I think most would agree that 2016 has not been the greatest of years, on the world stage. With all the crazy and the sadness, travel was more than just a distraction – for me this year it had the power to inspire as well as entertain. This, I am well aware, is a privilege many do not have.
I may have travelled overseas “less”, by the fairly high standards set in my first few years living here, but I still managed to have plenty of adventures… here are some of my favourites!
Quality time in New Zealand
I started 2016 part-way through a seven-week trip home – by far the longest time I’d spent in New Zealand since I moved to London. I loved the feeling of slotting back into my life there – going for long walks, catching up with all my friends, and snoozing on the deck in the sunshine with my dog. It was the perfect refresher to start 2016!
Check out my NZ adventures here
Easter in Porto
The weather exhibited all the capricious qualities of spring during my long weekend with Emma in Porto but we didn’t care – we were so charmed by the cobbled streets, beautiful panoramas and delicious port! I gorged myself on the fresh seafood too – something I always try to do when staying near the coast – and then we walked it off (hopefully) with a glorious meander down the long coastal path in the sunshine on our last day. A perfect long weekend.
Check out my Porto adventures here
The Glorious Tulips of Keukenhof
I was blown away by the Keukenhof Tulip Festival – it was a riot of colour, with different shapes and sizes of tulip in all directions. I loved the mix of rustic and perfectly manicured displays, and the celebration of nature’s artistry as well. I highly recommend checking it out one springtime!
Check out my Keukenhof adventure here
Exploring York
Spending the second May bank holiday in York may have seemed like a strange choice to some, but the girls and I loved our time up north. The history of York was fascinating (and a little chilling), the streets were super cute, and the countryside around the city was stunning. A highlight was our time at Fountains Abbey, where we strolled along the gorgeous green park lawns and imagined the medieval monastery in its heyday.
Check out my Yorkshire adventures here
Punting in Cambridge
Although it’s only a short train ride, the beautiful cobbled streets of Cambridge really do feel like a lifetime away from London. I nipped up to visit friends completing their MBA, and was instantly wooed by the romance of the centuries-old buildings – I found myself seriously wondering (for at least 3 minutes) whether it was time for more study. From climbing church towers to picnicking in the sunshine, it was already a fabulous day – and then the scholars took us punting, which was truly the icing on the cake – such fun!
Check out my Cambridge adventures here
Glastonbury #3
Despite being declared the muddiest Glastonbury ever by none other than Michael Eavis himself, Glastonbury 2016 was, as always, a riot of fun and great music. I didn’t see as many bands as previous years given how much harder it was to speedily move around the huge site, but I won’t forget the amazing 3am Shangri-La DJ set by Mark Ronson and Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, nor the epic pipes of Adele, nor the charm of Jack Garratt. I made the huge call not to go for a fourth round in 2017, but I’m pretty sure I’ll have to temporarily leave the country to avoid the massive FOMO of missing Glastonbury.
Check out my Glastonbury adventures here
Vitamin D in Madrid
After a few too many grey and rainy London “summer” days, plus the shock of Brexit, I was itching to escape and get my Vitamin D fix. Enter Madrid. After plenty of sangria, delicious nibbles, and overall that treasured feeling of true warmth and sun on my skin, I felt rejuvenated. Special thanks to my spontaneous travel buddy Juliet for aiding and abetting me in this luxury of a last-minute escape!
Check out my Madrid adventures here
Pure Bliss at the Seven Sisters
Sunday Ramble Club is an intrepid group of my friends that I love exploring with – no matter how hungover or tired we will (almost always) haul ourselves out of bed early on a Sunday and jump on a train bound for a new corner of the English countryside. My personal highlight of our hikes this year was our day out walking the Seven Sisters, gorgeous white cliffs along the south English coast. The weather was perfection, the scenery stunning, the scent of the sea hugely restorative. I think I had a grin on my face for around 90% of the time.
PSA: the reason it wasn’t 100% of the time was because shortly after taking this photo, I helped give CPR to an elderly man who had collapsed while we waited for the air ambulance to arrive. It was hugely scary but I was so glad that I had done first aid training – the many repetitions they make you do meant that muscle memory took over. There was a large crowd of people but only a couple of us who were able to help – my plea is for more people to do first-aid training so that the necessary skills are all around us. It doesn’t take longer than a weekend and you could truly help save a life!
Loving Lyon
My sister and her boyfriend moved to France in August and I was itching to get over there pronto – thank goodness for the August bank holiday! We spent a couple of days exploring beautiful Lyon where I fell in love with its colourful streets, before taking the short journey to Saint-Etienne where they are living until February.
Summiting Snowdown
Although it lacked the pure euphoria of Seven Sisters (possibly something to do with the higher degree of difficulty!) climbing Mount Snowdon with the Sunday Ramble Club on Tour was definitely another highlight of 2016. Returning to my fatherland of Wales (literally, my dad was born there), breathing in all that glorious fresh mountain air, and the epic views from the summit… ah, take me back!
Nailing the Glasgow Half Marathon
Watching the Glasgow 10k crowd take off, the anticipation for my half-marathon grew and grew. I am no newbie – Glasgow was my 12th half, but I still get nervous every time. Will I develop huge blisters / a giant stitch / the inability to run?? This time my fears were totally unfounded – I raced home in a new PB of 1:47, with the hugely supportive Glaswegian crowds’ cheers ringing in my ears. It was a great course and one I highly recommend!
Cuba & Mexico with the BEST crew
17 days, 2 countries, countless laughs. My trip to Cuba and Mexico with friends I’ve known since university was everything we hoped for – the most memorable way to celebrate our 30th birthdays. While the history was fascinating, the places stunning, the itinerary perfect – it is without a doubt the silly jokes, heartfelt conversations and above all the laughter that I will remember the most. Thanks team!
Whew 2016, what a year! Things were a little quieter on the blog, especially as work ramped up towards the end of 2016, but these were the most popular posts of the year, hopefully showing that I’ve managed to help a few people have an even more awesome holiday:
- 7 Awesome Things to Do in Bergen, Norway
- How to Ace Long-Haul Flying
- 7 Awesome Things to Do in Porto
- Is Eurostar Standard Premier Worth It?
- An Amazing 2 Weeks in Vietnam
Thanks so much to all who read and commented in 2016 – one of my favourite things about blogging is the community and the friends I’ve made through it. And now, you may ask, what’s in store for 2017? Come back on Jan 1st to find out… and in the meantime, have a wonderful festive break and happy new year!
Previous: My Favourite Adventures of 2015 // My Favourite Adventures of 2014 // My Favourite Adventures of 2013
