Travel with Charlie Rawson

11/08/2022

Good morning from Edinburgh

29/06/2022

This is Shetland

⛅️ White Nights wind blown

🧶 Knitting knots, now for now

🌊 Seafaring; fathers and mothers of the shore. Casting. Looking.

🚜 Agriculture keeps asking more of the land. Hand in hand, we will see.

🗺 Exploring! Everyday. Everywhere.

This is my Shetland.

16/06/2022

Out on the road for the Rick Steves' Europe Heart of Scotland Tour. So far, we have had 5 superb days of adventure! And we still have ALL of Edinburgh to explore! Just brilliant!

Elizabeth Boardman Tour Guide
Mark Seymour
The Guide Collective

28/05/2022

🚌 After over two years of not being on the road, the 2022 season is now in full swing!

☀️ Good morning from gloriously sunny Plymouth!

06/09/2021

🎈 Ballooning update from the English countryside!

🌟 I passed my exam flight with examiner Pete Dalby up in yesterday, 5th September 2021! Pete then hopped out of the basket and authorised my solo flight!

☺️ I am so excited and grateful to everyone who helped me get to this point - crew and training pilots, study groups, family and friends, colleagues and passengers!

✍️ I have three ground exams still to complete, and once those are done I’ll send off for my license to the civil aviation authority.

👀 Looking forward to seeing so many of you in the weeks and years ahead at briefings, launch sites and night glows!

🌟 What a year! See you soon!


Cameron Balloons Ltd
Rick Steves' Europe
Mark Seymour
Wickers World Hot Air Balloon Company

31/08/2021

3. Hot Air Ballooning (of course!)

Who wouldn't love this view!?

Throughout this summer I have been pushing hard to get my hot air ballooning private pilot's license (PPL-B) completed!

Last weekend I was so happy to have obtained my recommendation flight with Andy Kaye and today I can confirm I passed my Air Law exam with Pete Dalby!

To achieve the license the trainee pilot must have at least 16 hours flying within 24 months, 4 flights with instructors, a tether, 5 ground examinations including Air Law, Meteorology, Navigation, Balloon Systems and Human Performance & Limitations. The recommendation flight must be passed before proceeding to a GFT (Flight Test) and of course the student must complete a solo flight.

As you can imagine, the British weather doesn't always play ball, so it is a race against time as the seasons shift into Autumn and Winter to gather all the necessary requirements to apply for my license.

So, if the weather is good over the coming weeks - expect me to be offline and airborne! I'll be sure to report back!

As always, massive thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far! And here's to more skywards adventures!


Cameron Balloons Ltd
Rick Steves' Europe
Seymour Travels
The Guide Collective

27/08/2021

2. Canal boating in Staffordshire

If this past 18 months has taught me anything, it has been to take every opportunity to see the people I love. And what better way to do that than hire a narrow boat for a day of lock wheeling and chugging along at 4 mph through the rolling bucolic landscape.

Boating, friends, family, picnic, helming, laughing, wildlife spotting and tea drinking. Perfect!

We hired the boat from in Great Haywood. It was £99 from 9am until 4pm for a boat suitable for 9 people and the hire included a training at the beginning. If you’re thinking about jumping on the canal network next time you’re travelling in the UK, this is a great introduction to the waterways.

25/08/2021

After taking a month offline to adventure, work and study, it was great to chat with Reid Coen today about my time in Beijing, sharing the sights and sounds, both big and small, touching on ballooning, local chinese food and the beauty of travel in China!

Tune in and drop me a message if you want to visit China one day!



https://fb.watch/7CgZKFPRUp/

20/07/2021

Hope you're all loving the Summer Sun and outdoor actiities!

I have been making the most of the weather, flying balloons and getting out on the water!

I'll be hiring a day boat on the canal network next month! Watch this space for more details!

Jonathan Goldberg was selected as the resident photographer with the Canal & River Trust in 2019. Here are some of his images from his travels around the UK

10/07/2021

Great evening flying in our sky bound yellow chariot!

