Walking along the coastal paths of the Lizard Peninsula, taking in the breathtaking sea views, brings you to the most picturesque fishing village I ever did see, Cadgwith Cove.

This stunning cove has two beaches; one for the fishing boats and another pebbly one leading to an inviting swimming beach. The boats bring in catch of the day, which is promptly sold in a local fish shack and at the nearby pubs. You can easily pick up fresh lobster and crab to take home with you too.

The streets are lined with beautiful white cottages, some with traditional slate roofs, others with thatch, and if you come in spring or summer there are flowers everywhere you go. The locals clearly love gardening. With the flowers and fishing boats, Cadgwith is a cove full of colour and a painter’s paradise.

I loved the friendly air about the place. With several cute gift shops and yummy Cornish ice cream available in one of the local shops, this village makes for a lovely day trip or even a place to stay as I spotted some gorgeous cottages available to let. If you’re holidaying near the Lizard Peninsula, a trip to Cadgwith should definitely be on your agenda.

Images by Joanna Payne

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I’ve heard many mentions of Holkham Beach – the last scene of ‘Shakespeare in Love’ was filmed there and it’s won plenty of awards – so I was intrigued to finally see what all the fuss is about for myself.

Arriving after a lovely visit to Holkham Hall’s walled garden and grounds, I parked up and headed through the beautifully scented pine forest. Unable to see the beach as I walked I grew more and more excited to see what was on the other side of the wood. When the beach and sand dunes finally came into view I was blown away.

The beach was vast and utterly stunning! If someone had told me I was on the south coast of France I would have believed them.

It took a good ten minutes to walk from the edge of the pine forest, across the soft sand, skipping over channels of water, but this gave me a chance to take in the waves lapping gently for miles along the beach.

Taking my picnic and blanket up to one of the sand dunes, I bunkered down to enjoy my lunch while admiring the incredible views. Following my lunch, I took a glorious walk along the beach and could have carried on for miles but decided to head up to the sand dunes at the edge of the pine forest. The smell of the sea, sand and pine, combined with the beach views was breathtaking. I will definitely be returning in the spring to this rather special place.

Images by Joanna Payne

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Having grown up in the Derbyshire hills, I couldn’t believe that I had never set foot in Eyam Hall. So, better late than never, I set off with my fellow adventurer, my mum. The views as we drove through the beautiful Peak District were simply stunning, as was the sight of the grand manor house that greeted us as we arrived at Eyam Hall.

We took our time entering, admiring the beautiful Jacobean brick work and gorgeous windows. Inside, the hall was just as impressive; all the rooms laid out with period furniture, family portraits, artefacts and ornaments.

The kitchen was my favourite place, full of old kitchenware, with a huge open range and wonderful old servant bells. I felt like I was about to appear in an episode of Downton!

Upstairs, the bedrooms gave more away about the lives lived at Eyam Hall. We looked out over the beautiful gardens and soon found ourselves outside again, peacefully taking in the vegetable patch, apple trees and beautiful borders.

As well as enjoying Eyam’s visual delights, we also found the history of the village of Eyam fascinating, especially the legendary plague stories. I’d love to go back and do the ‘thought walks’ that go into more detail.

A delicious lunch in the nearby café, followed by a snoop around the craft shops, rounded off a lovely little afternoon out.

Images by Joanna Payne

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With family visiting for the weekend and the last of the summer upon us, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to explore Foxton Locks.

Built in the 19th century, Foxton locks are not only still fully functioning but they are the the largest flight of staircase locks on the English canal system. Climbing up the hill, the locks are pretty spectacular with beautiful narrowboats heading through on a watery adventure.

We spent several hours exploring, taking in the incredible victorian inclined boat lift and countryside views and treating ourselves to a homemade ice-cream. We also got to try our hand at opening and closing the locks as one of the friendly members of staff encouraged us to have a go to help a narrowboat on its way.

It was a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning and I will definitely be going back. Next time I’m going to go on the narrowboat ride and swap my picnic for a lunch in one of the lovely pubs that sit right by the locks.

Images by Joanna Payne and courtesy of Peter Leigh on Flickr

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Chatsworth is one of my mum’s favourite places to visit. She goes frequently, simply to stroll around the vast gardens and grounds. Hearing endless good things, I decided I must go and see it for myself.

A little surprised at the entrance fee, we opted to visit the gardens only, my mum eagerly leading the way. Hours later, the bell tolled to indicate the gardens were closing, and finally I could understand why she loves it so.

The grounds are epic; featuring an amazing range of gardens, jaw dropping views, impressive potting sheds, glass houses, sculptures and water features, all completely soaked in horticultural history.

The kitchen gardens and the allotment designed around a World War II theme were my highlights; both full to bursting with glorious vegetables, fruit, flowers and herbs. It was simply stunning, and made my senses and heart sing! I urge you to go and discover it for yourself.

Images by Joanna Payne

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This year I decided to have a summer holiday in one of my favourite places, Brighton. I spent a glorious week of adventures there, including one morning on which I let my feet lead the way for a stroll along the Hove seafront and promenade.

