Stargazing in the Lake District: a new forest observatory opens in Grizedale
There’s no shortage of stunning scenery and daytime activities in the Lakes. Now, an observatory is offering stellar nocturnal events too
I took my kids to Lapland on the Santa Claus Express – but would the big man deliver?
If meeting Santa Claus is on your children’s wishlist, this trip on a festive sleeper train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, with reindeer and huskies thrown in, is Christmas with jingle bells on
‘Immortalised by Monet’: the enduring seaside charm of Trouville, Normandy
The impressionist painter was much taken by the stylish villas and unique light of the French port, which 150 years on still refuses to be outshone by glitzy big sister Deauville
Bivouacking in the Pyrenees: how we got our teenagers to take a mountain hike
With the help of a droll local guide, we managed to enthuse our two sons on a wild camping adventure in the mountains of south-west France
‘It feels as though the mountains are ours alone’: family-friendly hiking in the French Alps
The ‘wonderfully wild’ Grand Tour de Tarentaise trail caters for experienced hikers and first-timers, with cosy mountain refuges offering the perfect place to recharge
Hot springs, empty beaches, forests and wine: exploring the unspoilt Greek island of Ikaria
On a trip to the eastern Aegean isle with my mum after my dad died, we found inspiring landscapes, delicious local produce, and a profound sense of peace
How we survived a Spanish holiday with our teenagers
Our daughters wanted very different things to us on our week in Andalucía. Would letting them bring plus-ones make it work?
Wild camping the easy way: how a secret Exmoor trip pleased everyone – including the farmer
With the help of an adventure platform that connects campers with landowners, we have a remote corner of Exmoor all to ourselves for the night
‘By handing over some planning to the kids, I could relax’: readers’ favourite trips with teenagers in Europe
Holidaying with teenagers can be tricky, but our tipsters have discovered glorious destinations and exhilarating activities to keep them entertained
Family ski trips are etched deep in my memory. So I took my grandkids to the snow
A trip to Perisher with four kids might put their inheritance on ice, but I’d rather spend it with them than leave it to them
Where tourists seldom tread, part 18: three seaside towns that defy the tides of fashion
Ayr, Bangor and Millom routinely bring up the rear in coastal town polls, but they offer a calmer alternative to the brash traditional seaside resorts
Crest of a new wave: Cleethorpes is all set for a seaside revival
The resort is extending its bucket-and-spade appeal to a new generation with a raft of investment, a series of new festivals and some original offerings on the food and accommodation front
Lookout, Devon! Our overnight stay in a 1940s observation post
A clifftop bunkhouse built for the RAF during the second world war is perfect for a kid-friendly escape – with great views, sea swims, hiking and otter spotting
Thrill of the night train: from Vienna to Rome on the next-gen moonlight express
Austria’s upgraded sleeper proves an exciting way to travel between two absorbing, family-friendly cities for our writer and her young daughters
20 family nature holidays in the UK – from kayaking to stargazing and whale watching
Fun and educational outdoor activities in the wild that will coax kids off their screens this summer