Kevin Rushby

A week-long sailing journey through the Ionian Sea retraces locations linked to Homer’s Odyssey while blending myth, modern culture and personal adventure. Stops on Kalamos, Kefalonia, Ithaca and Meganisi reveal archaeological sites, local traditions and dramatic landscapes, alongside encounters with wildlife and village life. References to Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film adaptation highlight the enduring influence of Odysseus’s story. The voyage offers tranquillity, exploration and a sense of discovery, concluding with reflections on the region’s beauty and the inspiration drawn from Homeric legend.

A multi-day trek across Spain’s Picos de Europa reveals dramatic mountain landscapes, rare wildlife and a resilient pastoral culture. Hikers visit off-grid refuges, encounter traditional cheesemakers and observe chamois, vultures and Alpine flora while navigating steep glacial terrain. Guides highlight climbing routes around Picu Urriellu, and local experts describe ongoing cave-mapping efforts. The journey emphasizes sustainable travel, scenic ferry routes and the endurance of high-mountain traditions.

A festival in Chamonix offers hands-on mountain skills training ranging from rock and ice climbing to geology, photography and botany, guided by expert climbers and instructors. Participants of all levels, including beginners and underprivileged youth, take part in outdoor clinics while enjoying evening music and social events. Encounters with prominent climbers and guides highlight the festival’s community atmosphere. A concluding visit to Geneva includes additional climbing instruction that reinforces skill development and confidence.

The 75th anniversary of the UK’s national parks is marked through a personal exploration of the Lake District, Eryri and Dartmoor, celebrating their beauty, heritage and resilience while offering practical advice for avoiding crowds. The narrative highlights iconic landscapes, historic figures who shaped outdoor culture, and recommended routes for quieter experiences. Despite increased popularity and environmental pressures, the parks continue to provide opportunities for solitude, adventure and natural discovery.

Residents of Príncipe are receiving quarterly payments for adhering to an environmental protection code as part of a large-scale sustainable development initiative funded by billionaire Mark Shuttleworth. More than 60% of adults have joined the Faya Foundation project, which supports conservation, provides financial guidance and revitalizes agriculture. The effort includes building new villages, improving schools and promoting alternative employment such as wildlife guiding. Supporters view the program as transformative, though some locals express concerns about dependency and potential unintended consequences. Its progress is being monitored as a potential model for protecting other fragile ecosystems.

A guided walk on the North York Moors highlights how focusing on bird sounds rather than sightings reveals unexpected behaviours, especially song thrushes mimicking multiple species. Guide Richard Baines demonstrates how the Merlin identification app enhances learning while exposing gaps in knowledge, including instances of mimicry mistaken for rare birds. The walk concludes with sightings of large flocks of pink‑footed and Russian white‑fronted geese, and the later discovery of a rare tundra bean goose, underscoring unusual migration patterns driven by extreme cold in eastern Europe.

Community‑run pubs, cafes and shops along the Llŷn peninsula showcase a strong tradition of local action, enriching the Wales Coast Path experience. Walking routes link restored villages, historic sites and coastal scenery, with venues such as Tafarn y Fic, Tafarn y Plu and Ty’n Llan illustrating successful community ownership. Heritage railways and cultural landmarks complement the region’s landscapes, highlighting a blend of collective effort, history and tourism across this part of Wales.

A trek from Imlil to the summit of Toubkal highlights rapid change in Morocco’s mountain communities, where tourism now dominates local livelihoods. Guided by Hussein, the journey passes traditional villages, a historic shrine and an overnight stop at Les Mouflons before reaching the crowded but panoramic summit. An additional climb reveals remnants of a 1969 aircraft crash tied to Biafra’s civil war. Kasbah du Toubkal, rebuilt after earthquake damage, serves as a base supporting local education initiatives, while growing tourism brings new businesses and modern amenities. The author reflects on alternative peaks and the evolving balance between tradition and development in the region.

A three‑day walk along the Mortimer Trail from Ludlow to Kington traces the legacy of Sir Roger Mortimer across peaceful countryside marked by medieval conflict. The route highlights Ludlow’s historic sites, woodland paths, panoramic hill forts and reminders of borderland warfare, with stays at local lodges and inns known for strong hospitality. The trail ends near Offa’s Dyke before reaching Kington, supported by updated guide materials and transport assistance from local hosts.

A multi-day island-hopping trip through Sweden’s northern Gothenburg archipelago highlights bioluminescent waters, coastal trails, local wildlife and folklore, and the region’s cultural ties to music and seafaring. Guided kayaking, climbing, and boat tours provide access to remote islands, while local transport links make travel straightforward. A 15th-century church on Öckerö, famed for its dramatic ceiling frescoes, offers a striking finale before returning to Gothenburg.

