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Scotland’s best beaches for swimming, surfing and water sports 
Guides

Scotland’s best beaches for swimming, surfing and water sports 

From hidden coves to surfers’ paradises, taking in both city beaches and remote shores which seem to stretch for miles, a break on Scotland’s coasts offers something for everyone. Here we take a look at the best beaches in Scotland for swimming, surfing, water sports and family activities.  Related articles Scottish golf bucket list Sport in Scotland ‘Water wellness’ in Scotland Book: ‘Blue Scotland’ by Mollie Hughes Island beaches  Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris is regularly included in lists of the most beautiful beaches. With miles of white sandy beach and clear blue water, visitors to the island may be forgiven for imagining they are visiting a Mediterranean archipelago. It is certainly one of the most spectacular beaches in the Outer Hebrides.  St...
Lisbon: active things to do in Portugal’s capital
Guides

Lisbon: active things to do in Portugal’s capital

Portugal’s capital Lisbon is famous for its historic attractions and beautiful beaches, but the city is surrounded by wild spaces that provide a range of outdoor activities for adventure travellers. Here we take a look at the best places and things to do for an active break in the Lisbon region.  Arrábida Nature Park: hiking, cycling, caving and diving Just 30 minutes south of the city centre and across the River Tagus is Arrábida Nature Park, often hailed as one of Lisbon's most beautiful destinations. The mountainous area offers a tapestry of landscapes, from tree-lined paths winding down to secret coves and idyllic beaches, to the towering Serra do Rosco, the highest point on the Portuguese coast. There are waymarked trails for hiking and cycling, with some of the remotest ro...
Jamaica adventure guide: hiking, cycling and the Reggae Marathon
Guides

Jamaica adventure guide: hiking, cycling and the Reggae Marathon

There’s more to Jamaica than its beaches, reggae music and cricket – although these are three excellent reasons to visit the Caribbean island nation. Trips to the island also offer the chance to go beyond the white sands and explore outdoor adventures among beautiful landscapes, lush forests and soaring mountains.  Hike the Blue and John Crow Mountains Hiking the Blue Mountain Peak (Image: Visit Jamaica) Grab your hiking boots and head out to the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (BJCMNP). The park comprises 100,000 acres of tropical rainforest and is often referred to as “the lungs of eastern Jamaica”. Established in 1993, the BJCMNP is a Unesco World Heritage Site and the region has been noted for having more than 800 species of plants. Ride the scenic river rou...
DP World Tour golf: new-look schedule for 2024 European Tour season
Calendars

DP World Tour golf: new-look schedule for 2024 European Tour season

The men’s golf DP World Tour has announced its schedule for the 2024 season – which will include a minimum of 44 tournaments in 24 countries and across five continents. In 2024, the tour’s stars will also compete for an overall record prize fund of $148.5m, excluding the majors. The 2024 Race to Dubai will feature three new phases – five “global swings” from November 2023 to August 2024; a “Back Nine” from September 2024 to October 2024; and two DP World Tour Play-Offs in November 2024.  As in previous years, there will be the five Rolex Series events – the premium category of events on the DP World Tour. In 2024 these will be:  Hero Dubai Desert Classic (18-21 January) Genesis Scottish Open (11-14 July) BMW PGA Championship (19-22 September) Abu Dhabi Champion...

Harlequins rugby union: Big Game 15 at Twickenham

The “Big Game 15” will be held at Twickenham Stadium in London on Saturday 30 December 2023 with Harlequins hosting a men’s and women’s double header at the home of English rugby union.  In a Premiership Women’s Rugby fixture, Harlequins will take on Gloucester-Hartpury in the first match of the day (2.30pm GMT). Then in Premiership Rugby, Harlequins’s men’s team will face Gloucester Rugby (5.30pm). As well as back-to-back rugby matches, there will be plenty of entertainment for all the family to enjoy, with pyro and laser shows, live music, free fairground rides and food and drink stalls in the West Fan Village. It’s also been confirmed that DJ and producer Joel Corry will be performing live on the pitch before the men’s game.  Big Game 15 general sale tickets are available to bu...
Men’s football: Uefa Euro 2024 Germany

