Chambers at Large

Once in a while I need to get away from it all, take a break and relax. This year I found a perfect haven in the Spanish island of...

The capital city of Scotland is divided into three main parts: the castle, the Old Town and the New Town. In order to find my way around...

Stirling Castle, sitting on a rocky crag above the city of Stirling, is not only a fortification, but a palace which is most unusual. ...

Travelling 400 miles in a day could be tough going but not with Rabbie Tours. I took the Loch Ness, Glencoe and the Highlands tour with...

Edinburgh has a very dichotomous history. One the one hand scientists, writers and artists are celebrated for their works, whilst on the...

The name Pontefract brought to mind liquorice flavoured sweets and not being a huge fan of aniseed I was unsure as to what Pontefract...

My knowledge of the Civil War which took place in England in the 17th century is spotty at best, but my visit to what remains of Newark...

One of the reasons I like visiting castles and stately homes is to learn about social history: how people lived in the past. This...

I’m not a Royalist by any means, but I do have a keen interest in history and I recall the discovery of Richard III’s remains found in a...

Titus Salt (1803 – 1876) is the brainchild and entrepreneur behind the UNESCO village of Saltaire. He built the village to ensure his...

Woolsthorpe Manor is in the village of Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, not in Woolsthorpe near Belvoir Castle. Having visited Belvoir...

The first thing I learned about Belvoir is it is pronounced and spelled locally as Bever (as in the animal which builds dams!) It was...

Victorian and Edwardian history fascinates me, mainly because of the lifestyle of the people and the countless innovations of the period....

Don’t ask me how I heard about the coloured cliffs of Hunstanton, but when I did I knew I had found the ideal location for my latest...

I’m not one prone to exaggeration but my visit to Wild Ireland near Buncrana in north Donegal was truly fabulous. I stayed overnight in...

Covid put a stop to my gallop across the seas and oceans, but I have discovered some wonderful local walks, two of the best being in...

Regular readers of my blog will know that one of my favourite boutique hotels in Ireland is Scholars Townhouse Hotel in Drogheda. It...

In order to present animals in the most natural way possible, respecting their dignity and to show their natural behaviour, Dublin Zoo...

I am an avid fan of The Zoo, a programme aired on RTE updating viewers as to what is happening not only in Dublin Zoo, but around the...

When Dublin Zoo sent out a call for funding in November 2020 during one of the lockdowns I was quick to contribute by adopting an...