Tag: travel

November 3, 2014 Amsterdam 3 Comments

A weekend adventure in Amsterdam…

Amsterdam is a fantastic place for a weekend getaway and 48 hours is plenty of time to discover everything this cultural city has to offer.  Plus it is only short flight from the UK so you can be exploring before you know it!
First things first it’s very easy to navigate your way from the airport into Amsterdam, with a 20 minute train journey to Centraal Station.  Once checked in to your hotel head out and explore, the Jordaan neighbourhood is a great place to stop off for a coffee or even a beer.  While in this part of town pay a visit to Anne Frank’s house.  Step through the hidden doorway and see where Anne and her family hid from the Gestapo during WWII.  It is an incredibly humbling and emotional experience, especially if you have read Anne Frank’s diary.  Tickets are €9.
Next, stroll along one of the many canals, explore the quaint streets and wonderful architecture. Look out for the narrowest houses, the smallest one can be found at Oude Hoogstraat 22 and is just 2.02 metres in width and 5 metres deep!  Hire a bike or take a boat ride and really get into the heart of the city.  The Canal Bus stops at all the major tourist spots, making it a great way to see the sights.  In the evening try some traditional Dutch cuisine.  Moeders restaurant in the Jordaan neighbourhood is popular with locals and a very quirky place to dine.  Order a tasting plate to sample all sorts of Dutch delights.
On day two I recommend visiting the Van Gough Museum, it holds a huge collection of his paintings over three floors.  Entry to the museum is €17.  The opening hours are 9am – 6pm daily and 9am – 10pm on Fridays, plenty of time to discover everything this fascinating museum has to offer.
If shopping is your thing then make your next stop the streets of the Western Canal Belt.  Vintage shops and chic boutiques line the pretty streets and are perfect for souvenir shopping.  An unusual market worth a peruse is Bloememarket, a floating market selling plants, flowers and herbs and a great place for taking those all important holiday snaps.
The Red Light District may be thought of as seedy but being one of the things that Amsterdam is famous for it is worth a visit.  Take a guided tour or stroll around by yourself, it is one of the oldest districts in Amsterdam with some great architecture and tiny cobbled streets.
Indonesian cuisine is a popular meal choice in the city and comes from the Dutch colonisation of Indonesia.  I love  Rijsttafel, a selection of Indonesian dishes that are ideal for sharing and Blauw restaurant is a great place to experience it.  Reserve a table before you arrive as it can get booked up fairly quickly.
Finally, round the 48 hours off with after dinner drinks at Dam Square and watch the world go by.  Cheers!
October 7, 2014 Camping and Glamping, New Zealand Post a Comment

Australia and New Zealand video edit with Jucy Campers…

Ad: Matt and I worked in collaboration with Jucy campers and were given our van in exchange for blog and video content.
I mentioned in my last post 10 day road trip itinerary South Island New Zealand that I would share the links to the work we did for Jucy, a campervan company that Matt and I collaborated with while we were in Australia and New Zealand, so here’s an awesome edit put together by Matt…

 

 

October 3, 2014 Camping and Glamping, New Zealand 16 Comments

10 day road trip itinerary South Island New Zealand…

I am now back from my adventures, over my jet lag and excited to share all the experiences from my road trip on New Zealand’s South Island.
Matt and I collaborated with campervan hire company Jucy; I’m looking forward to putting up links to my work for them very soon.  We had a Jucy Cabana van, it was small and compact with everything we needed, really great to drive and pretty economical too.  It came equipped with snow chains, DVD player and a ‘kitchen’ in the boot that consisted of a gas stove, storage space with crockery and cutlery and a small chiller.  It also included a duvet, pillows, linen and towels.  All ready to go!  Our Cabana didn’t have electric hook up so if you are in New Zealand during the winter months my top tip would be to purchase hot water bottles; they were a lifesaver at night!
Hiring a car or campervan is the best way to see this diverse island; it gives you the freedom to see and do what you want and to create your own adventures.  We started out from Christchurch and drove towards Lake Tekapo; I have to admit during the first 2 hours of driving we felt quite underwhelmed by our surroundings, fields and fields of sheep and scenery that reminded us of the UK!  That all changed though as we got closer to the mountains.  Miles of straight road and snow-capped mountains led us to Lake Tekapo…more about this beautiful place coming up.  From Lake Tekapo we drove to Queenstown, then to Te Anau, Milford Sound, back to Queenstown and then onto the west coast where we stopped at Hokitika and finally back to Christchurch.
I thought I would write about my favourite experiences on the South Island, so if you are planning a trip yourself make sure you don’t miss these out on your agenda…

