Holidays

The crystal grotto is located inside the grounds of a park within the village, and it’s a real must-see if you’re visiting this summer

The UK boasts a wealth of stunning beauty spots, but one location that is definitely worth a visit this summer is Cobham in Surrey.

It was voted the second most desirable place to live in the UK by the Telegraph last year, thanks to its relaxing atmosphere, gorgeous scenery and wide range of pubs, shops and independent eateries.

This charming village is the perfect place to spend the day exploring, eating and drinking, especially if the weather is nice. Painshill Park is a particularly lovely spot, and it’s home to a famous crystal grotto that is the perfect place to take pictures.

Surrey Live writer Laura Nightingale finally paid it a visit after wanting to go for years, and she was not disappointed. With her husband and daughter in tow, they headed to the park by car and got ready to enjoy their family day out.

She said: “I was invited to the 18th Century landscaped garden to celebrate the start of the school summer holidays, and we headed straight to the grotto.

“We picked up a map from the ticket office and followed the accessible path around the lake, keeping the large open water to our right hand side.”

The grotto was a 15 minute walk away, and en route, they passed the Mr Hamilton’s tearoom, a play area and a beautiful vineyard slope.

To her daughter’s delight, they also spotted a gaggle of ducks, especially as they got closer to the island housing the magical grotto.

Laura continued: “We strolled over the Woolett Bridge (there is another entrance via the Chinese Bridge on the other side of the lake but that was closed when we visited), to reach the naturalistic cave with shimmering, bubbling water, rough rock and stalactites covered in sparkling crystals.

It was a breath-taking sight. We parked the buggy outside on a patch of grass, and ventured inside the incredible man-made feature. Fellow adults stood in awe of the enchanting sight, and there was an eerie silence inside as we were captivated by its charm.”

It’s a haven for Instagrammers, offering countless picturesque spots for capturing the perfect shot. On sunny days, beams of light shine the interior through strategically positioned openings in the ceiling.

This illumination causes the crystals to twinkle as it reflects off the coral pools and lake water, which Laura described as ‘simply sensational’.

After exploring the grotto, they retrieved the pram and crossed the bridge to complete the tour around the scenic lake.

They managed to spot the Turkish Tent and the grand Gothic Temple on the return journey to the gift shop. King George III, during his visit years ago, said the view from the building was his favourite.

Raving about the park, Laura concluded: “I thought Painshill Park was a great place to take the kids during the school summer holidays. Not only will the grotto amaze youngsters, the site is just so convenient and easy to get around.

“Parking is free, there are toilets, a café, coffee shop, plenty of places to roll out a picnic blanket (in the sunshine or under the trees), a play park and a clean, flat path to push a pram.”

It has been named the best beach in the world for those looking to enjoy the warm weather and relax on the white sands, according to a new study

Many Brits love to escape the dreary weather for a day by the sea. Perhaps it’s the golden sand, crystal clear water or simply the warmer climate that draws you in. Well, Luxury holiday company CV Villas has conducted research to find out which beaches boast the whitest sand in the world. Let’s be honest, nothing screams ‘perfect beach’ more than pristine white sand.

The study analysed Google Maps images of approximately 200 beaches, examining the colour of each shoreline to determine the results. Unsurprisingly, the beach with the whitest sand is nowhere near the UK, but it’s certainly worth the flight time, reports the Express.

Tulum Beach in Mexico was crowned as having the whitest sand in the world, as it had the least deviation from pure white.

Tulum Beach sits on the Yucatan coast of Mexico at the country’s southeastern tip, looking out to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Tulum is a huge tourist destination known for its beaches and well-preserved ruins of an ancient Mayan port city.

The main building is a large stone structure called El Castillo which sits atop a rocky cliff looking down across the white sand beach and turquoise sea.

Given its tourist draw, there are plenty of hotels, restaurants and bars situated throughout the long narrow stretch of town.

However, some visitors on Tripadvisor do note that prices can be high for amenities such as parking.

Having visited in July 2024, an American tourist left a Tripadvisor review saying the area had both “good and bad” points. They described the beach, however, as a “paradise”.

Coming in second place was Anse Source D’Argent in the Seychelles, which had a variation of 4.3, and Marmari Beach in Greece took third place with a variation of 6.5.

Here are the top 20 beaches with the whitest sand:

1. Tulum Beach, Mexico

2. Anse Source D’Argent, Seychelles

3. Marmari Beach, Greece

4. Tropea Beach, Italy and Platja de Muro, Spain

6. Cala Pluma, Spain

7. Plage de Valras, France

8. Cala Brandinchi, Italy

9. Stocking Island Beach, Bahamas and Taylor Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos

11. Varadero Beach, Cuba

12. Punta Prosciutto, Italy

13. Maya Bay Beach, Thailand

14. Carmel Beach, USA

15. Bamboo Island Beach, Thailand

16. Siesta Key Beach, USA

17. Spiaggia La Pelosa, Italy

18. Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico and Luskentyre Beach, Scotland

20. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

Eight of the top 10 destinations are in Europe.

