THE SKID of wheels on gravel behind me makes me jump and I glance back to see another rider fast approaching.

Despite taking the hairpin turns at speed, I’ve been caught up on the exhilarating descent down Austria’s Harschbichl mountain.

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Welcome to mountain carting – where the three-wheel off-road trikes have no gears or pedals, just brakes.

Because that’s all you need when the only way is down.

Of course, my five year old, Poppy, can’t get enough.

Speeding past luscious alpine meadows and towering pine trees, she squeals with delight from my lap the whole way down the 3.8km track – helmet safely on.

Sadly, our son Raffy, three, is too young for the £16 ride – but luckily he won’t have to sit out on other adventures.

We’re in St Johann in Tirol, nestled between two mountain ranges and just over one hour’s drive south-west of Salzburg airport.

Tucked away within the town’s charming streets are stylish boutiques, excellent eateries and buzzing bars, so on our return from the mountain, I pop into recently opened Juice + Jewelry (@juice.jewelry), which has cute trinkets galore, before buying a blouse from Pircher Moden (Pircher-moden.at).

Sound of the underground

A few days earlier, our drive from the airport takes us through Bavaria, so we make a tiny detour to the German salt mine in Berchtesgaden, set beside a stunning turquoise river.

Donning overalls, we board a small train to whizz 650m below ground, just like the miners did 500 years ago.

Once inside, two long slides drop us further down into the caverns – much to the kids’ glee.

We learn all about the salt extraction process before boating across an underground lake to a dazzling light show, jumping on a funicular and boarding the tiny train once again.

For transport-mad Raffy, all his Christmases have come at once. Adult entry costs £21, kids over four cost £10.50 (Salzbergwerk.de).

I’m soon to lose count of the number of times the kids whisper “wow” on this adventure.

One night, it’s as violinist Benjamin Bow plays tracks like Pharrell Williams’ Lucky alongside a DJ and performers on stilts in animal costumes parading the cobbles.

We’ve joined the kids’ festival Lang & Klang, which runs every Wednesday in summer, where a whole street is filled with all kinds of bouncy castles, including Gladiators-style duel sticks, Velcro walls and Raffy’s favourite – an inflatable fire station with a slide.

Dumpling delight

An evening drive up the mountain to Alpengasthof Hirschberg, a family-run restaurant for over 37 years, also proves a highlight.

The kids play on the verdant grass, feeding the pet rabbits as the sun sets gloriously behind the rocky peaks and my husband Andy and I sip Hugo cocktails – sparkling wine, elderflower liqueur and soda, £5.90.

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I wasn’t a fan of dumplings before – but now I’m in the town with an annual festival dedicated to them, I realise I’ve just never had a good one.

Here, the venison stew with dumpling, croquettes and cranberries, £22, is divine.

Owner Katrin’s home-made bakes – including slabs of shortbread-topped plum cake, £4.80 – are a knockout, too (Gasthof-hirschberg.at).

I’m also many apple strudels down when we hit the Moor & More Adventure World at the foot of the Kaiser mountains.

The 4.3km Törfchen elf trail has play stations along the route, including a treehouse, zipwire and bowling game.

Despite it being Austrian school holidays, we have the wildflower-lined paths mostly to ourselves.

The real crowds appear on Friday, when the weekly market packs out St Johann’s Baroque streets with foodie treats, stylish threads and traditional crafts, and locals glug sparkling wine for brekkie.

Our lodgings are Hotel Post, which is as central as you can get – just a few paces from the main square – and home to a brilliant bistro.

Family rooms are spacious, with rain showers, and the breakfast buffet offers treats such as chia-seed puddings, among an array of ham, cheese and bread.

Rooms cost from £160 B&B, and guests get free access to nearby public baths, Panorama Badewelt (Dashotelpost.at).

The outdoor pools with slides and diving boards are set in lush gardens and there are more flumes inside (Badewelt.at).

Climb every mountain

Back up Harschbichl mountain, Raffy is thrilled to join Poppy on the mini high ropes course at Hornpark.

