This summer, I finally ticked a major item off my bucket list: I went on a hot-air balloon ride!!! This has been something I’ve wanted to do for ages, and of course I wanted to see my beautiful city of York from above. After several re-bookings, I finally got to go on my spectacular hot-air… Read More Up, Up, and Away: A Hot-Air Balloon Flight in York
Scotland is easily one of my favorite destinations in the world, and I’m constantly discovering new incredible places around the country. I visited Glen Affric several years ago, on the way to the Isle of Skye, and knew it was a place I’d have to come back to. I recently revisited on my way up… Read More Hiking in Glen Affric, Scotland: The Loch Affric Circuit
I’ve been lucky enough to have lived in Yorkshire for 6 years now – this region is absolutely full of amazing places and experiences. A visit down Gaping Gill, one of the biggest caves in the country, has been on my Yorkshire bucket list for years. It’s located in the Yorkshire Dales near Clapham. This… Read More How to Visit Gaping Gill Cave in the Yorkshire Dales
As a born and bred Minnesotan, I spent most of my life living in an extreme winter climate. I’ve done a few winter hikes on my own as an adult in MN, but the majority of my winter hiking experience has now been in the UK. When winter weather hits, this country goes crazy (or… Read More My Top Tips for Winter Hiking in the UK
My trip to Orkney was one of the best of my life. There is so much to see and do on this cluster of islands, just off the north coast of Scotland. I had 8 days to explore Orkney, and packed in a lot into this short amount of time! While I loved my adventures… Read More The Complete Orkney Guide: An 8-Day Itinerary for the Orkney Islands
Westray is one of the small North Isles that make up the Orkney archipelago, off the north coast of Scotland. So many people skip these islands or don’t have enough time to visit – but I absolutely recommend visiting, and staying the night here to maximize your time! If you’re planning a visit to Westray… Read More What to See and Do on Westray, Orkney
Papa Westray is one of the smallest inhabited islands in Orkney, the incredible archipelago off the north coast of Scotland. It’s only about 4 miles long, and 1 mile wide at its longest point – but there’s plenty to see here. I made it out to the North Isles and Papa Westray (also known locally… Read More A Travel Guide for Papa Westray, Orkney
Like so many others, I visited Orkney in the hopes of seeing the Old Man of Hoy. At 449ft (137m), this is the tallest sea stack in Europe. It’s located just off the island of Hoy, which is just south of Mainland Orkney. So when I was planning my trip to Orkney, I knew I… Read More Hoy, Orkney: Visiting the Old Man of Hoy and Rackwick Bay
Yorkshire has been my home for 6 years now, so I’ve spent a lot of time exploring the Yorkshire Dales. One area that has eluded me for so long is the Howgills, in the part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This part of the Dales is partly in the county of Cumbria – it’s… Read More How to Spend a Weekend Around the Howgills, Cumbria
My trip to Orkney in June was one of the top highlights of my year, my (nearly) 6 years living in the UK, and possibly my life in general. I chose to visit in June specifically for wildlife, and really – to be honest – because I wanted to see puffins. I love puffins! They’re… Read More Where to See Puffins on Orkney
One of the top reasons I was obsessed with visiting Orkney? I wanted to take the shortest commercial flight in the world, which is between two of the small islands – Papa Westray and Westray. This was something I’d dreamed of for years, since I found out it existed. Here’s everything you need to know… Read More The World’s Shortest Commercial Flight: Papa Westray to Westray With Loganair
On all of my trips, I keep track meticulously of how much things cost. I tally up every meal, every beer – everything I spend money on. My trip to Orkney was no different! I planned my trip to be a budget trip – I wild camped for the vast majority of it, which was free,… Read More How Much Does it Cost to Visit Orkney on a Budget?
My trip to Orkney in June was the adventure of a lifetime. I had so many bucket list experiences and got to see and do so much! This is an incredible destination, and one I can’t recommend visiting enough. But what do you need to pack for a trip to Orkney? What are the Orkney… Read More What to Pack for a Trip to Orkney, Scotland
Orkney… one of the most magical trips of my lifetime. This part of Scotland has been on my bucket list for years. After my 2020 trip was canceled due to the pandemic, I planned the trip of my dreams for June. This was one of the most exciting, fascinating, and rewarding destinations I have ever… Read More Orkney: What You Need to Know Before You Go
Today is a big day – it marks 6 years since I moved to England! I got off a plane back in 2016 and arrived in the UK. And wow, what a journey it’s been since then. I moved to be with my (now ex) husband, dealt with so many complex issues about living abroad and… Read More 6 Years in England: Then and Now
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I absolutely adore puffins. A lot of my trips this year were organized to be able to visit some of the best puffin-spotting locations around the country. One of the best places to see seabirds in Britain is the Farne Islands, in Northumberland. I’ve loved my trips… Read More Puffin Heaven: A Guide to the Farne Islands, Northumberland
Wondering what a bothy is? Or what you should know before you plan to stay in a bothy? I love spending time outdoors and hiking on my trips, and this year I’ve had some truly spectacular experiences staying in bothies around Britain. This bothy guide will hopefully answer your questions about bothies and get you… Read More A Bothy Guide for Beginners: What to Know About Bothies in Britain
There are so many wonderful hikes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, it’s hard to choose one. After exploring so much of Yorkshire in the last nearly 6 years here, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Upper Wharfedale. This is a great part of the Yorkshire Dales, and home to the Wharfedale Three… Read More Upper Wharfedale: The Great Whernside Hike from Kettlewell
I’ve been fortunate enough to have spent the last several years living in York. And one of the best national parks in the country has been on my doorstep: the North York Moors National Park. Over the years, I’ve explored nearly every single corner of this area – there are so many incredible places to… Read More The Best Hikes in the North York Moors
The Cairngorms National Park – what a place! My trip here over the extended Easter break was a wonderful introduction to this incredible part of Scotland. This is one of two national parks in Scotland and home to the Cairngorm mountain range – including Ben Macdui, the second-highest mountain in the UK (after Ben Nevis). For an… Read More Cairngorms National Park Travel Guide: What to See and Do