I love it when I find something new, unexpected, and beautiful. One of the reasons I'm not fussed about travelling abroad is that there is so much still to see on home turf, and even in my own region there are still plenty of hidden gems like Heysham, which I saw for the first time last weekend.

We started the day in Morecambe, somewhere I have mixed memories of. I remember crabbing there as a child, shouting with delight when I pulled them up on my line and scooped them in my net, but I also recall that the town itself was, like many English seaside towns, feeling the effects of its heyday having passed.

Maybe it's because our visit happened to fall on the day of Vintage On The Bay but change seemed to be in the sea air, with a few new developments on the way and hundreds of people enjoying the beautifully maintained beach, playgrounds, and seating areas along the coastal path. The vintage festival had brought plenty of clothing stalls, classic cars, and even a circus tent hosting dance classes. Next year I will definitely be pulling on a petticoat and joining the many, many people dressed up in their finest retro glad rags.

After racking up thousands of steps exploring the rock pools and hunting for sea glass, we called in to Kerry's Coffee House for lunch and sat out in the sunshine to enjoy more people watching over panini and the most amazing tiffin I've ever tasted, made with mint Aero. I would happily drive back just to grab another piece or five!

It was while we were people watching that we spotted an old red bus labelled 'Heysham Village'. Anything with 'village' in the title screams cuteness to me and on this occasion my instinct was 100% correct. Just a short drive from the centre of town we saw a National Trust sign and followed it down a winding road full of quaint cottages. There was plenty of space to park and a brilliant playground which I would have definitely taken full advantage of had it been quiet. Luckily for my dignity it wasn't, so we walked down the main street instead, oohing and ahhing at yet more chocolate box properties. 

At the end of the row we found a garden made by the residents, complete with an insect hotel and a working water pump. I would have looked at it longer and waited for the bees and butterflies to visit, but a banging, crashing sound distracted me. Following it, we found a copper beating workshop in the church hall! They also had a tea shop, so we enjoyed treacle tart and tea, shouting to one another over the hammering. On (another) sugar high, we walked up to the National Trust property, the remains of an ancient chapel. I don't blame them for building it up there, the views were blooming beautiful. Well, if you overlook the ferry port and focus on the beach and bay, that is. Tourists are cleverly encouraged to make the most of those views with a cluster of polished steel structures, people and pyramid shaped, reflecting the nature all around them. It would be the perfect place to take a picnic.

My history-loving mum was in seventh heaven, as back down the hill there was a church still standing, with stones dated from the 1600s. It's not my bag, but tucked to the side of the graveyard is 'The Glebe Garden', a community garden where rockeries and shrubs have become home to all sorts of ornaments, like a tiny Humpty Dumpty, toadstool houses, and even a bust of Tutankhamen. Who needs a pyramid when you can spend your days under a holly bush in Lancashire? That's what I say.

You certainly wouldn't go hungry in Heysham with all the tea rooms and cafes, and there's even a posh pub if a sit down dinner is more your thing. Next time I'm there I'll be making a beeline for The Mad Hatter's Tea Shack, which is decorated with Alice In Wonderland characters but sadly not open on Saturdays. It's right near a flat coastal walkway that wraps right around the bay. Despite the tide coming in, I couldn't resist scrambling on the rocks, making a new furry friend, and fishing out tiny crabs that the water washed in.

If you ever find yourself in the Lancaster/Morecambe area, I'd definitely recommend dropping in and seeing Heysham for yourself. I felt a real sense of community, and I'm already planning on returning in the Autumn to get my steps in on that coastal path then try the Hatter's finest hot chocolate.

Have you been to Heysham?

Realistically, being around in the 40s would have been hard to say the least. First war, then recovering and repairing would have brought such challenges to daily life, but people faced them with community spirit and everyone played their part. Lytham 1940s weekend is an event open to everyone to come along and appreciate the era, and see the town's own community spirit shine.

Last year I happened to be visiting Lytham during the weekend quite by chance. I hadn't heard of it before so I didn't expect to see tanks lining the front, soldiers in battle, and even ordinary residents stepping out in their finest 40s style clothing. The local shops competed for best dressed, and I spotted groups of land girls, pilots, a Call-The-Midwife nurse, and Winston Churchill! This year I was prepared to join in myself, and while I had no victory in my attempt at victory rolls, I felt the part in a red floral tea dress and some vintage-style Clarks sandals.

