Scene stealer: how Game of Thrones put a spotlight on Antrim and Derry. I was never one for a “swords and horses” TV series, so when Game of Thrones burst on to our screens in 2011, I had to be forced to watch it.
The unexpected joy framing the beheadings and braids was a rugged landscape I instantly recognised. Antrim’s north-east coast is where Ireland and Scotland almost scream at each other over a deceptively narrow sea. The abundance of castles and caves peppering the basalt-rich coastline are a visual treat. Parkrun tourism: 10 of the best routes in the UK and worldwide. From 13 runners meeting in Bushy Park, south-west London, in 2004, to five million members worldwide in 2018, parkrun has become a global phenomenon.
There are now more than 1,700 of the free, weekly running events in 23 countries, with numbers continuing to rise. Beyond joining local races, there’s an increasing number of “parkrun tourists”, who plan trips in order to tick off unusual and spectacular routes from Singapore to South Africa. There are even unofficial clubs with their own lingo to denote their achievements: the Alphabeteers, who tick off parkruns for each letter of the alphabet; the Cowell club (100 or more different events); Fielding club (250 different UK events), Freyne club (250 different global events); Yorkshire Pud-done (all the runs in Yorkshire and the Humber); East-Did-Lands and West-Did-Lands (all the parkruns in the east or west Midlands); and Going for Bailey (attempting to run your first 100 runs at 100 different events).
10 of the best off-grid adventures in Europe: readers’ tips. Winning tip: Roaming Romania The Fagaras are Romania’s highest mountains and we spent a couple of days hiking them from our base in the beautiful town of Victoria; the open-air market had everything we needed for the day, and trail markings were excellent.
We stayed at Podragu chalet (open May to November) where we swam in the beautiful lake before breakfast and had a late lunch on the top of Moldoveanu. In nine hours of hiking the only communication we had was from a dog on a remote hill, barking to keep us away from its flock of sheep.Ruth Spain’s Picos ring For hiking, the Anillo de Picos in Asturias is an extreme mountaineering experience. Untrodden Croatia. Travelling solo is sheer joy – do it while you still can. There’s an early artwork by Tracey Emin that I’ve always loved.
It’s a battered, lovingly embellished suitcase with the words “Mystery Woman” embroidered on one side. 20 of the best group trips for solo travellers. Sailing and socialising in the Mediterranean Med Sailors runs skippered sailing holidays for 20- to 35-year-olds, many of whom travel solo.
Everyone shares a bunkbed cabin with someone else of the same gender; each yacht sleeps eight and travels in a flotilla of up to eight boats, so there is plenty of socialising. The yachts island-hop around Greece, Turkey, Croatia, or Italy (and the Caribbean too), making ports of call at villages and historic sights. Guests can try watersports, such as wakeboarding, join in the weekly regatta and enter a fancy dress contest on the last night. Each boat has large sunbathing decks, snorkelling gear and paddle boards.• From £495 for seven nights half-board, flights extra, medsailors.com. Go it alone: solo trips on the rise as travellers opt for ‘me time’ Solo travel is on the rise as a growing number of holidaymakers opt for trips that allow them to “do what they want”.
Around 15% of travellers took a trip on their own in the last year, according to the Association of British Travel Agents’ (Abta) 2018 holiday habits report. The figure is up from 12% last year and 6% in 2011. The age range that showed the biggest increase was that of 35-44 year olds, with more than 16% taking a trip alone: the figure for 2017 was just 5%. Having the opportunity to do whatever they wanted was the most common reason given by three-quarters of people surveyed in all age groups, while taking time out and meeting new people have become less important, according to the report.
“Going on holiday by yourself means you don’t have to compromise on your choice of destination, your itinerary or the activities you take part in,” said Mark Tanzer, chief executive for Abta. Luxury Comes to Expedition Cruising. Perfect positions: 20 best yoga holidays worldwide. Silver Island, Greece Silver Island is special.
A 60-acre, off-grid haven, it is covered in olive groves and wild flowers, with pebbled beaches, hidden coves and space for just 10 guests in two stylish, whitewashed traditional houses. American yoga and ayurveda teacher Karuna DiLibero is among the teachers lined up for next year (21-27 April and 28 April-2 May). Two daily classes of yoga and meditation and delicious organic vegetarian cuisine are included. • From £1,160 a week, April to October, silverislandyoga.com Jungle Yoga, Thailand Surrounded by limestone karst and rainforest, Jungle Yoga literally floats on a freshwater lake – everything from the 30 bungalows to the restaurant and yoga shala is on the water, connected by wooden walkways.
Free Spirit Yoga, France. Voyages Detox. 10 of the best off-grid adventures in Europe: readers’ tips.