Then we hop in the cable car to the top station to lunch at Harschbichlalm, 1,604m high, feasting on beef broth with sliced pancake, £4.50, and steaks with fried bread, dips and salad, £16.50 (Harschbichlalm.at).

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A trampoline keeps the kids occupied as Andy and I soak up the breathtaking vistas, before he climbs Hornpark’s hardest courses at a nerve-tingling height, and with challenges including a hairy skateboard crossing.

A zipwire across the lake completes his kid-free mission.

Adult tickets cost from £26, and children from £10 (Hornpark.at). Last – but by no means least – we spend a day of pure joy at Badesee Going, a swimming lake 15 minutes’ drive away with a terrific toboggan-like flume set into the hillside and an undulating slide that locals bring bodyboards to ride.

There’s plenty of chilling space on the grassy banks, a big sandpit and play equipment, plus beach-volleyball courts.

As we squeeze in one last ride for Team GB, we all agree that we bagged gold with this trip.

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A WETHERSPOONS pub had made the shortlist for the UK’s best pubs.

The Savoy in Swindon has been shortlisted in The Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA’s) Good Beer Guide 2025.

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The annual guide looks at thousands of pubs across the UK, with hundreds making the shortlist.

And the Swindon Wetherspoons has made the shortlist.

Also the oldest Wetherspoons in Swindon, The Savoy is in a former cinema built in the mid 1930s.

The ‘super cinema’ seated as many as 2,000 people, with showings including the “best films across Britain and America” as well as stage shows and cinema clubs.

The Art Deco cinema sadly closed in 1991, before being converted to the Wetherspoons under the same name in 1996.

Not many of the original cinema features have remained in tact.

The pretty exterior has been restored, with the large billboards and double doors on the front.

Only the ground floor remains, although the pub has beautiful curved bookcases lining the main drinking area as well as vintage movie posters on the walls.

And like most Wetherspoons, it also has arcade machines and the classic Spoons carpet.

According to CAMRA: “The long bar has a very large selection of well-kept beers.

“The atmosphere is friendly and it is close to theatre, cinema, restaurants and shopping.”

It’s ranked highly with previous punters too, with many giving it five stars for great service as well as being cosy and spacious.

One said: “The food was excellent one of the best Wetherspoons I have been to.”

A second wrote: “One of the better Wetherspoon spots! The staff are exceptional and truly deserve 5 stars for their service.”

Someone else agreed: “This is a great Wetherspoons, it’s in an old cinema and has loads of character.”

Another simply said it was their “favourite Swindon pub”.

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It’s not the only amazing Wetherspoons pub to visit in the UK.

The Samuel Peto in Folkestone is one of the prettier Spoons pubs, built in a former church.

Harrogate’s The Winter Gardens , built in the former Royal Baths, has been named one of the most beautiful in the country.

We also went down to the biggest Wetherspoons in the world.

How can I save money at Wetherspoons?

FREE refills – Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.

Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.

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So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.

Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.

For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.

Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.

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Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it. 

Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.

Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.

It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.

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As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.

Victoria Pavilion is found in the seaside town of Ramsgate – and its right on the beach.

And a new Wetherspoons hotel with a “tower suite” is set to open in an English seaside town soon.

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NEW holiday advice has been issued for Brits heading to a number of winter sun hotspots.

The UK Foreign Office has updated the travel advice for destinations such as Egypt and Morocco.

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Updated on September 29, more than 17 countries have a new warning in place following Israel’s bombing of Lebanon.

The current travel advice states: “Ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon could escalate quickly and pose risks for the wider region.

“Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast.”

Lebanon currently borders Syria and Israel, although is also near to Cyprus and Egypt.

Along with Egypt and Morocco, the travel advice is also in place for the UAE, where Brits often visit to holiday in Dubai.

Other destinations include Tunisia, Jordan, Oman and Qatar.

Both Egypt and Morocco are popular destinations with Brits seeking some warmer weather in winter.

