to Mykonos: Kenshō Psarou Grand Villa

By on Sep 22, 2021 in Accommodation, Europe, Greece, Regions, Vacation Rentals, Western Europe

Kenshō Boutique Hotels & Villas is proud to present their latest addition and the crème de la crème of Mykonos island – the Kenshō Psarou Grand Villa. The brand is well-renowned for its exceptional hospitality, awe-inspiring décor, five-star service and extensive A-list clientele; yet the bar has been raised even higher with the latest newcomer. Situated […]

The 5 hotels you need to stay at when visiting Italy

The 5 hotels you need to stay at when visiting Italy

By on Sep 21, 2021 in Accommodation, Europe, Hotels, Italy, Regions, Western Europe

Italy, a land that has always been a major attraction for tourist from around the world, and for good reasons. Who doesn’t love a country where the most amazing food is always around the corner, historic buildings, sites and names are more frequent than the Piccadilly line in London and where people always seem to […]

The best beaches in the world to visit by boat

The best beaches in the world to visit by boat

By on Sep 21, 2021 in Bahamas, Brazil, California, Caribbean, Cruises & Boat Travel, Europe, Florida, France, Georgia, Greece, Michigan, Middle East, North America, Puerto Rico, Regions, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South America, South Carolina, Speciality Travel, Turkey, US Virgin Islands, USA, Western Europe

With lots of vacations still on hold, we find ourselves daydreaming of when we can travel freely once again. YachtWorld has listed all the best beaches in the world, only accessible by boat. Vacations and short trips are always good ways to unwind and re-energize ourselves. For many people who love to explore and seek […]

Top 5 Scottish drinks not to be missed

Top 5 Scottish drinks not to be missed

By on Sep 19, 2021 in Europe, Food and Drink, Regions, Travel Miscellany, United Kingdom, Western Europe

Water and whisky are the two top Scottish drinks. Some people enjoy one or the other straight, whilst others mix them. A bottle of pure water has become a constant companion for many of us over the past years so that we can avoid dehydration in order to stay fit and healthy. Other drinking delights […]

Re-connect with nature in Italy’s Aosta Valley

Re-connect with nature in Italy’s Aosta Valley

By on Sep 18, 2021 in Europe, Italy, Regions, Western Europe

Best known in winter for its ski resorts, Aosta Valley, the smallest region in Italy is also home to rich natural heritage of rare beauty, including protected areas, sites belonging to the Natura 2000 ecological network and mountain botanical gardens. The region encompasses a total of 10 nature reserves including wetlands, areas populated by butterflies, […]

The 10 best towns for a long weekend in Italy

The 10 best towns for a long weekend in Italy

By on Sep 18, 2021 in Europe, Italy, Regions, Western Europe

The artistic, cultural and gastronomic heritage of Italy is truly immense and allows us to designate numerous interesting destinations where it is possible to spend a wonderful weekend, with family, friends or your other half. In this list, we have selected the 10 best towns to visit in Italy at any time of the year, […]

Hotel Do Placa Reial in Barcelona

Our favourite luxury hotels in Barcelona

By on Sep 17, 2021 in Accommodation, Europe, Hotels, Regions, Spain, Western Europe

Any time of the year is ideal to take a holiday in Barcelona. However, if you are chasing the sun then the months of May through to September would probably suit you better. Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, and the capital of the region of Catalonia.  Located on the Mediterranean coast, Barcelona […]

5 best hotels to stay in Paris this Fall

5 best hotels to stay in Paris this Fall

By on Sep 15, 2021 in Accommodation, Europe, France, Hotels, Regions, Western Europe

Paris, the City of Light, is one of the world’s most charming and romantic destinations. This fall, Paris is reopening to all the joys of this time of year in France’s beautiful capital city. The cool misty mornings and balmy evenings invite walks along the Seine or in the fall colors of the parks and […]

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 10

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 10

By on Sep 10, 2021 in Europe, Family Travel, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

It was a leisurely start to the day, waking up to our beautiful view of the Firth of Clyde. We had had this spot all to ourselves overnight. Today, was the day where we would pick up our dog George before heading to Glasgow for one final adventure. We had chosen to go whitewater rafting […]

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 9

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 9

By on Sep 09, 2021 in Europe, Family Travel, Going Out, Leisure Travel, Regions, Restaurants, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

Today was our final day with Go West Sailing. We set off fairly promptly today and had breakfast on the move as we had around 10 naturical miles to cover – from Port Bannatyne to Largs – and then we needed to re-fuel and unload our belongings, etc. all prior to lunch. We had to […]

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 8

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 8

By on Sep 08, 2021 in Europe, Family Travel, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

Portavadie is much more than just a marina. It’s a luxury resort with a variety of accommodation options from luxury apartments and lodges to guest bedrooms, couples hideaways and motorhome facilities. It’s also home to a restaurant, bar and shop, as well as spa and leisure facilities. We took the opportunity to use the gym […]

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 7

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 7

By on Sep 07, 2021 in Europe, Family Travel, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

We practiced on the moorings at Otter Ferry today – both hooking on to them and safely leaving them. We had arrived in darkness the previous night and anchored just a short disstance away from them. Whilst we were fine with what we had done, the moorings would have given added peace of mind (particularly […]

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 6

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 6

By on Sep 06, 2021 in Europe, Family Travel, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

We did a bit of pontoon practise with Go West Sailing this morning – practising our ‘spring starts’ where the stern stays close to the pontoon, as well as practising coming into a pontoon – before heading out to sea, when something immediately caught our eye. We motored out to what looked like dolphins or […]

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 5

An active family holiday in Scotland: Day 5

By on Sep 05, 2021 in Europe, Family Travel, Leisure Travel, Regions, Speciality Travel, United Kingdom, Western Europe

Last Summer our eldest son did his RYA Day Skipper qualification (which you can do once you turn 16) with Go West Sailing and our plan this year had been for him to do the next step up – his RYA Coastal Skipper. You do need to quite a bit of study for this but, […]