Oluwatoyin Tobi's Travel Blog

The Offa’s Dyke Walk  Original Photo by Phil Parsons -    CC-BY-SA 3.0 As far as walks go, the Offa’s Dyke walk has an incredible tale to tell. It follows Offa’s Dyke, the longest of Britain’s archaeological monuments, and crosses the border of England and Wales more than 10 times, but it's not for the faint-hearted.  If you follow the whole trail it will take you over an incredible 176 miles (283 kilometres), on a journey through some of the United Kingdom’s most beautiful countryside, including 3 designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The story of Offa’s Dyke starts back in the 8th century and the Saxon King Offa of Mercia (now known as England’s Midlands). Troubled by Welsh marauders constantly disregarding the borders of his land Mercia and their native Wales, the king decided to define his territory by building a huge earthwork border on the western side of Mercia. Today the raised embankment, which once drew...

Walking Essentials Some essentials you will need to take on a walking trip around the UK   The UK is world renowned for its beautiful scenery, with miles of rolling hills, dramatic cliffs, ancient woodlands and wonderful coastal paths. It’s also pretty well-known for its temperamental weather. There is a saying, "If you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes, and it will change", so before you head off on any walking holiday, make sure you’ve packed some of the most important essentials! Footwear I cannot stress heavily enough that you need the right footwear.  Even the naked rambler wears boots.  So, boots or sturdy walking shoes please.  Not flip flops, sneakers or killer heels.   I can hear you thinking, “That’s obvious”. You’d think so, wouldn’t you? If the walk is going to be a long, or strenuous one, or you are headed out for an extended period, walking holiday etc., make sure you break in the...

The Storm Edited by Lynne Hand. Outside, a storm is raging: Rain is clattering on the dormer, and the huge pine tree in the front garden is bending ever lower towards the house. One day it will snap, but hopefully not today.  Sometimes that's all we can pray for, "Not today please". And yet this is peaceful compared with the noise we have experienced over the last few days. We are in Normandie at present, and this weekend there has been a huge agricultural show in the area with around half a million visitors: Most of whom seemed to walk straight past our gate. The festival of St Croix has been going for a thousand years or so, and, because of its name, was presumably some sort of religious festival when it began. The church is still involved, although it plays a very minor role nowadays.  I’ve just looked it up, and discovered it was originally founded to celebrate the opening of the abbey in Lessay. At the side of the house is a field whe...

Weekend Getaways in the US Photo Taken by Arne Bornheim  Romantic Weekend Getaways in the US Christmas is over, so Valentine's Day must be round the corner, and in anticipation of that, here are some of the most romantic weekend getaways in the US. First We’ll Take Manhattan: In spite of its size, Manhattan is considered one of the most romantic places in the U.S.A. Whether you simply want to enjoy dinner in your hotel suite or dine at any one of the five-star restaurants, the night is always young for lovers who seek solitude in a city that hosts millions of tourists each year. Take a carriage ride through Central Park, enjoy an opera or classical performance at the Lincoln Center, or just hand in hand walk along Fifth Avenue during the evening; the city offers something for everyone No matter what your budget is; Manhattan is more than accommodating. You can spend a fabulous weekend in New York City and stay at the Marriott Hotel on Broadway,...

Travelling Alone Some people shy away from travelling alone, a few embrace it. So, what is it that makes it an attractive option? What are the advantages of going it alone? Well first things first, travelling solo can be very liberating. The itinerary you set and all the decisions you make are yours and yours alone. You don't need to worry about any other person or group. In other words, there's no need to compromise, there are no arguments, and no need to second-guess what other people want or need.  Actually, you can be completely selfish. Travelling alone is also a great confidence builder. Yes, at times it can feel a bit lonely, but that is just one of many problems you will have to solve yourself, along with making your own arrangements, and setting your own goals. “Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to b...

  A Brief History of Tourism The tourism business is at least 2,000 years old. It began when wealthy citizens of ancient Rome, deciding they would rather spend their summers away from the city, took trips to the countryside and the coast. A tourist industry soon sprang up to cater for the Romans’ travel and accommodation needs, and for a while it thrived. But Roman tourism ended with its empire, and for hundreds of years the turbulent economic, social and military situation in Europe made frequent, safe travel out of the question. During the medieval era, however, tourism again appeared thanks to a growing interest in pilgrimages. The organisers arranged the tourism basics of itineraries and places to eat and sleep. And from records such as Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, it’s evident that many pilgrims were keen to relax and enjoy themselves as well as visit a holy shrine. In fact it’s from the Old English word hāligdæg (holy day) that “holiday” derives. But it w...