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Conversant Traveller - Adventure by day, Luxury by night Adventure by day, Luxury by night
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Peter Cole

Hi, I'm Peter, and you'll usually find me hiding behind the camera whilst her ladyship steals the limelight. I have a bit of a thing for wildlife and the great outdoors, and used to be an adventure activity instructor here in the Lake District. These days I concentrate on the blog photography and gear reviews, and generally leave the trip organisation to Heather. As long as it involves orangutans and steers clear of raw fish dishes then I'm happy. I once got my head stuck through the railings of Buckingham Palace and have vowed never to ride a camel again.

Man standing by car outside an airport terminal
Conversations, England, UK

PremiAir – Manchester’s Luxury Airport Lounge

I like cake and I like carrots (I have fond childhood memories of eating freshly dug up carrots from dad’s veggie patch) yet put…

Aerial view of banana shaped beach with rainforest to the left and ocean to the right
Sao Tome & Principe

What they don’t tell you about São Tomé and Príncipe

We chose São Tomé and Príncipe (STP) as a destination purely by flicking through the pages of the ‘Lonely Planet Guide to the World’…

Conversations, Tenerife

Is travel insurance worth it?

Travel insurance. One of those ‘must haves’ that you pay for hoping that you’ll never have to actually use it. You trawl through the…

Bracelet with coordinates on perched on a purple flower
Gear & Giveaways, Guatemala

Travel Co-ordinates Bracelets – Giveaway with Life Less Ordinary

It’s been a little while since we’ve done a giveaway, so to celebrate our six year blogging anniversary, we’re delighted to be partnering with…

lake district glamping pod on a farm will hills in the background
England, Rural Luxe

Lake District Glamping – hot tubs, pods & yurts

Glamping in the Lake District is one of life’s greatest pleasures. You get to enjoy the great outdoors, live a rural lifestyle and explore…

Sao Tome & Principe

São Tomé and Príncipe Holiday – things to do, where to stay

We’re about to head off on a São Tomé and Príncipe holiday, an adventure to tropical islands off the coast of west Africa, visited…

Hiking the Pico Viejo route 12 trail on Mount Teide in Tenerife
Conversations, Tenerife

Tenerife didn’t steal our hearts, just our passports!

“They’re gone!” Two simple words, said in a fraction of a second. Two words that caused me so much pain. Okay, possibly not the…

Tipping in Morocco
Morocco

Tipping in Morocco – how much to tip who, and when

Tipping in Morocco is a headache, as it is all over the world for those of us who don’t come from a tipping culture….

Tagines in the Marrakech souks - how to navigate
Morocco

Marrakech souks: Top Tips for Navigating Your Way Around

Marrakech. A heaving, bustling, vibrant city where the honeycomb alleys of the old walled medina have changed little since the 11th century. We didn’t…

Scams in Marrakech - how to avoid them
Morocco

Top 10 Scams in Marrakech, and how to avoid them

Wherever you go on holiday, there will always be someone willing to scam you. Whether it’s traffic officers in South Africa trying to fine…

Columbia clothing review - Mens Alpine Traverse Jacket
Gear & Giveaways

A Summer Columbia Sportswear review and giveaway

We think it’s safe to say that the typically short British summer has finally arrived. For a change the Lake District (have we mentioned…

Vrsic Pass drive, Triglav National Park, Slovenia
Conversations

Top tips for planning a road trip

One of our most precious commodities when travelling is our independence. Readers of Conversant Traveller will know that Heather doesn’t like being told what…