Men’s football: Uefa Euro 2024 Germany

The 17th edition of the men's Uefa European Championship will be held in Germany from 14 June to 14 July 2024. Host nation Germany will play Scotland in the opening game of Euro 2024 at the Munich Football Arena on Friday 14 June. Berlin’s Olympiastadion will stage the final on Sunday 14 July. See below for information about the draw, stadiums, fixtures and hotels.  Euro 2024 draw and groups Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania Group C: Slovenia, Denmark, Serbia, England Group D: Play-off winner A, Netherlands, Austria, France  Group E: Belgium, Slovakia, Romania, Play-off winner B  Group F: Turkey, Play-off winner C, Portugal, Czech Republic Host cities and stadiums Olympiastadion Berlin (current capacity: 70,000) Colog...

Sports & Events Europe 2024, Mallorca

The third edition of Sports & Events Europe will be held from 9-11 April 2024 in Calvià, Mallorca, Spain. Organised by Grupo eventoplus, the three-day B2B sports travel and meetings workshop will feature sport destinations and venues, sports tour operators, meeting planners, tournaments and corporate sports events organisers. See more at sportsandevents.world 
London to Innsbruck by train: rail in style to the ‘Capital of the Alps’
Holidays & Trips

London to Innsbruck by train: rail in style to the ‘Capital of the Alps’

With an international train station in the heart of the alpine city, Innsbruck provides a unique opportunity for winter sports enthusiasts to travel by rail. Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof train station is a hub for major European rail routes, enabling visitors from London St Pancras to be in the “Capital of the Alps” in approximately 12 hours, depending on the route. From there the benefit of connectivity continues, with access to Innsbruck’s 13 ski resorts, all linked-up by free public transport through one ticket, with the Ski plus CITY Pass Stubai-Innsbruck. This includes Kühtai, the highest ski village in Austria, as well as Mutteralm, the family mountain in the picturesque village of Mutters, and Innsbruck’s own ski mountain, Nordkette, with incredible views of the cityscape from the...
Cycling holidays 2024: new tours along Spain’s Camino de Santiago
Holidays & Trips

Cycling holidays 2024: new tours along Spain’s Camino de Santiago

Famous as a walking route, northern Spain’s Camino de Santiago is also growing in popularity with cyclists. New tours along the pilgrim trail by cycling holidays company Saddle Skedaddle give riders the chance to explore more of the network of camino ways that lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela. Bilbao to Santiago road cycling holidays This newly-extended Camino de Santiago tour takes riders from Bilbao, along the dramatic Atlantic coastline, into the wild Camino Primitivo mountains, before reaching Santiago de Compostela. After collecting the pilgrim’s stamp, riders head out of Bilbao and along the rugged coastline of the Cantabrian Sea before leaving the Basque Country for Cantabria. The route then journeys through the natural parks of Liencres and Oyambre before following ...
Winter in Trentino, Italy: 2023-2024 ski resort openings and new facilities
Holidays & Trips

Winter in Trentino, Italy: 2023-2024 ski resort openings and new facilities

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the region of Trentino provides the perfect winter escape for travellers seeking an authentic Italian alpine experience. This season the region, which at this time of the year is recognised for its interconnected pistes and beautiful scenery, has revealed several world-class additions to its facilities and infrastructure. Ski resorts: early opening Following a flurry of early November snow, ski resorts in Trentino are now anticipating an earlier-than-expected opening to their slopes. The popular resorts of Madonna di Campiglio in the Trentino Dolomites, Presena Glacier-Tonale (Val di Sole), Val di Fiemme and Paganella plan to open early while all remaining resorts will open in December. Updated ski resort facilities The Trentino region has r...