If you’re after a beach closer to home, Scotland’s Luskentyre Beach shares the eighteenth spot with Flamenco Beach in Puerto Rico.

ANT McPartlin’s ex-wife posted a thinly veiled swipe at I’m A Celebrity host – amid a fallout over their beloved pet dog Hurley.

Strictly make-up artist Lisa Armstrong, 48, shares custody of the 12-year-old chocolate labrador with the ITV star.

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But sources say the ageing pooch is currently in Portugal with Ant as he holidays with wife, Anne-Marie, and their family.

Fuming Lisa posted a video of “My Boy” Hurley on Instagram – before following it up with a photograph of him lying down in the middle of a golf course.

In an dig apparently aimed at Ant she wrote: “And now he’s taken from his mama. Poor old boy…”

Ant jetted off to Portugal last month and has been spotted playing golf with pals and frolicking on the beach.

A source said: “Lisa is worried about Hurley in that kind of heat because of his age.

“They both adore him and have shared custody of him ever since they split up.

“Lisa is concerned about the temperatures in Portugal.”

The pair were married for 11 years before a bitter divorce in 2018.

Hurley now splits his weeks between the pair and was previously chauffeur driven between their addresses.

Ant, who named one of his companies after Hurley, has previously credited the pooch for helping him recover from drink and drug addictions.

In 2017, before splitting from wife Lisa, he pleaded to have visits from the dog while he was in rehab.

Lisa also refers to Hurley as her ‘baby boy’ and regularly posts pictures and videos of him on Instagram.

Hurley first came into their lives in 2013 as they struggled to conceive a child.

Ant, who has since become a dad with Anne-Marie, also owns two Maltipoos, Milo and Bumble.

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The area is renowned for spectacular sunsets and visitors say they love the quieter vibe on the beach compared to busier nearby spots

Llandudno is a cherished coastal escape renowned for its vast beach. The town is home to a delightful Victorian promenade and unique cable cars that climb the Great Orme, a stunning headland on the north Wales coast.

While the bustling North Shore Beach tends to attract the masses, Llandudno also offers another stretch of sand that remains a ‘hidden gem’ for many. On the opposite side of the headland is West Shore Beach, a secluded bay bordered by rolling sand dunes.

It provides a tranquil alternative to the lively North Shore Beach, ideal for those seeking a quiet escape from Llandudno’s main attractions.

The beach paints a picturesque scene, with awe-inspiring views extending across the Conwy Estuary to the peaks of Snowdonia. Swimming is possible at West Shore Beach, but given the shallow waters and lack of lifeguard supervision, it might be safer to stick to paddling.

It has been praised as a “hidden gem” by numerous TripAdvisor reviewers. One visitor commented: “A real hidden gem! Only 15 minutes walk from the promenade, but feels like a world away.

“There is a quiet beach, and even sand dunes to explore.” Meanwhile another visitor remarked: “This place is a hidden gem. It is so unlike the busy North Shore. It is peaceful with few shops and a vast sandy beach.”

A third reviewer noted: “This is a very nice quiet place, you can walk along the beach, there is a children’s play area, boating lake for model boats, a lovely coffee shop with hot snacks, pub on the corner.

“If you want to get away from the Llandudno seaside, Jump on the bus, £3 each way and it leaves from just by the monument we’re all the busses that leave for the Great Orme.”

West Shore Beach Café provides ice creams and light refreshments, whilst a pay and display car park sits handily positioned close to the shoreline, reports the Liverpool Echo. From May 1 to September 30, dogs are banned from the main stretch of sand directly in front of West Parade.

Nevertheless, there are well-marked areas of the coastline where dogs are welcome throughout the year, so make certain to observe the regulations if you’re travelling with your four-legged companions. Lavatory facilities and a youngsters’ playground are readily accessible.

Those intending to remain for the full day shouldn’t overlook the spectacular sunset at West Shore Beach — it ranks amongst the most breathtaking in the area.

Watch as the sun disappears beneath the skyline, painting magnificent colours across the waters.

The nine devices have been placed around the city to count the number of visitors around the Barri Vell and map their routes across the city using mobile devices

Spain has ramped up its monitoring of UK tourists by installing nine detectors in the tourist haven of Girona‘s Old Town – a famed Game of Thrones filming location and one of Catalonia’s most distinctive Medieval quarters – to keep tabs on visitor numbers.

The local council has rolled out a network of sensors designed to tally the influx of sightseers around the Barri Vell and track their movements throughout the city via mobile devices.

Armed with mobile phone signals, the nine gadgets can discern whether passersby are Girona residents or out-of-towners, as confirmed by officials in this European Union holiday favourite. The tech is also savvy enough to tell if someone is staying overnight in the city or just popping in for a few hours. It other similar news, a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.

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“We will be able to adapt events to see if one area needs more promotion than another and to improve the balance between locals and visitors,” Gemma Geis, Girona’s deputy mayor, explained to the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

Key locations such as the Barri Vell, Independència Square, Santa Clara Street, and Catalunya Square are under surveillance, along with spots like the History Museum and the Tourism Office on La Rambla, reports Birmingham Live.

