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Get lost in the Yorkshire Dales

The lush green valleys and rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales encompass the signature sweeping, dramatic landscapes famous of the Yorkshire region. Babbling brooks that converge into a rushing river, limestone-laced landscapes and labyrinths of caves scattered below the lush green ground make up the landscape of the National Park with each valley, or dale, offering it’s own distinct characteristic and rich history.

With high rainfall in the area, the land is endlessly dressed in lush greenery and dotted with purple, yellow and white wildflowers during the spring and summer months. The scent of wild garlic fills the air during spring and delicate wild orchids open themselves to the sun’s rays. Temperate weather may not be a trait of the Dales, but long summer days make for a perfect hilltop hikes that are so peaceful, you’ll forget about the busy roads below. In the winter months, snow cloaks the fields with a pristine, unblemished consistency.

The Dales, which got its name from the old English word dael, meaning valley and derived from Nordic language, are each filled off rich historic stories of early occupation by Danes, Norseman and Romans. Small postcard-like villages scatter the landscape around and through the National Park, each with their own tales of their heritage as medieval trade ports and strategic strongholds in long-ago skirmishes.

The Dales are easily explored from the market town of Skipton, which also holds a few attractions itself. This charming town was voted 2014’s best town to live, and is home to the best preserved medieval castle in England. A castle was first built on this site in 1090 by Robert de Romille, a Norman Baron, but the timber ramparts did little to stop the invading Scots. This was quickly replaced with a stone fortress that was then fortified and considerably extended in the 12th century when King Edward II granted the lands to the Clifford family.

Often known as the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, Grassington National Park Centre, near Skipton, is the starting point of many scenic trails, varying in difficulty and length for people of all fitness and experience levels. Other scenic walks in the Dales include the lovely village walk along famous limestone pavement from Malham to the cove, or the enchanting Aysgarth Falls further north. Regardless of your destination, you are bound to be struck by the beautiful scenes of the Dales, from the tourist-frequented attractions, to the hidden places you can stumble upon.

A pilgrimage of Britain’s music legends

The Beatles, David Bowie, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Blur, Oasis, The Stone Roses… the list of legendary British music heroes goes on and on, and you’ll find the places they lived, were inspired, and even played their first gigs right across Britain. But how to get there? Craft your very own custom music tour with Tempo Holidays on a city-to-city rail adventure that will see you walking in the footsteps of your favourite British bands and artists.

In London, snapping your own version of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover is a must. For those who don’t know the story, in 1969 the band stepped outside Abbey Road studios in St John’s Wood and onto a white-striped crossing for a photoshoot, and Beatles fans have been trying to recreate this iconic album cover ever since. Then head to 23 Brook Street where you’ll find two blue plaques denoting the former residence of two musical greats – baroque composer George Frideric Handel and guitarist and rock legend Jimi Hendrix. Finally, spice up your life with a dance off on the very spot Britain’s most famous pop girl group, the Spice Girls, filmed their first music video: in the entrance and main staircase of the Midland Grand Hotel. This Victorian-Gothic hotel was once considered among the finest hotels in the world.

Britain’s resume of legendary music doesn’t end there. Jump on a train to Liverpool, home to The Cavern Club, where The Beatles played their first gig; Manchester will delight Smiths fans with the Salford Lads Club where their famous inside cover of The Queen is Dead was shot; and in Scotland King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, which opened in 1990 and quickly established a reputation for showcasing new talent, broke one of Britain’s biggest acts in the last 25 years, Oasis, and they continue to host multi-brand gigs almost every night and nurture up-and-coming talent and cult international acts.

Dive into Lord Howe’s pristine waters

It’s only 500 nautical miles off the east coast of Australia, yet when you touch down on the two- by 11-kilometre reef-fringed isle that is Lord Howe Island you’ll feel like you’ve landed on another planet. You won’t find high-rise resorts or traffic jams here; in fact, you won’t even see a traffic light! With only 350 locals and guest numbers limited to just 400 people per night, the archipelago is a veritable tropical oasis. If that wasn’t cool enough, the isle also has dual protection: it’s a marine park and UNESCO World Heritage-listed site. Thus, the coral reef system is perfectly pristine and the warm ocean waters offer visibility averaging between 25 to 30 metres year-round. The mix of tropical and subtropical marine life means you’ll encounter a diverse range of coral, fish and various other crustaceans, and with over 80 dive sites to choose from there is something for everyone.

