The Badger Divide, is a 210-mile off-road route that winds, climbs, dips and slaloms through the Scottish Highlands from Inverness to Glasgow. Along the way, it passes through some of Scotland’s greatest lochs (including Ness and Laggan), most expansive glens, least touched moorland, richest forests and the 25-mile Corrieyairack mountain pass.
The route attracts a growing number of long-distance, off-road cyclists who carry their gear with them on two wheels. Known as “bikepackers”, these self-propelled adventurers are eager to test their physical and mental resolve on the Badger while also getting to sleep under the stars, wild camp at lochs and experience remote landscapes.
But for all its splendour, the trail isn’t found on any official map or signpost.
Category: United Kingdom (UK) đŹđ§ (Page 1 of 2)
Setting off from the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral in London in April 2015, Lake travelled clockwise around the island, breaking the epic journey up into legs ranging from two days to two months. In total, he walked for 454 days, covering more than 6,835 miles, camping along the way.
Having spent much of his career as a photographer in far-flung locations, his British coastal expedition was a deliberate decision to seek out artistic inspiration closer to home. By the time he’d completed the journey, closing the loop in September 2020, he not only had thousands of photographs and a remarkable visual archive, but a deeper understanding of the island’s history, geography, industry, architecture, nature and identity.
A former army captain has become the first person on record to swim between the UK mainland and the Isle of Man, in a gruelling 46-mile (74km) challenge navigating tricky tides and the near-constant attention of jellyfish.
Alastair Humphreys and filmmaker Tem set off from the city to summit Suilven, a remote mountain in the Scottish Highlands, with the aid of Brompton’s Explore Edition, small folding bicycles, and inflatable canoes.
A full length (1h:10m) documentary video of a four-month motorcycle adventure from London, UK to Sydney, Australia, taken by two friends â David Darcy and Darren Higginson â back in 2012.
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) on July 10, 2020 at it’s meeting in Paris, designated 15 new Geoparks. There are now 162 designated sites across 44 countries.
UNESCO said »
These sites of exceptional geological and cultural significance showcase the beauty and diversity of planet Earth. Today 162 sites across the world document our planetâs evolution over 4.6 billion years, unlocking our history preserved in the rock record to learn from the past and support local communities.
- Cliffs of Fundy UNESCO Global Geopark in Nova Scotia, Canada (Twitter)
- Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark, Bonavista Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador (Twitter)
- Xiangxi UNESCO Global Geopark, in Hunan Province, China
- Zhangye UNESCO Global Geopark, in Zhangye City, Gansu Province, China
- Lauhanvuori-HĂ€meenkangas UNESCO Global Geopark in Finland (Twitter)
- Toba Caldera UNESCO Global Geopark, on Sumatra Island, Indonesia
- Rio Coco UNESCO Global Geopark, in Nicaragua
- Estrela UNESCO Global Geopark, in Portugal (Twitter)
- Hantangang UNESCO Global Geopark, in Korea
- Yangan-Tau UNESCO Global Geopark, in Republic of Bashkortostan, Russian Federation
- Djerdap UNESCO Global Geopark, in Serbia
- Granada UNESCO Global Geopark, in Spain (Twitter)
- Maestrazgo UNESCO Global Geopark, in Spain
- The Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark, in England, UK (Twitter)
- Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark, in Dak Nong Province, Viet Nam
- Kula-Salihli UNESCO Global Geopark, in the Aegean Region of Turkey (Twitter)
More » UNESCO
More » Wikipedia entry for UNESCO Global Geoparks
Chinese authorities have recognized that tourism is a key pillar of their economy, and they continue to invest heavily to improve infrastructure and standards, in addition to opening up the country with increasingly tourism-friendly policies and initiatives.
At the World Travel Market in London, Euromonitor Internationalâs Head of Travel Caroline Bremner said: âDestinations like China are poised for a successful performance in inbound tourism, with China set to overtake France as the leading destination worldwide by 2030.â
The report estimates there will be 127 million arrivals in China each year by the end of the next decade, compared to 126 million in France and 116 million in the US.
And as household incomes and standards of living continue to rise, more Chinese are predicted to be travelling overseas in the coming decade than any other nationality.
Read more at World Economic Forum
The Henley Passport Index is a ranking of the worldâs passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without first obtaining a visa.
Henley & Partners released this press release today:
Japan has overtaken Singapore to claim the top spot on the 2018 Henley Passport Index, having gained visa-free access to Myanmar this month. Japan now enjoys visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 190 destinations, compared to Singaporeâs total of 189. The countries have been neck and neck since they both climbed to 1st place in February, pushing Germany down to 2nd place for the first time since 2014.