Egypt’s Hurghada often has affordable deals in November and December as well as temperatures over 25C.

Morocco is also one of the cheapest places in Africa to visit, while Dubai is one of the hotter destinations to visit to escape the UK’s cold.

The Foreign Office does not currently advise against travel to these countries, apart from a few small areas including the borders.

Brits should still check the travel advice before they visit any of the countries with the warning in place.

If the advice updates to advising against all travel, tour operators will issue full refunds for anyone with holidays booked.

If you cancel a trip yourself without a travel warning in place, you are unlikely to get any money back.

Here’s everything you need to know about travelling to Cyprus as well, regarding the Israel-Lebanon conflict.

Airlines have already been forced to divert their routes to avoid flying over the Middle East.

Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are now flying over Egypt to avoid flying over Israel.

This means flights to Asia and Australia are now taking longer.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

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If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

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When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

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Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

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If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

And Qantas has been forced to suspend its Perth-London direct route – one of the longest in the world – due to the situation in the Middle Wast.

Passengers now have to change at Changi Airport in Singapore.

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The Inn at Stonecliffe offers luxury, and a step back in time. Photo by Fran Miller

Mackinac Island has long captured my imagination. Through the decades, tales and images of the auto-free Michigan vacation destination within Lake Huron ignited a curiosity that I hoped would one day be satisfied with a visit. Fudge! Horses! Bikes! History! Americana kitsch! I yearned to experience all of it. My travels recently led me to this idyllic haven, and it was everything I imagined it might be—and more, thanks to the gracious hospitality at The Inn at Stonecliffe. 

The well-known and stately Grand Hotel might be Mackinac Island’s hospitality icon, but it is the newly reimagined The Inn at Stonecliffe that is commanding the attention of locals and visitors. Itself iconic, and a historic property originally built in 1904 as a private lakeside estate, Stonecliffe recently reopened after a two year, $40-milion renovation, and its 15 acres are spectacular. 

Entrance, The Inn at Stonecliffe. Photo by Fran Miller

The Stonecliffe experience begins with a 45 minute horse-drawn carriage ride from the island’s ferry dock to the resort. The rhythmic clippity-clop of horse hooves is surely Mackinac Island’s soundtrack; modes of transport here are horse and bicycle, the two images of which grace the souvenir t-shirts and hoodies sold within the many boutiques along bustling Main St. The island’s long-standing auto ban was first enacted in 1898, and it has held steady since, serving to preserve the island’s natural beauty and timeless charm. For this California girl, where parched landscapes dominate, the carriage ride through lush green forests to Stonecliffe’s vast front lawn entrance captivated. Verdant lawn, during summer? How novel. 

Horse-drawn carriage is the transport mode on Mackinac Island. Photo by Fran Miller

Hammocks and Adirondack chairs grace Stonecliffe’s green entry expanse, beckoning guests to relax and enjoy the quietude. Out back, an even larger span of green—Stonecliffe’s Straits Lawn—features stunning views toward Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge that connects Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, Michigan. Filled with games (croquet, cornhole, and ladder golf), and the site of evening marshmallow roasting and al fresco movie nights under the stars, this magnificent lawn serves as a verdant playground for all ages.

Stonecliffe’s remodel includes new, luxuriously appointed guestrooms: 16 within the stately, 18,500 square foot mansion, and 32 within the renovated Summer House. Both buildings, and four standalone private cottages, feature colorful artwork by local artisans, one of whom teaches art classes on property. Kate Dupre, of the island’s whimsical Watercolor Café, helps guests find their inner artist with her guided direction to the joys of watercolor painting. 

