National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Travel Geeks
IN NEED OF ADVICE FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP? ARE YOU AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS, TIPS AND GUIDANCE? THE TRAVEL GEEKS HAVE THE ANSWERS…
The experts’ travel manual
Q // I’m a solo LGBTQ+ traveller hoping to plan an adventure-based trip in the near future. I want to feel safe and welcome on my travels. Are there any particular destinations you recommend?
Rwanda’s fast becoming a popular choice for LGBTQ+ travellers keen to explore east-central Africa. The country is considered a leader in the region for its progressive steps towards LGBTQ+ rights.
This has been aided by support from high-profile LGBTQ+ figures such as Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi, who run
The Ellen Fund, which supports global conservation efforts for endangered species. Start your solo adventure in the capital,
Kigali, before heading north to Volcanoes National Park to see Rwanda’s most famous icon, the critically endangered mountain gorilla. This will take some planning as you’ll need to do this as part of a group guided by experienced local rangers. Permits are limited each year, so book six to 12 months in advance through a travel agent. If you want to see some truly remote areas, head for Nyungwe Forest National Park. It’s ranked as Africa’s highest priority area for forest conservation, because of its biodiversity. You can join a tour here to track chimpanzees in lush tropical rainforest.
For a standout winter adventure, we recommend the Canadian province of Alberta. LGBTQ+ travellers can rest easy as Alberta is a welcoming place full of locals who embrace diversity and can’t wait to show you the beauty of their home. Here, you can take in Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise and the towns of Jasper and Banff without the crowds. Don’t miss the chance to drive the 144-mile Icefields Parkway to take in Banff and Jasper National Parks — it’s one of the world’s most iconic road trips and will allow you to see the Columbia Icefields and the Athabasca Glacier. At Jasper, check out Maligne Canyon, where you can try ice climbing a frozen waterfall. Plus, each April, the town holds the Snow Pride Festival. HUGH AND BEN EDDONCARRUTHERS
Q // Is there anywhere you would recommend for a rural, food-based short break in the UK this autumn?
Having recently opened its 17thcentury farmhouse to overnight guests for the first time ever, there are few better spots than the River Cottage to enjoy autumn’s bounty. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Devon smallholding and cookery school o ers courses, including classic pastry lessons and wild food cooking. Its three bedrooms are available for exclusive hire during social distancing, with singles available in the future. Breakfasts feature granola with seasonal fruits, house yoghurt, River Cottage sausages, bacon and eggs, and house-smoked pollock. A stocked fridge and larder await on arrival, with main meals/sharing boards on request. A minimum two-night stay costs £1,200 for the entire farmhouse (£550 for each subsequent night). Bell tents are also available.
At the other end of England,
The Yan is a modern bistro with beds set in a former 17th-century farm near Grasmere. Run by the Keighley-Manley family, It o ers a refined-rustic menu, with highlights including chicken kiev with roast veg and Yan ketchup; a smoked beef brisket sharing platter; and dark chocolate mousse with a salted sticky to ee pudding crumb. Rooms from £100 a night (two-night minimum). theyan.co.uk rivercottage.net SARAH BARRELL
Q // Will I need a new British passport to travel to Europe next year?
From mid-2020, all British passports issued will be dark blue (some issued between early- and mid-2020 may be burgundy-coloured) and won’t carry any wording relating to the EU on the cover. However, if you hold an older burgundy passport which has ‘European Union’ on the cover, you can still use it as valid documentation in the EU until it expires. You should be aware, however, that passports issued by non-member countries are considered expired aer 10 years, and some British passports exceed that time frame by up to nine months. All passports must have a minimum of six months’ validity remaining at the point of departure. The new rules apply to all travel to the EU (with the exception of Ireland), Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
There’s currently a large backlog of applicants for new passports, and there will undoubtedly be further delays in coming months, so unless you really need a new passport, don’t apply now. There’s limited scope for expediting the application process unless you have the urgent need to travel for compassionate reasons, for work, or to prove your identity (for things like job, mortgage or benefits applications). It currently costs £75.50 to renew or replace your passport if you apply online, £85 if you fill in a paper form.
You won’t need a visa for travel to EU countries just yet, but from possibly as early as 2022 British passports holders will need to pay for a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). From 1 January 2021, pet passports will no longer be valid for travel to Europe. Instead, the government is asking travellers to contact their vet at least four months before travel, to check what vaccinations and tests are required. Further info: gov.uk/guidance/passport-rules-fortravel
PAT RIDDELL
Q // I’m keen to go beyond my local lido and try some wild swimming. What tips can you give me?
Wild swimming is a great way to be active while connecting with your natural surroundings. It is, however, very di erent to swimming in a lido, where there’s the reassurance of lanes, and sides to rest on. Open water swimming comes with safety considerations. You’ll need to check water quality, depth and temperature (the latter can restrict the time you can safely spend submerged), and pinpoint a safe entry and exit point. At sea, be aware of tides and currents; in rivers, educate yourself about the flow, as well as trac like motorboats, jet skis or rowers.
Visit outdoorswimmer.com for detailed safety advice.
You don’t need much equipment, but always make sure you’re visible by wearing a bright swimming hat and tow float. A wetsuit will keep you warmer, allowing you to stay in the water longer. Never swim alone; the best way to get into wild swimming is to find a local group or open water swimming venue. The people here will be able to show you the ropes and tell you about where to swim further afield. Social media is a great place to look for such groups. Alternatively, visit outdoorswimmingsociety.com
KATIA VASTIAU