My annual Thursday/Friday half-term break in February is the ideal opportunity for a trip to northern England. Combined with my regular weekend free time, it allows us to enjoy two full days exploring a location, bookended by additional space on the schedule. This year we booked accommodation in Cockermouth, a market town on the edge of the Lake District. Dolly Duster whisked us down the M74 to Carlisle, where we branched right and covered the remaining 40 miles to our destin

Last year, we spent an enjoyable week in Norfolk. The largely rural county is a haven for birdlife and there are nature reserves dotted...

We travelled up north as part of Nicole's graduation weekend. After several years of hard work, she is now a fully qualified counsellor....

Nicole and I began birdwatching a few years ago and the trip to RSPB Loch Garten (near Aviemore) has become something of an annual...

The October holidays came around and a trip to Germany was still off limits. We plumped for five days down in the southwest of Scotland....

My stash of ale had run out and a Facebook post offered the opportunity of replenishment. A socially-distanced market was being staged in...

It's amazing how easily you get used to sitting around at home if that lifestyle is enforced upon you. That said, I'm a person who always...

A major disappointment of 2019 was the closure of the Commercial Inn. Located in the heart of Dunfermline, it was my regular real-ale...

It was time for another Edinburgh German Meetup - a monthly gathering I have attended on a regular basis for many years. It involves a...

Nicole and I were both off work for a couple of days and we booked an overnight stay in Northumberland at short notice. We wanted to...

I have two weeks off every Christmas and we either stay in Scotland or fly to Germany. When at home, I like to get a supply of ale to...

The small town of Aberdour sits on a stretch of Fife coastline once known to Edinburgh Victorians as the Fife Riviera. Together with the...

A couple of months ago, I was dismayed to read on Facebook about the closure of my favourite local hostelry - the Commercial Inn. Located...

I grew up in Lochgelly, 8 miles equidistant from the larger towns of Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline. Both places have large amounts of...

Another day off work coinciding with the evening Edinburgh German meet-up. I planned a city wander for the afternoon. My route would take...

I was travelling home from work on the bus, pondering whether I should pop into the Commercial Inn for a quick pint. The pub lies just...

Another German meetup and a chance to squeeze in an Edinburgh walk beforehand. I took the bus direct from work to the city and made a...

I've long been a film buff and jumped at the chance to attend a festival just along the road in the ancient capital of Scotland. The...

I go to eastern Germany a couple of times each year. My wife Nicole is from a region known as the Uckermark which is a rural area north...

Visits to Dundee are akin to waiting for a bus! I hadn't been there in ages then three trips followed in quick succession. This time, the...