Landed up near Hartington. Love flying over Derbyshire!!

Massive thanks to Joe Rudoni, Simon Whatley, Andy Kaye and Em Fenney.



Visit Peak District & Derbyshire
Cameron Balloons Ltd

09/07/2021

🌟 Thats A Wrap!

😊 Here I am signing off the final virtual tour of the season, what a blast we have had! Thanks to everyone who joined me for these journeys.

☺️And for all of you who have travelled on the virtual bus, boat and way you can see me here in my natural habitat, global guiding from our spare room. So grateful to have had the opportunity to meet you all.

👍And YES - I deliver all the tours standing up because I can't guide sitting down! Too much energy!!

🌟 I offer Travel Consultancy for your trips!
🌀 Private virtual Tours available on request.
🌟 More travel updates and news to follow.
🌀 Virtual tours to return in the Fall/Autumn.



Rick Steves' Europe
Seymour Travels
The Guide Collective

01/07/2021

🌊 Join us on this virtual tour along the South West Coast Path here in England.

🌊 Sat 3rd July 2021

⏰ 10:30am PT
⏰ 1:30pm ET
⏰ 6:30pm UK

Booking at travelwithcharlierawson.com

Footage from my fab friend Jess who is currently walking the 630miles and wild camping!

01/07/2021

🇬🇧 Visiting London this Summer? Be sure to check this out!

👑 And it is great to see these brothers honouring their mother together.

A ceremony at Diana's former home, Kensington Palace, marks what would have been her 60th birthday.

30/06/2021

🌟 Virtual Tour: South West English Coastal Path - Devon, Cornwall & Dorset

Departure: Sat 3rd July 2021
⏰ 10:30am PT
⏰ 1:30pm ET
⏰ 6:30pm UK

🌊 Jump on this final virtual tour of the season to share in the magic and wonder of this incredible stretch of coastline!

🟢 75mins plus Q&A
🔵 $20 per device
🔴 Post tour links and tips!

➡️ Booking at travelwithcharlierawson.com

28/06/2021

🌎 Travel with Charlie Rawson was born during this pandemic and became a space where we could connect, inform and enthuse with each other about travel. Centred on our collective love of adventure, local voices, regional flavours and community, it has reminded me how lucky I am to work in this industry, even though the current health climate means I still cannot guide in person.

🙏 I am grateful for the hundreds of people who have joined me on the virtual bus and boat, pathway and pub these past 12 months. Thank you for keeping me going!

👩‍🏫 To make sure the virtual tours can continue at a high quality I will be stepping back from them for the latter part of the Summer, to focus on training, developing new tours, exploring different ways of sharing virtually and updating my website.

🌟 I have two virtual tours departing before the end of this Virtual Season:

➡️ 30th June: British Canals & The Industrial Revolution
➡️ 3rd July: South West Coastal Path: Devon, Cornwall & Dorset

👌 It would be lovely to see you on the bus.

🧳 I continue to offer travel planning services for independent travellers. Get in touch for more details, I would love to help you build your dream trip!

🚌 We will be jumping back on the virtual bus in the Fall/Autumn and I look forward to seeing you all then for the big launch!

👋 Stay tuned in the meantime for more hiking, landscapes, pubs, local food, flying, and travel chat!

travelwithcharlierawson.com
Rick Steves' Europe
Seymour Travels
The Guide Collective

17/06/2021

➡️ The North Coast 500: Virtual Tour
🗓 Sunday 20th June 2021

⏰ 10:30am PT
⏰ 1:30pm ET
⏰ 6:30pm UK

🌟 This Tour is Fully Booked

The final Scotland virtual tour will be departing Wed 23 June and still has a few places remaining.

Check out travelwithcharlierawson.com for availability and booking.

Rick Steves' Europe
The Guide Collective
Seymour Travels

15/06/2021

The Scottish Crannog Centre suffered a devastating fire this week. It has always been one of my favourite stops on the Rick Steves' Europe Scotland tour.