The costumes weren't just limited to human residents, even dogs get dressed up! My personal favourite part of both visits was spotting pups kitted out and lapping up every minute of the attention they attracted, but the organisers had included lots of elements to ensure everyone went home with a highlight. The war aspect was covered by army vehicles restored to top condition, a real German plane, and even a re-enactment, while vintage cars and clothes stalls, music, and dance classes gave visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the 40s era. Thankfully, the organisers drew the line at catering with Spam sandwiches and dried egg, and instead there was a woodfired pizza stall, and gin, tea and coffee, or Lytham Fizz prosecco to wash it down.

It's tricky to get the balance right when celebrating anything related to wartime. The violence, fear, and mourning are not something to glorify, but the bravery of the nation is. Not only did young men give their lives, but mothers went to work in ammunition factories then tucked their children in bed not knowing if they would be woken by air raid sirens. It's uncomfortable, but it's not something to brush over, and I felt that Lytham hosted an event that paid respect to those incredible hardships while also capturing the joy that was felt when war was over and Britain pulled together to rebuild.

Whether you want to learn more, take an elderly relative to reminisce, or simply do something different with your weekend, I'd highly recommend going along next year. 

Have you been to an event like this?

Considering I'm scared of my own shadow half the time, I'm actually pretty daring when it comes to adrenaline-surging activities, and last week I ticked another off my 'wild side' wishlist: Go Ape.

Based in Rivington, a forest walk not too far from me, the Go Ape [afflink] treetop course is something I'd seen many times before. Let me tell you now, it's a lot less scary from the ground! Naively I had imagined that I would be just walking around the course, firmly attached to an overhead cable at all times, and with an instructor by my side. Boy, was I in for a surprise.

Our instructor, Luke, had us all read safety sheets and sign to confirm we understood them, then got us all kitted up and explained that we had a pulley and two carabiners on our harnesses. He then dropped the news that we were in charge of ensuring that we swapped these over one by one at each point, thus staying attached at all times.

No instructor would be doing it for us, we would be (quite literally) flying solo! Luckily we were given a test run on terra firma, then a very small, low course, and tested on our knowledge so we were quickly confident and raring to go. 

Fear kicked in as soon as I set foot on the first ladder, but as I clambered onto the platform and swapped my carabiners securely over, I was hit with a wave of relief and the realisation that I had done it. That very much set the tone for the whole course. The more fear I felt, the more pride I experienced when I didn't faint, vom, or fall, and believe me, there were some very testing moments.

I warned you that I was naive, so it hadn't occurred to me that my body would be tested along with my mind, but I soon learned my lesson as I wrestled with a swinging net, swearing along the way. The nets, along with swinging steps which had me dangerously close to doing the splits, were the only part of the course I genuinely disliked. They even left me questioning whether I would go again. I have the upper body strength of a wet paper towel, so the nets in particular were super tough and I did feel the strain the next day, but looking back I'm still glad I did them. It reminded me to be grateful for my mobility, really pushed (and pulled) me, and rewarded me with the best part: zipping over the water. 

The reservoir at Rivington runs along the forest, so I've seen it plenty of times, but during Go Ape I got a completely different view as I flew right over. Oddly enough, I wasn't scared at all, I felt totally free and exhilarated as the wind blew through my hair and the water sparkled below. It was breathtaking. The course had four more zipwires, one at the end of each segment, and while they were all equally fun, zooming out in the open was the clear winner for me.

As an anxious person, I very often feel that things are dangerous or even impossible, that I need someone to look after me, and that I'm just not capable, but for 2 hours every one of those worries was proven wrong. My boyfriend cheered me on and the instructors reassured us that they'd be there for emergencies, but it was up to me, myself and I to climb, jump, swing, and wobble my way around, and I did! Yes, some parts were hard, but if the worst things to come from dangling on a rope for 2 hours were a few bruises and a very muddy bum, maybe the little things I fear aren't so dangerous after all. 

If you fancy booking Go Ape for yourself, please use my aff link!

This post was NOT sponsored, but I did visit in exchange for posting content on my Instagram. I just loved it so much that I'm chatting about it here too.

