Chris and I have just got back from an impromptu minibreak on Cornwall’s south coast – a beautiful landscape of tidal creeks, secluded coves, wooded valleys and windswept headlands that we always enjoy visiting. I’ve added some new finds from the trip to my existing posts about the area, but today I’m sharing an in-depth look at a place that’s become a firm Cornish favourite for both of us: the Lost Gardens of Heligan, located near the fishing village of Mevagissey, a few miles from St Austell. Formerly the estate of the Tremayne family, Heligan’s sprawling gardens fell into disrepair after ..read more

It’s time for the final instalment in my series rounding up the stylish accommodation options in Portugal that I came across while planning and researching last year’s 10-day road trip through the country with a friend. I’ve already covered the best places to stay in the eastern Algarve, the rural Alentejo region and the coastal resort of Comporta, and today it’s the turn of the Douro Valley – our penultimate stop before we ended our journey in Porto. This was actually my second time in the Douro Valley, having spent a few days there with my husband back in 2015, but I was more than happy to ..read more

Happy New Year! I hope you’re having a good January so far. It’s a gloomy, rain-soaked day here in Bristol, so for my first post of 2024 I’m sharing a bit of escapism with a peek at Sjöparken – a beautiful new hotel concept with calming, minimalist design, set amid the undulating fields of Ästad Vineyard in Halland, western Sweden. Designed by Norm Architects, Sjöparken consists of seven villas with four guest suites apiece, clustered around a lake at the heart of the estate. The emphasis throughout is very much on the natural landscape, with understated architecture that blurs the boundarie ..read more

There are some places that I know I’m going to end up returning to again and again. The Sandy Duck, a boutique B&B in the buzzing Cornish harbour town of Falmouth, is one of them. Chris and I first visited for my birthday in August 2017 and we both loved its pared-back, gently quirky interiors, its laid-back atmosphere and its stunning position on a headland between two sandy beaches. We couldn’t resist heading back there for a cosy winter break earlier this year, and it was just as special as we remembered. So, I thought it was high time I updated my review with some new photographs and ..read more

Today I’m continuing my series sharing some of the gorgeous accommodation options that I came across while researching my recent road trip through Portugal with a round-up of the best hotels, B&Bs and holiday rentals in Comporta. Set on the Sado river estuary in the Alentejo region and surrounded by salt marshes, pine forests and rice fields, the village of Comporta is ideal for a laid-back beach escape. Its vast stretch of white sand has made it increasingly popular with visitors, but the area’s status as a protected reserve (home to flamingoes, dolphins, storks and more) means it remai ..read more

We’re taking a virtual trip to the southern Italian region of Puglia today, for a look around the latest addition to Danish brand Vipp’s collection of design-led guest accommodation: Villa Vipp. Since the creation of the initial Vipp Shelter by a Swedish lake, Vipp has been steadily growing its portfolio of bookable one-of-kind hideaways, each showcasing beautiful architecture, stunning interiors and a deep connection with its setting. The villa is the third to open outside Scandinavia, following on the heels of Casa Vipp in Andorra and the pop-up Palazzo Monti near Milan, and sits in the co ..read more

Today I’m continuing my series rounding up stylish hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and holiday rentals in Portugal by focusing on the Alentejo region – the second leg of my recent Portuguese road trip with my friend Becky. This was actually my second visit to the Alentejo, having travelled there with my mum back in 2015, and I loved it just as much as I did the first time around. One of most sparsely populated areas of Europe, it covers roughly a third of the country and is largely rural, with vast cork forests, lakes, olive groves, wildflower meadows and cattle snoozing under trees. It’s perf ..read more

Few countries do stylish, affordable places to stay better than Portugal. I’ve found myself spoilt for choice whenever I’ve travelled there, and my recent 10-day Portuguese road trip with a friend was no exception. We came across plenty of gems when researching and planning our itinerary, so I thought I’d share my top picks with you – starting with eight beautiful boutique hotels, B&Bs and holiday rentals in the eastern Algarve, where we began our journey. Stretching from Faro to the Spanish border, the eastern Algarve encompasses wild countryside, pristine beaches, Moorish castles, post ..read more

I’ve featured a few projects by Norwegian design studio Ask og Eng over the years, and today I’m excited to share a peek inside the beautiful home of its founders, Kine Ask Sternersen and Kristoffer Eng. Currently open to visit and available to rent for overnight stays while the couple temporarily relocate to Mallorca with their children, it’s located in Drammen, just south west of Oslo. It dates from 1868 and has been lovingly restored, with Kine and Kristoffer reconfiguring the layout to suit modern living while preserving as much of the building’s historic character as possible. The resul ..read more

Today I’m continuing my series rounding up stylish hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses and holiday rentals in Portugal by focusing on the Alentejo region – the second leg of my recent Portuguese road trip with my friend Becky. This was actually my second visit to the Alentejo, having travelled there with my mum back in 2015, and I loved it just as much as I did the first time around. One of most sparsely populated areas of Europe, it covers roughly a third of the country and is largely rural, with vast cork forests, lakes, olive groves, wildflower meadows and cattle snoozing under trees. It’s perf ..read more