In June this year I went on a five-day mini cycletour of Northern Scotland. The aim of this trip, outside of being a good adventure and opportunity to see some different parts of Scotland, was to learn the ropes before embarking on a longer trip the following July. I wanted to assess how my kit performed and identify any weaknesses, to see if I go insane in my own company and to see what sort of distance I could cover. With a reasonable base bike fitness, I was not too concerned about the riding but the other aspects of the cycle touring which were largely new to me.

Jinja is a small, vibrant town located in the South East of Uganda, around 50 miles from the capital, Kampala. Due to its proximity to the Nile River at the … Read more

Last weekend I completed the second iteration of Rat Race Adventure Sports’ ‘Scotland Coast to Coast’ race. This one day epic traverses 105 miles across Scotland on foot, bike and kayak.

The Isle of Arran lies in the Firth of Clyde, nestled on the west coast of the Scotland. Often described as a “Scotland in Miniature”, Arran’s geography mirrors the Scottish … Read more

For Leeds cyclists and visitors to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, there are some fantastic long distance cycle routes to explore from Leeds, Bradford or Harrogate. Rolling hills, valleys and reservoirs speckle the minor roads in north Yorkshire, offering ample space for recreation and challenging cycles.

If you are looking for a pure adventure in the outdoors this summer then look no further than Arctic Norway. The Vesterålen National Park can be found within the Arctic circle, an unspoilt and little known area outside of Norway, recently coined as “Norway’s most beautiful natural attraction” in 2009 by the Norwegian outdoor magazine UTE. The Vesterålen archipelago neighbours Lofoten and at just a 30 minute boat trip from mainland Norway, an untouched mountain range, remoteness and exposure of exploring at 69 degrees North make up one of Europe’s local wildernesses.

There are no major towns on the peninsula, only little villages with basic amenities. If you were to make a basecamp or look for accommodation I would recommend Salen, Acharacle or Kilchoan where you can stay in relative comfort and nearby to local shops for food and supplies. There is also the potential to pitch a tent in Acharacle and Kilchoan. If you would prefer to stay somewhere more remote Sanna and Portuik are the perfect places.

Oslo’s natural capital is abundant and thanks to its northerly latitude, experienced in different ways throughout the year. Summer activities are charter in our Oslo City Guide, with winter items … Read more