 

Lake Tekapo:
Lake Tekapo was the first place we stopped to camp.  The campsite, Lake Tekapo Holiday Park was lovely and our pitch had uninterrupted views of the lake and the mountains.  I loved waking up to the beautiful scenery and eating porridge outside in the chilly, fresh air.  The colour of the lake is worth a mention, a mesmerising soapy blue; this comes from the minerals left in the water from past glaciers.  The small town was a short stroll along the lake and had a convenience store, a few nice coffee shops and a handful of bars and restaurants.  Our favourite was Mackenzie’s a nice, cosy bar and restaurant and a great place to escape the cold!  This was the first time in our trip that we came across Monteith’s craft beer and cider.  We tried a tasting paddle, perfect for sampling a few drinks at once!  Lake Tekapo Springs just along from the campsite had three hot pools an ice rink and a tube park.  We ice-skated and went tubing, which basically consisted of jumping on a round tube and zooming down the 150-metre snow slope!  It was brilliant fun and pretty exhilarating!

 

A lunch stop by Lake Oahu:
There were so many stunning lakes that we came across on our road trip but Lake Oahu stood out for me.  Leaving Lake Tekapo behind we drove past Lake Pukaki, Mount Cook National Park where we had fantastic views of Mount Cook from the road and stumbled across a salmon farm.  We stopped to have a look around, fed the salmon and bought a salmon and cream cheese bagel and some sashimi all produced from the farm.  We wanted to find a nice spot to enjoy our high country ‘catch’ and that’s when we came across Lake Oahu, it was a bit of a mission off the main road but well worth it.  We sat on the edge of the lake enjoying our sashimi surrounded by nothing but mountains, lake and silence.  The silence was incredible I don’t think I’ve been anywhere before where there was so much stillness.  Sometimes it’s the simple things that are the best and this is a really special memory of mine from the trip.

 

Milford Sound:
We booked a boat trip on Milford Sound with Jucy Cruize.  It was 1 hour 30 in total, we cruised all the way along to the Tasman Sea, past a beautiful waterfall and incredible scenery.  Milford gets around 8-10 meters of rainfall a year and is counted as one of the wettest places in the world, we were extremely lucky the day we went as it was sunny and dry.  It is also known for sandflies, we were lucky with that too as there weren’t too many of them around!

 

Te Anau Glowworm trip:
Te Anau is a small town in the Fiordland situated on Lake Te Anau, the largest lake on the South Island.  It is a good place to stay the night if you want to break up the journey to Milford Sound.  From here Matt and I went on a brilliant trip to the Te Anau glowworm caves, only accessible via a 25 minute boat trip across the lake.  Ducking down to enter the cave system we were greeted by the loud sound of rushing water.  The cave has 7 km of passages carved out by alpine water, so clean that we got to taste it from the cave!  Following the underground stream through 250 metres of the cave past waterfalls we eventually got into a small boat and drifted into the darkness leaving the rush of water behind.  All became silent.  Floating in the glowworm grotto it became very tranquil and looking up all I could see were the green lights of hundreds of tiny glowworms.  No photos were allowed in the caves to allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness and so as not to disturb the glowworms.  We booked our trip through Real Journeys who have an office in Te Anau right by the lake.  It was a pretty special experience and one I would definitely recommend.