It was a relaxing, easy walk; great on the visual senses as the early morning sun peeked through the clouds. On one side the sea was calmly lapping over the pebbles and on the other side a whole rainbow of different coloured beach huts were as enticing as the sea, reminding me of sweetie wrappers.

Further along the promenade, I came across a shack selling fresh fish, caught locally that very morning. After purchasing some scrumptious looking mackerel, all beautifully prepared, I headed back to my little holiday apartment and cooked them up with a little butter and pepper for a deliciously simple brunch.

What a lovely little surprise my early morning walk turned out to be. Discovering Hove seafront to be calmer but still full of colour was a real treat.

Images by Joanna Payne

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Scarthin Books couldn’t be in a more ideal location. It looks out over a pretty duck pond, complete with a handful of benches for those warmer days when you simply cannot wait to sit outside with a good book.

Heading inside it’s like something out of a fairy-tale with its higgledy-piggledy layout. Set over several floors, the towering bookshelves lead you round the little nooks and crannies, constantly surprising you with different categories of books, both old and new.

Upstairs is a wonderful room full of children’s books with book pages covering the ceiling and origami mobiles dotted around. It’s so magical I almost spend as much time in here browsing as I do in every other corner of the store.

Opposite the children’s room is a rather heavy looking bookshelf, which actually operates as a door! And behind the door? Not Narnia but a hidden away cafe. Surrounded by cookery books, and with a fire for colder days and a hillside garden for warmer days, it’s impossible to leave without having a spot of lunch or a slice of cake. The menu offers simple and delicious home cooked food – soups, salads, pies and cakes – including vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a great variety of teas and coffees.

Scarthin is, without doubt, my all time favourite bookshop; a perfectly, magical place for bookworms but also a great place to stop for heart warming grub after a walk in the nearby hills. I usually go with another book fan, so that we can spend hours browsing followed by lunch or tea and cake. It’s a perfect afternoon out and always a treat.

Images by Joanna Payne

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Swithland Wood is a magical place, tucked away in the Leicestershire countryside. I discovered it on a wonderful wintery walk recently and I can’t wait to return and see it change with the seasons. I can imagine spring will be spectacular, especially as the wood anenomes and bluebells come through.

It’s an ancient woodland and one of the most atmospheric ones I’ve visited; you get a sense of seeing and feeling the history as you walk along its many winding paths. Big, old trees stand majestically, whispering with the wind and providing a perch for the aviary of birds that adorn them (make sure you stop and you’ll hear their song punctuating the silence).

The pathways lead you up and down, past streams and brooks, with glimpses of the beautiful surrounding countryside. The old bridal paths are still used by horse riders who amble along, enjoying being off the beaten track. Dogs too can explore all the nooks and crannies, sniffing out the many perfect spots to sit and admire the peace and beauty of it all.

Image courtesy of Phil McIver & Holly Victoria Norval on Flickr

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I like to do my Christmas shopping in independent, pretty shops. Places where I can browse at beautiful things, then stop off for a coffee, maybe even a slice of cake before returning to purchase lovely, unique gifts. Each year, I love finding a hustle of boutique style shops, where I can take my time and enjoy shopping and St Martin’s Square in Leicester is the perfect spot.

Full of a whole host of independent shops, featuring hand made goods, books, vintage clothing, jewellery and textile pieces, it really is a treasure trove of sweetness and delight! And the cobbled streets, old Victorian shopping arcades and buildings brimming with character, make you feel like you’re in a period drama, topped off with a pinch of sparkle.

Two places that I’ll definitely be returning to are Niche for its handmade goods and Croques for its impressive sandwiches. In fact, it’s safe to say, they’re now on my favourites list.

Image by Joanna Payne

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I try not to get overly excited when I hear great things about places to visit, just in case it doesn’t fit in with my idea of magic. Lets face it, a lost garden conjures up images of overgrown hedges, hidden gnomes and stinging nettles. But, staying literally around the corner from the Lost Gardens of Heligan on a spring holiday, I decided it would be crazy not to explore this mid-18^th century botanical garden.

On entering I was presented with a map, which displayed a number of different pathways into the gardens. Feeling like I had been thrown straight into a ‘choose your own adventure’ storybook, I decided to approach the gardens through the woods.

Boy oh boy did I choose the right path! Among the clearings were the most fantastical sculptures I had ever seen; a giant gnome cheekily poking his head above the surface and a lady sleeping gently in a sun-kissed wooded glade.

With my feet, eyes, ears and nose leading the way, I discovered a whole host of gardens; from a Secret Garden-esque vegetable patch to an oriental themed garden, jungle and more. It is a truly epic, impressive and magical place and I cannot wait to go back. Next time, however, I’ll go in the summer instead of spring, take a better camera for those close-up shots, my binoculars to spy on all the wildlife and try a different slice of cake or two at the scrumptious restaurant. Even then I’m sure I’ll need a third visit.

Images by Joanna Payne

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