MSH Backup

One of the things which makes visiting Ireland so special is the opportunities which it offers to spend so much time outside, soaking up both the fresh air and stunning scenery. As well as exploring The Causeway Coast , during our recent trip we also made a point of visiting Glenariff Forest Park, a jewel in the crown of the nine Antrim Glens. Glenariff itself is known as the Queen of the Glens, and stands out as one of the most beautiful places I think I’ve ever visited:  Home to nature trials and waterfall walks, it really is hard to put into words just how special Glenariff is- and even in the rain it was still a fantastic afternoon out. We chose to follow both the Rainbow Bridge and Waterfall Walk trials, about 3.5 kilometres in total. With lots of up and downhill trekking, we made sure to pace ourselves as much as possible, and if you’re planning a visit I’d definitely recommend popping to the loo before setting off and making sure you’ve got a bottle of water. I honestly lost...

At the end of last month, along with Hannah, Michelle and Sophie, I was lucky enough to make a return visit to the beautiful Causeway Coast. Staying in the same beautiful corner of County Antrim as I did back in 2016, it was so lovely to once again be surrounded by breathtaking scenery, lush expanses of green and to see the sea- an instant tonic if ever there was one. We were lucky enough that the weather on our first day was glorious, and the perfect motivation to get up and explore our beautiful surroundings: Starting with our now customary visit to The Giant’s Causeway, we walked from our base near Bushmills to see Finn McCool after breakfast, and I don’t think I could ever get tired of these beautiful surroundings- there really is nowhere better to be on a sunny day, with the wind in your hair and the sea spray on your face! The only slight downside is just how busy it was- needless to say this little corner of the world isn’t designed for the countless coaches ploughing up and dow...

Up until quite recently, I’m ashamed to say that I hadn’t seen all that much of the UK, but 2018 so far has been a year of considerably more exploration than I've previously been used to. After visiting Devon for the first time back in July , August saw in another adventure in the shape of a trip to Oxford, primarily for a very exciting visit to Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace. However, with an hour or so to while away in the city, I found myself with the perfect opportunity to make an introduction to this most photogenic of locations: As someone who grew up reading His Dark Materials , I found myself exploring this beautiful historic city with my eyes permanently protruding, eager to take in as much as I possibly could. I by no means saw everything (offering the perfect opportunity to make a return visit), but what I did see was absolutely glorious. Densely packed with history, every corner has something new to draw you in, and with more magical architecture than I've seen...

Just over a fortnight ago, I made my first trip to Devon! I'm quite frankly embarrassed that it's taken me all of my 28 years to make it down there, but this visit has got me well and truly converted. Along with a gang of fabulous friends, I had a lovely sun-soaked weekend, complete with blue skies and sea air in abundance- as well as lots of laughs too:  We stayed in Appledore, which is a picture postcard fishing village at the mouth of the River Torridge. Complete with pastel painted house, a plethora of pubs and beautiful beachfront walks, it was the ideal getaway from London life- a heavenly way to recharge and relax away from the hubbub of the city. As well as exploring Appledore itself, we also hopped on the ferry over to Instow beach for a Saturday morning stroll (in the company of some of the happiest dogs I think I've ever seen!), and a spot of lunch at The Glorious Oyster- well worth visiting if you're in the area and looking for some sublime seafood. Generall...