 

Queenstown:
Queenstown is a very cool place indeed.  Nestled between all the key ski fields, The Remarkables and Coronet, also relatively nearby are Treble Cone and Cardrona.  We unfortunately only got to spend two nights there so didn’t get to do and see everything that we wanted to and there is so much to do!  Snowboarding was high on our agenda; we booked a day trip to Cardrona from Queenstown.  It was a full day on the snow and lots of fun.  In the evenings we enjoyed relaxing in the bars and sampling the local alcohol!  My favourite was Monteith’s cider, which I first tried at Lake Tekapo.  I love New Zealand’s pub culture it seemed very similar to the UK and very social.  One night we ate at The Cow, found on Cow Street.  It is slightly hidden away but well worth finding.  We stepped inside and were welcomed by a warm cosy atmosphere, and lots of character.  An open fire, candlelight and bustling atmosphere made the tiny pub feel very cosy.  A tasty simple Italian menu featuring pizza, pasta, one dessert – ice cream sundae and a good wine menu was just what we needed after a day on the snow.
We also ate at Fergburger, which is obligatory if you are in Queenstown and picked up takeaway fish and chips from Aggy’s Shack a small hut by the lake.  It has got to be the best fish and chips I’ve had in a long time and that’s coming from a Brit.  We also ordered a portion of green-lipped mussels, they were huge!  There were all sorts of interesting things to order too such as smoked eel and sea urchin.  Definitely worth a visit.
Things we didn’t get time to do in Queenstown included the Skyline Gondola, which goes up to 450 metres above Queenstown to the top of Bob’s Peak.  I would loved to have seen the views from there!  A jet boat ride on the Shotover River, panning for gold in nearby Arrowtown and wine tasting.  With lots of unfinished business we’ll have to go back!

 

Helicopter trip over the glaciers:
A Helicopter trip over Fox and Franz Josef glacier, past Mount Cook and a snow landing high up on a mountainside was breathtaking!  The views of the glaciers from the air were incredible, icy blue in colour and enormous in size.  The beauty of these natural wonders blew me away.  We flew over mountain ridges and very close to Mount Cook.  It was such a surreal experience, I tried not to take too many photos so I could just enjoy the moment and take it all in.  I also spotted people at the top of the glacier and walkers huts with red roofs high up on the mountaintops.  A helicopter in front of us looked so tiny in perspective to the mountain!  We booked this trip with Glacier Helicopters it was 40 minutes in duration, which is the longest one you could do at a cost of around £200 each.  Although pricey it was worth every penny!

 

My Favourite drives:
The Crown Range to Queenstown is an epic route with its zig zagging mountain roads and at 70km above sea level it is the highest route in New Zealand.  It must be a pretty hairy drive in the depths of winter!  The views of Queenstown, Arrowtown, vineyards, Lake Wakatipu and the mountain ranges are awesome and definitely worth stopping at the various viewpoints for photos.
There is a maximum speed limit on major roads of 100km/h, make sure you stick to this and others as the police are pretty strict at enforcing the speed limits.  Always allow yourself longer than planned to get to destinations due to the nature of the roads.  For example some have frequent landslides and may only have one lane open, mountain roads can be steep with hairpin bends, or there could be avalanche warnings.  Along with factoring in extra time to stop off to take photos and admire views.  If there is someone behind you driving a bit faster just pull over, we did this a lot, it made the drives much more enjoyable.  But generally the roads are so quiet we often drove for miles and miles and even hours without another car insight.
The drive to Milford Sound is a fantastic one; the road through the Homer tunnel at around 100 kms from Te Anau is pretty interesting; it stretches for 1.2km through the mountain, at a height of 945 meters above sea level.  If you are going to visit Milford Sound I really recommend driving yourself, it’s 4.5 hours from Queenstown so a coach trip means a very long day but if you drive yourself you can break the journey up.  We drove from Queenstown to Te Anau stayed the night, then got up really early the following morning and drove to Milford Sound.  Without stopping it’s 2 hours but allow extra time as there are some spectacular viewpoints and short walks to some beautiful waterfalls.  It was worth going there for the epic drive alone!  Be sure to fuel up in Te Anau as it is the last place to get fuel on the road to Milford Sound, there is none at Milford either.
Arthur’s Pass was another great drive, we did this last on the way back to Christchurch, stop for a hot drink and cake at Arthur’s Pass village and look out for Kea, these large parrots are very nosy and extremely clever; make sure you watch your food around them as they will do their best to nab anything edible from you!
I had heard so much about the stunning scenery in New Zealand before I went but I was completely blown away by its beauty and ever-changing landscape, from lakes and mountains to coast and tropical rainforest, I just couldn’t stop taking photos!  Whatever you choose to do in New Zealand you won’t ever be bored.  I did and saw so much on my short trip but there is still so much more I want to see and do out there, I will definitely need to visit again!
If you have already been I’d love to hear about your favourite NZ experiences…
August 23, 2014 Australia, Camping and Glamping, New Zealand 1 Comment

