A new chapter

Once a quiet fishing village west of Lisbon, Cascais became an unlikely hive of activity during the Second World War, attracting regal refugees and intelligence operatives in equal measure. Russell Higham investigates its enduring glamour–and its connection to Casino Royale

A magical mystery tour of Marrakesh sees Helen Renshaw let go of inhibitions to discover a colourful melting pot of Arabic culture, French influence and exceptional north African cuisine

Helena Lang discovers you can wallow in your very own hot tub while the birdsong serenades you and the beautiful Lake District landscape provides stunning views at this family-owned hotel

In the land of jamón , tapas, gazpacho and flamenco, Spanish cuisine–studded with its superlative seafood–fuels the furnace within, declares Tom Parker Bowles

Exciting ways to get away from it all

The Pyrenees reserves its best treasures for walkers prepared to venture off the well-beaten trail, says Teresa Levonian Cole, on a solo holiday in Ribes de Freser