To raise awareness, I will be talking about the site on my virtual tour tomorrow and donating 50% of this virtual tour’s revenue to the Just Giving page!

Share this post, jump on the virtual bus and bring your friends for this Scotland Adventure whilst coming together to support this fabulous living museum!

Booking at travelwithcharlierawson.com

Images from my last visit to the Scottish Crannog Centre.

12/06/2021

Thank you to everyone who peered through the window on the South Wales virtual tour with me this evening.

Next departure... Wed 16 June
Scotland: Edinburgh to Skye!

11/06/2021

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Excited to be sharing South Wales on the virtual bus tomorrow.

⏱ 75mins of digital travel fun, facts and friendship.

🙋🏽 Live Q&A after the virtual tour!

⏰ 10:30am PT // 1:30pm ET // 6:30pm UK
🪙 $20 // £15 per device

🌟 Booking at travelwithcharlierawson.com

09/06/2021

🏰 Do you like Castles and Abbeys?

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 If the answer is yes, jump on this virtual tour to South Wales!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe.

🏰 Bursting with video content, this tour offers a fantastic view into the ancient landscapes of this wonderful nation!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Booking at travelwithcharlierawson.com

09/06/2021

🚌 Today the virtual bus is travelling to North Wales!!
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Oh THIS landscape!

🗓 Departure: 9th June 2021
⏰ 10:30am PT
⏰ 1:30pm ET
⏰ 6:30pm UK

🌟 75 mins of adventure, storytelling, song, architecture, geology and food!

🌟 $20/£15 per device

🌟 Book your place at travelwithcharlierawson.com

06/06/2021

We had a brilliant tour of the Cotswolds and Bath today with a wonderful group of travellers!

Thanks so much for joining and looking forward to furture adventures!

05/06/2021

🇨🇭 Brilliant group on the virtual bus to Switzerland today!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Tomorrow we're heading to Bath and The Cotswolds!

🚌 See you on the Bus - travelwithcharlierawson.com

04/06/2021

🌟 Wishing you a fabulous June!

⭐️ Here's to another month of fun filled virtual buses, boats & trails!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇨🇭 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇬🇧

The Guide Collective
Rick Steves' Europe
Seymour Travels

03/06/2021

We had a great fun virtual tour through the North East and York yesterday!

Thanks to everyone who joined the virtual bus for this fabulous adventure!

🚌 🌟 🚌 🌟 🚌

01/06/2021

We have just had our Spring Bank Holiday here in the UK and so please excuse the radio silence. 📻

Out in the countryside I've been making the most of the settled weather to continue my training for my hot air balloon license!

Here I am flying our yellow Cameron Z-77 through Dovedale in the Peak District on Saturday morning ☀️ It is a glorious region to fly, hike, explore and relax in!

Back to virtual tours this Wednesday with a trip to the North East and York! Get in touch for more details... 🚌

Rick Steves' Europe
The Guide Collective
Seymour Travels

27/05/2021

⭐️ Joyful to have published this new poem during the transformative month of May.

🌟 Check out the full piece by following the link to our Guide Collective website.

English tour guide and poet Charlie Rawson crafts a poem about the value of community and the ties that connect us all to one another.

26/05/2021

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 We had a great adventure into the South East Coast today on the virtual bus. Thanks to the great tour members who jumped on board for this fun and informative virtual journey, it was a real pleasure to travel with you and explore this historic and vibrant region.

🚌 I cannot wait to travel in person with you all, but in the meantime we will be keeping-on keeping on with our virtual travels!

🌟 Full June listings at travelwithcharlierawson.com

23/05/2021

Happy Sunny Sunday from Beachy Head!

Thanks to everyone who joined the virtual bus premiere departure to the South East Coast yesterday! We had a super group on board sharing memories and travel plans!

Looking forward to taking another virtual group to the area this coming Wed.