Australia and New Zealand adventure…

Today is the day that Matt and I are off on a big adventure and I have just come out the other side of what I can only describe as ‘packing hell’!!  My bag is finally zipped shut, with me sitting on top of it and I am now ready to fly to Sydney tonight!  I have had to master the art of packing for all seasons, which means a bikini, Ugg boots and everything in between!  As well as attempting to pack as lightly as possible for three weeks of living in a van.  I feel quite proud that I’ve achieved what seemed like almost the impossible when I started this morning!
I can now relax and move onto our very exciting trip, I’m thrilled to announce that Matt and I are collaborating with the lovely people at Jucy, an awesome campervan company for our ‘international roadie’ where we will be spending five days in Australia and then ten on New Zealand’s South Island.  We hired a Jucy Van last year in Australia, you can check out our previous adventures here: Planning a road trip on the East Coast of Australia.
We don’t have any firm plans yet but we do have a rough outline of where we want to stop and what we want to see.  We are planning everything from surfing, to snowboarding and glacier trekking.  I’ve also heard a lot about Fergburger in New Zealand so I’m going to have to try one of those!  Skydiving may also be on the agenda too, as long as I can build up enough courage that is!
Our travel plan goes something like this:
23rd August: London – via Singapore – Sydney = 22 hours(!)
25th August: Sydney – Brisbane = Pick up our Jucy van and head to the Sunshine Coast and Glass House Mountains. (5 nights.)
31st August: Drop off our van back in Brisbane and fly to Christchurch.
1st September: Pick up Jucy van in Christchurch. (10 days.)
10th September: Say goodbye to our beloved van and fly back to Sydney.
11th September: Sydney – via Kula Lumper – Bangkok. (2 nights.)
13th Bangkok – London.
As you can see its going to be an action packed few weeks and I can’t wait to get out there, explore, get lost and find cool places!
Follow our adventures here on my blog, Instagram and Twitter.  I will also be tweeting and instagramming using #jucyworld.
If anyone has any recommendations for things to see and do on the Sunshine Coast in Australia and South Island NZ, I’d love to hear them. 🙂
See you down under!
August 12, 2014 Camping and Glamping, UK 3 Comments

Gone Glamping…

Somewhere in the middle of the Sussex Downs in the rolling countryside sits a glamping field and in that field sits The Big Green Bus…that’s where I’m heading tomorrow for my 30th birthday celebrations!
Turning 30 is pretty exciting and I wanted to do something different, so celebrating with my best friends and husband Matt, combined with a stay on this quirky bus seemed to be the perfect answer!  The bus has three bedrooms upstairs, a lounge area, kitchen and bathroom, very cool!  It was featured on Channel 4’s TV series George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.  The same program I saw the beach hut on which I booked as a surprise earlier this year for Matt’s 30th.  This is proper glamping and I’m so excited!  I will report back in full and tell you all about it next week…
Here’s the full write up of my birthday trip: All aboard the big green bus….

