Travel Writing for Detour
A dam good drive in the Elan Valley, Wales
It’s the deafening sound of water hitting the ground, which can be heard even with my car windows closed, that indicates I’ve arrived in Elan Valley. It’s the kind of noise that tricks your mind into believing you’re directly beneath its flow, causing the hair on my arms to stand up. But the nature of the B4518 means that I’ve yet to see what’s disrupting this tranquil countryside, underscored by the silent munching of sheep in front of the Elan Valley Visitor Centre sign. This signals that I’ve officially reached the beginning of the 72-square-mile valley and its 19-mile-long driving route.
Paradise found on a road trip round Mauritius
Surrounded by the Indian Ocean is the volcanic island of Mauritius. It’s sublimely fringed by a 205-mile coastline, with a wild interior featuring gorges, waterfalls, and mountains, some of which reach over 2,600ft in height.
The Holy Grail of Road Trips, Portugal
I’ve come to Tomar for a specific reason. To find the Knights Templar. Protectors of the Holy Grail. Defenders of Christianity. Holy Crusade warriors. But these are just some reasons why the knights are so fascinating. Their tale began in 12th-century Jerusalem, but when the order was thriving, it held many strongholds in Europe.