“Knowing the routes people take per day and hour will also allow local authorities to adapt events so residents’ daily lives can be more compatible with visitors,” Geis elaborated.

READ MORE: Warning to Brits who risk £2,500 fines in Spain for common holiday mistakes

Girona, nestled in the Costa Brava, is a huge hit with British holidaymakers. The charming inland town is characterised by TUI as a place where “pretty, pastel-coloured buildings edge the river Onyar.” Near Girona, there are other popular towns offering stunning views and a vibrant atmosphere. Quiet during the winter, they all become lively during the summer. These include: Cadaqués, Roses, Figueres, Castelló d’Empúries, and Empuriabrava.

The airline, which competes with the likes of Easyjet, Jet2, and Ryanair, further suggests: “But for a taste of city life, head for Barcelona.”

TUI continues to describe the allure of Catalonia’s stylish capital, noting: “Catalonia’s trendy capital doesn’t do anything by halves, with its surreal Gaudi architecture, fashionable shops, and cobbled Gothic quarter.”

According to Newsletter Costa Brava, the province of Girona welcomed a total of 8.5 million tourists during the summer months of June, July and August. The town offers the perfect blend of history, culture and scenic beauty, catering to all types of travellers – and of course, it is one of the main filming locations for the well-known Game of Thrones.

A change is set to be implemented at self-service border control systems later this year, and British passport holders have been issued a warning about what they need to do

A travel expert has issued a warning to all British passport holders planning a European getaway from October 12 onwards.

Vix Aguilera, an ATOL and ABTA protected UK travel agent, took to TikTok to outline alterations being implemented to eGates, which are automated self-service border control systems. “A new EES [Entry/Exit system] is going to apply to all non-EU citizens travelling to the Schengen area and essentially it will replace the need to queue and get a stamp,” she warned.

The change will require travellers to submit facial recognition and fingerprints at a new self-service kiosk instead. It comes following a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.

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Sharing details of the new change, Vix explained: “You will be giving your biometric data upon arrival to the country. This is then going to be stored on a central database and linked to your UK passport.”

The travel agent noted that the record will remain valid for three years, and therefore, you only need to complete the process once when you first enter, reports Yorkshire Live.

“Now this is the interesting bit – it’s going to be rolled out from October 12 in a phased approach,” Vix continued. “Although every country is within their rights to do it straight away to cut down on the need for extra queues.”

She added: “The way they are going to be doing this is by staggering it, so from days one to 29 there’s going to be no minimum requirement and after that there’s going to be 10% of passengers required to scan etc.”

The positive news, according to Vix, is that airport security personnel will be available to guide you through the procedure when you arrive. Therefore, for now, you don’t need to undertake any advanced preparation. It’s important to read up on how the system works beforehand though.

“You just turn up to the eGates then have yourself directed by staff,” she explained.

Vix proceeded to caution, however, that you shouldn’t mistake this for ETIAS – European Travel Information and Authorization System – a fresh travel requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to 30 European countries. That’s not going to be rolled out until the end of 2026, and it will require a pre-travel authorisation.

READ MORE: Family’s £4k easyJet holiday ‘ruined’ as soon as they open hotel room door

So, who does the October 12 change impact? “Obviously, if you are travelling from this date, if you are going to a Schengen area, and if you are a non-EU citizen and you are looking to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period,” Vix clarified.

One TikTok user praised the guidance and commented: “Thank you for explaining this so well. I was confused thinking it’s the ETS, and since I’m travelling in December, worried that it being new might give me issues, but this is good info to have.”

Why is this alteration being introduced? The UK government’s website, which offers additional details, explains: “EES is designed to improve border security within the EU and its neighbouring countries, and reduce illegal migration in the Schengen area. It will automate border control checks to help the EU stop visitors overstaying.”

It adds: “The checks may take a few minutes, so be prepared to wait during busy times. “If you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, EES checks will be completed at the border, before you leave the UK.

“You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area.”

The Schengen area comprises the following countries:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

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THEY were the larger than life characters who ruled the MasterChef kitchen for 20 years.

But as Gregg Wallace and John Torode’s reign as judges ended under a murky cloud of accusations of sexist and racist language, the relationship between the two men publicly soured quicker than warm milk.

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They may have known each other for more than 30 years, but their relationship has always been complicated.

When accusations of misconduct first surfaced against Wallace, Torode’s silence was deafening.

Instead of coming out to support his colleague, Torode and his wife Lisa Faulkner stayed quiet, causing furious Wallace to unfollow them both on social media.

But those who know Wallace, 60, and Torode, 59, best are unlikely to be surprised that battle lines were drawn.

Despite their on-screen chemistry winning them an army of fans, their relationship behind the scenes seems unconventional to say the least.

As Torode once said bluntly: “It’s funny, we’ve never been friends.” 

After moving to the UK in the 1990s, Australian Torode was working at a London restaurant when he first encountered Wallace, who was the owner of George Allan’s Greengrocers.

And despite their good working relationship as chef and supplier, in 2013 Torode spoke about his doubts about Wallace for MasterChef.

“In 2005 I was asked to go to an interview about some cooking show and Karen Ross, the boss at Shine, the production company involved, said, ‘I’d love you to do it, but I need to audition people to partner you with.’ I had everyone from AA Gill to Oliver Peyton,” he told The Independent.

“One day she asked, ‘Do you know a guy called Gregg Wallace?’ I had misgivings, as Gregg was big, brash and loud.

“Actually, nothing has changed, except no one expected the success the show has had.”

And Wallace had a similar view of Torode from their old days, recalling their first meeting: “It was a hot day and the kitchen door was open into the alleyway and I saw this young brash Aussie chef with his trousers rolled up around his knees, a tartan baseball cap, and a voice that was as loud as his attire.”

But working together so closely filming MasterChef – which returned today – was always going to take its toll on two big characters. 

Torode told The Independent: “Spending 200 days a year filming together, we got a lot closer, but any relationship where you spend that much time together inevitably gets strained. 

“We used to fight about stuff, as we’re both so opinionated. In the first series it was over [eventual winner] Thomasina Miers, as Gregg had said, ‘There’s no way I want her.’

“Then in the second round he said, ‘I want her.’ And I said, ‘You git, how can you hate someone vehemently one day then like them?’”

6am phone calls

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Wallace has said there is no-one he is closer to, other than his mum, than Torode and has praised his former co-star for supporting him with his mental health struggles.

But it has seemed that it is Torode who has wanted to keep their relationship purely professional, complaining about everything from Wallace’s 6am phone calls to his OCD tendencies.

Speaking to The Times in 2022, Torode said: “We know each other so well. But that’s not to say we don’t have our moments.

“With Gregg my issue is the 6am phone calls. Last time it happened I wasn’t very happy and I said, ‘Gregg, mate, it’s 6am.’ And he said, ‘But you’re on my list!’

“That’s the thing with Gregg, he gets up very early and his whole life is diarised and run on lists. Anyway, the next time I saw him face to face I sensed that disturbance in the force — I knew there was something wrong. I said, ‘Mate, come on, what’s up?’

“He said, ‘You weren’t very nice to me on the phone the other morning.’ I said, ‘It was 6am!’ and he said, ‘But I get up at 5am and you were on my list!’

Best man… but ‘not friends’

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But in 2013 Torode was the one who said he would be open to expanding their friendship, but Wallace’s OCD made it complicated.

He claimed: “Gregg has rules in the dressing-room that are pretty easy to understand as they are vocalised quite often.

“Things like, ‘Don’t put anything on my table, don’t touch my stuff and stay on the left-hand side of the room until lunch.’

“I know that, with his OCD, if I went to his house, say, I’d have to sit in a certain place. It’s frustrating, as I’m open [to expanding the friendship], but I don’t feel Gregg is.

“But he’s also given me so much: he’s taught me the importance of being self-deprecating and he’s made me laugh at myself. He’s fun and very funny.”

In 2016 Wallace asked Torode to be his best man at his fourth wedding to Anne-Marie Sterpini.

But it was just a year later that Torode said they weren’t even friends.

“It’s funny, we’ve never been friends,” he told The Mirror.

“We’ve not been to each other’s houses… He’s so OCD, he wouldn’t know what to do. He’d build it up in his mind for three days, and probably make himself quite sick, then he’d have an argument with his wife and not turn up.

“If I went to his house, he would feel like he wasn’t in control.”

Fractured

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Whatever their relationship was before the MasterChef scandal saw them both out of a job, it seems that it is now fractured beyond repair.

The pair were both fired by the BBC last month after a report into the cooking show upheld allegations against them.

The report revealed that more than 40 complaints against Wallace had been upheld, including one of unwelcome physical contact and another three of being in a state of undress.

He has insisted he was cleared of “the most serious and sensational allegations”. 

The upheld complaint against Torode related to a severely offensive racist term allegedly used on the set of MasterChef in 2018.

The presenter said he had “no recollection” of it and that any racist language is “wholly unacceptable”.

Despite unfollowing Torode and his wife Lisa on social media, Wallace defended Torode in an interview with The Sun, saying: “I’ve known John for 30 years and he is not a racist.”

But he added: “We never really did get on that well. We’re two very, very different characters.

“But we made bloody good telly together for 20 years.”

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A sprawling social club centering on racquet sports — the ubiquitous pickleball and rising padel, a blend of tennis and squash — is making its way to downtown L.A. next summer.

With the cheeky name Ballers, the club will be housed in the former Macy’s building at The Bloc, which spans 100,000 square feet. It will be equipped with 18 pickleball courts and four padel courts — marking the first pickleball and padel courts to open in the DTLA area, according to the founders. The club will also feature five golf simulators, two soccer pitches, a high-end retail shop, two full bars, a restaurant and a recovery zone outfitted with a sauna and cold plunge area.

Membership packages for the social sports club will start at $99 per month and come with perks such as advanced booking windows, access to the recovery lounge and invites to exclusive events. Nonmembers will still be welcome to enjoy the social spaces and book courts for fees between $15 to $25 per hour.

“[We wanted] to bring the country club to the city in an elevated, fun way,” said Ballers CEO David Gutstadt.

Ballers L.A. will be the third Ballers location — the first will debut in Philadelphia later this month and the second will open in Boston later this year. The founders, who are behind hospitality projects like the Fitler Club and Equinox Hotels, have plans to expand to 50 locations across the country within the next seven to 10 years. Ballers has received financial backing from an all-star roster of professional athletes including tennis icons Andre Agassi, Kim Clijsters and Sloane Stephens, pickleball champion Connor Garnett and 76ers star Tyrese Maxey.

Earlier this year, Macy’s at the Bloc was deemed one of the retailer’s “underproductive” locations and closed its doors, leaving downtown L.A. without a department store for the first time in over 150 years. This evolution of the space follows a trend of retail stores transforming into “experiential” spaces — companies are tapping into consumers’ hunger for communal experiences and new hobbies. In 2023, indoor pickleball venue Pickle Pop opened in Santa Monica, in part to try to revive ailing Third Street Promenade.

When designing Ballers’ Los Angeles club, co-founder and chief creative officer Amanda Potter said it was important that the venue be accessible in location and price so that anyone could visit and try the racquet sports.

In addition to sports offerings, the venue will feature a restaurant and two full bars.

(Ballers)

While the popularity of pickleball has skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic, Potter said not everyone is familiar with it, citing a 2023 study by the Association of Pickleball Professionals which found that less than 10 percent of Angelenos had tried the sport that year. “It’s a sport that people are still getting acquainted with, so we don’t want to have that barrier to people trying our sports by saying it’s members-only,” Potter said.

Garnett, who started playing pickleball about three years ago, said he was eager to become involved with the Ballers’ project.

“You don’t have to be great at pickleball to come out here,” he said. “You don’t have to be great at padel. It’s just really an inclusive way to get people active and on their feet.”

While there is no set opening date for Ballers L.A., the founders say it will launch in the late summer of 2026.

For years Alex Polizzi has been helping to turn around the fortunes of struggling hotels, but she has recently revealed how there is one place that she will never return to

The Hotel Inspector star Alex Polizzi has revealed she will never return to Hong Kong after finding the city “overcrowded, dirty and polluted”.

Since 2008, Alex has appeared on the Channel 5 show where she tried to revive the fortunes of some of Britain’s ailing hotels to prevent them from closing down.

During an interview with the Times she revealed that one negative experience during a trip abroad means she will never return to the destination.

Recalling her trip to Asia in the 1990s, she said: “One place I’d never go back to is Hong Kong, where I trained at the Mandarin Oriental for three years in my twenties. I found the region overcrowded, dirty and polluted.”

Despite her damning take, Alex conceded that the destination would have been better suited to the more wealthy, adding: “It’s a fun place to visit if you’re really rich, but not if you’re not.”

With a population of 7.5 million fitting into just 430 square miles, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the world, trailing just Macau, Monaco and Singapore.

After originally starting a wholesale bakery business with her then boyfriend in the late 90s, she made the decision to pursue a career in hotel management.

Starting out at her mother Olga Polizzi’s Hotel Endsleigh in Milton Abbot, Devon, it was in 2021 that the mother and daughter would join forces and open The Star in Alfriston, in East Sussex.

However, Alex is possibly best-known for her broadcasting career and more specifically hosting The Hotel Inspector on Channel 5, taking over from Ruth Watson in 2008.

With her stock continuing to rise during her time on the show, she has also been seen on various other shows including BBC’s Alex Polizzi: The Fixer, Alex Polizzi: Chefs on Trial as well as Alex Polizzi’s Secret Italy and Alex Polizzi: My Hotel Nightmare on Channel 5.

Alex is also the niece of Sir Rocco Forte, one of, if not the most notorious name in the industry.

Starting his hotel empire with his sister Olga Polizzi, in 1996, Sir Rocco owns and operates an impressive 14 luxury hotels across Europe. The company currently has two locations in the UK, Brown’s Hotel, London and The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh.

The Hotel Inspector is set to return to our screens tomorrow evening (Thursday, August 7) at 8pm on Channel 5.

I’m on a steadily rising road in northern Greece as swallows sweep over the burnished grasses to either side of me and pelicans spiral through the summer sky. Gaining height, the land thickens with oak forests and a Hermann’s tortoise makes a slow, ceremonial turn on to a sheep track at the edge of the asphalt. And then, just as the road briefly levels out before corkscrewing down the other side, a glittering lake appears beneath me – a brilliant blue eye set in a socket of steep mountains. I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve crossed the pass into the Prespa basin on my way home from trips into town, but the sight of shimmering Lesser Prespa Lake – often striking blue in the afternoons and silvery at sunset – takes me back to the summer of 2000 when I saw it for the first time.

A little over 25 years ago, my wife and I read a glowing review of a book about the Prespa lakes region. In the north-west corner of Greece and an hour’s drive from the towns of Florina and Kastoria, the two Prespa lakes straddle the borders of Greece, Albania and North Macedonia in a basin of about 618 sq miles. We’d never heard of Prespa until then, but the review of Giorgos Catsadorakis’s Prespa: A Story for Man and Nature got us thinking about a holiday there, imagining a week or two of walking in the mountains, birding around the summer shores and enjoying food in village tavernas at night.

When the book finally arrived at our London flat, at a time when we were talking seriously about living somewhere else, it took just a single evening (and, to be fair, a couple of bottles of wine) to decide to leave the city behind. Not for a holiday, but to try to make a home for ourselves in the Prespa national park. Twenty-five years later, we’re still in the village we moved to – Agios Germanos.

I park the car near the pass and walk further into the hills on a path worn smooth by shepherds and their animals. It’s high summer and there’s a languor to the landscape. Clouds of butterflies drift on the hot air and a hoopoe raises its magnificent crest in an oak. From up here I can now see Great Prespa Lake as well, separated from its smaller neighbour by a wide and sandy isthmus. These two ancient lakes, thought to be in the region of 3-5 million years old, are almost entirely encircled by a bowl of mountains, making it feel a world apart when you cross into the basin. Although the water levels in the lakes have dropped significantly because of climate change in recent decades, Prespa remains a place of extraordinary vitality.

Looking north over the rolling oak forests, I can see the rough point in the lake where Greece, Albania and North Macedonia meet. Prespa is a crossroads not only of countries but of geologies too, resulting in an extraordinary profusion and abundance of wild species – almost three times as many butterfly species (172) can be found on the Greek side of Prespa than in the whole of the UK (59).

I look up as a mixed group of Dalmatian and great white pelicans lowers towards Lesser Prespa Lake. Seeing these birds in flight, carried across the mountains on wings that can have a total span of more than three metres, it feels as if you have been given a glimpse into the age of the dinosaurs. Until we read the book that brought us here, I had no idea that pelicans could even be found in Greece, let alone nest on these lakes in large numbers, but then Prespa is full of surprises. In some winters, Lesser Prespa Lake can freeze solid enough to walk across – and there are far more brown bears in the region than bouzoukis. While Prespa is a popular winter destination for Greek visitors, in part because of a ski-centre halfway between Florina and the basin, it’s the quieter spring and summer seasons when the place comes into its own for walking and nature tourism.

There’s a mosaic of cultural riches to explore here too: the remarkable ruins of the 1,000-year-old Byzantine basilica on the island of Agios Achilleios; the lakeside cliffs on Great Prespa Lake, studded with centuries-old hermitages and monastic cells, reached by hiring a boatman from the fishing village of Psarades; the churches screened by sacred groves of immense juniper trees, found on some of the many marked walking trails.

Besides the abundant nature and mountain walking that prompted us to move here, what also makes this place so special is the food and hospitality. There are welcoming, family-run guesthouses in many of the villages and excellent tavernas serving regional specialities, including slow-baked beans in a rich tomato sauce with oregano, fresh carp and sardine-sized tsironia from the lake, grilled florinela cheese brushed with red pepper marmalade, and wild greens called horta doused in lemon juice and olive oil.

I stop to watch the cross-hatchings of light on the lakes as the hum of insects deepens with the heat. A short-toed eagle turns into the wind ahead of me, briefly motionless as it hunts for snakes in the forest clearings. Then it steers northwards and away across the mountains. Beyond those peaks encircling Prespa are the beautiful, traditional market towns of Korҫë in Albania and Bitola in North Macedonia, which, together with Florina and lakeside Kastoria just outside the basin in Greece, help make the entire region one of endless fascination for me.

There are plans to re-open the long-closed crossing between Greece and North Macedonia within the Prespa basin in the next few years, an opportunity to build further bridges between communities and make movement for tourists easier. Another project will establish a cross-border walking route between our village and the neighbouring mountain village of Brajčino in North Macedonia; it will celebrate the cultural and natural heritage of the common watershed while highlighting the importance of low-impact tourism to local economies, particularly at a time when climate change is making itself felt around the lakes and threatening agricultural livelihoods.

It’s almost time to return along the path and head home, but first I sit in the shade of an oak, its leaves rustling in the warm breeze. A steel-blue dragonfly unzips the air and I can hear sheep bells somewhere in the hills. The sound shifts and swirls, just as on the saint’s day festivals of summer, called panigyria, when the wild, soaring music of clarinets and raucous Balkan brass rises into the mountain nights as people gather with food and drink to circle-dance in village squares.

I’ve never thought of Prespa as anything but a shared place, where human cultures and wild species come together and co-exist, a place best experienced slowly and with care. And although Prespa has been my home for a quarter of a century now, when I see that blue water glimmering beneath me as I cross the pass, it still so often feels like the first time.

For more information visit Society for the Protection of Prespa and Visit Prespes

A MAN and a woman have been arrested following the death of a three-month-old baby.

Cops have confirmed an investigation is ongoing after the newborn died at a home near Canterbury, Kent, on Sunday morning.

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Emergency services were scrambled to an address on Athelstan Road, in Thanington, at around midday.

Six police cars and four ambulances are understood to have been called to the property.

The two suspects, both in their 30s, were both taken into custody and have since been released on bail.

Kent Police told KentOnline that the pair were arrested in connection with the death.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death are ongoing.”

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Almost a dozen tourists were fined up to £130 last month for flouting a little-known rule in one of France’s most acclaimed seaside resorts, as visitors are told to have ‘a little restraint, please’

A popular seaside resort is threatening rule-breaking Brits with hefty fines for making one simple mistake. Famed for its 6.8-mile stretch of golden sand, emerald waters, and all-round charm, Les Sables-d’Olonne has quickly become a hotspot for both international and domestic tourists.

Situated on the Atlantic coast of western France, in the acclaimed Vendée subprefecture, this tiny port is jam-packed with things to do – from pristine golf courses, adrenaline-pumping water sports and its very own zoo. However, Mayor Yannic Moreau has recently warned tourists to have a ‘little restraint’ as the resort continues to clamp down on holidaymakers wearing their swimsuits in public.

The town first introduced a strict rule of wearing bikinis and swim shorts outside of the beach area back in 2020, and is determined to make the policy stick. Just last month, officials fined 10 people – all of whom were actually French – up to €150 (around £130). It comes after a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.

READ MORE: Huge blow as beautiful country with 3m visitors unveils £17 tourist charge

According to the New York Times, the politician fumed: “If you go to a market to buy local food – fruits, vegetables, meat [etc] – you cannot be half-naked with hair falling onto vegetables.

“It’s a matter of decency… I don’t know if it’s a reflex to show one’s muscles or to tan more quickly and not lose an hour of sunlight.”

Mr Moreau added that tourists wanting to be ‘half or fully naked’ can do so at the beach, as Sables d’Olonne actually has its own nudist beach. In a recent social media post, he argued the rule had been implemented due to respect and hygiene, adding: “You do not want to be in contact with your neighbour’s skin.”

Of course, France is not the only country clamping down on scantily-clad tourists this summer. Over in the Spanish city of Málaga, the government has been displaying 10 strict rules visitors must follow as part of its ‘Improve Your Stay’ campaign, which first launched in 2024.

As previously reported, these demands have been displayed on buses, billboards and across social media and are designed to ‘ease tensions between tourists and residents’ following a string of protests that have plagued the country in recent months. The main rule: “Dress completely.”

While wearing a bikini or your swim shorts is perfectly acceptable when kicking back at your hotel pool or enjoying a day at the beach – wearing these types of clothing in the streets could result in a hefty fine of up to €750 (almost £650). “In some parts of Spain it’s illegal to be in the street wearing only a bikini or swimming shorts,” the FCDO states.

“Being bare-chested is also illegal in some areas in Spain. You could be fined if you’re caught wearing swimwear on the seafront promenade or adjacent streets.”

Portugal is another country cracking down on swimwear, particularly in the Brit-riddled hotspot of the Algarve. Tourists found showing too much skin when outside of ‘exempted areas’ such as hotels, beaches, beach access points, and swimming pools, may soon be fined a whopping £1,250.

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READ MORE: Girl, 3, found dead on popular Greece tourist beach by horrified passer-by

Turkmenistan, a former Soviet state, welcomes very few foreign visitors a year and is centered around a strange capital, Ashgabat, that is largely empty. That may soon change.

One of the most isolated and “strangest” countries in the world is preparing to open itself up to more visitors.

Former Soviet state Turkmenistan is a funny old place. Jordan Egbert, who runs the Counting Countries YouTube channel, offered his audience a peek into his travels through Turkmenistan, and concluded: “This is the strangest country in the world – there are no people around anywhere.”

Jordan was shocked to find out that the capital city, Ashgabat, was full of lavish monuments, sparkling shopping centres and hotels, but all of them were empty. “The question is, where is everyone?” he asked.

“After visiting more than 130 countries, this place is unlike anywhere I have ever been. The president requires all buildings and cars to be white. Tourists are under strict requirements to have a guide with them at all times and are banned from visiting certain places and cities.” His visit came ahead of an announcement that some tourists to the US may soon have to pay a $15,000 bond.

READ MORE: Donald Trump wants some holidaymakers to pay $15,000 to enter the USREAD MORE: Brit says ‘alien’ jellyfish that keep washing up on UK beaches are why he’s ‘scared of the sea’

The content creator also ventured into an airport that appeared to house more staff than travellers, before examining government buildings, a graveyard, and traditional nomadic tent settlements. He additionally revealed that Turkmenistan blocks access to most online platforms and applications, with Wi‑Fi being “pretty much non‑existent.”

Jordan discovered that even the tourist trail was deserted. A popular swimming spot and the famous Door to Hell gas crater were empty, as was a plush yurt camp. The YouTuber claimed that the capital’s airport had more staff than passengers.

There would be a good reason for that. Turkmenistan welcomes very few tourists each year. While exact figures are difficult to obtain due to the government’s secretive nature, most inbound estimates are well below 100,000 each year. Some put them as low as 7,000, in a country of seven million.