One such diving experience is the bi-annual Dive Week at Pinetrees Lodge. Held in December and January each year, you’ll learn key skills like managing strong currents, buoyancy and air consumption, then get the chance to venture into new and secret areas around the island where no divers have been before – a truly unique and exciting experience. Expect to see lots of marine life; think Galapagos Whaler sharks, crays, rays and turtles, as well as locals like Double Headed Maori Wrasse and Ballina Angelfish which aren’t found anywhere else on earth. Weather permitting, you’ll also dive beside the spectacular Balls Pyramid, the world’s largest sea stack, set 25 kilometres off the coast and bursting more than 500 metres into the air. Here, you’ll see incredible walls of fish including Silver Drummer, Amberjack and occasionally marlin and dolphins.

At the end of each day, kick back on the balcony with a cold bevvy while watching the sun sink below the ocean and tuck into a gourmet meal before crashing into a comfy bed, ready to do it all again the next day.

Discover the real Britain by rail

There is something undeniably romantic about travelling by train around Great Britain. Perhaps it is the grand architecture of the historic railway stations, or the endless vistas of pristine countryside and quaint villages passing by the window. Whatever the reason, journeying by train adds a real sense of adventure to any trip and is one of the most scenic and relaxing ways to discover the real Britain.

Hop on board and travel into regional vibrancy where you’ll discover and explore ancient castles and cathedrals, coastal seaside towns and rolling green fields. England’s north projects warmth and romance with its astonishingly beautiful landscape that is unmatched around the country. Intriguing cities full of history await, such as Manchester, and further north you will uncover the Lake District, an area of whimsical beauty that has tugged at the hearts of poets and artists for centuries. Pay a visit to York, formally the capital of Viking territory, as well as the little fishing town of Whitby to concluding your time in England’s north.

In the rugged southwest of England you’ll find a landscape dotted with fishing villages, secret coves and beautiful beaches. Take to the dramatic coastline of Cornwall and breathe deeply from the salty sea air as you work up a hunger for the region’s hearty fare, and when you’re this close to the water you can expect superb seafood. One of the most well-known towns in the southwest is Bath, popular for its natural hot springs and historical charm. Step back in time as you wander through the eighteenth-century Georgian architecture and, if you’re a Pride and Prejudice fan, you’ll discover the myriad facets of the world that Jane Austen and her characters inhabited. If it’s a quintessentially regional experience you’re after, a visit to the Cotswolds is a must. Covering a huge area of just over 2070 square kilometres, you’ll find villages of honey-coloured stone, rolling hills, lively markets and some of the country’s greatest palaces and castles.

Get up close and personal with local customs, experience unique flavours and discover the charm of Great Britain. Every adventure here is unique.

Frolick with a Flamingo Congregation

It’s deathly toxic to almost any creature unfortunate enough to plunge into its glassy waters, but for one type of critter Lake Natron plays host to the ultimate family reunion. More than a million lesser flamingos – three quarters of the world’s population – stream past the volcanic cones of Gelai and Ol Doinyo Lengai (Mountain of God) each year to dip their toes in this Tanzanian soda mud flat.

Stalking the caustic shallows, viscous with salt, they’re safe from the likes of hyenas and baboons as they build mud nests, lay eggs and feast upon spirulina – the blue-green algae that turns the birds pink and the lake cerise in dry season. Visit in November when the hatchlings are beginning to emerge and when the wet season is in its infancy, meaning more wildlife and fewer travellers. The moonscape surrounds and reflections of flamingos littering the 57-kilometre-long lake will overwhelm your SD card, while the bodies of calcified bats and birds that have lost their lives to the stew make for eerie imagery.

The Aquarium of Western Australia

What if you could save yourself a road trip of more than 12,500km and experience all five zones of Western Australia’s coast – southern coast, Shipwreck coast, Perth coast, Far North coast and Marmion Marine Park – in one place?