Message me for more details or head to travelwithcharlierawson.com

19/05/2021

🚣🏼‍♀️ Great Virtual Tour of the English Lake District today with a group of super travellers!

🤩 Thanks to those who joined the departure today.

🪨 One stop on our route was this ancient monument, Castlerigg Stone Circle!

🚌 Our next virtual tour takes us to the South East Coast of England.

🌟More info at travelwithcharlierawson.com

18/05/2021

🌟 New Virtual Tour
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The South East Coast of England

Historical, welcoming, English, diverse and woven to the sea; this region is filled with mystery, might and majesty.

⭐️ Premiere: Sat 22 May 2021
⭐️ Second Departure: Wed 26 May 2021

⏰ 10:30am Pacific
⏰ 1:30pm Eastern
⏰ 6:30pm UK

🕰 75 mins of virtual travelling plus time for Q&A with British guide Charlie Rawson

⭐️ $20 per device plus post tour email packed with travel tips and links.

Booking at travelwithcharlierawson.com

Rick Steves' Europe
Rick Steves
Mark Seymour
The Guide

17/05/2021

🌳 🌳 🌲 Platinum Tree-bilee 🌲 🌳 🌲

🌟 This is a super initiative

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57137057

People across the UK are encouraged to "plant a tree for the Jubilee" to mark the Queen's 70-year reign.

14/05/2021

Cracking view from a wonderful mountain.

Blencathra, or Saddleback, is one of the most characterful elevations in the Lakes. It offers us the opportunity to take a hike and get a taste for adventure.

This mountain is one of several explored with stories, paths and pubs on the next virtual tour departure. Join me to walk in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter, Alfred Wainwright and William & Dorothy Wordsworth.

🏔 Lake District Virtual Tour
🗓 19 May 2021

⏰ 10:30am PT
⏰ 1:30pm ET
⏰ 6:30pm UK

75mins plus Q&A
$20 per device

➡️ Booking at travelwithcharlierawson.com

13/05/2021

🌟 I am so excited to be on the Rick Steves' Europe Pick of the Week this week!

🧳 It is an honour to work with this fabulous organisation, and I cannot wait to get back on the road with Rick Steves!

🚌 In the Meantime we will keep on virtual travelin’

🏔 See you on the virtual bus for the next departure into the fabulous rugged country of the Lake District National Park in North West England.

🗓 Wednesday 19th May 2021

🌟 Lakes, hiking, cake, pubs, literature, geology and landscapes. It is a sumptuous region.

➡️ Tour details: travelwithcharlierawson.com

Missing Europe? The Rick Steves Guides’ Marketplace is full of fun (and virtual!) European travel experiences and cultural insights: www.ricksteves.com/marketplace.

12/05/2021

🦶 We had a super virtual Camino together today along the route Frances.

🙏 Thanks to all who joined the virtual Pilgrim Family and Buen Camino.

👋 Hasta Luego

11/05/2021

Excited to be taking the virtual bus and my virtual boots along the Camino de Santiago tomorrow, tying in with GCBC’s book, The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho 🗺

08/05/2021

🚌 We had such a lovely virtual tour to Dumfries & Galloway, and The Borders today. Thank you to the travellers on the bus who made this journey so much fun.

🥃 And here’s to many more travels!

07/05/2021

Do you love to Scotland?

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Come and check out Scotland’s best kept secret on the virtual bus tomorrow.

🚌 Departure: 8th May 2021

⏰ 10:30am PT
⏰ 1:30pm ET
⏰ 6:30pm UK

Booking at travelwithcharlierawson.com

01/05/2021

🚤 Airborne research for my Canal virtual tour!

🛶The River Trent with all its wiggles and the Trent & Mersey Canal alongside. This canal was known as the ‘Grand Trunk’ connecting the North to the south.

👷🏼‍♀️ It was the fantastic engineering feat of James Brindley, one of the most notable engineers of the 18th century!

🎈 Images taken from a hot air balloon and canal boats available for hire from Stone or Great Haywood.