MLB World Tour: London Series 2024 – Mets vs. Phillies

Major League Baseball (MLB) returns to London in June 2024. The MLB World Tour: London Series 2024 will see the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies go head-to-head in two regular-season matches on 8-9 June at the London Stadium. From 7-9 June 2024, the MLB London Series: Trafalgar Square Takeover will return, bringing the best of baseball to one of London’s most iconic locations. If you're not at London Stadium, the Trafalgar Square fan festival is the place to be during this year’s London Series. Free to attend and open to everyone, come for the food, the music and the merch. Meet baseball fans from the UK, New York, Philadelphia and around the world. And, if you're up for the challenge, you can swing for the fences in one of the batting cages.  Taking centre stage again th...
Sport in France in 2024: major events and sporting highlights
Events

Sport in France in 2024: major events and sporting highlights

France is getting ready for a bumper year of tourism and sport in 2024 with a number of new and exciting openings, exhibitions, sustainable tourism initiatives, and major anniversaries on the calendar. The country is also in the final preparation stages of hosting its biggest ever event, the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. Here we take a look at the sporting highlights in France in 2024.  SPOT24: new urban sport and culture hub with Olympic exhibition  Paris, Île-de-France: until 31 December 2024 Paris je t'aime (the Paris Tourist Office) has set up a new hybrid venue showcasing urban sport, culture and Olympism. Serving as a tourist information point, Olympics ticket office and official shop, alongside a café dedicated to Parisian products, SPOT24 also comp...
Swimming holidays 2024: Lake District cold water retreats at Rothay Manor
Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts

Swimming holidays 2024: Lake District cold water retreats at Rothay Manor

Rothay Manor, a boutique hotel in Ambleside in the heart of the Lake District in England, is launching a series of new cold water swimming retreats in winter 2024, focusing on mental and physical well-being. Guests will immerse themselves in some of the UK’s most beautiful bodies of water – learning how to safely acclimatise mind and body to the cold temperatures, teamed with a pop-up cinema, complimenting the retreat activities.  Rothay Manor’s retreats, taking place from 19-21 January and 1-3 March 2024, are collaboratively hosted by three cold-water experts: Jonathan Cowie, Gilly McArthur, and Vicki McCreadie. All three are trained as STA Level 2 Open Water Swim Coaches, and each have their own cold water swimming expertise. The new two-night cold water retreat inc...
UAE golf travel: ‘stay and play’ at Al Zorah Golf Club and Oberoi Beach Resort
Holidays & Trips

UAE golf travel: ‘stay and play’ at Al Zorah Golf Club and Oberoi Beach Resort

Al Zorah Golf Club and The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah, in the UAE are offering golfers the opportunity to experience a luxury getaway this winter after releasing an exclusive “stay and play” golf package. Guests can take advantage of world-class golf – and a stunning climate – with an array of five-star benefits over the coming months at one of the UAE’s most spectacular destinations, which is situated just 30 minutes from Dubai International Airport in the heart of Al Zorah City.  The Troon-managed Al Zorah Golf Club opened for play in 2015 and is already regarded as one of the best courses in the Middle East. Designed by legendary 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus, the course meanders around a natural mangrove landscape and two spectacular lakes. With a driving range and extensi...
‘The Messi Experience’ to kick off world tour in Miami
Events

‘The Messi Experience’ to kick off world tour in Miami

Lionel Messi’s glittering footballing career will be the subject of a first-of-its-kind interactive multimedia experience launching in April 2024. Kicking off its world tour in Miami, Florida, “The Messi Experience: A Dream Come True” will take football fans on a journey starting with his early years in Rosario, Argentina, his arrival and career at FC Barcelona in Spain, to lifting the 2022 Fifa World Cup with Argentina in Qatar.  Created by Primo Entertainment and Moment Factory, “The Messi Experience” will transform The Hangar at Regatta Harbour in Miami's Coconut Grove into an interactive fan attraction. Visitors will be immersed in ten physical and digital experiences right alongside the football legend like never before, both on and off the field.  The 2023 B...
Cycling holidays 2024: new tour to Lower Silesia in Poland
Holidays & Trips