Stonecliffe’s expansive Straits Lawn features views of Lake Huron. Photo by Fran Miller

A Stonecliffe mansion guest room. Photo courtesy of Stonecliffe

A state-of-the-art fitness center, two swimming pools (one for families and one for adults), an apple orchard, a chicken coop, and a bicycle pavilion with bikes for rent provide more than enough entertainment and activity to enthrall guests on property. Dining options too are plentiful. Fine-dining restaurant The Straits serves local specialties from Michigan and the Great Lakes, with ingredients sourced from the resort’s own orchard and garden. The lovely formal dining room overlooks the Straits Lawn. More casual, The Backyard features a variety of wood-fired pizzas, served al fresco on a brick patio. And Horsey’s Bar is a cozy spot for crafted cocktails and small bites. Sit inside the hunting lodge-esque interior, or grab a rocker on the covered patio where quilted blankets are offered to ward-off evening chill. For something off property, Woods Restaurant & Bobby’s Bar is a short stroll from Stonecliffe. Bavarian in style and décor, its menu features hearty comfort dishes. Be sure to look beyond the bar for the single lane bowling alley. Originally constructed in 1898, it is one of the oldest surviving bowling alleys in the nation. Whatever your meal choice, save room for homemade ice cream, scooped from the cooler at The General Store, Stonecliffe’s grab-and-go market that stocks a variety of food items and logoed souvenirs. 

The Straits dining room. Photo courtesy of Stonecliffe

Horsey’s Bar. Photo by Sara Wright

Beyond the hospitality and activities offered at Stonecliffe, Mackinac Island “must-dos,” as I learned from my visit, include: 

Fudge tasting: Fudge is the island’s greatest export, and Main St. teems with purveyors of the sugary goodness. Murdick’s Fudge is the island OG. Founded in 1887, and still family owned, Murdick’s continues to utilize the same recipes (all natural ingredients) and paddling techniques as those of founder Mrs. Henry Murdick. Visitors to the shop can watch the experts at work.

Murdick’s Fudge is the OG of the famed Mackinac Island export. Photo by Fran Miller

Rum Runner imbibing: This The Pink Pony concoction of a refreshing blend of rums and fruit juices is an island icon. Enjoyed on the restaurant’s back deck with views of the harbor, the potent cocktail makes for a memorable Mackinac Island experience.

Biking: Rent your Stonecliffe bicycle and hit the 8 mile, car-free, M-185 highway that encircles the island. It’s the only state highway in the United States where motor vehicles are prohibited; the views of Lake Huron and the surrounding landscapes are breathtaking. 

Cruising: Book a boat cruise around the island with Brown Eyed Girl Charters, and explore the island from the surrounding crystal clear waters. If weather permits, Captain Alan will drop anchor, allowing you a quick dip in chilly Lake Huron. 

Explore the island with a Brown Eyed Girl charter. Photo courtesy of Brown Eyed Girl Charters

Sunset Viewing: Stonecliffe is home to one of the island’s most captivating sunset viewing spots, Sunset Rock. The outcropping affords gorgeous panoramic views, dawn to dusk.  

I’m actually finding it hard to put into words the feeling of contentment that the island, and The Inn at Stonecliffe, provided me. I felt a deep sense of nostalgia for this place I’d not previously known—an odd, yet comforting, sensation. Mackinac Island and Stonecliffe provide a step back in time, where visitors leave worries behind. Both are places of trust, where bike locks are unnecessary, and every interaction feels like a reunion with old friends. It felt like coming home. Though this was my first visit, it will certainly not be my last. 

A Mackinac Island sunset view from Sunset Rock. Photo by Fran Miller

Owned by Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, The Inn at Stonecliffe is one of three Humanitarian Hotels where 100% of net profits are used to support charitable initiatives (scholarship programs, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, affordable housing, mental health, and more) in Mackinac County and around the globe.

The island’s history is as vibrant as its beautiful coastal landscapes. Originally inhabited by Native American tribes, particularly the Odawa and Ojibwe, the first European visitors (French explorers and missionaries) arrived in the 17th century. The island then became a pivotal military outpost during the War of 1812, serving as a base for both American and British forces. It was in the late 19th century that the island transitioned from a military stronghold to a summer resort destination for wealthy families, leading to the construction of grand hotels and the preservation of its historic sites. Today, visitors ferry over from Mackinaw City for day trips, or for longer leisurely stays that reveal the island’s multiple treasures.