A Hidden World – Sintra-Cascais Natural Park
Pena Palace, Sintra
Perched on top of a hill, overlooking the Sintra Natural Park sits the magnificent and exotic Pena Palace. The palace bears a resemblance to the castles that dot the banks of the River Rhine and is said to be a fine example of Romantic architecture. Its vibrant colours – pink, yellow and blue, turrets, vault arches and medley of buildings gives it a fairy tale and fantastical quality. Read more 
Let the Festival Season Begin!
I’m not sure where you are in the world, but here in Dublin, Ireland, the sun is shining and a long weekend lies before us. Everyone is walking about in t-shirts and smiles plastered across their faces. Summer is finally here.
Cascais – A Refuge for Kings and Spies
Cascais, Portugal
It was the Portuguese Royalty who first used Estoril and Cascais as their summer residence, building palaces and luxurious villas, turning the small fishing villages into fashionable seaside towns. Read more
Holidays with an Active Twist
Cascais, Portugal
People’s attitude towards holidays have changed over the years. While we were once happy to seek out a beach, lie on a lounger and sip cocktails for a week, we now want something more. A holiday, but an adventure at the same time. Read more
Travelling With Ryan Tubridy
Photo Credit: RTE
Affectionately known as Tubs, Ryan is one of Ireland’s most successful broadcasters; host of the well known chat show, Late Late Show, and the weekday morning show, Tubridy, on RTÉ. He says he’s not travelled much, but during the course of our conversation, he reeled off plenty of destinations he’s visited over the years. Read more
My Top Irish Coastal Drives
There’s really nothing better than taking to the road, the ocean stretching out before you, with no plan, except to stop when something takes your fancy. Coastal drives tend to be a journey of discovery, special moments where you find hidden sandy coves, cosy pubs, deserted cliff-side trails and idyllic seaside villages. This is what I love about coastal drives. Read more
Miss Potter’s World – The Lake District, Cumbria Part II
Spring slept in this year, allowing winter to rule the roost for way too long. Mid-April and the unseasonable cold and frost refused to budge. I watched the forecast daily, in the week running up to our visit to Cumbria, willing the sun to shine and the temperature to rise above 3 degrees. Read more
Miss Potter’s World – The Lake District, Cumbria
Graywaite Estate
It was a documentary I’d seen, some years ago, that made me want to visit the Lake District. I remember being captivated by images of sweeping views from a mountain top, across a landscape of lush green fields and forest, interspersed with a myriad of sparkling lakes. I watched wistfully as they passed through lakeside villages lined with stone cottages and quaint tea-shops, overshadowed by some towering, heather-clad mountain. Read more
Budget Travel with Nomadic Matt
Photo Credit: Nomadic Matt
If you haven’t already met, then let me introduce you to Matt Kepnes, otherwise known as Nomadic Matt. Author of a number of books, including How to travel the world on $50 a day, Matt is a travel writer who believes passionately that travelling doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Read more
Julianne Mooney 