Islands in the sun

After taking early retirement in 2022, we embraced vanlife full-time, exploring both the UK and Europe. Travelling at home and abroad has become a central part of our lives and, in the summer of 2024,

We had thought that our Munro-bagging days were over, in spite of only ever having managed to bag a dozen of the 282 total in more than 30 years of hill walking. However, our son had bought me a guide

Explore nine spectacular islands on scenic ferry trips, visiting historic monuments and idyllic beaches

Katy Stickland introduces her non-sailing family to life afloat on a charter holiday in Greece’s spectacular Ionian Sea

Celebrating 100 years of the BBC Shipping Forecast, Jane Russell takes us on a series of coastal cruises through the forecast sea areas, exploring some of the special places on offer in each of them

Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap. “Oh, there it goes – that wee one’s for the pot.” The mussel in my hand slowly and silently hinges shut, like a lid on a fancy electronic bin. “If it closes completely that’s