On the Luce

04/08/2024

*New* My first post from my latest Greek trip is all about beautiful Alonissos in the Sporades, a laid-back island surrounded by the clear waters of the National Marine Park, with all the top things to see and do.

Discover the best things to do in Alonissos, the quietest and more remote of Greece's Sporades islands, with forested hills, beaches and clear seas protected by the National Marine Park of Alonnisos.

02/08/2024

I can't visit Greece without taking a whole album of photos of the local cats (and packing a few packets of Dreamies!). So here are some of my new feline friends from around Alonissos and Skopelos.

31/07/2024

One of Skopelos' claims to fame is that it was the main filming location for the first Mamma Mia film – and we took a bus tour of some of the best-known spots (with a lot of ABBA along the way!).

If you've seen the film you might recognise Agios Ioannis Chapel (from the wedding scenes), Kastani Beach (from 'Does Your Mother Know') and Agnontas Beach (from 'Money, Money, Money').

Though a bit of film trickery means it looks a bit different – the church was padded out in foam to look bigger and the beach bar and pier at Kastani were taken down after filming.

29/07/2024

My second island stop in the Sporades was Skopelos. It's a bit bigger and busier than Alonissos, with a beautiful old town with a maze of cobbled streets built into the hillside and those classic Greek island colours – red roofs, whitewashed walls and blue seas.

26/07/2024

All eyes are on Paris today as the 2024 Olympics opening ceremony takes place. But did you know how the Olympics first began? Take a trip back in time to Olympia in Ancient Greece to find out...

Discover the history and mythology that lies behind the world’s most famous sporting event by visiting Olympia, Greece, and exploring the ruins of the sacred site where the Olympic Games first began.

25/07/2024

Alonissis has some beautiful beaches - and although there aren’t the shuttle boats you get on many Greek islands, you can do a day trip to different beaches, with a bus out at 10am and back at 4pm (or if you’ve got pale English skin like me and can’t manage 6 hours, taxis are reasonable too!). We spent a lovely morning on Leftos Gialos beach, one of the island’s prettiest spots with amazingly clear water.

22/07/2024

Alonissos’ old village might have been badly damaged in an earthquake, but it’s slowly been restored and now has lots of shops and restaurants among the ruins - and is one of the best spots on the island for sunset (the bus from Patitiri takes 15 mins and runs until after midnight so you can easily go up for dinner).

20/07/2024

My first Greek island stop in the Sporades is Alonissos. It’s best known for its nature reserve, home to the rare monk seal and great diving. We’re staying in Patitiri - the main harbour town, built in the 1960s after the hilltop old town was damaged by an earthquake. It’s a relaxed quiet spot, with a little harbour beach perfect for a morning swim.

18/07/2024

July's destination of the month is Scotland, and you can find all my posts at https://www.ontheluce.com/tag/scotland/ – featuring the Highlands, Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, St Andrews, Edinburgh and more.

16/07/2024

Next stop Greece 🇬🇷 After loving the island of Skiathos last year I'm flying back this week – but this time I'll be visiting its two contrasting neighbouring islands. First up Alonnisos, a tranquil nature reserve, and then Skopelos, made famous as the filming location for Mamma Mia!

Discover the best things to do in Skiathos, a gorgeous Greek island in the northwest Aegean Sea, from sandy beaches and hiking trails through pine forests to historic ruins and whitewashed towns

14/07/2024

Happy Bastille Day France! 🇫🇷 I've loved celebrating the holiday in France in the past – not least as it's also my birthday so I can pretend that the fireworks are actually for me!

Here are just a few of my favourite spots in France – from Honfleur in Normandy to fairytale Colmar, coastal Cassis to classic Paris – read more about them all at https://www.ontheluce.com/tag/france/

12/07/2024

My second stop in London was the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, in the stunning setting of the palace grounds. It's the world's largest flower show, with show gardens, plant stalls and everything garden related, taking place over six days each July.

(Big thanks to Explore Charleston for providing our tickets)

10/07/2024

Game, set and match 🎾 I was lucky enough to get tickets for Centre Court at Wimbledon this year, and what a brilliant day. We saw Fearnley put up a good fight against Djokovic, Andy Murray's last Wimbedon match, and the sun even shone (which is a rare thing this year).

If you fancy a trip to the tennis next year, I have a blog post with tips on how to get tickets, what to take with you and more https://www.ontheluce.com/visiting-wimbledon-tennis-championships/

08/07/2024

*New post* Visiting Rome in summer – how to make the most of your visit when the heat is on. I share my top tips for keeping cool and avoiding the crowds on a summer trip to Rome – as well as what to expect on a Jet2.com & Jet2holidays city break [AD hosted].

Learn how to keep cool and avoid the crowds with these tips for visiting Rome in summer, from after-hours tours and evening events to free water refills and the city's lesser-known attractions.

07/07/2024

Our last stop in Norway was Trondheim, another colourful coastal city (and more unusual weather with 28-degree sunshine!). It has a really relaxed feel, with restaurant and bar terraces in the harbour, views from Kristiansten Fortress and swimming in the sea and lakes.

Lots of Norway blog posts to come, from Hurtigruten cruise tips to how expensive it all was (let me know if you have any questions).

05/07/2024

Sailing through the fjords 🛳️ There are lots of different ways to explore but we chose the Hurtiguten ships – a cross between a ferry and a cruise, their Coastal Express runs from Bergen to Kirkenes and back over 12 days, stopping at lots of coastal towns and villages.

