Relax in style in southern Sicily

The Donna Coraly Resort near Syracuse in southern Sicily is great for a relaxing few days, fine few and great wine. Only five rooms, it has style and individuality and is also near sights such as Ortygia, Noto, Scicli,historic Greek and Roman sights and of course, Mt Etna. Find out more from my feature for Luxury Travel magazine

http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/news-articles/a-visit-to-donna-coraly-resort-sicily-27713.php

 

A magical perspective on Cappadocia – one of the world’s incredible landscapes

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The Cappadocia region of Central Turkey is one of the most fascinating natural locations on earth.

With amazing rock formations, fairy chimneys and underground cities as well as whole villages carved out of the rock face, it is a vast area to explore.

And for one of the best perspective, viewing Cappadocia from above aboard a hot air balloon is simply unforgettable. I stayed at the argos in cappadocia hotel, which is more a network of luxurious rooms centred around a reception area, and created out of the abandoned cave dwellings. For more information, see my feature in Luxury Travel magazine:

http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/news-articles/a-visit-to-argos-in-cappadocia-26058.php

 

The fabulous Es Saadi Palace in Marrakech

Exploring the hidden corners of the medina in Marrakech and staying at the fabulous Es Saadi Palace hotel for Luxury Travel magazine – great food, wonderful atmosphere and sublime gardens and pool area to relax in and retreat to after the vibrancy of one of Africa’s great cities.

http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/news-articles/a-visit-to-es-saadi-palace-in-marrakech-24728.php

 

Active Traveller: Hiking through the Samaria Gorge

Hiking through the Samaria Gorge on Crete – one of the great day-long walks; start early in the morning, walk through this great long chasm to the coast, relax on the beach or in a taverna and then catch the boat out to Chora Skafion. Read my account in Active Traveller magazine

http://active-traveller.com/stories/hiking-hidden-crete

 

 

 

 

 

New book tells the life of a renowned Norfolk farmer

Breeding Success: My life as a Norfolk Farmer, records the life of well-known farmer and cattle breeder Gavin Alston Paterson. Breeding_success_paperback_wrap_130415.inddAcross almost 200 pages, beautifully-illustrated with photographs spanning nine decades, Gavin reflects on a fascinating life as his family established one of the finest pedigree cattle herds in the country.

The autobiography is also an historical document, telling the story of how Scottish families came down to East Anglia in the 1920s and 1930s and transformed dairy farming in the region.

For me, it was a real privilege to ghost write Gavin’s book and document how the Paterson family went on to enjoy enormous success at cattle shows – including the Royal Norfolk Show – with their pedigree Friesian (and later Holstein) cattle, over more than 60 years.

However, Breeding Success also details other important elements of Gavin’s life: his role with Young Farmers’ Clubs in Norfolk; work as a local councillor; and the role he played in establishing Worsted Festival and seeing it become one of the most popular summer events of the Norfolk calendar; and his time as a director of Norwich City Football Club from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s and as a life vice-president, is still a regular at home matches.

Breeding Success: My Life as a Norfolk Farmer is available in hardback or paperback from bookshops across East Anglia and will also be on sale at the Worstead Festival at the end of July. It is available online from www.poppyland.co.uk and from Mr Paterson at Church Farm, Smallburgh, Norfolk, tel. 01692 536226.

 

Telegraph: Cruising to the land of the midnight sun

My feature in the Daily Telegraph’s Cruise Style supplement reflected on a memorable journey the length of Norway to the North Cape and the Land of the Midnight Sun. Spectacular scenery along the coast and lovely ports, particularly Stavanger and Flam, on a cruise aboard P&O’s Oriana. Read the full article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/11330226/Norway-cruise-to-the-land-of-trolls-and-the-midnight-sun.html

Reporting from Afghanistan with 31 Squadron Tornados

Kandahar Airfield is a major base in Afghanistan and has been home for the Tornado squadrons from RAF Marham for the past five years. With British forces preparing to withdraw from Afghanistan, I spent a week with 31 Squadron at Kandahar reporting on operations for the Eastern Daily Press and also getting a first-hand insight into the scale and logistics of the British draw down from Afghanistan.

Video – Mind Blowing Scale of the Operation to Bring Forces Home

Video – RAF Marham Squadron will be the Last Tornado Detachment to Leave Afghanistan

TornadoatKandahar (2)

Travel Mail: Burning more than calories in Arizona fitness resort

The Canyon Ranch resort on the outskirts of Tuscon, Arizona, is a fabulous location. Surrounded by the mountains of Arizona, the health resort and spa can be whatever you desire – chill-out spa, boot camp, or something in between. And there are many other activities to take part in as well, such as the art of making fire in the wild. Read my piece on the Travel Mail website to find out more.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2711981/Unleash-inner-cowboy-horse-riding-fire-making-luxurious-Canyon-Ranch.html

 

Active adventures in the remote Ontario landscape

It is remote and stunningly beautiful with wildlife that includes moose, bears, eagles and mink. In an area that contains a third of the world’s supply of natural water, Ontario is a wonderful outdoor playground of forests, lakes, hiking and biking trails and is a great place to fish. Its remoteness means there are few ways in and few ways out; you can take the rumbling Agawa Canyon train into the Chapleau Wildlife Reserve through an awesome landscape and fly out aboard a seaplane for a bird’s eye view of this part of the world. Whichever way you travel, it will be a memorable and mesmerising experience. My feature in Active Traveller outlines more as part of an “Ontario special.”

http://www.active-traveller.com/stories/northern-ontario-remote-possibilities