Germany has now fallen further to 3rd place, which it shares with South Korea and France. Their nationals enjoy visa-free access to 188 countries. France moved up a place last Friday when it gained visa-free access to Uzbekistan. Iraq and Afghanistan continues to sit at the bottom (106th) of the Henley Passport Index â based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association(IATA).
The US and the UK, both with 186 destinations, have slid down yet another spot â from 4th to 5th place â with neither having gained access to any new jurisdictions since the start of 2018. With stagnant outbound visa activity compared to Asian high-performers, it seems unlikely they will regain the number 1 spot they jointly held in 2015 any time soon.
In general, the UAE has made the most remarkable ascent on the Henley Passport Index, from 62nd place in 2006 to 21st place worldwide currently, and looking ahead, the most dramatic climb might come from Kosovo, which officially met all the criteria for visa-liberalization with the EU in July and is now in discussions with the European Council.
Russia received a boost in September when Taiwan announced a visa-waiver, but the country has nonetheless fallen from 46th to 47th place due to movements higher up the ranking. The same is true of China: Chinese nationals obtained access to two new jurisdictions (St. Lucia and Myanmar), but the Chinese passport fell two places, to 71st overall.
Dr. Christian H. KĂ€lin, Group Chairman of Henley & Partners, says countries with citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programs all fall within the top 50 of the Henley Passport Index. Newcomer Moldova, which is due to launch its CBI program in November, has climbed 20 places since 2008. âThe travel freedom that comes with a second passport is significant, while the economic and societal value that CBI programs generate for host countries can be transformative,â says Dr. KĂ€lin.
The top countries are:
1. Japan (190 countries)
2. Singapore (189 countries)
3. Germany (188 countries)
4. (Tied) France, South Korea, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Sweden, Spain (187 countries)
5. (Tied) Norway, United Kingdom, Austria, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, USA (186 countries)
6. (Tied) Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Ireland (185 countries)
7. (Tied) Australia, Greece, Malta (183 countries)
8. (Tied) New Zealand, Czech Republic (182 countries)
9. Iceland (181 countries)
10. (Tied) Hungary, Slovenia, Malaysia (180 countries)
The Michelin Guide has announced the new winners for 2019. 21 new restaurants in Great Britain and Ireland received their first Michelin star and three more received a second. None reached a third.
The first ever Michelin Guide was produced for French motorists 118 years ago, in 1900. One star meant a restaurant was good and worthy of a stop; two that it mérite un détour (justified a detour); and three that it was so exceptional that it warranted a special journey.
Restaurants to received two Michelin stars:
1. Clare Smyth’s Core in Notting Hill, London
2. James Knappettâs Bubbledogs Kitchen Table in Fitzrovia, London
3. Mark Birchallâs Moor Hall in Lancashire
Restaurants to receive their first Michelin star:
1. Tomos Parryâs Brat in Hackney, London
2. Jeremy Chanâs Ikoyi in Westminster, London
3. Nieves BarragĂĄn Mohacho and JosĂ© Eturaâs Sabor in Westminster, London
4. Ollie Dabbousâ Hide in Mayfair, London
5. Sam Kamienko, Ed Thaw and Jack Lewensâ Leroy in Hackney, London
6. Simon Roganâs Roganic in Westminster, London
7. Simon Roganâs Rogan & Co, Cartmel, Cumbria
8. Chris Simpsonâs Gidleigh Park, Chagford, Devon
9. Steve Drakeâs Sorrel, Dorking, Surrey
10. Tim Allenâs Flitch of Bacon, Dunmow, Essex
11. Chris Cleghornâs Olive Tree, Bath, Somerset
12. Colin McGurranâs Winteringham Fields, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
13. Paul Fosterâs Salt, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
14. Paul Welburnâs Oxford Kitchen, Oxford, Oxfordshire
15. Daniel Smithâs Fordwich Arms, Canterbury, Kent
16. Tom Parkerâs White Swan, Fence, Lancashire
17. Dom Robinsonâs Blackbird, Bagnor Berkshire
18. George Liveseyâs Bulrush, Bristol
19. Ahmet Dedeâs Mews, Baltimore, County Cork
20. Takashi Miyazakiâs Ichigo Ichie, Cork
21. Rob Krawczykâs Chestnut, Ballydehob, County Cork
There are now a total of 155 one-Michelin-star establishments, 20 two-star and five three-star in the UK and Ireland.
If chasing the most remote Michelin star restaurant is what you are after, then check out Koks, the worlds most remote foodie destination. (The New Yorker)
The Michelin Guide
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