Cycling holidays 2024: new tour to Lower Silesia in Poland

Small group cycling and walking holidays company The Slow Cyclist has announced a new exploration of the rural patchwork of landscapes in Poland’s Lower Silesia region, which borders Germany and northern Czechia. This charming corner of Poland is home to lush forests, gently rolling hills, extinct volcanoes, and beautiful castles which Slow Cyclists will discover over five days.  Far away from busy cities and mass tourism, Lower Silesia is an area of Poland where time seems to stand still, dotted with an eclectic mix of architectural styles, from Gothic to Neoclassical, showing off the area's rich, and often turbulent, history. The Slow Cyclist’s itinerary allows for plenty of time in the saddle during the day, but also lots of time to enjoy delicious local meals and relax in beautifull...
Wilderness Scotland’s new trips for 2024: walking, retreats and road cycling
Holidays & Trips

Wilderness Scotland’s new trips for 2024: walking, retreats and road cycling

Wilderness Scotland has introduced a range of new guided trips for 2024. There’s a luxurious tour of the Highlands, with exclusive stays and access, a women-only retreat to the Cairngorms, and two new e-biking itineraries, to the Orkneys and the white-sand fringed Outer Hebrides.  Wilderness walking: highlights of the Highlands  This new nine-night, fully guided trip combines the very best of the Highlands’ wild beauty with superb, luxury hotels, offering the finest seasonal food, all while enjoying some stunning hiking. Highlights include: a boat trip to the remote shores of Loch Coruisk on Skye; hiking in Glencoe in the company of red deer and golden eagles; a visit to the Culloden Battlefield; hiking in the Cairngorms National Park; and guided tours of Scone Palace and the Du...
Sail Croatia launches new yoga cruises for 2024
Holidays & Trips

Sail Croatia launches new yoga cruises for 2024

Small ship cruising specialist Sail Croatia has launched four new yoga-themed cruises for 2024, combining the best of the Dalmatian coastline with mindful activities designed to invigorate and inspire the body and soul.  Highlights of this relaxing cruise will include the opportunity to participate in sunset yoga overlooking Mljet National park and yoga in a vineyard on the Unesco Stari Grad Plain, followed by a traditional dinner and wine tasting. With a certified yoga instructor onboard and plenty of optional activities available, the cruise is designed to leave participants feeling reconnected and relaxed. Starting and ending in the waterfront city of Split, the cruise operates on Almissa, which can accommodate up to 38 guests in air conditioned ensuite cabins and offers a swim...
2024 Olympics to boost tourism spending in Paris by up to €4bn
Sports Business

2024 Olympics to boost tourism spending in Paris by up to €4bn

An extra three million people are expected in Paris for the Olympic Games in 2024 increasing tourism spending by up to €4bn, according to Euromonitor International.  The successful Rugby World Cup, which has just played out in Paris and across France, served as a dress rehearsal for next summer’s games which will bring many opportunities, but also challenges for the French tourism industry. With a forecasted four billion global television audience, the country will be front and centre in the worldwide spotlight.  A well-executed Paris 2024 could skyrocket the profile of France, already at the top of Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Index for 2022, as a destination from 2025.  Alexander Göransson, senior consultant at Euromonitor International, said in his repo...
World Golf Awards 2023: Portugal named world’s best golf destination
Sports Business

World Golf Awards 2023: Portugal named world’s best golf destination

The World Golf Awards has announced the big winners for 2023 at its tenth annual gala ceremony, held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Portugal enjoyed a strong showing and was named the world’s best golf destination, and The Algarve’s Quinta do Lago – South Course (pictured) claimed the best golf course in Europe award. Dunas Golf Course, Terras da Comporta collected two best newcomer categories: Europe’s best new golf course and world’s best new golf course.  Serapong Course at Singapore’s Sentosa Golf Club emerged victorious by taking the coveted title of world’s best golf course and Australian golfing legend-turned-designer Greg Norman was named golf course designer of the year.  Apes Hills Barbados, with its lush tropical setting and stunning coastal views, was voted the world’s best eco-...

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