Why spend three days in Sintra? Most visitors to Sintra tumble out of buses and trains, eager to tick off as many of the town’s incredible attractions as possible, before heading back to Lisbon...
Walking in Portugal: Adro Nunes and Capuchos Convent
Staying at the Quinta Colina Flora, which is part of the Veggie Hotel group, we were curious about breakfast. Would we crave bacon and sausages? Fear not, owners James and Aasta rustle up the...
Walking in Portugal: Cabo de Roca to Colares
“There’s no room for you, Dougie.” Jonathan, the French owner of our accommodation, Convento de Sao Saturnino, announced this as the six Inntravel guests gathered around his car. He was taking us all to...
Walking holiday in Portugal: Cabo Rosa to Azóia
I left you in my last blog post as we were poised at Cabo Rosa, adjusting our rucksacks and cagoules, ready to head to Azóia. This was officially Day One of Inntravel’s Palaces and...
Walking holiday in Portugal: Cascais
In the arrivals hall of Lisbon airport we hunted for our names in a sea of A4 laminated cards. We were expecting Miguel to pick us up but the smiling face of Sebastian greeted...
Agatha Christie, Notre Dame and Eurovision
Here’s a selection of the latest ‘Trish Takes Five’ weekly columns I write for the Lincolnshire Free Press. Lots of random topics as usual. It’s great to have the freedom to write on any...
Duke House, a beautiful bolthole in the centre of Cambridge
I remember my first overnight stay in Cambridge in 1981. I was lying in a small single bed in a hotel room near the river Cam, staring at the ceiling, listening to my mum...
Once is not enough: a second visit to Hotel Ylläshumina in Lapland.
Do you go back to the same place on holiday? There are so many destinations I’d still love to visit that I don’t often go back. I made an exception for Lapland and, in...