It has felt like a long time to be deprived of the richness and fulfilment travel brings - exploring new places, spending a night at your favourite hotel, unwinding in a spa, or enjoying an afternoon tea in a beautiful garden. While we might have forgotten how good this all feels, our desire to travel has not been lost. This issue is all about health, wellness and meaningful travel – ‘slow travel’ (as it has recently been dubbed). So, if you’re looking for an unforgettable trip, to be enjoyed at your own pace, then we hope you will find plenty of inspiration within our summer features. Our top ten life-affirming Health Breaks, are guaranteed to reboot the body and mind, while our Best Tall Ship and Sailing Adventures, offer the ultimate active escapism. The brand-new collection curated National Trust experiences, are not to be missed, and our Top Eco-Attractions, showcase the very best of our natural world. Wishing you safe and magical, extraordinary summer of staycations!
Peak District — From
Peak District — From breathtaking views of stunning limestone valleys and rugged gritstone landscapes to magnificent stately homes, the Peak District has a contrasting range of natural beauty. Highlights include Edale’s Kinder Scout and the Castleton caves, the only place in the world where the semi-precious mineral Blue John is mined. The Peak District was also the UK’s first National Park, founded in 1951 4 MOUNTAIN HARES DISCOVERY WALK, PEAK DISTRICT The highest points in the Peak District are the only places in England where you can still find Mountain Hares. Most people will never see them when out walking but this guide has a 100% success rate. The walk starts from the Snake Pass road, between Glossop and Sheffield. After a gradual climb of around 200m, you’ll leave the Pennine Way path navigating across the complex moorland terrain to some of the best locations to see Mountain Hares in their natural habitat. There’s the chance to see shorteared owls, golden plover, red grouse, kestrels and learn about the ecology and restoration of these amazing bog and moorland habitats. After observing the hares, you’ll head to the incredible and moving location of the site of the B29 Superfortress "Over Exposed" plane crash. A camera with a long lens or zoom and binoculars are worth taking but if you don’t have the gear don’t worry – the guide will send you a set of digital photos taken on the day. Priced from £38 per person HIDDEN GEM — Thor’s Cave, Wetton: Hidden away behind the Staffordshire village of Wetton in the Peak District, Thor’s Cave is a fascinating geological finale to a relaxing countryside walk. After strolling along a quaint country path, visitors will see the wonderful arched mouth emerge in the distance. Reached by a stepped path, the natural limestone cavern has an inviting entrance that leads to a space that’s occupation dates back to the Stone Age. As well as exploring this ancient habitation space, visitors will be treated to stunning views of the valley below to boot! 36 BritishTravelJournal.com
5 CLIMBING THROUGH HISTORY, PEAK DISTRICT Try climbing, abseiling and scrambling for the first time or develop existing skills with local experts. The history of the Peak District National Park is etched in the unique gritstone crags that line the valley edges. This world-famous rock, besides being an integral part of the area’s industrial heritage, has formed the favoured vertical playground for generations of climbers and scramblers. Follow in their footsteps by climbing, scrambling and abseiling under the expert guidance of a local instructor. Learn about the history and geology, flora and fauna of this unique area. Priced from £85 à BritishTravelJournal.com 37