 

July 18, 2014 Bermuda 6 Comments

Biking The Bermuda Railway Trail…

On Tuesday I was in Bermuda with the whole day free before flying home, wanting to do something different from my usual visit to the beach I decided to hire a bike and go exploring.  I chatted to the hotel concierge who suggested the Bermuda Railway Trail.  Stretching across the whole of the island it is a wonderful way to explore this stunning archipelago.  I only covered three of the eighteen miles of track but came across some lovely spots.  The track is well signposted and has information boards along the route explaining the history of the railway.  Meandering through tropical woodland, past pastel coloured houses and along Bermuda’s beautiful waters there is so much to see.  I got a little bit lost at one point but with the help of a few friendly locals I got back on the right path.  I imagined that being an old railway line it would be a straight track, but was surprised to find in parts it to be quite a work out cycling up and down hills and peddling through some deep gravel.  So, on that note I would recommend wearing decent footwear, as I struggled at times in my flip-flops!  Water and suncream are a must too.  I throughly enjoyed my day exploring a little part of Bermuda by bike, next time I go back I will get back in the saddle and explore some more!
My previous blog post on Bermuda was all about food…check it out here: Brunch in Bermuda.
July 17, 2014 UK Post a Comment

Five things to do in Jersey…

Jersey is a great place to visit for a family holiday or a short break, with plenty of activities to keep everyone busy.  Beautiful beaches, quaint seaside towns, castles, lighthouses and lashings of fudge, Jersey is a little gem.  Part of the British Isles and the largest of the Channel Islands, it can be found in the English Channel fourteen miles off the coast of France and 100 miles south of the UK.  Jersey is easily reached from the UK in around thirty minutes flying time or by ferry from Portsmouth with a crossing time of around eight hours.  Flying is probably the best option if you are only on a short visit. Once on Jersey hire a car or jump on a bus, at only five miles long and nine miles wide it’s easy to navigate around the island.  Here are my top five must do’s…

 

1. Spend the day at the beach
Jersey is full of glorious beaches, St Brelade’s Bay is the perfect spot to relax and catch some rays.  This beautiful sheltered bay has calm waters and an extensive stretch of pristine sand.  Stroll along the promenade with an ice cream, build sand castles, go for a refreshing dip or relax with a good book.  There are plenty of cafes and restaurants lining the promenade and some great walks around the bay too.  For an adventure Plemont Bay has a waterfall, caves and rock pools to explore, along with crystal clear waters to swim in.  Check the tides before you go though as the beach disappears at high tide.  For a little more action head to St Ouen’s for a surf or paddle boarding lesson, this five-mile stretch of beach is backed by windswept sand dunes and has plenty of Atlantic swell.  There are surf schools at the beach offering lessons and equipment hire.  For a seaside snack visit The Hungry Man, a quirky food kiosk on the harbour at Rozel.  Crab sandwiches bacon butties, hot chocolate, and scones are just some of the treats being served up, making it the perfect end to a lovely day at the seaside.

 

2. Discover Jersey War Tunnels
The war tunnels are a must visit on holiday in Jersey, they run for over 1km under the island and were built using slave labour during World War II when Jersey became occupied by German forces.  Explore the tunnels and learn about their history from nearly five years of German occupation to Liberation Day in 1945.  Admission to the tunnels costs £11.50 for adults and £7.50 for children.

Jersey War Tunnels - Museum of the German Occupation in World War II, based around the underground hospital Ho8. For further images of Jersey War Tunnels contact Natasha Egre, The Refinery, Tel: +44 (0)1534 720200, Email: natasha@getrefined.com.

 

3. Explore St Helier
St Helier is the capital of Jersey and has a huge variety of activities to entertain the whole family.  Elizabeth Castle was constructed in the late 1500s this magnificent fortification sits on a rocky outcrop in St Aubin’s Bay.  Accessible on foot at low tide or by the amphibious castle ferries, which operate throughout the day at low and high tide.  Built to protect Jersey and St Helier harbour the castle has an exciting history.  While at the castle watch the Mid-day Parade and cannon firing, climb the battlements for incredible views, discover bunkers and take a look at the various interesting exhibitions detailing the history of the castle.  Entry costs £13.05 for adults and £9.70 for children and includes the ferry ride.
Back on dry land, hire a bike and cycle along the three-mile stretch of seafront promenade to the lovely fishing village of St Aubin.  Stop for a well deserved break at one of the many kiosks and cafes along the way, I recommend an ice cream made with Jersey milk, delicious!  If you fancy something a little less taxing then catch Le Petit Train from Liberation Square in the town centre.  There are three different trains, Terence, Lillie, and Major Pierson.  A commentary of all things Jersey can be heard on the journey to St Aubin.

