The Journal
Adventures, Guides & Stories
Real guides from real trips — destination breakdowns, packing lists and honest stories from Barbados to Patagonia.
barbados
How to Stay Active on Your Barbados Holiday
Barbados has a well-earned reputation for beaches, rum and sunsets. What's less known is how genuinely easy it is to stay active here — hiking, swimming, running and water sports, most of it free.
road-trips
Driving to Torres del Paine — Everything You Need to Know
Most people take the bus to Torres del Paine. We drove — with a three year old, a grandmother and a boot full of camping gear — and the drive itself turned out to be part of the experience.
trip-planning
The Complete Patagonia Travel Guide
A complete route, season-by-season breakdown and practical planning guide for a 2 to 4 week trip through Patagonia's iconic stops.
packing-lists
The Complete Patagonia Packing List — What I Actually Carried with a Toddler
Packing for Patagonia means preparing for wind, cold and unpredictable weather while also packing for a three year old. Here's the exact list I carried across three weeks — Torres del Paine, El Chaltén and beyond.
packing-lists
West Highland Way Packing List — What I Actually Carried with a Toddler on My Back
The West Highland Way is 96 miles of Scottish highland trail from Milngavie to Fort William. Here's exactly what I carried hiking it with Freddy on my back — the gear, the mistakes, and what I'd change.
toddler-travel
Costa Rica with a Toddler — Pura Vida and Cloud Forests
Ten days in Costa Rica with a 20-month-old — cloud forests, a volcano hike, wild sloths and the Jeep Boat Jeep crossing of Lake Arenal, solo.
toddler-travel
Flying Long Haul with a Toddler — The Honest Guide
Three flights, one solo mum, one toddler, and everything I've actually learned about surviving long-haul travel without losing your mind.
adventures
Walking the West Highland Way with a Toddler: Day by Day
A realistic 14-day, day-by-day itinerary for walking the full 154km West Highland Way with a toddler on your back.
trip-planning
The Ultimate Iceland Road Trip Guide — 12 Days Around the Ring Road and Westfjords
Iceland is one of those destinations people talk about for years before they go and can't stop talking about after. Here's how we drove 12 days around the full Ring Road, including the Westfjords.
hiking-camping
My Shoulder Season Camping Kit — How It's Evolved Since Having a Toddler
There's a version of me from four years ago who would have laughed at my current kit list. Back then it was a 36L Osprey Sirrus and zero toddler gear. Here's how it's evolved since Freddy arrived.
toddler-travel
Patagonia with a Toddler: Three Weeks at the End of the World
Three weeks in Patagonia. Three generations — my mum at 67, me, and Freddy who turned three on a boat in the Strait of Magellan surrounded by 120,000 penguins. A trip most people said was too ambitious.
trip-planning
New Zealand Travel Guide: 4 Weeks Around Aotearoa (2026)
A complete 4-week New Zealand itinerary covering both islands — Auckland, Rotorua, Hobbiton, Wellington, Queenstown, Milford Sound and the Catlins, with everything you need to plan your own trip.