Not to be hipster here, but my sister was in love with llamas and alpacas long before they were plastered on, oh, everything, so a few years back I bought her a llama walk, and for my birthday she returned the favour and gifted me an alpaca walk experience.

The alpacas live in the children's zoo at Walton Hall and Gardens in Warrington, Cheshire, and from the moment we arrived we were taken aback by how lovely a setting it is. The children's playground is immaculate, with varied and inclusive equipment, and the zoo is home to all kinds of animals, many of them rescues.

The animals we were there to see were Topaz, Jim, and Malbec, a trio of adorable alpacas. With temperatures in the 30s lately, I was worried that it would be too hot for them to walk, but we soon saw that they had been sheared and even given paddling pools to chill out. They're only taken out a maximum of 3 times a week, and always at quiet times to keep it as fun for them as it is for the visitors. We gave them leaves as a peace offering, slipped their harnesses on, and set out with keeper, Peter, alongside us.

Peter was really friendly and laidback, telling us all about the alpacas and their friends, the grounds, and the hall itself. It was given to the people of Warrington to enjoy and it totally fulfils its purpose. Not only is the hall a stunning wedding venue (and alpaca photo backdrop), there are formal gardens, crazy golf, and a huge pond filled with turtles and koi carp. It's a shame I don't live closer because it's such a relaxing, well kept place to visit.

The alpacas were so fun to walk, as they generally stayed calm and gentle but showed us their personalities as they grew used to us. Jim, the multicolour one, was the cheekiest of the trio and even had a quick bite of the flowers on my sleeves! They certainly enjoyed seeing the sights and nibbling at everything in reach, treating their walk as one big buffet. They loved throwing themselves into bushes to scratch their backs, and quite a few dog owners and visitors loved spotting us strolling down the paths.

Both of us loved the experience, and it's definitely one we won't forget in a hurry.

What would you name an alpaca?

One of my favourite words is serendipitous, and it's the perfect one to describe last Saturday. We woke up early and headed over to Llandudno, a seaside spot that we've visited all my life. As we drove, we noticed that the roads were unusually busy, and signs soon told us why: it was Armed Forces day and Llandudno was hosting a huge celebration.

I know that the defences are a controversial topic, but the way I saw it is that every individual walking in the parade was doing so because they are proud of our country and people and want to protect us, and it's not those individuals that decided how that is done. It was a chance for them to be celebrated for their bravery, and the community certainly pulled together to show their support. The whole promenade was packed with people of all ages clapping and waving flags as the parades went by with brass bands booming out behind them.

As a nod to the air force, the red arrows, spitfires, and Lancaster bombers came and put on the most incredible air show. When I heard people discussing it I thought it wouldn't be my thing, but we headed up the hill to watch and the pilots proved me wrong. They looped, twirled, and decorated the sky with their coloured streamers, but the best was yet to come. A Typhoon, an even more powerful plane, came ripping through the sky with such force I could feel it reverberating through my chest, yet the pilot had it swirling through the sky as easily as if it were a toy.

After all the excitement, we took a detour to Haulfre Gardens. Despite visiting so many times, it was an area I'd never seen before, and the glorious sunshine made it the perfect day to explore. Winding up through the hillside we passed beautiful houses, met the friendliest Collie dog, and even hung out with Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee. Alice In Wonderland is linked to Llandudno, and you can spot nods to the characters all around the town.

Before we were homeward bound, there was just enough time for a dip in the sea- it would be wrong not to on such a sunny day! We stopped at Colwyn Bay for a paddle, where another lovely Collie joined us. He ran behind me, pushed his head between my ankles, and played tug of war with his tennis ball, but just wouldn't stay still for a photo.

Have you ever celebrated Armed Forces Day?

Whenever we spot a vintage car on the road, my dad will always point it out to me and tell me the name, engine size, and usually 'I had one of those, but I gave it away'. I can't remember a word of the technical information, but his love for classic cars has passed down anyway. I love the colours of them and the little touches like matching dashboards, pleated seats, and chrome badges on the bodywork, and if I won the lottery I'm sure I'd be tempted to own a few models.

Until then, I'm happy to admire them, and my favourite park happened to play host this weekend. Placed just outside Burnley town centre, Towneley Park is built around a historic house which is now used as a museum and event space, and the grounds are filled with families, dog walkers, and, on this occasion, hundreds of motors, from Fords to Ferraris.

