Kiel
The world’s busiest man-made shipping channel, the Kiel Canal, stretches almost 120 miles from Holtenau on the Baltic coast of Germany, to Brunsbuttel on the North Sea coast. The ‘Nord-Ostsee-Kanal’, […]
Category Archives: Countries
Zwolle & Emden
Zwolle’s history as an important Hanseatic League port town intrigued us, situated as it is inland in North East Holland. Today the bustling university town has claimed the historic centre […]
The fortress towns of Bergues & Hulst
Robert Louis Stephenson said that “to travel hopefully is better than to arrive” and he made a good point. The journey, ultimately, is the reward for all of those who […]
Basque Coast & Bilbao
Any port in storm, as the saying goes. In Zumaia, on April Fools’ Day, we found a port but needed greater cover from the battering southerly wind that was hurling […]
Donastia-San Sebastian
Ah Donostia! A simply beautiful curve in the Bay of Biscay, once visited and never forgotten. Our sat-nav brought us off the toll road a junction too early and navigating […]
Dune du Pilat & Atlantic Coast beaches
In 2012 we had clambered up the enormous and other-worldly Dune du Pilat to gaze in wonder at the lunar landscape bathed in a surreal light. It was surprisingly hard-going […]
Arcachon Bay & Atlantic Coast
The west coast of Bordeaux running south towards the Spanish border is perhaps a corner of France you can do without, when out of season. Fighting against a strong headwind […]
Saintes
For anyone who loves wandering off a beaten path and being rewarded with the sights of everyday Roman life, Saintes is a destination. Quietly situated off the route south to […]
Fougères & Vitré
A medieval stronghold on a rocky promontory, Fougères is protected by a magnificent feudal castle whose towers and walls are amongst the largest in Europe. The castle was originally begun […]
Cancale & Baie du Mont Saint-Michel
Spring needed to have sprung and with no sign of the coldest March on record easing, we escaped the snows on the South coast by catching a ferry to France. […]
