Key Takeaways
- A 130‑year‑old mahogany skiff turned a soggy Thames voyage into a reflective, friendship‑building adventure that felt worlds away from daily life.
- Gravelfoyle’s gravel‑biking trails in the Trossachs, paired with a luxurious glamping pod, offered a perfect blend of rugged riding, local cuisine, and tranquil wilderness immersion.
- Ynys Môn (Anglesey) revealed hidden coastal beauty—sea arches, sheltered coves, and historic sites—that reshaped the author’s perception of the island as merely a ferry gateway.
- The annual North Yorkshire Moors gathering of 42 friends combined scenic walks, steam‑rail nostalgia, sweet‑shop treats, and lighthearted competition, reinforcing long‑standing bonds.
- Bristol’s Lido Townhouse hotel provided a quick, indulgent city escape, with year‑round heated pool access, stylish Georgian rooms, and easy proximity to cultural attractions.
- Each story underscores how modest hardships, thoughtful planning, and openness to serendipity can transform ordinary trips into memorable, restorative experiences.
Thames Skiff Adventure: From Oxford to London in a 130‑Year‑Old Boat
In June 2013 the author and two friends hired a 26‑foot mahogany skiff named Ewen from Thames Skiff Hire, a vessel originally built to evoke Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat. After a brief safety briefing at Donnington Bridge, they set off downstream, battling blustery, wet weather that left them soaked between Abingdon and Day’s Lock and tempted them to quit. Nevertheless, they persisted, improving their rowing technique as the weather cleared and finding moments of extraordinary tranquillity—kingfishers flashing in willows, deep silences, and lively birdlife. The journey included visits to riverside pubs, tea‑brewing on mid‑stream islands, a meditation centre run by an ascetic Hindu sect, and quirky literary landmarks such as Medmenham Abbey (Hellfire Club headquarters) and Oakley Court, the faux‑gothic hotel later famous as Frank‑N‑Furter’s castle in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Logistical challenges—wild‑camping restrictions, the need to hammer iron spikes into the riverbank for mooring, and navigating locks with a boat hook—added a sense of adventure. By the time they reached Walton‑on‑Thames, they were enjoying themselves so much they continued to Hampton Court before turning back to return the skiff. The trip, though arduous, felt far removed from the daily grind and remains a benchmark for the author’s idea of a truly fun holiday.
Trossachs Gravel Biking and Glamping: A Birthday Escape
For his birthday, the author’s partner Gary chose “Gravelfoyle,” the local nickname for Aberfoyle, gateway to the Trossachs and self‑proclaimed home of the UK’s finest gravel riding. After a scenic drive past the Kelpies, Stirling Castle, and the Wallace Monument, the pair stopped at The Smiddy farm shop for cheese and chorizo scotch eggs before checking into a sleek glamping pod on the Cardross Estate near Port of Menteith. The pod offered a sofa, pull‑down double bed, shower, fridge, and picture windows framing fields and Ben Lomond, complemented by a roaring fire pit and chilled fizz. Their first ride, the 18.2‑mile Lomond View loop, was wet and muddy after recent rain, but the local bike shop provided a hose and hot drinks. The next day they hiked the 3.5‑mile Bracklinn Falls circuit, crossing a thundering waterfall, trekking through forest, and refueling at Mhor Bread with generous baguettes. An afternoon downpour gave them an excuse to nap in the cosy pod, while an evening at Nick Nairn’s restaurant featured swallows swooping over fish‑and‑chips and seafood linguine. Over three days they mixed gravel biking, hiking, locally sourced meals, and immersive wilderness time, leaving them refreshed and eager to repeat the experience.