 

4. La Corbière Lighthouse
Don’t forget your camera on a visit to the lighthouse at La Corbière, the dramatic coastline is picture perfect and has some great spots to watch the sunset.  An important part of Jersey’s maritime history the light can be seen on a clear day from 18 miles out at sea and has saved many a vessel from the rocks along the coast.  Check the tide times, as the lighthouse is only accessible at low tide.  Book onto a tour and climb the staircase to the lantern room.

La Corbière Lighthouse

 

5. La Mare Wine Estate
For something a bit different take a trip to the La Mare vineyards.  Although this is predominantly one for the adults, there are also activities for children such as a play area and the opportunity to meet the estate’s miniature ponies Bubbles and Fizz.  Join a guided tour of the winery and sample Jersey wines.  Explore the orchards, vineyards, visit the chocolate factory and purchase some tasty souvenirs as a memory of your time on Jersey.

Domaine - Dry Oak White Wine, La Mare Wine Estate

July 9, 2014 Brazil 4 Comments

48 hours in Rio de Janeiro…

I only spent 48 hours in Rio de Janerio in Brazil, but LOVED every minute of my trip in this vibrant city, so I thought I would post a few of my favourite photos and must dos from my short but sweet trip.
  • Christ the Redeemer is a must visit if you find yourself in Rio. Corcovado, the mountain which the statue sits on is 710 metres in height with Christ the Redeemer standing proudly on top.  A trip to the peak is absolutely breathtaking.  With incredible views of Rio, its famous beaches and Cristo Redentor looking down on you it is certainly an experience I won’t forget.
  • Sugarloaf Mountain is incredible, accessed via a 1400 metre cable car journey with incredible panoramic views of the city and Corcovado it is another fantastic experience.  There are two cable cars to reach the summit which makes for lots of photo opportunities along the way.
  • Sunbathe on the famous Copacabana beach, this gorgeous stretch of sand is a great place for a refreshing dip and to people watch too
  •  Eat at a Churrascuria restaurant while in Rio, waiters come to your table with different cuts of meat on huge skewers and serve it straight to your plate.  They come around with all sorts from beef, pork, chicken and fish.  There are often cards on the table with a red and green side, if you place your card on green the waiters will keep coming with more; if it’s turned to red they know you are done!  The one I visited also had a great salad bar that you just help yourself to.
  • Although there is (obviously!!) a lot more to Brazil than flip-flops I am a huge fan of Havaianas and love the ones I bought while in Rio.  They are a lot cheaper than in the UK and America too.
  • Caipirinha is the national drink of Brazil; I would describe this refreshing beverage as being similar to a Mojito.  I loved ordering a Caipirinha as the sunset at one of the many simple kiosks lining Rio’s beach promenades, taking in the evening atmosphere and watching the locals stroll by.  I bought a bottle of Cachaça, used to make this tasty beverage back with me to relive my time in Rio!  To make a Caipirinha you will need: 1 shot of Cachaça (A Brazilian spirit distilled from sugarcane), 1 small lime, 2 teaspoons of white sugar and ice. Wash the lime, cut into slices and place it into a short glass.  Add the sugar, then gently crush and mix together.  Finally add some ice, the Cachaça and mix thoroughly.  Cheers!

