Blue Sky Travel

  There's something about the first genuinely warm morning of summer that makes you want to do something worthy of it. That's how we found ourselves setting out from Broadway, the Cotswold Way stretching ahead of us and the sun already pressing warm against our backs before we'd even found our stride. The path rises steadily out of the village, and almost immediately the world opens up. Sheep were scattered across the fields we crossed, heads down, intent on the serious business of grazing. There's a sound sheep make — that soft, determined rip-and-tear of grass — that you don't really notice until the countryside is quiet enough to let you hear it. On that morning it seemed like the whole hillside was making a kind of steady, earthy music. Lower down, where a small stone bridge carries the path over a stream, we came across lambs standing ankle-deep in the cool water, cooling themselves in the shade. Their calls were thin and bright in the still air, quite di...

  Santorini welcomed me with the kind of blue sky that looks like it’s been filtered by someone who really wants to impress their Instagram followers. The Mediterranean shimmered, sailboats drifted past like they were auditioning for a postcard, and the jet skis… well, the jet skis were full of men who clearly believe they’re one dramatic soundtrack away from being James Bond. Some of them even managed to stay upright. I’m staying in Perissa, down on the south coast, where the beachfront walkway is essentially a cheerful gauntlet of restaurants. Every ten steps someone waves a menu at you with the enthusiasm of a long‑lost relative, while the place next door watches you like you’ve betrayed them by even glancing elsewhere. It’s all very friendly, very persuasive, and very effective — I’ve eaten more than I intended and it’s only day one. The visitors are entertainment in their own right. There’s a particular expression people get when they’re about to rent a quad bike for the first...

Well… look who’s decided to resurrect the travel blog. Yes, it’s me. And no, I’m not entirely sure how this happened either. If you’ve stumbled in here by accident, don’t worry — most of my best adventures start that way. If you’re here on purpose, even better. It means you’re ready for more tales of sunburn, misread maps, and meals I definitely didn’t mean to order. This blog has been napping for a while, like a cat that insists it’s conserving energy for something important. Meanwhile, I’ve been off writing stories, taking photos, and wandering around the world with the confidence of a man who still hasn’t mastered the art of packing light. Some of you already know that I also write under the name David Baxter, which sounds suspiciously like someone who owns a proper writing desk and maybe even a fountain pen. If you’re curious about that side of things — the memoirs, the small stories, the occasional crime‑tinged tale — you’ll find them here: https://www.coastalcrimesandstories.com ...

  Vale of Rheidol Railway: A Journey Back in Time Feeling like a child again doesn’t happen often at 65. But just walking onto the platform of the Vale of Rheidol Railway in Aberystwyth was enough to raise my childish excitement to a high level. I had been looking forward to this trip to Devil’s Bridge, and the moment the whistle echoed across the station, I knew it would be special. The car park sits right beside the station, with plenty of space. Although we had booked online, tickets must be collected in person. The ticket office staff were warm and welcoming, and once checked in, we wandered across the rails to explore the engine shed museum. The shed is full of steam engines, rolling stock and railway treasures, neatly displayed with clear information. Arriving early is well worth it, as the museum adds to the experience and builds the anticipation before the journey itself. Back on the platform, everything felt immaculately presented — clean, tidy, and easy to navigate....

I can hardly call this a travel blog when I have barely traveled 3 miles from my home to the what is one of my favourite locations in South Pembrokeshire. I want to tell you about a National Trust property - Colby Woodland Gardens, which is less than a mile inland from the coastal village of Amroth. The gardens are an absolute gem. They are set in a valley which flanks a lovely meadow with a stream meandering through into ponds at the far end, with fallen trees as bridges. The woodland areas are carefully managed and have several layers of paths traversing the valley with several statues and sculptors to discover along the way The gardens are well known for the fantastic displays of Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Camelias  and a stunning display of Spring bulbs such as Bluebells. For the young and young at heart it is such a natural playground with rope swings, pond dipping, pooh sticks as well as bug hunting. Then there is the stunning walled garden, maintained by the incumbent of...

Welcome. Apart from the obvious (family life), there are two things in life that I get an awful lot of pleasure from. Now that I am retired I can spend so much more time enjoying them both. They are travel and photography and I am lucky enough to be doing ooodles of both and so the idea for this blog was born. To be absolutely honest it was all my mothers fault and I may well enlarge on that at a later date. As well as looking forward to our next trip I am lucky enough to live in the most beautiful part of West Wales where there are no end of wonderful places to visit with many photo opportunities on my doorstep. The general idea behind this blog is to share with you some of the spectacular scenery to be found close to my home as well as the wonderful places that my wife, Angela, and I have been lucky enough to visit and are looking forward to visiting. Along the way I hope to share some ideas that might help you with your own photography and give an insight as to how and even why s...