22 h. ago Cheap flights, blissful sunshine... and no crowds! I've spent 21 years as a travel writer and these are the 18 places you must visit for some October sun: ROB CROSSAN

Most holidaymakers are aware of the 'shoulder season'. The expression refers to the months on either side of the peak summer travel season, when holiday hotspots are quieter than usual.

Transport

57 h. ago 'I'm a travel writer and Greece's best island isn't Crete, Corfu or Santorini'

This small Greek island is dubbed as better than Corfu, Crete and Santorini, according to a travel writer, with a modest range of activities and sights, relaxation and serenity.

Politics

7 d. ago Hidden gem Scottish airport bar with 'great range of drinks' better than 'soulless' chains

Travel writer Mark Jones named an Edinburgh Airport bar as one of the UK’s best, saying it made journeys from his local airport “a lot more jolly.”

Politics

2 w. ago ‘We cannot do it the way our fathers did’: farmers across Europe struggle to adapt to the climate crisis

As wildfires rage in southern Europe and crop losses only set to increase in the coming years, producers are getting creative to beat the heat“I’m not ready to change jobs,” says Stellios Boutaris, a wine producer with vineyards in Naoussa and Amyndeon in northern Greece, as well as on the island of Santorini. But, he adds, “we cannot do it the way our fathers did.”Boutaris is determined to keep producing in the region and keep the family business going but says “the curve is not looking good” as the climate crisis puts pressure on producers across the Mediterranean. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago When my birth mother rejected me, another woman’s words helped me heal | Corin Hirsch

I struggled to cope with her refusal to meet me, until a straight-talking judge gave me a new perspectiveSometimes we learn the deepest truths in the most quotidian moments. One afternoon when I was six, I watched a character give birth in an army tent in the sitcom M*A*S*H. I immediately rushed from the den into the kitchen with a very important question for my mother. “Did you give birth to me in a tent like that?” I blurted out, hoping to learn my origin story.Unexpectedly, my mother dashed from the room in tears. When she returned, she sat me down and broke the news I had somehow always known. “Your Uncle Ana brought you home from the hospital to Mommy and Daddy,” she said. “You’re adopted, which means we chose you.”Corin Hirsch is a writer who covers food, drink and travel Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago I'm a travel and beauty writer and these are my holiday holy grail essentials I can't go without

I'm a big believer in keeping the packing process simple - so have come up with a list of beauty must-haves so you don't have to

Politics

3 w. ago Hot springs, empty beaches, forests and wine: exploring the unspoilt Greek island of Ikaria

On a trip to the eastern Aegean isle with my mum after my dad died, we found inspiring landscapes, delicious local produce, and a profound sense of peaceThere are no signs to the hot spring, but I locate it on the map and we drive to the end of the paved road. Overlooking the sea is a stone bench someone has dedicated to her parents, “with gratitude and love as deep as the Aegean”. My dad died recently and the words strike home. I’m glad my mum has joined me on this little adventure.We walk down to the deserted cove at Agia Kyriaki thermal springs. There are old fishing shacks with stone-slab roofs, and shuttered cottages. Down an unmarked path, we find a rock pool where hot waters bubble gently from the sand, blending with the sea to a perfect temperature. Immersed in the healing mineral bath, I look up at juniper trees and blue sky, lulled by lapping waves and cicadas. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Sticky end? The British pudding faces extinction, English Heritage warns

Not just boiled or steamed desserts in danger, charity finds, households also rarely make fruit pies and crumblesAt the end of the 17th century a French travel writer who crossed the Channel was clearly impressed by the sweet, comforting treats offered to him, declaring with relish: “Ah! What an excellent thing is an English pudding!”More than three centuries on, English Heritage has sounded the alarm that the good old British pudding is facing extinction. Continue reading...

Events

last month What to expect from Heathrow’s “Redefine Your Beauty” experiences

As Heathrow launches their striking new beauty and wellness campaign in partnership with World Duty Free across four terminals this August to October, travel writer Jess Dellow considers swapping her pre-flight pint for something more restorative

Politics