 

June 3, 2014 Interviews 6 Comments

Interview with author Lucy Clarke…

I am a huge fan of Lucy Clarke’s books; The Sea Sisters and A Single Breath both incorporate elements of travel and the ocean and had me captivated right from the start.  Lucy’s latest book A Single Breath was published in March this year and is set in London, Dorset and Tasmania.  Full of suspense, I could not put it down and finished it in just a few days.  When Eva loses her husband in a tragic accident, her quest to meet his family and discover his past takes her to the other side of the world.  This leads Eva to make discoveries that she could never have imagined and in turn change her life in even more ways than she thought possible.  With gripping twists and turns along the way, I can’t recommend this book enough!

 

I was thrilled when Lucy agreed to answer a few of my burning questions….
1. Themes of the ocean and travel are weaved into the characters’ lives in both The Sea Sisters and A Single Breath; are these themes ones that are close to your own heart? 
Absolutely.  I’m a passionate traveller, and I’ve always lived by the coast, so those two elements have naturally weaved themselves into my first two novels . . . and will no doubt be present in my future books, too!
2. Do you travel a lot while researching?
My husband and I spend as much of each winter as we can abroad.  He is a professional windsurfer, so we are both lucky enough to be able to take our ‘offices’ with us.  Over the past few years, our travels have taken us to Chile, Hawaii, Western Australia, Tasmania, Fiji, New Zealand, Canada, the US and Europe.  When I’m researching the setting for a novel, I like to spend as much time as I possibly can in that particular place.  I hope it lends an authenticity to my writing that I may otherwise struggle to achieve without visiting the destinations.
3. How did you get into writing?
I’d always assumed I’d be a business woman and I pushed aside all the signals that I’d perhaps make a better writer: I kept diaries and journals since I was 11; I read voraciously; I studied English Literature at university; I’m at my happiest with a notebook and pen in my hand.  It took a round-the-world trip with a van, tent and travel journal to make me realize that what I wanted to do most was write.  I was 24 at the time – and it took me until I was 30 to sign my first book deal.
4. Where is your favourite place to write?
My favourite place to write, where I have my clearest thought, is by the sea.  I’ve grown up on the south coast of England, so the sea has always been part of my life.  Cities are wonderful and exciting places to be, but after a few days I feel an almost gravitational pull towards the coast.  Our family has a beach hut where I love to tuck myself away to write.  The hut is quiet, sits right on the sand, and has views stretching for miles.  For me, it’s heaven.
5. What do you like to do in your spare time when not writing? Do you find it easy to switch off?
I love doing anything that involves being outdoors: paddleboarding, windsurfing, hiking, camping, barbecuing with friends.  I also – of course – LOVE to read, and there’s nothing better than finding a quiet stretch of the beach to hunker down on with a book.  I think as a writer you never fully ‘switch off’, as everything around you – places, people, emotions, events – can act as inspiration.
 6. How often do you get to travel?
We’ve spent the past nine winters abroad, so we’re lucky enough to feed our wanderlust fairly often.
7. Do you have any favourite songs to listen to when travelling?
I seem to have an album that defines each of our trips.  One of my favourite songs, which I discovered whilst staying in a little shack in the rainforest of Haiku on Maui, was Over the Rainbow by Iz.  I fell in love with the track and, seven years later, it was the first dance at our wedding.
 8. If you weren’t an author, what would you be?
Ooo . . . so many things!  I think we all need a dozen lives to try out all the fun stuff.  I’d have a go at being a dancer, photographer, conservationist, musician, and artist – amongst numerous other things!
 9. What inspires you to write?
Quite simply it is my love of listening to, reading, or sharing a damn good story.
10. Are there any more books in the pipeline?
There most certainly are!  The working title of my third novel is The Blue, and it’s set on a yacht sailing towards the South Pacific, crewed by a group of travellers.  Best friends, Lana and Kitty, join the yacht in the Philippines and sail through crystal clear lagoons, and remote, uninhabited islands.  But, on a 10-day ocean crossing, the crew wake to discover one of their friends is missing – and no one claims to have seen anything.  Disturbed by the disappearance, relationships between the crew begin to fracture, and Lana and Kitty’s friendship is stretched to breaking point.  It’s a story of friendship, hedonism, and the delicate balance between truth and lies.  It’s due for release by HarperCollins in 2015.
Thanks Lucy, I can’t wait for the next book!
A Single Breath and The Sea Sisters are available online at Amazon, the perfect books to read on your travels!
May 2, 2014 Camping and Glamping, UK 17 Comments

