3 Valleys STARS Showing Show (open to Non Members)
Saturday 30 May 2026
Entries close TODAY!
4 upcoming events
Next event:
08/06/2026 Poles /grid work with Louise Wilson
Find out more ..
Planning a holiday is always a bit of a buzz. You start looking at flights, scrolling through places online, imagining yourself somewhere sunny with zero responsibilities for a week or two. But after a while, the standard “sit by the pool and eat overpriced chips” kind of trip can feel a bit repetitive. Sometimes you just fancy doing something completely different, something that actually sticks in your head long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase. (Basically, a trip that doesn’t blur into every other holiday you’ve had.)
More people now are ditching the typical tourist routine and looking for experiences that feel a bit more personal, adventurous, or just plain random in the best way possible. (Think less postcard photos, more actual stories you’ll retell later.)
One of the most underrated ways to travel has got to be horseback riding holidays. It sounds a bit old-school at first, but honestly, it’s a proper unreal way to see places that cars and coaches just can’t reach.
Imagine riding through massive open landscapes in Mongolia, crossing forests in Canada, or trekking across rugged hills in Scotland with nothing but fresh air and muddy boots around you. It’s the sort of thing that feels way more immersive than sitting on a packed tour bus with fifty other people snapping photos every five seconds. (And yes, your legs will probably ache the next day.)
What’s nice about riding holidays is that they work for loads of different experience levels too. You don’t have to be some elite equestrian who’s been riding since childhood. Plenty of companies cater for total beginners as well as experienced riders. Sites like www.ridingmuse.com/ offer all sorts of horseback adventures around the world, from chilled countryside rides to proper multi-day expeditions where you’re basically living outdoors for a few days. (So it’s not just for horse experts in fancy gear.)
And let’s be honest, there’s something pretty cool about swapping airport queues and crowded attractions for horses, mountains, and complete silence. (No boarding gates, no screaming kids, just nature and hoof sounds.)
If your idea of a good holiday is escaping noise and chaos, stargazing trips are seriously underrated. Most people never actually see a proper night sky anymore because cities are so full of light pollution. (Streetlights basically ruin the whole show.)
Out in the desert though? Completely different story.
Places like the Atacama Desert in Chile or Namibia’s desert regions have some of the clearest skies on the planet. You can literally see thousands of stars, planets, and the Milky Way without needing fancy equipment. (It looks almost fake the first time you see it.)
There’s something oddly calming about sitting in complete silence under a massive sky with absolutely no notifications, traffic, or people yelling nearby. During the day you can explore dunes, rocky landscapes, and tiny remote villages, and then at night it turns into this surreal cosmic experience. (Proper “wow, I’m tiny in the universe” vibes.)
Not everyone wants a holiday that’s just cocktails and sun loungers. Some travellers are more into experiences where they feel like they’re actually doing something worthwhile while exploring a new place.
That’s where volunteer tourism comes in. It’s basically travelling while helping out with projects in local communities or conservation work. Could be teaching English abroad, helping with wildlife rescue projects, assisting at marine conservation sites, or even supporting local schools. (So yeah, it’s work, but in a different country.)
The big thing with this sort of travel is the cultural side of it. You’re not just passing through as a tourist taking photos of everything, you actually get to spend time with local people and see what daily life is really like. (More real life, less tourist filter.)
Obviously, it’s important to choose ethical organisations and avoid dodgy “volunteer experiences” that are more about profit than helping anyone, but when done properly it can completely change the way you experience travel.
Sailing used to sound like the sort of thing only rich retirees or yacht owners did, but it’s become way more accessible recently.
You can join group sailing trips, rent smaller boats, or even hop onto organised flotillas where multiple boats travel together. It’s a totally different vibe compared to standard holidays because your route can constantly change depending on the weather, the sea, and where you fancy stopping. (Basically, the ocean decides your plans.)
One day you’re swimming in hidden coves somewhere in Croatia, the next you’re docking in a tiny Greek island town eating seafood at a local taverna. (Fresh fish tastes better when you’ve arrived by boat, somehow.)
And even if you’ve never touched a sail before, loads of trips are beginner-friendly. Some people go purely for the experience while others end up getting properly hooked on sailing itself.
One of the biggest travel trends lately is slow travel, and honestly, it makes a lot of sense. People are getting tired of trying to cram five cities into one week while barely remembering where they even went. (Feels more like a checklist than a holiday.)
Slow travel is more about staying longer in one place and actually getting a feel for it instead of rushing around ticking landmarks off a list.
Could be renting a cottage somewhere in the English countryside, staying in a small Italian village for a month, or taking a road trip where you don’t really have a strict schedule at all. (No alarms, no rushing, just going with the flow.)
Instead of spending your whole holiday stressed about transport times and itineraries, you actually get time to settle in, chat with locals, find hidden spots, and experience places properly.
A lot of travellers say these slower trips end up being way more memorable because you stop feeling like a tourist and start feeling more connected to where you are.
0 entries £0.00