I couldn't possibly choose a favourite because so many cars were gorgeous for different reasons, but I was really drawn to this Riley Elf- the owner had even put vintage books, cameras, and newspaper in the car! All of the owners seemed happy to talk about their cars and it's nice that they share them at shows rather than hiding them away in garages. 

The Mini Coopers also grabbed my attention, there's just something about the dinky original model that's so lovely, particularly when they're in perfect condition. I also saw a cream Mini van which had panels rather than windows at the back which I fell pretty hard for- I could picture it filled with my shop stock and painted with my name to tootle along to craft fairs.

Along with a few army Land Rovers, I was surprised to spot this service car from the tiny town of Grassington, in Yorkshire. It's nice that it's in mint condition and really being treasured as a piece of history.

The chunky, utility, four wheel drive cars fascinate me too. Going down the motorway in a car with no doors would be alarming to say the least, but on a sunny day I'd like to take the green Scamp pictured above for a spin. They remind me of Lego cars!

Granted, modern cars are more comfortable to sit in, but classic cars definitely have better interiors. That bright yellow dashboard would jazz up even the worst drive to work! I loved the Panther embroidery, and didn't see any other car with interior embellishment like that.

I still can't remember their full names or engine sizes, but I definitely have an appreciation for classic cars and their owners. I think part of it comes from my concern for the planet and conservation, and while I understand that classic cars burn through petrol, I also see that these cars haven't been abandoned or scrapped, but restored and really cherished and displayed for other people to enjoy.

What's your favourite car?

It's no secret that I love The Lakes. In fact, I love it so much that I faced my enormous fear of driving and whizzed down the motorway to spend a week there! We stayed in The Loft in Bowness, which was a perfect base for exploring the South Lakes or strolling into Bowness itself. It's an apartment within an old gentleman's residence, with a view of the lake and its own resident pheasants. If you're looking for a break in The Lakes I'd highly recommend it.

Monday: Travel + Kendal

England was treated to a scorching Bank Holiday Monday, but thankfully Kendal was pretty quiet as we strolled. We stopped for lunch at Nina's Coffee Shop before heading over to Bowness, grabbing a box of Oreo ice creams, and joining thousands of other tourists at the water. 

Apparently the ice creams weren't enough, and that evening we popped out to buy chocolate then park up and eat it at the viewpoint up the road. We spotted a celebration cake reduced to 50p and it would have been a crime not to pop that in the basket too!

Tuesday: Allan Bank and Waterfalls

Allan Bank is a National Trust property with a difference. Rather than feeling like a museum, guests are invited to pour themselves a drink and get stuck into the books and arts and crafts activities on offer. They even have a full art room, equipped with pens, paints, and a stunning view over the hills.

After a quick mosey we called into the refreshment room for a muesli bar and an excellent cup of coffee, then sprinted back down the hill before the parking ran out.

From there we drove to Ambleside, where I'd seen a waterfall signposted but never followed. The walk up to the falls was a little strenuous, but beautiful, and totally worth it once we reached the top.

Wednesday: Geocaching + Tennis

I'd never been geocaching before, but now I'm a woman possessed! We did try to find one earlier in the week but stopped and ran off when we found a couple... ahem... up to no good. In the busy park. 

Thankfully there was no such couple as we raced around Bowness looking high and low for caches, and we managed to rack up 5 pretty quickly. It's funny to think that I could have walked past them hundreds of times and been none the wiser.

Renting the holiday apartment included use of its tennis courts, so after lunch we grabbed our rackets and tried to bring Wimbledon to Windermere. Sadly I spent more time running after the ball than actually hitting it; sports have never been my strong point.

Thursday: Yew Tree Tarn, Grizedale + Wray Castle

Before coming on holiday, the one thing I had decided to do was visit Grizedale Forest. I knew that the winding country roads would be a good challenge for me, but I pleasantly surprised myself and stayed calm. Our first stop was a walk around my favourite little tarn, where time seems to stop. My heart did too when I noticed a wasp hitching a ride on my leg! 

When we reached Grizedale we stupidly neglected to look at the map and just picked a trail, but it turned out for the best when we reached an odd key stuck out of the tree. Instructions told us to turn it and listen, and sure enough, the most beautiful but eery music drifted out through the trees. There were 7 in total, so we followed the trail, listening in turn. 