A travel account of a visit to the Sami community of Grövelsjön in Dalarna, where traditional reindeer herding is practiced using both ancestral knowledge and modern tools such as drones. Guided by members of a herding family, the experience highlights cultural history, challenges from predators, and efforts to present authentic Sami life while supporting the local economy. Encounters with the herd, time spent in remote cabins and a night in a tipi offer insight into the rhythms and continuity of Sami traditions.

Herefordshire’s half‑timbered villages, medieval churches and untouched farmhouses provided an atmospheric backdrop for the film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet, standing in for Shakespeare’s Stratford. Weobley, Pembridge and surrounding countryside offered authentic Elizabethan character, while sites such as Cwmmau farmhouse contributed both evocative settings and benefited from conservation supported by location fees. The piece blends historical connections, walking routes and local highlights, presenting the region as an ideal setting for exploring Shakespearean landscapes.

A six-week riverboat journey from the Andes to Belém highlights the Amazon’s ecological diversity and the complex role of tourism in sustainability. Local communities describe the economic importance of products such as açaí, which provides an alternative to environmentally damaging activities like ranching and poaching. Encounters on river islands reveal how mixed agroforestry supports livelihoods while preserving biodiversity. The narrative connects these experiences to broader regional concerns as Belém prepares to host COP30, underscoring the need for sustainable tourism models that benefit residents and protect fragile ecosystems.

A rail journey from London to the Swedish Arctic leads to a challenging ski ascent to the Låktatjåkko mountain hut, where sudden whiteouts, extreme winds and disorientation test endurance. After retreating from an attempted summit in worsening conditions, the author finds warmth, food and camaraderie in the remote hut before continuing on to Riksgränsen for calmer skiing and lodgings. The trip highlights Arctic weather unpredictability, the rigours of uphill skiing and the appeal of Sweden’s northern mountain resorts.

A multi‑day walk along the Llŷn peninsula follows sections of the Wales Coast Path, linking beaches, coves and villages with cafes and seafood spots. Periods of stormy weather alternate with clear breaks, enabling visits to coastal pubs, campsites and cafes offering cakes, local fish and lobster. Encounters with wildlife, strong tides near Bardsey Island and Welsh‑speaking communities punctuate the route. The trip highlights varied food experiences, changing coastal scenery and the importance of well‑timed tea and cake stops.

A walk along the lesser-visited south‑east Cornwall section of the South West Coast Path highlights secluded coves, wooded climbs, historic sites and changing perceptions of the region, from JMW Turner’s early sketches to today’s quieter landscapes. After navigating beaches, cliffs and the occasional naturist surprise, the route passes Portwrinkle, Rame Head and Cawsand before crossing by ferry into Plymouth, whose revitalised waterfront softens old memories. Despite a detour around Ministry of Defence land, the journey offers rewarding scenery, wildlife and history, culminating in a positive reassessment of this overlooked stretch of coast.

A remote former fishing village in northwest Norway is experiencing a modest revival as returning residents and adventurous visitors restore activity to its harbour, trails and surrounding wildlife-rich coast. Guided boat trips, hikes and kelp‑forest swims highlight the area’s dramatic landscape while locals balance hopes for renewal with concerns about overtourism, drawing lessons from nearby Lofoten. Efforts to preserve heritage, strengthen community and manage sustainable development shape the village’s attempts to maintain its character amid growing interest.

Several notable UK ferry routes are highlighted for their scenery, wildlife encounters and historic character, ranging from the whale‑rich crossing to the Isles of Scilly to the hazardous but dramatic route between Berneray and Harris. Routes on the River Dart, Harwich harbour, the River Wye and the Glenelg–Skye passage are also described, each offering unique landscapes, heritage features and memorable short voyages.

A trip to the Isles of Scilly highlights the islands’ distinctive subtropical landscapes, abundant flora and varied wildlife, though hoped‑for whale sightings prove elusive. Guided walks, boat tours and explorations across St Agnes, Gugh, Tresco and nearby uninhabited isles reveal seals, seabirds and unique habitats shaped by conservation efforts and the islands’ isolation. Unplanned detours bring unexpected discoveries, including sea caves and hidden beaches, while ferry travel, gardens and local history round out the experience, underscoring the islands’ appeal regardless of wildlife luck.

The writer explores Northern Ireland’s Mourne Mountains in search of the UK’s finest mountain panorama, hiking peaks including Slieve Donard, Slieve Binnian and Knockchree. Despite persistent sea haze obscuring long-distance views, the area offers striking landscapes, rich cultural associations with Narnia and Game of Thrones, and rewarding routes close to the coast. Local history, granite formations and welcoming towns enhance the experience, supported by accessible accommodation and transport options.