While the focus of my trip to Finland was on wild swimming, there was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity to swim at the world-famous Allas Sea Pool. The complex can be found down in the harbour and consists of three pools and a number of saunas. It is run entirely […]
Ice swimming in Lake Kuusijärvi, Finland
It’s been a long held ambition of mine to take a dip in an ice hole in Finland. This February I travelled to Helsinki with this express purpose in mind. Despite being late on in the winter, the sea had not yet frozen and we had to head out of the city centre to find […]
Taking the plunge: Ilkley Lido swim + lido wedding
It was officially the height of summer – June 21st – when I headed to Ilkley Lido for a nice and sunny swim. Despite it being the longest day of the year and one with the sun high in the sky, the water temperature was 16.4 degrees C and the air temperature 18.9 degrees C, […]
10 unmissable things to do on Sao Miguel in the Azores
When it comes to must-do things on the Azores’ main island, Sao Miguel does not disappoint. It’s a haven of nature and beauty set apart from mainland Portugal by more than 1,500 kilometres of ocean. View the lagoas from above The chances are that any pictures you’ve seen of Sao Miguel feature stunning lakes photographed […]
Amsterdam’s top 5 bars, according to a Dutch beer expert
When it comes to Dutch beer, Andy Hickson knows his stuff*. So much so that he founded Cafe Amsterdam, a pop-up event that brings some of his favourite brews from the Netherlands to the good people of Newcastle and beyond. But where did Andy get his knowledge and love of Dutch beer? The best bars […]
Beat the crowds to Budapest’s Memento Park
Budapest’s Memento Park is a unique attraction in that it houses the statues that were removed from the city and other parts of Hungary after the fall of Communism in 1989. There are a number of familiar faces, such as Lenin, as well as broad-shouldered soldiers and healthy-looking workers. Visitors also get the chance to […]
