The Wandering Club

26/04/2022

Fairweather walkers should probably stick to summer. But for blustery yomps along the beach or over Downs, followed by local ales fireside in some toasty, well-restored boozer – which the area has in spades – autumn is a treat of a time for a South Downs weekender. And on 5 November it hosts the most spectacular Guy Fawkes’ Night anywhere, when the market town of Lewes becomes the bonfire capital of the world, with processions, fireworks displays, flaming tar barrels and burning effigies illuminating its streets.

26/04/2022

The vast, remote landscapes of Namibia are some of the most magnificent on earth. Mountainous dunes, endless empty desert, untouched savannah where the big hitters of African wildlife roam: elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, rhinos, giraffes. In recent years, a crop of knock-out new camps is allowing wildlife lovers to discover the farthest stretches of this country. While November brings the start of the rains in Namibia, this is not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to wildlife variety and sheer drama.

26/04/2022

Short-hop year-round sunshine is what Tenerife is known for. Which is great – but beyond the beaches and the package-holiday crowds, there’s another side to this Canary Island which delights the more curious traveller: architecture in the colonial towns of La Laguna and La Orotava, low-key restaurants in fishing villages such as Garachico, lunar landscapes to walk in its blackened interior, and contemporary art and architecture in the capital Santa Cruz. Plus, 200 miles out in the Atlantic, the island is one of the best places in the world for stargazing.

21/04/2022

Vienna is history with a capital H, gastronomy, wine, organic and local markets. Vienna is also an incredible architecture with the Hundertwasser Museum, chic restaurants and trendy bars but also amusement parks for young and old. Vienna is classy and fun at the same time.

21/04/2022

Calpe is one of the best destinations for 2021. It is the perfect destination for a holiday in the sun combining beach, nature, shopping, outdoor sports, gastronomy, culture & history. A true symbol of Calpe, the "Penon de Ifach" is an enormous rock (300m high) which dominates the city of Calp. Connected to the city of Calp by an isthmus (thin strip of land surrounded by water), this huge rock is accessible on foot for those who want to enjoy a nature getaway.

21/04/2022

This city is a delicious cocktail blending trendy city life and rich history. The people of Ghent are probably one of the greatest riches of this city. They are very welcoming and warm and just like them, after your stay you will have this city tattooed in your heart for many years to come.

19/04/2022

If sunshine in the UK were guaranteed, no one would ever need look further than Devon for a classic beach holiday (except perhaps Cornwall). It's just lovely. The county has acres of sandy beaches, characterful fishing villages, rugged moors and coastal paths. For those who prefer the thrill of the great outdoors, Dartmoor is great for hiking, the north coast is the spot for surfing and along the south coast, sailing. The whole area is having a regeneration, from new cycle paths such as the Exe Trail and Drake's Way to Torquay's shiny new seafront redevelopment and Exeter and Plymouth's cosmopolitan updates. Summer – particularly June, before the country lanes get too busy – is the time to while away an afternoon in one of Devon's best pubs or tinker around the seaside towns such as Salcombe, Budleigh Salterton, and inland Totnes.

19/04/2022

Those in the know flock to good-time Mykonos in June, when the nights seem to stretch into infinity and the sunshine bounces off the little white stone houses – and before the chaos of July and August. Forget ouzo: magnums of Champagne are more de rigueur in Mykonos as you spend the night dancing to international DJs at Cavo Paradiso, and the days recovering by the bluer-than-blue Aegean sea at one of the hot new beach clubs. If you need a culture fix, take the ferry to Delos, one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.

19/04/2022

A single visit to the Amalfi Coast is all it takes to understand the legions of love letters, poems and literature Italy has inspired. Confetti-coloured houses and ornate domes and spires jostle for space on sheer cliffs, looking out over the azure Mediterranean sea. And the light! June is busy, of course, but just ahead of the tour groups that clog the perilously winding road in their droves come July and August. Positano and Amalfi are the most famous villages, and although terribly touristy, they are also absolutely beautiful. Ravello, on top of the cliffs, has unquestionably the best views; while Cetara – our little secret – is quaintly cute with a pebble beach to bronze on.

16/04/2022

15/04/2022

Capital of Franconia, an independent region until 1806, Nuremberg may conjure visions of N**i rallies and grisly war trials, but there’s so much more to this energetic city. German painter Albrecht Dürer hailed from the Altstadt, his house now a museum. Germany’s first railway trundled from here to neighboring Fürth, leaving a trail of train heritage. Germany’s toy capital has heaps of things for kids to enjoy. When you’re done with sightseeing, the local beer is as dark as the coffee and best employed to chase down Nuremberg’s delicious finger-sized bratwurst.

15/04/2022

At unexpected moments you see it: Cologne's cathedral, the city's twin-towered icon, looming over an urban vista and the timeless course of the Rhine. You can feel the echoes of the passage of time as you sit in its soaring stained glass lit and artwork filled interior. Led by its famous cathedral, Cologne offers a mother lode of attractions. The city’s museum landscape is especially strong when it comes to art but also has something in store for fans of chocolate, sports and even Roman history. Cologne is like a living textbook on history and architecture: drifting about town you’ll stumble upon an ancient Roman wall, medieval churches galore, nondescript postwar buildings, avant-garde structures and a new postmodern quarter right on the Rhine.

15/04/2022

Anyone who thinks Germany doesn't have around-the-clock delights hasn't been to Hamburg. This ancient, wealthy city on the Elbe traces it roots back to the Hanseatic League, a federation of cities and towns formed in the 12th century, and beyond. By day you can tour its magnificent port, explore its history in restored quarters and discover shops selling goods you didn't think were sold. By night, some of Europe's best music clubs pull in visitors, and diversions for virtually every other taste are plentiful as well. And then, another Hamburg day begins.

15/04/2022

Often overlooked by travelers but actually one of Germany’s most attractive towns, Bamberg is a medieval and baroque masterwork chock-full of Unesco-listed townhouses that were mercifully spared the destruction of World War II. Half of the Altstadt’s beauty comes from its location straddling two waterways, the River Regnitz and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. Away from the urban eye candy, lower-brow entertainment is provided by Bamberg’s numerous brewpubs, which cook up the town’s unique Rauchbier (smoked beer) – some say it tastes a bit like bacon.

15/04/2022

With its jumble of neatly restored half-timbered houses enclosed by sturdy ramparts, Rothenburg ob der Tauber lays on the medieval cuteness with a trowel. One might even say it's too cute for its own good, if the deluges of day trippers are any indication. The trick is to experience this historical wonderland at its most magical: early or late in the day, when the last buses have hit the road and you can soak up the romance all by yourself on gentle strolls along moonlit cobbled lanes.

15/04/2022

Germany's financial capital, Frankfurt may first appear all buttoned up, but behind the corporate demeanor lurks a city brimming with cultural, culinary and shopping diversions. The best way to discover the city's soul is to head away from the high-rises. It's easy to join Frisbee-tossing locals in the grassy parkland along the Main River, grab an espresso at an old-time cafe, go museum-hopping along the riverbank and sip tart Ebbelwei (apple cider) while tucking into hearty local fare at a wood-paneled tavern.