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Caption: my #STELLERTRAVELPARTNER
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Caption: I’m lucky to have three travel partners: Richard, Bracken and Harris. When I was thinking about this story, it felt instinctive to focus on Harris. Why? Well, adventuring with Harris has changed where we go and what our priorities are. Richard and I have always enjoyed exploring around the UK, but we’d also have been drawn more to cities in the past. Before Harris, we’d talked about places to visit in Europe. There was a wish list of destinations. But as we can’t fly with Harris, that shifted our ideas of where we wanted to go. So we plan our trips in the UK.
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Caption: And there’s so much to see here, and so many places we still want to explore - like Cornwall, which we’ve been talking about for a few years, but it’s a long old drive. But then every trip together feels like an adventure, even if it’s fairly local. Harris has taught us to appreciate just being out in nature. So here are five places, five trips. I could have picked a different five, but some of these are from a few years ago - before Bracken came to live with us - and it felt fun to dig back into the vaults, back to the days when Harris was a lot scruffier than he is now, and when he sported a fine selection of neckerchiefs.
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Caption: JUNE 2017 THE COTSWOLDS
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Caption: This was our second Cotswolds holiday with Harris. Having just said that Harris has taught us to appreciate being outside in nature, this wasn’t one of those trips, but as well as exploring the Cotswolds villages, we also visited a couple of places that felt closer to the nature walks we love, including the National Trust property Croome, and The National Arboretum at Westonbirt, which was beautiful and a place I’d definitely recommend. This is key to how we travel with Harris - and now Bracken too - as we balance the places that we’d like to see with walks when they can enjoy exploring.
Picture of Broad Campden
Picture of Broad Campden
Picture of Broad Campden
Picture of Lower Slaughter
Picture of Lower Slaughter
Picture of Lower Slaughter
Picture of Lower Slaughter
Picture of Chipping Campden
Picture of Chipping Campden
Picture of Chipping Campden
Picture of National Trust - Croome
Picture of National Trust - Croome
Picture of National Trust - Croome
Picture of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Picture of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Picture of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Picture of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Caption: FASKALLY WOOD JUNE 2019
Picture of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
Caption: It was Harris’s birthday, and we wanted to do something special with the lads, so we drove to Faskally Wood in Perthshire. We followed a circular route, starting our walk at Loch Dunmore and winding up into the woods and down along the banks of Loch Faskally, before returning to Loch Dunmore. This is one of our favourite walks. Even on this grey, overcast June day, this place was just so green and vibrant.
Picture of Faskally Forest
Picture of Faskally Forest
Picture of Faskally Forest
Picture of Loch Faskally
Picture of Loch Faskally
Picture of Loch Faskally
Picture of Loch Faskally
Picture of Loch Faskally
Caption: FEBRUARY 2017 NORTHUMBERLAND
Picture of Loch Faskally
Caption: Northumberland is always a favourite place for us, and this trip in 2017 was timed for my birthday - the cover photo with Harris was taken on my birthday. As you’ll know, we love our coastal walks, and Harris has always been a beach boy. I remember the first time we took him to the beach as a pup, when we went to North Berwick, and he was vaguely alarmed as it was midwinter and the wind chill was probably ferocious. But he soon grew to love the beach. And Northumberland has some beautiful beaches. This was a freezing cold February trip, but as you can see from the previous photo, Harris is unfazed by wind chill these days.
Picture of Loch Faskally
Picture of Embleton Bay
Picture of Embleton Bay
Picture of Embleton Bay
Picture of Embleton Bay
Picture of Embleton Bay
Picture of The Joiners Arms
Picture of The Joiners Arms
Picture of The Joiners Arms
Picture of The Joiners Arms
Picture of The Joiners Arms
Caption: BELSAY HALL AUGUST 2018
Picture of The Joiners Arms
Caption: Belsay Hall and Gardens in also in Northumberland and this is one of my must-see places. I still have a story to share about Belsay Hall, but these few photos are from the Quarry Garden, which is staggering - the stone excavated from the quarry was used to build Belsay Hall. Belsay is owned by English Heritage and I love that places like this are dog-friendly - it’s another great reason to visit Northumberland.
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Caption: ARTHUR’S SEAT FEBRUARY 2019
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Caption: Because the walks that are (almost) on your doorstep can also feel like adventures. This walk was at the end of February last year, as the days were drawing longer, and we had bright sunshine on this afternoon so Harris and I took a bus into Edinburgh and went for a walk at Arthur’s Seat - a walk that doesn’t really feel as if you’re in the city. Harris and I found a spot where we were away from other walkers, and where we could sit and take in the views as the sun was setting. I really treasure these experiences that we share together.
Picture of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Video of Belsay Hall Quarry Garden
Picture of Arthur's Seat
Picture of Arthur's Seat
Picture of Arthur's Seat
Picture of Arthur's Seat
Picture of Arthur's Seat
Picture of Arthur's Seat
Caption: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HARRIS Harris, my #stellertravelpartner