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It was the prolific deer antlers and roll top bath It was the prolific deer antlers and roll top bath that enticed us away this weekend. But it was the food that really blew us away. We're just back from a couple of days in Dumfries & Galloway. Our explorations didn't go at all to plan (thanks to the carnage left by a certain storm and a generous helping of the white fluffy stuff) but none of that mattered because we had somewhere cosy and fabulous to hole up. The 500 year old @auldgirthinn is just north of Dumfries in the Nith Valley. Once a coaching inn, and the favourite watering hole of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, today the Auldgirth Inn is a luxury retreat for those who like their deer paraphernalia and inventive food. It was warm and welcoming, with a Michelin star restaurant that really hit the spot. Honestly, it was the best grub we've had all year, with impeccable plating and flavours that totally went to town in our mouths. The staff were fab too, and it was one of those evenings where we felt "yeah, that was more than alright!". If you're looking for a winter weekend getaway with beautiful Scottish scenery and some top notch nosh, we can't recommend this place enough. It's super easy to get to as well. If a girl has got to turn 41, there are certainly worse places for her to wake up on her birthday, especially when she draws back the curtains to a magical dusting of snow! #visitscotland #auldgirthinn #staycationuk #scotlandfood #dumfriesandgalloway #dumfries #luxurytravel #luxetravel #luxuryhotel #scotlandhotel #stayhere #quirkysleeps #scotlandtravel #scotlandexplore #scotlandtrip #ngtuk #travelstoke #SWC300
Tarn Hows in the throes of Autumn. It's one of the Tarn Hows in the throes of Autumn. It's one of the best places to visit in the Lake District to see the leaves changing color at this time of year. In summer this place is usually super crowded, but as winter approaches things get quieter, especially if you head over first thing in the morning for the best light like we did. Tarn Hows is actually partially artificial, having been created in the 19th century by damming a local beck. Later, Tarn Hows was owned by famous children's author Beatrix Potter, who subsequently bequeathed the estate to the National Trust for the public to enjoy. There are heaps of trails in the area, with the most popular being the short loop around the lake itself. For the best views, scramble up one of the fells overlooking the tarn! #tarnhows #lakedistrictnationalpark #lakedistrict #cumbria #visitlakedistrict #visitcumbria #visitengland #lakedistrictwalks #travelphotography #travelstoke #instatravelling #PhotoOfTheWeek #NGTUK #wildernessuk #hikinguk #walkinguk #walkingholidayuk #nationaltrust
We popped over to Durham this week to see the Muse We popped over to Durham this week to see the Museum of the Moon which has recently been touring the country. We chose Durham for the spectacular cathedral setting, and also because its where we got married (and haven't been back for 14 years!). The experience was a tad disappointing, as the moon didn't seem to be lit up like in all the promotional images (we visited during the day so perhaps this only happens in the evening). But it was still impressive, hanging up in the central nave. We were rather astonished at the way we were pretty much forced to make a 'voluntary' donation before we'd even seen the place (you can't enter without passing through the kiosk ticket line). I get that cathedrals are expensive to run, and would be more than happy to make a donation, but to be put on the spot and more or less guilt-tripped into paying like that really isn't acceptable. Just ask for an admission fee, don't pretend it's 'voluntary'! Having said that, it's well worth a visit if you want to see the moon (and the cathedral too!). The sculpture is here until 11th November. Just go when it's darker, and take your wallet! #museumofthemoon #visitdurham #thisisdurham #durhamcathedral #visitengland #moonsculpture #lukejerram #durham #durhamcity #moonlovers #igersnortheastengland #durhamengland #natgeoyourshot #NGTUK #travelstoke #durhamphotography #englandtravel #historicengland
Much like Glencoe, Rannoch Moor is usually somewhe Much like Glencoe, Rannoch Moor is usually somewhere we pass by in a wall of drizzle, thanking our lucky stars we don't have to get out of the car in this moody, boggy wilderness. I've often thought it was one of the most uninviting landscapes in Scotland, and could see why it's been featured in many a Scottish mystery novel. Yet here, in the summer, it was glorious. What a difference the weather makes - there's a reason why us Brits talk about it so much! #rannochmoor #rannochmoorglencoe #hikescotland #scotland #scotlandtravel #scotlandshots #scotlandexplore #scotlandhighlands #scotlandlover #scotlandsbeauty #scotlandtrip #scotlandphotography #instascotland #scotlandroadtrip #visitscotland #explorescotland #natgeoyourshot #NGTUK #travelstoke
One of the biggest surprises of this trip was seei One of the biggest surprises of this trip was seeing Glencoe in summer. Usually when we're in this dramatic valley it's chucking it down with rain, we're driving through a snowstorm, or are stuck behind too many slow caravans on the road to fully appreciate the scenery. Yet this time it was different. This wasn't the Glencoe we knew. Gone were the foreboding hills, gloomy valleys and soggy paths. This was an entirely new world, full of lush greenery, carpets of flowers, and sunny blue skies. We weren't planning on stopping, but on seeing scenery like this we couldn't resist a short walk. This is the trail from Signal Rock leading back down the valley, with a babbling river and glades of orchids along the way. Highly recommend if you're looking for a leg stretch on a long journey through the Highlands. #glencoe #glencoevalley #glencoescotland #hikescotland #scotland #scotlandtravel #scotlandshots #scotlandexplore #scotlandhighlands #scotlandlover #scotlandsbeauty #scotlandtrip #scotlandphotography #instascotland #scotlandroadtrip #visitscotland #explorescotland #natgeoyourshot #NGTUK #travelstoke
I've wanted to visit Castle Stalker for years, bec I've wanted to visit Castle Stalker for years, because just look at it! It's privately owned, and in normal times there's often one boat tour a day across to the islet. Yet these aren't happening at the moment, so we had to make do with the view from the shore. Which wasn't bad at all! The wildflowers here are out of this world too, with colourful hedgerows and buzzing bees everywhere we turn. Loving summery Scotland! #castlestalker #castlestalkerview #castlestalkerscotland #scotland #scotlandtravel #scotlandshots #scotlandexplore #scotlandhighlands #scotlandlover #scotlandsbeauty #scotlandtrip #scotlandphotography #instascotland #scotlandroadtrip #visitscotland #explorescotland #natgeoyourshot #NGTUK #travelstoke
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