10 of the best cycling trail holidays in the UK

Popular bike trails for all, taking in canals, forests and seaside as well as cyclist-friendly places to stayStretching for 51km around the Isle of Thanet, the Viking Trail can be split into shorter, family-friendly day rides, while the entire route makes a great two-day trip, combining long stretches of coast and vibrant seaside towns including Margate...

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20 of the coolest holiday cabins in Europe

From Scandinavian rustic-luxe to floating eco-cabins in the south of France, we pick cosy and stylish hideaways in forests and lakelandFor Big Foot types who want to occasionally come out of the forest to visit the Hendersons, the Stayokay Hostel Apeldoorn offers the best of both worlds: a designer cabin in woodlands on the edge of the small city of...

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A Dracula-themed walk to a great pub: Kilmarnock Arms, Cruden Bay

Dracula is 125 this month. This walk takes in the castle and treacherous coast that inspired Bram Stoker, and ends in the pub where he began writing the book‘And here one day, to the sound of the sea on the Scottish shore, Count Dracula made his entry,” wrote Bram Stoker biographer Harry Ludlam.Dracula’s creator had never been to Transylvania when he...

2d

Lake District cafe owner fights holiday lets with plan to ’buy back’ town

Brick By Brick campaign aims to save Keswick from second and third homeowners pricing out localsChinty Turnbull fully expects people will say she’s taken leave of her senses as she outlines her bold plan of action. She wants to reclaim a Lake District honeypot town – “buy it back, brick by brick”.“I think a lot of people think I am mad, yes,” she said....

3d

Covid restrictions still in place for UK travellers in Europe

While many rules have been lifted, holidaymakers must still comply with each European country’s varied, and extended, rulesFamilies from the UK who are heading abroad for the spring half-term break continue to face a complex array of Covid testing requirements as restrictions for popular destinations remain in place.While the UK has relaxed all Covid...

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‘Really cool, day or night’: readers’ top modern European architecture

From a giant Gulliver in Spain to a sleek basking whale in Budapest, readers tip 10 destinations with stunning contemporary buildingsThe Hamsun Centre in Hamarøy, northern Norway (a couple of hours by boat from Bodø), is dedicated to Norway’s most famous novelist, Knut Hamsun (1859-1952), hailed by many as the father of modern Norwegian literature....

3d

‘I was dog-tired but exhilarated’: hiking the UK’s Coast to Coast route

A solo hike on the celebrated 192-mile route from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay brought our writer solace after the death of her motherLying back on the grass, I exhaled for what seemed like the first time in 18 months. I was miles away from civilisation and a world away from the long days of solo lockdown in my London flat.Now I was alone again, but...

3d

Bandits, beaches and Roman baths – Andalucía’s wild side

Away from the main cities, the region’s dusty plains and green mountains offer hiking, ancient ruins and no crowds, as the author of a new guide revealsThe golden sands south from Cádiz form part of the Costa de la Luz and run to the southernmost tip of continental Europe at Tarifa. This is one of the least-visited stretches of Andalucían coast, but...

4d

Tell us about your favourite Portuguese beach for the chance to win a £200 prize

Share a tip on a seaside gem in Portugal: the best wins £200 towards a Sawday’s stayThe Algarve’s beaches are a major destination, but for many the best of the country’s 1,700km coastline lies beyond this tourist hotspot – from sandy coves below the lush Sintra hills north of Lisbon to the expansive, clean sands of Nazaré – one of Portugal’s top surf...

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Do I need a mask to fly? Check carefully as European rules change

France has relaxed its rules, but holidaymakers heading for Greece, Italy and Spain will need masks for several more weeksRules for wearing face masks while travelling abroad remain complex for British holidaymakers as EU nations adopt differing approaches. The European Union announced that from Monday (16 May), masks would no longer be required for...

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