The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
JOIN LIKE-MINDED SOULS
HONE YOUR HOBBY
Scotland
Indulge your creative passion, or learn something completely new, alongside similar souls at Gartmore House. From calligraphy to quilting, book binding to bird-watching (right), weaving to writing, there are 40-odd courses available at this beautiful 18th-century base in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Home-cooked meals are included, after which you can retire to the lounge for a dram by the roaring fire with new friends. All craft holidays include free transfers to and from Stirling train station as well.
A five-night course at Gartmore House (01877 382991; gartmorehouse.com) costs from £849pp including full-board accommodation and tuition. Various dates and courses available
MEET UP IN THE MEADOWS
Switzerland
Fly away with fellow flora fans on Brightwater Holidays’ Alpine Flowers of Wengen trip. There are few safer spots for a first-time solo trip than this spectacular Swiss mountain village facing the Jungfrau; there is no single supplement to pay either. The adventure is led by Colin Crosbie, former head gardener to HM the Queen Mother at Windsor, so you are in expert hands. Expect a bevy of botanical highlights, revealed on glorious gentle walks.
An eight-day Alpine Flowers of Wengen small-group trip (01334 657155; brightwaterholidays.com) costs from £2,495pp including flights and half-board accommodation; departs June 9 and 30
TIME-TRAVEL TOGETHER
Italy
Join an expert and a small group of fellow archaeology buffs on a deep dive into ancient Rome. Andante Travels’ Pompeii, Herculaneum and Classical Campania trip includes a hike to Vesuvius, a look at the newly excavated House of Leda and exclusive access to areas such as the usually off-limits store rooms at the Paestum Museum and the Cave of
Sejanus. As a bonus, on selected departures no single supplement is charged. An eight-day Pompeii, Herculaneum and Classical Campania guided trip (01722 713800; andantetravels.co.uk) costs from £2,725pp including flights and fullboard accommodation. No single supplement dates on September 12, 19 and 26 and October 10 and 24
Glide through Bordeaux on Uniworld’s luxe SS Bon Voyage, on a no-single-supplement sailing, to raise a glass with likeminded, like-aged travellers (most are 60-plus). The standard river journey is pretty tasty – included are a Saint-Émilion tour, a cycle through Médoc’s vineyards and a visit to the Cité du Vin. Select a Connoisseur Collection departure to get gourmet extras such as cognac sipping at the Rémy Martin estate and a Bordeaux caviar tasting.
A seven-night Brilliant Bordeaux cruise (0808 168 9110; uniworld.com) costs from £1,499pp including flights and full-board accommodation; Connoisseur Collection from £3,349pp. Solo savings on select dates
EXPLORE OFFBEAT ARTISANAL WAYS
India
Get to know a new area and new people on Mountain Kingdoms’ Gujarat Textiles trip. Artist Sue Lawty will help you explore the rich traditions of this offbeat state. Meet craftspeople in markets, museums and workshops, join in the Navratri festival celebrations and take a jeep safari to look for rare Asiatic wild asses on the Little Rann of Kutch. Single travellers can save money by sharing with another solo.
A 14-day Gujarat Textiles small-group trip (01453 844400; mountainkingdoms.com) costs from £4,445pp including flights and full-board twin-share accommodation; departs September 18.
All prices are for solo travellers (rather than two sharing). Where “twin-share” is mentioned, solos can opt to share with a stranger of the same sex in order to avoid a single supplement. Otherwise, “accommodation” means a private room.
Covid rules For full details of entry requirements and Covid rules for your favourite destinations, see telegraph.co.uk/tt-travelrules, or refer to gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice