Instagram post 17983449061890786 Instagram post 17983449061890786
🌴This place was no where to be seen on my Googl 🌴This place was no where to be seen on my Google searches. I just happened to stumble across it on my walk and it was my favourite spot of all. 🧡😍

🥾So this is your sign to just start walking and exploring 

📍Reeds Bay @thunder.bay.beach.bar 

Where was you’re favourite place that you just found by chance?
9  things to NEED to do on your Barbados holiday🌴🇧🇧:

🐟 Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday Night
⚡️ Go for a drink and swim @thunder.bay.beach.bar 
🌅Watch the Sunrise
🐢Swim with Turtles
⛵️Boat cruise with @silvermoonbarbados 
🌮Sunset Dinner @seashed_barbados 
🐎Watch the racehorses at Pebbles Beach 
🌊 Walk along the Hastings Boardwalk 
🌅Watch the sunset 

Anything I’m missing from the list?
Where is your “OMG” travel destination? Where is your “OMG” travel destination?
POV: you’ve taken 100,000 pics and videos on you POV: you’ve taken 100,000 pics and videos on your 1 week holiday 😅📸

Anyone else do the same! 

(📹Reel Credit @saradavies_)
🌅🌅🌅 🌅🌅🌅
Anyone else dreaming of a Euro summer? 💭💭💭
SWIMMING PIGS 🐖🐷🐽 🌴The Bahamas, more SWIMMING PIGS 🐖🐷🐽

🌴The Bahamas, more specifically the Exumas are famous for their resident swimming pigs. 

🏴‍☠️No one really knows why they have been out here but there are a couple of stories floating around.

🥓One of them being that they were left here by sailors who had planned to come back and cook them (poor piggy’s) but never made of back. 

🐟We even got to see stingsrays too (never did I think I would need a stingray and pig side by side with each other 😅)

⛵️There are a few boat companies that will take you to see these pigs and I went with @exumawatersports. I booked the half day tour which was $175 (you can book on a full day and also swim with reef sharks and see Pablo Escobars crashed plane). ✈️

Would you want to see the swimming pigs 

For more piggy cuteness follow @theswimmingpigs 🐽🐷🐖
What’s you definition of happiness ✈️⛵️🌍
✈️🧳How to pack using handluggage only! 

💰If you hate paying the RIDICULOUS prices for checked baggage like me, then here’s how to pack with hand luggage only. 

And yes I’m talking about week long (or more) holidays 😀 

👗Pack a mix and match wardrobe- you get brand new outfits whilst using the same clothes 

👠Pack 1 statement shoe plus a pair of casual ones 

✈️Wear your bulkiest items on the plane- eg jumpers and jackets (think joey from friends). Try to wear your bulkiest shoes on the plane too.

🧼Decant toiletries  into 100ml bottles and buy the rest of what you need at the airport. In fact, do an online order and get it delivered to the airport boots and you can pick it up after security

📦Use packing cubes to compress down your clothes and create more space in your hand luggage 

🫧And remember, you can wash your clothes abroad!! 

Have I missed anything?
I can’t wait to get back to Central America and I can’t wait to get back to Central America and be surrounded my volcanoes and lakes 😄🌋

Where do you feel the most free? 🦋

📍@Atitlansunsetlodge, Guatemala 🇬🇹
I mean the UK is fun but how much better is everyw I mean the UK is fun but how much better is everywhere else 😅😅😅

Where would you move to if you had the chance? 🌎🏡
𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐁𝐔𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐓. 

💰Here are my top tips on how to travel often but keep the costs down. 

💙Be more flexible with you destinations and go to places that have the cheapest flights. ⬇️

My top tip for finding these is head to @skyscanner add in the dates you want to go and type in “EVERYWHERE” in to the destination box. @skyscanner will bring up the cheapest flights in ascending order. 

💙Use deal finding apps like @jacksflightclub @travelzoo_uk @secretescapes @holidaypirates @voyageprive_uk to find deals on flights, hotels and holidays. 

💙Avoid paying for checked luggage where possible. Try the clothes rolling technique, you’ll be surprised at how much you can fit in your hand luggage by doing this. 

💙Don’t splash out on fancy hotels if you don’t plan on being in the hotel much. This for example could be on a city break, chances are you will spend most of the day exploring and use your hotel litterally to sleep and shower. 

💙 If you are solo travelling, stay in a hostel. Meet people that you can do activities with , which can also help share/spread and cut costs.

💙 Get on to Google and find out the best free things to do at your destination.

💙Try to cook some meals where you can. I know part of travel is trying out new foods but if you are doing it often cooking one or two meals is a great way of cutting costs. Alternatively book accommodation that offers free breakfast as part of their package. 

💙 Walk as much as you can to cut down on transport costs.

💙Alternatively if walking isn’t an option and you’re in a city, buy their local travel transport card (eg Oyster card for London). I’ve found that a lot of European cities have super cheap train/tram/bus costs and are even cheaper with one of these cards. 

💙Rent a car. Renting a car can be sometimes miles cheaper than going on a package tour or excursion. Sometimes this isn’t the case but do your research first to see what’s your best option
Places to travel to in your 30’s when you’re n Places to travel to in your 30’s when you’re not as broke as your 20’s (AKA more expensive places) ✈️🍃3️⃣0️⃣

Do you have any recommendations? 🌅🐬
TRAVEL OFTEN AROUND YOUR 9-5⬇️ 🟠 Obvious c TRAVEL OFTEN AROUND YOUR 9-5⬇️

🟠 Obvious choice but make use of the weekends. Fly out on Friday night and home Sunday evening. Really good to squeeze in a mini city break. 

🟠 For longer holidays use the same method as above. Fly out on a Friday night and home the following Sunday. You can get almost 9 days away and only have to take 5 days off work.

🟠 Make use of your bank holidays. Tag on an extra day off around a bank holiday. For example around the Easter break. 

🟠If you are flying on weekdays fly out late evening and fly home early morning so you don’t have to take those flying days off work.

🟠 Work from your holiday. Commit to working one or two mornings whilst you are away. This can help in saving up a few half days when you get to the end of the year. However this is probably not worth it on shorter trips

🟠 If you are able to travel with work. Make a holiday out of that by tagging on a few days holiday after the work trip is over.

Do you have any other tips?
Instagram post 18167693284267175 Instagram post 18167693284267175
Travel ✈️🍃🌍❤️ Travel ✈️🍃🌍❤️
Instagram post 17999465992602774 Instagram post 17999465992602774
In need of sunshine and hot temperatures 🌡️☀️

Where’s your paradise? ⛵️🌴🐚
TRAVEL OFTEN AROUND YOUR 9-5⬇️ 🟠 Obvious c TRAVEL OFTEN AROUND YOUR 9-5⬇️

🟠 Obvious choice but make use of the weekends. Fly out on Friday night and home Sunday evening. Really good to squeeze in a mini city break. 

🟠 For longer holidays use the same method as above. Fly out on a Friday night and home the following Sunday. You can get almost 9 days away and only have to take 5 days off work.

🟠 Make use of your bank holidays. Tag on an extra day off around a bank holiday. For example around the Easter break. 

🟠If you are flying on weekdays fly out late evening and fly home early morning so you don’t have to take those flying days off work.

🟠 Work from your holiday. Commit to working one or two mornings whilst you are away. This can help in saving up a few half days when you get to the end of the year. However this is probably not worth it on shorter trips

🟠 If you are able to travel with work. Make a holiday out of that by tagging on a few days holiday after the work trip is over.

Do you have any other tips?
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Christina in the Clouds

Adventure around a 9-5

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Hiking, Road Trips, UK · January 10, 2022

The best things to do on the Isle of Harris and Lewis

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If you thought that visiting a magical faraway land was something only for the storybooks, I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong! Because the Isle of Harris and Lewis located in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland can be described as just that. The island is home to breathtaking landscapes, white sandy beaches, diverse wildlife, as well as a unique culture and lifestyle that is different to anything you might find on the mainland. 

If you want to escape crowds of people, truly immerse yourself in nature (and you don’t mind the odd storm) then the Isle of Harris and Lewis is the place for you to come. 

Although it might sound like the Isle of Harris and Lewis are two separate places, they infact one big island that has been separated into two sections; Harris (in the south and Lewis (in the north). The island makes up the biggest of those in the Outer Hebrides and could be said to be one of the most beautiful. 

The isle of Harris and Lewis is an awe-inspiring place, with natural beauty that will leave your jaw-dropping time and time again. So, if want to know all about this majestic place and the best things to do here, then read on below.

Calanais Standing Stones

How to get to the Isle of Harris and Lewis

There are two ways of getting to the Isle of Harris and Lewis; Ferry or flight. 

Ferry: 

The ferries are operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) ferries and return tickets start at as little as £13 if you are travelling without a vehicle. The price can jump up significantly, to around £75 and over if you are travelling with a vehicle, so this is something to bear in mind. Ensure that you book the ferries in advance and journeys tend to sell out quite quickly. 

There are 3 main ferry ports located on the Isle of Harris and Lewis. Stornoway Port, which can be found in Lewis and Leverburgh and Tarbert which can be found in Harris. What port you come into will be dependent on where on the mainland, or other islands you are travelling from so be sure to check out the Calmac website to find out the best route for your trip. 

Flight: 

There is only one airport on the island, Stornoway Airport, which is located in Lewis. For the quickest/direct flights you should fly from Glasgow Airport. Please note that flights to Stornoway are not cheap. You could probably fly to somewhere hot in Europe for half the price, so catching the ferry is the most economical option.

How to get around the Isle of Harris and Lewis

The best way to get around the Isle of Harris and Lewis is by car. I would strongly recommend coming over on the ferry either with your own car, or one you have rented from the mainland. However, if that isn’t an option for you then there are a couple of car rental shops that can be found in Stornoway: 

  • Stornoway car hire 
  • Car Hire Hebrides 

If renting a car isn’t for you, then there are some bus routes which you can use to take you around the island. The Harris bus routes can be found here and the Lewis bus routes can be found here. 

Prefer something a little easier than navigating the bus timetables? Then you can use the Islands taxi service, which also offers Island tours. 

NOTE: If you are coming in the off-season (Late October/November to April) you might find that some of the hotels, restaurants and places to visit mentioned below are either shut or operating at a reduced service.

Where to stay on the isle of Harris and Lewis

You will find that there are few hotels on the island and that most of the accommodation is privately hosted apartments and cottages. I have suggested a few of the popular places to stay below, but If you are after something a little more personal, I would highly recommend heading over to Airbnb to find some unique accommodation on the island.

  • Harris Hotel 
  • Sandwick Bay Guesthouse
  • The Royal Hotel 
  • Hotel Hebrides
  • Uig Lodge

Best places to eat on the Isle of Harris and Lewis

  • Harris Hotel, Tarbert
  • The Boatshed, Stornoway 
  • HS-1 Cafe, Stornoway 
  • Temple Cafe, Northton Beach
  • Sams Seafood Shack, Rodel
  • The Anchorage Restaurant, Leverburgh 
  • Flavour, Tarbert
Temple Cafe, Isle of Harris


Best things to do on the Isle of Harris and Lewis

Visit the stunning beaches of Harris

It’s hard to believe that Scotland of all places would have beaches that resemble something you might find in the Whitsundays or the Carribean, but the Isle of Harris and Lewis has exactly that; Clear Turquoise seas and bright white sands. Of course, you would have to catch these on a clear sunny day to view them in their full glory (which can be somewhat of a tall ask from Scottish weather) but they are beautiful nonetheless, rain or shine. 

The best beaches to visit on Harris are: 

  • Luskentyre Beach
  • Seilebost beach
  • Northton
  • Scarista 
  • Borve 
  • Horgabost
Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris

Isle of Harris Gin

Take a visit to the Isle of Harris gin distillery located in Tarbert. Learn how the gin is made and pick up a bottle for yourself.

Seal spotting at Finsbay

Head to Finsbay to look out for the common seal. There can be up to 20 seals at any one time in this area, either relaxing onshore or popping their heads up and down in the water. 

Please note there are no designated parking spaces here but feel free to park in a safe spot close to the road.

Finsbay, Isle of Harris

Visit the stunning beaches of the Isle of Lewis

Again, much like the beaches, you will find on Harris, Lewis has many incredible beaches to offer. 

The best beaches to visit on Lewis are: 

  • Traigh Mhor
  • Tolsta 
  • Dalmore
  • Shawbost
  • Ardroil
  • Dalbeg
Shawbost Beach, Isle of Lewis

Amhuinnsuidhe Castle

Amhuinnsuidhe Castle is an incredible 19th Century estate set against a backdrop of rugged hills, looking out over calm waters. You can even find the Abhainn Mhor waterfall located close to the grounds. 

And, if you fancy treating yourself you can also stay here for the small price of £380 per night ;).

Mangersta Sea Stacks

The Mangersta sea stacks are a set of incredible rock formations that poke out of the rough sea of the Hebrides. You could say they are the Isle of Harris and Lewis’ answer to Australia’s 12 Apostles along the Great Ocean Road.

Gearranannan Blackhouse Village

Gearranannan Blackhouse Village is a coastal crofting village located on the west coast of Lewis that was built in the 1800s. The original inhabitants of the village left in the 1970s and from the late ’80s the local community restored the cottages using traditional methods. Today the cottages are available for self-catering accommodation.

From the village, you can take the waymarked walk to the stunning Dalmore and Dalbeg beaches.

Gearranannan Blackhouse Village

Calanais Standing Stones

Placed here over 5,000 years ago (making them older than Stonehenge), the Calanais Standing Stones are an impressive set of cross-shaped stones. For over 2000 years they were an important place for rituals. Although no one officially knows why the stones are there, people believe that it is an astronomical observatory.

If they look somewhat familiar to you, there were featured on “call the midwife” and also inspired some of the settings of Disney animation “Brave”.

Calanais Standing Stones

Butt of Lewis Lighthouse

The Butt of Lewis Lighthouse was engineered by David Stevenson in 1862 to assist shipping in the 1860s. The lighthouse is unusual in nature as it is unpainted and is made from red brick. The lighthouse makes for some impressive photography as it is set against a dramatic clifftop. Even more interestingly, the cliff on which the lighthouse sits features some of the oldest rocks in Europe.

Stornoway Harbour

Stornoway is the capital of the Isle of Harris and Lewis and a quaint little town to visit. Walk along the harbour, visit some of the local shops and grab a bit to eat at The Royal Hotel.

Stornoway Harbour

There is so much to do and see on the Isle of Harris and Lewis. What takes your fancy?

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I'm Christina a part-time traveller who is exploring the world around my 9-5. From canyons to coasts, I love all kinds of adventures. I've created this space to provide you with all the travel inspiration and my top tips for seeing more of the world in less time.

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Instagram post 17983449061890786 Instagram post 17983449061890786
🌴This place was no where to be seen on my Googl 🌴This place was no where to be seen on my Google searches. I just happened to stumble across it on my walk and it was my favourite spot of all. 🧡😍

🥾So this is your sign to just start walking and exploring 

📍Reeds Bay @thunder.bay.beach.bar 

Where was you’re favourite place that you just found by chance?
9  things to NEED to do on your Barbados holiday🌴🇧🇧:

🐟 Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday Night
⚡️ Go for a drink and swim @thunder.bay.beach.bar 
🌅Watch the Sunrise
🐢Swim with Turtles
⛵️Boat cruise with @silvermoonbarbados 
🌮Sunset Dinner @seashed_barbados 
🐎Watch the racehorses at Pebbles Beach 
🌊 Walk along the Hastings Boardwalk 
🌅Watch the sunset 

Anything I’m missing from the list?
Where is your “OMG” travel destination? Where is your “OMG” travel destination?
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