We had a quick picnic then drove on to Wray Castle, which boasts the most beautiful views of the countryside. It also has a brilliant playground, which this big kid just had to test out before walking through the grounds on the hunt for more geocaches. I ended up on a secluded bit of rock where I could look out over the whole lake and watch boats sailing across the water and jets zooming over it. 

After all that walking, we definitely deserved a treat, so on the way home we stopped for fish and chips and ate them in the car as we watched tourists take pictures in the park. They were the most disappointing chips I've ever eaten, but I couldn't let that ruin my day.

Friday: Grasmere, Ambleside, + Troutbeck

After racking up a helluva lot of miles on foot and in the car, we decided to have a more chilled day and headed back to Grasmere to stock up on their classic gingerbread. If you haven't tried it before, don't expect a smooth biscuit! There's a spicy, chewy layer topped with crumbs. It's not my cup of tea so I strolled around the nearby spoon garden, Wordsworth garden, and the storyteller's garden. 

We called in at Ambleside for a caramel cookie doughnut from Greggs (6.5/10) then took a detour home through the tiny village of Troutbeck to admire the cute cottages. When I saw some horses leaning their heads over the wall I pulled over immediately and jumped out to feed them handfuls of grass and stroke their velvety noses.


I feel so grateful to have opportunities like this, to have a healthy body to walk around, and for once I felt like my mind was healthy, too. For once, anxiety was replaced by excitement and I actually felt confident and happy about driving, and I was able to make amazing new memories with my favourite person without fear and doubt spoiling them. 

Today's What's Up is a little different to the rest of the series, as it isn't a place I have visited often and know well, but from my single visit I can say it is a place that captured my imagination. It's a perfect example of what the North has to offer.

Saltaire is steeped in history, as it was built as a workers' village around the imposing Salts Mill. On the one hand, it was kind and generous of Titus, the owner, to ensure his workers had adequate housing, but on the other hand, it did mean they had no real break from work or their employer. It must have been hard back then, when the whole village was built for industry, but in modern day, I wouldn't mind living there at all!

Salts Mill is still very much the central focus. The building is beautiful but built to epic proportions. Part of it is used to house shops, with the ground floor displaying art and selling supplies, and the upper floors offer books, independently made crafts, jewellery, antiques, and designer homeware, alongside rooms with information on the mill's history. It's well worth a look around, and it's a brilliant way of breathing life into the space, but it was all a little too pretentious for me.

I'd urge you to wander through, enjoy the architecture from the outside, but save time to see what else Saltaire can offer. As the textile industry relied heavily on water, the mill was built beside the Leeds Liverpool canal, which is now home to a tour boat, the Are Jay Bargie diner boat, and a barge made from recycled matters- including washing machine doors and pieces of piano! A very friendly kitten jumped out from it as we passed, which is all the justification I need for a return trip.

On the other side of the canal is a park, playground, and cricket club. The park is beautifully kept, with a flat path for cyclists and runners, an ornate bandstand and seating areas, a little folly serving snacks, and even an alpaca statue! It's a really nice place for kids to let off steam after visiting the mill, and they'll love looking for animals on the sculpture trail.

On the other side of Salts Mill, the houses and shops stand in neat little rows. In the workers' time they would have looked drab and uniform, and I was really interested to see how the current owners have made each one unique. Bunting, a sea themed garden, a mosaic, and a rainbow of front doors did not disappoint. While modern touches have been brought to the village, it still maintains the perfect balance of old and new, and buildings like the hospital and Victoria Hall, where events are held, are still in perfect condition.

There aren't many shops, but among them is an interesting vintage shop, craft shops, and several eateries, including a pay as you please deli that uses food surplus from supermarkets, thus reducing food waste. I will definitely eat there next time, as I really admire their ethos, and the food looked delicious. We visited on a Saturday and there was a little farmers' market being held, which was another example of independent businesses thriving, continuing a theme I had noticed throughout our stay. 

Despite being a small village, our visit still lasted 4 hours, so it's definitely worthwhile travelling to. Otley is nearby, and we drove further on to Ilkley, a small town absolutely crammed full of beautiful old buildings and stylish shop fronts, where you could easily spend another couple of hours to make a full day out and enjoy the best of the Yorkshire history and countryside, along with a spot of retail therapy. 

Have you been to Saltaire?