Our ship MS Kong Harald held 590 passengers, with restaurants, bars, lounges and even a couple of hot tubs, but without the cruise ship entertainment/service. We did a two-day trip as far as Trondheim in a Polar Outside cabin with a day sailing through the fjords.

[Though luck wasn't all on our side – the ship broke down in Ålesund so we spend the night there and ended up getting bussed to Trondheim instead while the ship was being fixed!]

03/07/2024

Bergen is the rainiest city in Europe, so when the sun shines you make the most of it! We took the Ulriken643 cable car to Mount Ulriken for amazing views over the city and out to the fjords. There are lots of hiking paths around the top to different lakes and viewpoints too.

It costs around £39 return including the bus from the city centre to the lift station – though you can climb the stone Oppstemten steps to the top instead... if you don't mind 1440 of them!

01/07/2024

Our first stop in Norway was the beautiful coastal city of Bergen. It's the gateway to the fjords but there's plenty to see in the city too – here are some of our highlights:

– Watching the boats in the harbour
– Colourful wooden houses in UNESCO listed Bryggen district
– A journey through history at the Bryggens Museum
– Fresh seafood at the outdoor Fish Market
– Panoramic views from the Fløibanen mountain railway

27/06/2024

If you fancy a trip on the Flam Railway or any of Europe's other scenic train journeys, you've still got a few days left to save £100 on rail holidays with Byway, the flight-free travel platform.

Just enter the code LUCE100 for £100 off your first booking before the end of June 2024: https://www.byway.travel/ =ontheluce

25/06/2024

I might be travelling by ship in Norway this time, but my last trip was all about the train journeys, including one of Europe's most beautiful railway trips – the Flåmsbana or Flam Railway.

Take a scenic rail journey through the Norwegian fjords on board the Flamsbana or Flam Railway, a spectacular day trip by train through the mountains from Myrdal to Flam on the banks of the Sognefjord

23/06/2024

From Rome to Norway 🇳🇴 June's a busy travel month and my next stop is the Norwegian fjords. I'm starting in Bergen then catching a Hurtigruten Coastal Express ship for a two-night trip through the Geirangerfjord to Trondheim. Any Norway tips do let me know!

21/06/2024

If you fancy really escaping the crowds in Rome, take Metro line A to Giulio Agricola and the Park of Aqueducts. The park covers 240 hectares with ruins of seven aqueducts, the oldest dating from 272 BC.

If you watched the recent Netflix series Ripley you might recognise the park as scenes were filmed here – and it's also been used in movies like Fellini's La Dolce Vita as there's a film studio nearby.

Jet2.com & Jet2holidays [AD hosted]

19/06/2024

As you'd expect, Rome in summer is busy! There were big queues for the Colosseum, St Peter's, the Parthenon and crowds at the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. But you don't have to go far to escape.

Trastavere is one of my favourite Rome neighbourhoods, with a network of narrow, mostly car-free streets perfect for wandering, and lots of bars and restaurants which come to life when the sun goes down.

Jet2.com & Jet2holidays [AD hosted]

17/06/2024

Our trip to Rome was on a Jet2.com & Jet2holidays [AD hosted] city break, with flights from Birmingham and four nights at the Mercure Roma Centro Colosseo – it's clean and comfortable but the main draw is the amazing view of the Colosseum, with a rooftop bar and pool to soak it all in, and some of the city's most famous sights on the doorstep.

09/06/2024

I'm in central Italy this week, but two years ago I was a bit further south on a brilliant island-hopping trip around the Bay of Naples, visiting Capri, Ischia and Procida on a five-day trip packed with seaside towns, scenic views, beaches and boat trips. And here's how to do it yourself!

Explore the beautiful islands of the Bay on Naples in Southern Italy on this five-day island-hopping itinerary to Capri, Ischia and Procida, with seaside towns, scenic views, beaches and boat trips.

07/06/2024

Next stop Rome 🇮🇹 I'm heading to the Italian capital for a long weekend with Jet2.com & Jet2holidays [AD hosted]. I've been to Rome before, but only on my way somewhere else, so I'm looking forward to exploring properly this time (and eating lots of gluten-free pizza!). If you have any favourite spots in Rome I should check out please do let me know.

05/06/2024

Dreaming of a European rail adventure? Flight-free travel platform Byway is offering a £100 discount on their trips for my followers, covering anything from city breaks to beach escapes.

Just enter the code LUCE100 at checkout for £100 off your first booking if you book before the end of June 2024: https://www.byway.travel/ =ontheluce (cannot be used in conjunction with other vouchers).

02/06/2024

*New post* Looking for an affordable winter holiday for next year? I loved my trip to Zakopane in Poland with Snomads Ski Holidays [AD hosted] earlier this year, and there's plenty to do whether you're a skier or not, including winter hikes, views, spas and amazing smoked cheese!

Discover the best things to do in Zakopane in winter – whether you’re a skier or not – with a guide to this Polish town in the Tatra Mountains which is a great value destination for winter adventures.

31/05/2024

My last set of photos from Norfolk comes from the North Norfolk Railway PLC – also known as The Poppy Line, these vintage trains run from the seaside resort of Sheringham just east of Cromer to the Georgian town of Holt. It's run by volunteers and the station and trains are beautifully preserved, and a ticket means you can ride all day.

27/05/2024

Cromer is on the Norfolk Coast Path, an 84-mile route from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea. We tried out a couple of sections – 7.5km east to Sheringham and 5km west to Overstrand (via the Cromer lighthouse where I once stayed 18 years ago!), and both are easy to get back to Cromer using the Coastliner buses, which cost a maximum of £2 at the moment.