The Aquarium of Western Australia (AQWA) is located in Perth’s Hillary’s Boat Harbour and has one of the largest living coral reef exhibits in the world. Its 98 metre underwater tunnel plus its surrounding exhibits offer a unique view of Western Australia’s vibrant coral reefs, livened by an array of stingrays, turtles, fish and sharks, which welcome a swimming lesson with humans through the aquariums in-house dive master.

You won’t find dolphins, seals or whales in this aquarium, though, as AQWA doesn’t keep marine mammals here. Instead, AQWA has partnered with Mills Charters and Rottness Fast Ferries to offer whale watching tours, giving visitors the best opportunity to experience it all.

There are two SCUBA and three snorkel programs available, plus behind the scenes and sleepover programs, making it a fun way to immerse yourself in this underworld haven of wonder, education and interaction. You can even ‘Dine Beneath the Sea’ – an experience for those who want a truly memorable experience.

Witness California’s great falls of fire

All four elements of ancient Greek astrology align at the sheer granite monolith of El Capitan, in Yosemite National Park. Water from melting snow and rain courses across the earth, tumbling into the air as it reaches the edge, where it transforms into a blazing stream of fire. Or so it appears.

For just a few minutes a day over a couple of weeks during February, rays from the sinking sun catch on the seasonal Horsetail Fall, sending a dazzling gold thread plunging more than 450 metres into the valley below. Pack a Thermos, pull on gloves and a woolly hat and make for the picnic area, which offers the best views of the falls. You won’t be alone – shutterbugs have been flowing here since National Geographic photographer Galen Rowell snapped the phenomenon back in 1973.

Traverse ancient villages on two wheels

Pop on your helmet and pedal back in time as you hit the streets of Al Hamra. Nestled at the foothills of the Al Hajar Mountains in Oman’s west, the 400-year-old village is one of the oldest in the country and home to the carefully preserved mud-brick houses of a bygone era.

Enjoy a leisurely ride among the two, three and four-storey mudbrick houses – their frames made of palm trunks and ceilings of fronds slathered with mud and straw – before edging your way down the hillside to date palm and banana tree plantations. Once out of the town’s confines, the striking mountainscapes and vegetation offer a quiet serenity that will make you feel like you’ve found a corner of the world no one else knows.

If the silence gets too much, you’re just a stone’s throw from some of Oman’s most incredible sites, including Al Hoota Cave, one of the largest cave systems in the world; Misfat al Abryeen, a beautiful old village full of Omani history; and Jebel Shams, Oman’s highest mountain at 3009 metres. Once you’ve pumped yourself out, kick back and rest weary limbs on your hotel balcony, toasting an adventure well done with your fellow cyclists, and admiring the stunning landscape you’ve just traversed.

Follow the Rainbow Mountains in China

Tucked away in the Gansu Province of north-west China, there’s a rainbow that never fades. Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, also known as the Rainbow Mountains, is a 24-million-year-old formation that trumps the elusive pot of gold every time. Shaped by eons of wind and rain, these sandstone, mudstone and gravel domes in a kaleidoscope of colours reach up to 3800 metres high, and have remained virtually undisturbed by humans.

Drop in on a balmy afternoon during September, when the golden autumn light is strong and the palette of colours – rosy red, blood orange, sunny yellow and even a hint of dusty blue – are at their most vivid. Choose your viewpoint and lose yourself in nature’s psychedelic hills.

Ski Persian powder

The Middle East is all about sand, right? Wrong. This often-overlooked part of the world is a secret winter wonderland for the more daring ski bunny. Iran has numerous ski resorts, most located in the Alborz Mountains near Tehran, where the season runs from late November through to late May – longer than in most European ski resorts.

Dizin, the country’s largest and most visited ski resort, is popular with both skiers and snowboarders and is the only one in Iran to be recognised by the International Ski Federation. Founded by a group of foreigners who were searching for mines in the mountains, a portable surface lift was first installed over the Dizin Pass in 1965, allowing the national ski team to practice.

Today there are more than 20 runs, plus three hotels and 19 chalets. And at only 72 kilometres north of Tehran it’s easy to make a cheeky day-trip to this sea of serrated white peaks.

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