The benefits of using public transport in the UK

I'm a big believer in using public transport even when it's not all plain sailing I feel the pros outweigh the cons and using public transport in the UK offers a range of advantages for individuals and communities alike. From lowering environmental impact to reducing travel costs, public transport provides a more sustainable way to get around. It can also help to ease congestion on busy roads and reduce the chance of any road traffic accident claims occurring by decreasing the number of cars in use. Keep reading as we explore the key benefits of public transport and how it supports a safer, greener transport network.   Environmental benefits of public transport It’s well known that cars are a huge contributor to climate change. In fact, road travel was responsible for around 91% of the UK’s 99 million tonnes of carbon emissions. This is a huge number, driven primarily by the vast amount of cars and personal vehicles on UK roads. While personal vehicles offer convenience, publ......

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What to do in Switzerland for a Weekend Getaway

I've been lucky enough to visit Switzerland three times and I still have a yearning to go back and see more as it's a land of towering mountains, crystal-clear lakes and charming villages and you can see why it's a popular destination for weekend getaways no matter what time of year you choose to visit. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation or cultural immersion, Switzerland has it all. In this post we we'll explore some of the best things to do and places to visit during your weekend break. Hike the Swiss Alps One of the most iconic experiences in Switzerland is hiking through the breathtaking Swiss Alps. With thousands of kilometres of well-maintained trails, there's something for all ages and abilities to enjoy. From easy strolls to challenging treks, there's a hike to suit your fitness and interests. Some of the most popular hiking destinations include Zermatt, Interlaken and Grindelwald – it’s advisable to plan a hiking trip during the warmer mon......

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5 ways to live more sustainably in 2024

* This post may contain affiliate links.   Now more than ever we know we need to do what we can in terms of cutting down our personal impact on the earth and that some of our daily habits need to be changed to encourage this. However, it's not a bad thing, in fact, these changes usually have a positive effect all round and are fairly easy to implement. Changes like this also need to be seen as long-term goals and nothing one and one situation - I've already do most of these things.  So here are 5 ways to live more sustainably this year 1.  Travel - focus on flight-free destinations and reduce your car use  We all love to go on holiday but if you are based in the UK with Europe right on your doorstep, there are so many ways to completely cut out flying while still enjoying a sunny destination while taking advantage of the fantastic trains and bus networks across Europe. Travelling by public transport is the most sustainable and often economical way to go, in 2022......

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London to Edinburgh on the Caledonian Sleeper Train

A couple of weeks ago we got to tick one of the bucket list by taking the overnight Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Edinburgh and back and it was certainly an experience we won't forget for a long time and is a great way to embrace slow travel and arrive in a different city in a unique way. We had an amazing break in the Scottish Capital which I will share in a larger post but for this one I just want to focus on our family sleeper train experience. Now I have done a few sleeper trains before across Europe a few years back but the UK has a pretty limited service when it come to overnight train travel. Firstly I would like to point out that all of the Caledonian Sleeper trains are being upgraded and rolled out later this year, around October time and I think this is going to have a massively positive impact on the service this line will provide and the timing is perfect. During our trip we couldn't fault the attentiveness and professionalism of the staff althoug......

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Start your own adventure with Great Western Railway and Win

Cardiff Castle, just one of the fantastic sites in the Welsh Capital  As a family we love nothing more than exploring what is on our doorstep here in Wales and the UK as there is simply so much to see and do and plenty of adventures waiting to be had from beach breaks and countryside hideaways to vibrant cities we have it all. Great Western Railway has fantastic routes across the UK taking you from Swansea to London, Penzance to Oxford and many more. We love trips by train and have taken many over the years as a family, it's such a relaxing way to travel as appose to driving, you can sit back and watch the world go by while the kids colour in, no stressful petrol stops or taking the wrong exit on the motorway and that is why I am promoting the #GWRAdventures competition which gives you the chance to win a pair of First Class tickets to any destination on their route.  Castle Coch, another beautiful castle to explore if ......

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A Parisian Adventure

Well where to start? We managed to fit quite a lot into our 3 days in Paris before heading down to the South of France. I thought I would do an overview post of what we got up to with smaller more in-depth posts on our favourite things we did, including an amazing lunch on the left bank as an early 30th birthday present from John. As soon as we stepped off the Eurostar into the city of lights and found our lovely little Airbnb apartment, which was conveniently located near the Seine river, we were out the door walking along the riverside on our way to the Notre Dame and the love lock bridge. It was a lovely warm evening and Mr A loved running past all the boats and taking in the inspiring scenery. We had heard of a good Falafel place near the Notre Dame but after wondering the little streets we settled for some fresh hand stretched pizza, a big chunky vegetable one, which was light and super tasty, I know it's not really typical French food but it was getting late so we went ......

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Snippets from the Road - Zagreb

One of my favourite memories from my solo travels before Mr A was taking the overnight train from Zurich across Slovenia into Croatia and the capital city of Zagreb. Leaving Zurich was like leaving the first world and then stepping back in time - the train was amazing in itself - wood panelling everywhere and the train conductor chain smoking the entire way while stamping tickets in his baby blue suit. I shared my couchette with two rather large Bosnian men who at first I was a bit weary off but they ended up being really nice people and we had some interesting conversations. Upon leaving the EU and crossing into Croatia meant having the once over from the boarder patrol who were perplexed by why I was travelling on my own and who spent a rather long time looking at my passport, in the end of course everything was alright. Pulling up into Zagreb Station which looked somewhat rundown with many walls scribbled over with spray paint didn't full me with confidence but......

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