Beach Hut Living…

Shaldon Beach Hut No.1 - one of my favourite unique places to stay in the UK
This year I’m really trying to make the most of what the UK has to offer. As well as continuing to explore the rest of the world I’m enjoying visiting new places in my own country.  (My last trip was a lovely long weekend in Cornwall.)  A trip to the tiny seaside town of Shaldon in Devon a few weekends ago was my next UK break, and a very special one at that as it was a surprise trip for my husbands 30th birthday!
Matt's birthday clues!Six months ago I booked ‘Beach Hut number 1’ after watching a programme on Channel 4 called George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.  The series focused on the use of small buildings and spaces including boats, buses and everything in between and followed the progress of turning them into unusual dwellings and holiday homes.  The beach huts in Shaldon featured on the programme and stood out for me, as I’m a big fan of all things to do with the sea.  I instantly fell in love with it and thought it would be a fantastic place to take Matt to celebrate turning 30.  The hardest part was keeping it a secret for so long!  I gave Matt three envelopes containing clues about where we were going.  He guessed on clue three; so I think I did a pretty good job!  We excitedly set off on a sunny Saturday morning and arrived three hours later.  Pulling up outside Beach Hut One, sun shining and seagulls soaring high in the sky I knew we were in for a great weekend.  As we opened the door we were greeted with a glow of white washed walls and nautical décor.  A modern twist to a traditional beach hut this one came with everything including the kitchen sink!  A galley kitchen, light and airy living space, a mezzanine level with a cosy bedroom complete with comfy futon mattress and a compact bathroom under the stairs.  Bi-folding doors which opened up along the full width of the building onto our own private terrace and under floor heating (I love little touches like these!) completed this small but perfectly formed beach dwelling.  The beach hut also had a TV and wi-fi, but I tried to leave the wi-fi alone as I wanted to relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.  This tiny space is so cleverly thought out and elegantly designed, it’s amazing that so much can fit into such a small area.  Overlooking the Teign estuary, Teignmouth and the beach this was definitely the ultimate glamping weekend and we were very excited!  With the champagne chilling ready for a birthday cheers we headed out to explore the village.  Shaldon is full of West Country charm; it has a few pubs, a bakery, The Yummy Shop, (love this name!) a coffee shop full of local treats, a few great shabby chic style gift shops and some good-looking restaurants.  We had dinner at The Ness a lovely hotel and gastro pub with fantastic views overlooking the estuary and Teignmouth.  I had steak and ale pie washed down with a large glass of red and finished off with a salted caramel sundae, it was just what I wanted!
The following day we explored the area in more detail, taking the passenger ferry from the beach at Shaldon over to Teignmouth.  The journey takes about 5 minutes and cost £1.50 each way!  We had some lunch and a stroll along the promenade and then headed back over to Sheldon.  Don’t miss Ness Cove; this lovely beach is accessed by a smugglers tunnel, very cool!  Also follow the South West Coast Path up to Ness Point; there is a nice view through the trees at the top of the hill looking towards Teignmouth and the rest of the coastline. I loved taking photos and capturing the essence of the lovely English seaside in the sunshine.  After this we retired back to our beach hut and chilled out on the terrace.  Reading and drinking wine, while watching the changing tide and boats bobbing on the water were the main items on the agenda!  We were only there for two nights but it felt like a lot longer, it was such a great place to unwind.  Living in England knowing how changeable the weather can be we were very lucky that the sun shone all weekend too.  I loved nothing more than opening up the doors onto the terrace first thing in the morning and seeing the golden sunlight shimmering on the water.  It felt like I was letting the beach right into the hut and so relaxing to read my book in bed listening to the waves lapping at the shore while admiring the lovely view.  Time seemed to slow down, making me appreciate the simple things in life.  I love beach hut living!