Travel Topics
Welcome to the world’s largest celebration of storytelling, rooted in Scotland, a nation with a rich tradition of oral storytelling. The Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) provides a platform for…
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a road trip through Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway on the trail of Rabbie Burns and meets a couple of US Presidents along the way. “Auld Ayr…
The Queen’s Park Book Festival is set to make its return in late summer 2024, showcasing a vibrant mix of both established and emerging literary talents in celebration of the…
Looking for the perfect Christmas gifts to set your friends and family on the right track? Look no further. Travel Begins at 40 has your Christmas Travel Gifts covered, as…
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews The Artist’s Journey, The Travels That Inspired the Artistic Greats, a book by Travis Elborough published by White Lion Publishing. I must admit to being partial…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise stay at the Rudding Park Hotel and Spa on their visit to Harrogate for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. Charles Dickens thought it…
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews London Shopfronts with illustrations by Joel Holland and words by Rosie Hewitson, as well as a foreword by Asma Khan published by Prestel. London Shopfronts I…
Salman Rushdie, Rachel Weisz, William Boyd, Ian McEwan, Tom Holland and Emily Maitlis are among the authors who will be appearing at the Cliveden Literary Festival from 21-22 September 2024…
The Borders Book Festival is a celebration of literature, art, music, and culture that takes place annually in the picturesque Scottish town of Melrose. This festival is a must-visit for…
If you’re a book lover, then you won’t want to miss out on this fantastic festival. Held annually in the charming city of Derby, this event is a must-attend for anyone who loves literature…
The Chiswick Book Festival is an event that celebrates literature in all its forms. The festival takes place every year in Chiswick, a beautiful suburb of west London, and is a must-see for all book lovers…
This July will mark the twentieth anniversary of arguably the most famous crime writers festival in the UK. The Theakston Old Peculier Harrogate Crime Writing Festival will run from 17…
Are you a book lover looking for a unique experience? Look no further than the Wigtown Book Festival! This annual event, held in the Scottish town of Wigtown, is a true celebration of literature…
The Edinburgh Book Festival, or Edinburgh International Book Festival, is a magical event for book lovers from all over the world. It is a celebration of literature and a gathering of some of the most…
Are you a book lover looking for an event to feed your literary soul? Look no further than the Appledore Book Festival! Held annually in the charming village of Appledore in North Devon, this book festival…
On a visit to the International Literature Festival Dublin, Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise have a very musical stay at the Hard Rock Hotel Dublin. Our journey through the lobby…
The 27th International Literature Festival Dublin (ILFD), will be held from 16 to 25 May 2025 in the heart of this most literary city. Where else in the world could…
The Hay Festival in Wales is the leading book festival in the UK. Held in the beautiful Welsh town of Haye-on-Wye towards the end of May, the 2024 Hay Festival of literature will feature more than…
The Guernsey Literary Festival 2025 is a vibrant celebration of the world of literature set on the beautiful Channel Island in April and May. One of the leading literary festivals…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise travel to Dublin and Cork inspired by James Joyce and other literary giants of Ireland. It’s one o’clock on day two of our stay in…
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews The Writer’s Journey, In the Footsteps of the Literary Greats, a new book by Travis Elbrough published by White Lion Publishing. I find that when it…
After visiting the country’s capital Bogota and the coffee region, Mark Bibby Jackson travels to the coast to dip his toes like a local in Cartagena Colombia. It is a…
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews London Explored, a photographic-led guide to London by Peter Dazeley published by Frances Lincoln. The greater you get to know London the more you realise how…
Mark Bibby Jackson reviews Atlas of Forgotten Places, a journey through forgotten properties around the world, published by White Lion Publishing. A book commemorating properties that have readily been forgotten…
With the advent of the internet and the mobile phone, many consider that the level of dialogue and the written word has been devalued. But the internet has also given us access to many outlets that celebrate high quality debate and literature worldwide.
Globally, authors, journalists and politicians are invited to book festivals to present their work and engage in debate with their audience. These festivals usually last a few days and are mainly much sought after, so book tickets and accommodation well in advance. Some book festivals of note are the Hay on Wye Festival, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, Sydney Writers Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Washington National Book Festival.
Many people now search for travel information on line and much useful information is posted there. Travel Begins at 40 has its own travel guides that you can download.
The most famous bard in the world still shows everyone the worth of the written and spoken word. For sheer unforgettable use of language, Shakespeare is universally unsurpassed. The reader is constantly surprised at how many Shakespearean sayings form part of the rich heritage of the English language.
