Lifestyle

Travel: Staycation

Forest Holidays in the North

From the starry skies of Galloway Forest Park to Kielder’s wildlife-rich woodland, some of our country’s most magical forests can be found in northern England and Scotland. We’ve put together three of our favourites, perfect for your next staycation. Galloway Forest, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Where better to start than with the UK’s largest forest? At 297 square miles, Scotland’s Galloway Forest Park is a sprawling playground of ancient woodland, magnificent scenery and an astonishing range of wildlife.

Light pollution is so low here that the forest has been recognised as a Dark Sky Park – meaning that its skies are perfect for stargazing. After a night camping out under the stars, start your adventures from one of the park’s three visitor centres.

Kirroughtree is your gateway to more active adventures, including the award-winning 7stanes mountain bike trails. If wildlife spotting is more your scene, look out for roe deer and rare red squirrels, or visit the park’s Red Deer Range.

Galloway isn’t just woodland either. There are around 250 lochs to discover as you explore the park’s scenic walking and cycling trails.

Kielder Forest, Northumberland, England

When it comes to size, Northumberland’s Kielder Forest is also a front runner. Spanning 235 square miles, it’s the largest forest in England – and the second largest in the UK.

Kielder is also home to the biggest man-made lake in Northern Europe, making it a popular spot for water sports enthusiasts. With miles of beautiful trails, including forest walks and adrenaline-boosting mountain bike tracks, Kielder invites you to have your own mini adventure.

The forest is a haven for wildlife too. Around 50% of England’s native red squirrels call it home, and rare wildlife including ospreys, pipistrelle bats, roe deer, salmon otters and water voles can also be found here.

Just like Galloway, Kielder is famous for its dark skies. The forest’s remote location in Northumberland means it’s virtually unaffected by light pollution, making it a stargazer’s paradise. Don’t miss a trip to Kielder Observatory, where you can book ahead to attend a number of fascinating astronomical events.

Glen Affric, Inverness, Scotland

A medley of native woods, glittering lochs, snow-capped mountains and dramatic moorland, Scotland’s Glen Affric could easily have been plucked out of Canada.

With over 30 miles of ancient pinewoods, the forest has one of the largest ancient Caledonian pine woods in Scotland. The woodland is so treasured it’s become part of the Scottish government’s regeneration project, with a target of 25% forest cover to reach by 2050.

Wander amongst the pine trees to the sound of woodland birds, looking out for ospreys, otters and red deer stags. Or tackle some of Affric’s hiking trails, punctuated with thundering waterfalls and jagged canyons. This is Scotland at its most spectacular.

Dog Falls are a must-see and provide a good starting point for several walking trails. Climb the gradual ascent to the spectacular viewpoint overlooking Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin, or picnic beneath the pine trees by Coire Loch.

Paws in August to Celebrate Your Best Friend

This August offers two opportunities to make our best friend the centre of attention. Not our people friends of course; this month our furry friends are the ones to take centre stage.

International Cat Day and International Dog Day take place in August. This means you don’t have to take sides – whether you are a dog person or a cat person, there are two special days to put the focus on our four-legged companions.

For all the cat people out there, International Cat Day is on the 8th of August.

Cats have been worshipped for thousands of years. They have been associated with magic and mystery for centuries. The Egyptians venerated our feline friends: they honoured them by dressing them in jewels, some ancient Egyptian deities were depicted with the head of a cat, and cats were often mummified after death, showing the high level of respect this civilisation had for them.

Cats are independent creatures. They are wise companions to have in the home. We could all learn something from their ability to laze at every opportunity.

Having a cat lowers stress and blood pressure: cat owners are said to have a 40% lower risk of having a heart attack.

Their gentle purring is a comforting sound. This purr expresses their emotions and is a form of communication. Some research suggests that a cat’s purr can assist their healing from injury and illness. It is also healing to humans and very good for bone health.

The myth that cats have more than one life is a worldwide phenomenon, however it is not always 9. For example, in Spain they are said to have 7 lives.

For all the dog people, International Dog Day is celebrated on August 26th.

Dogs are not referred to as man’s best friend for nothing. They are always happy to see you and welcome you home with a waggy tail. Dogs connect you with the outdoors; they get you out walking in all weathers. They promote a healthy lifestyle and this significantly reduces stress.

Dogs are happy to be by your side, especially at the dinner table. They are experts at hoovering up stray bits of food, thus saving electricity and the environment!

Having a dog is said to lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety. Walking a dog brings you into contact with other dog owners, which encourages socialising and meeting new people. When you have a dog in the home, you will never be lonely. They are lifelong companions who will help you live in the moment.

So, make August the month you celebrate your furry companions! Paws for thought and consider the joy your pets have brought to your life. What can you do to treat them this month?

By Jessica White

Just a Thought...

Acting Like a Total Idiom!

My work has afforded me the opportunity of speaking with people from across the world this past month.

Beautiful, diverse and interesting cultures and languages including Pakistan, India, Finland and Germany. Aside from the fabulous connection and rich heritages I was being welcomed into, one thing really stuck out … the absolute and profound confusion created when the idiosyncrasies of the English Language come out to play!

Humour me whilst I elaborate, dear reader! The head of a Down’s syndrome organisation in Karachi was left in uncontrollable hysterics after I described how someone had, ‘Waltzed in and taken over a meeting’ I was once in.

She simply could not stifle the giggles at the very idea of someone entering a room and conducting a ballroom dance sequence by means of introducing themselves!

A book reviewer in Bangalore was utterly befuddled when I exclaimed that people go, ‘Swanning off’ as they feel like it. She had a sincere concern for the swan: where it came from and subsequently went to! I totally derailed an activist in Vantaa when I explained that I could be at her meeting, ‘At the drop of a hat’. To be honest, on reflection, even I don’t really get this one!

And my stand-out favourite was when I was speaking to a fellow author in Leipzig and I was recanting a time when I had been, ‘on a wild goose chase’ … silence … query around the loss of the goose … silence … concern over what had made the goose go wild?!?

I was going to apologise for the total discomfiture I seemed to have evoked but, when I think on it, our language IS our heritage and I am proud of that, just as we should ALL be proud of our different cultures, heritages and backgrounds.

So … go and act like a total idiom and let’s hope we get a ‘taste of our own medicine’!

By Fliss Goldsmith of Belper

Life List:

Time Travel Temptations

When it comes to the most highly-prized magical powers, the top three are usually flight, teleporting and invisibility. But how about time-travelling? Here are some oh-so-practical reasons for turning TARDIS!

Revisit your childhood to take better care of your teeth. By gum, that’s an adventure.

Invest in a little-known company called Microsoft.

Find your house keys from two days ago. If you can remember when you lost them!

Do some antique shopping on the quiet – take a trip to France to meet Mr van Gogh and snap up some bargains.

See the family you never knew, or those you did but before you knew them.

Go back to a simpler time of no motorways, real coffee houses and Sunday closing. See England win the World Cup, live – probably a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity.

Listen to the forgotten sounds of electric milk floats, the rag and bone man, birdsong, and common courtesy.

See the Great Wall foundations of China, solve the mystery of the pyramids and find out what really happened to the Templars’ treasure.

Befriend great writers of the past and see how many cameos you can get in their works.

Prevent catastrophes such as the crazy frog ringtone, space boppers, the pet rock, clackers…the list goes on.

Of course, time travellers may have been amongst us for centuries and are even now doing their best to protect the environment, stop wars and reduce the prevalence of Reality TV shows. We can only hope.