Discovering Anglesey: Beyond the Ferry Terminal
The author had passed through Ynys Môn (Anglesey) many times on the boat train to Dublin but had never stepped off to explore. A visit prompted by their daughter’s university accommodation in Bangor changed that perception. Their first excursion took them to Newborough Forest, a mix of Corsican pines, sand dunes, and a sweeping beach with panoramic views of Snowdonia’s peaks. They walked to the tidal island of Ynys Llanddwyn, home to a lighthouse and the ruined church of Saint Dwynwen, Wales’s patron saint of lovers. Subsequent days revealed the island’s dramatic edges: the Wales Coast Path along the cliffs at Rhoscolyn on Holy Island, featuring striking sea arches and a sense of floating out to sea; a sheltered cove at Rhosneigr after trekking through marram grass and gorse; and Red Wharf Bay, where the historic nickname “Môn, Mam Cymru” (Mother of Wales) evoked images of corn‑filled fields. Though the Boathouse café offered crab meat crumpets and mussels instead of corn, the author enjoyed the island’s varied landscapes and reflected on HV Morton’s 1932 observation that Holyhead is an excellent holiday base—realising he had previously overlooked the island’s own charm. The experience transformed Anglesey from a mere transit point into a destination worth revisiting.
North Yorkshire Moors Reunion: Forty‑Two Friends, Traditions, and Steam
Twelve years ago a casual comment in a primary school playground sparked a tradition that has endured (apart from a Covid‑induced hiatus): a yearly gathering of around forty friends at Cote Ghyll Mill near Osmotherley. The group stays in a former youth hostel turned B&B, creates a “Welcome to Yorkshire” banner, and personalises bedroom doors with handwritten names. Activities include a six‑mile circular walk led by the author’s parents, featuring the fairytale hamlet of Beck Hole, a quoits‑playing spot, and homemade fruit cake and enormous sandwiches from Danby Bakery. The Birch Hall Inn, half‑way through the walk, operates as both a pub and a sweet shop, where the party departs with paper bags of lemon sherbets, cola cubes, and pear drops, while the author’s son selects Barratt’s liquorice sticks for his grandfather—a cherished ritual. Part of the route parallels the North Yorkshire Moors Railway; watching a steam engine surge past inspires everyone to ride, with each carriage telling its own story—romantic couples, chatty children, and heads hanging out to catch coal and steam. An unfortunate incident saw eleven‑year‑old Eleanor get coal dust in her eye, requiring a brief A&E visit, but she recovered quickly. In Whitby, the group buries Ned in the sand on Tate Hill beach, leaving a tiny trail of the town back to the station. The trip concludes at the Sun Inn (Spout House) in Bilsdale, where the author’s friend Audrey, now landlady, hosts a domino tournament and a magnificent Yorkshire platter; six‑year‑old Harriet beats seasoned farmer players, bursting into tears while her mother laughs. The tradition’s durability is affirmed by the author’s son Ned, now twenty‑one, confirming his willingness to return, and Harriet, now eighteen, ready to defend her domino title.
Bristol Lido Townhouse: A Quick, Luxurious City Dip
A sweltering train journey from Kent to Bristol left the author hot, broken, and miserable, but a last‑minute booking at the Lido Townhouse transformed the day. Located in the fashionable Clifton neighbourhood, the six‑bedroom Georgian hotel opened in 2024 and features simply styled rooms with colourful throws, crisp white linens, and jauntily tiled bathrooms. The true highlight is the restored Victorian lido: a year‑round, heated pool (20‑24 °C) flanked by old‑fashioned changing cabins and a bar/restaurant with terrace views over the water. Direct hotel booking grants robe‑and‑slipper access to the pool, which stays open until 10 p.m.; the author enjoyed three swims, including a late‑night dip at 9.30 p.m., followed by a relaxing bar session nursing a glass of amaro. Breakfast on the deck—coffee and Turkish eggs—was equally delightful. The hotel’s location offers a 25‑minute walk to the harbour, passing Georgian streets, College Green, and the cathedral. With two double rooms, a shared bathroom, unlimited swims, and a 10 % food discount for £210, the stay proved an excellent value. The brief visit showcased Bristol’s best side—culture, architecture, and a refreshing aquatic retreat—prompting plans for a return trip.