That could soon change, however. In April, the country’s legislature approved procedures enabling would‑be foreign visitors to obtain e‑visas, Eurasianet reported.

That should make obtaining a visa much easier than the current, complex, and baffling system, which can take months and result in a denial without any reason. Hopeful visitors have to score a Letter of Introduction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after booking their visit with a government‑approved tour operator, before the visa is granted, meaning you need to be willing to stump up money before your trip is guaranteed.

Although e‑visas have yet to come into force, when they do, it’ll be possible to get a visa online without needing a Letter of Introduction, according to CNN. Prospective holidaymakers will still need a “sponsor” in Turkmenistan, which means booking onto a tour.

HULK Hogan has been laid to rest in a private funeral with WWE legends, celebrities, and his family attending.

Mourners appeared to be wearing a touching nod to the wrestling icon as his casket was taken into a Clearwater, Florida, church on Tuesday.

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Hogan died on July 24 aged 71 from a heart attack, but medical records showed he had a history of leukaemia.

Wrestling icons like Triple H, Stephanie McMahon attended, while celebrities like singer Kid Rock and comedian Theo Von were also present.

His ex-wife Lina, who he was married to from 1983 to 2009, was the only member of his family seen going in or out of the service.

Photos from the funeral saw pallbearers wearing yellow boutonnieres – the same colour as Hulk’s iconic wrestling outfit.

The private service was held at the same church where Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was baptized in 2023.

The service was heavily patrolled by church security and Largo police officers, including K-9 dogs.

President Donald Trump paid tribute to the wrestler by posting a photo to his social media of the pair arm wrestling.

He said: “They are having the “Hulkster’s” funeral today, and I thought everybody would enjoy seeing this picture.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered flags flown at half-staff at all official buildings last Friday, which he declared Hulk Hogan Day in Florida.

Hogan was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history, known for both his larger-than-life personality and his in-ring exploits.

He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even WWE co-founder Vince McMahon.

Hogan had been dealing with significant health issues for months when he went into cardiac arrest at his $11.5 million mansion in Clearwater.

He had a neck surgery in May, and was rushed to the hospital afterwards over complications with his recovery.

In June, he suffered a series of health issues that left him reportedly unable to feel his legs or walk with a cane.

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Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including Hogan Knows Best, a reality show about his life on VH1.

Hogan’s body will be cremated.

His daughter Brooke Bollea Oleksy, better known by her stage name Brooke Hogan, memorialized her father in a recent social media post.

“I am so grateful I knew the real version of him. Not just the one the world viewed through a carefully curated lens, she wrote on Instagram.”

Just days before his death, Hogan and Brooke shared a short but emotional conversation, per the National Enquirer.

“It was a tearful conversation, albeit a short one,” a source told the outlet.

“Brooke told her dad how much she loved him, how much she missed him. Hulk said he loved her, and he was sorry.”

Instantly recognisable in trademark bandana and shaggy, blond handlebar moustache, Hogan had long been a larger-than-life icon for middle America.

Hogan became such a big star that he was able to transcend wrestling and starred in the movie The Rock III with Sylvester Stallone, as well as securing his own reality TV show, Hogan Knows Best.

Born Terry Gene Bollea in Augusta, Georgia, in 1953, his dad was a construction foreman father and his mum was a dance teacher.

At school, he was called a hippy because of his long hair, love of rock music and hatred of American football despite his physique.

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Brits heading on summer holidays to the likes of Italy and Spain are being warned of strict dress code rules especially when it comes to wearing swimwear in public

Brits planning to hit the beach or pool on their holidays may want to take note of some strict swimwear rules, or risk a potential £425 fine for wearing their bikinis.

In recent years, a number of holiday hotspots including Italy and Spain have clamped down on dress codes for both locals and tourists, when it comes to bikinis and swim shorts.

Italian hotspot Sorrento has banned the wearing of swimwear outside of beaches and pools, with authorities arguing that the move upholds public decency and respect for locals. The rules have been in place since 2022, and anyone flouting the restrictions could face a fine of up to €500 (approximately £425). It comes as Brits have been issued a stark warning about the habit that could land them a prison sentence while abroad.

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It’s worth noting that you’re not going to get a fine if you’re walking around your hotel or beach club, or if you’re on the beach itself. The crackdown is in place to stop people then heading out to the town and trying to enter shops and restaurants in just their swimming attire. The ban doesn’t just apply to swimwear; it also applies to visitors who walk around the town topless.

It’s not just Sorrento that has this dress code in place. For tourists heading on Spain holidays to the likes of Barcelona and Majorca, similar restrictions apply. People can only wear their swimwear on the beach or poolside, but if they head out to the towns then they could be slapped with a fine. In Barcelona that can be up to £260, while in Majorca that can be up to £500. Like Sorrento, this also applies to men walking around topless.

There are other European holiday spots where dress codes are in place. For example, tourists heading to Greece have been warned to consider the shoes they wear carefully.

At historic sites including the Acropolis in Athens, shoes such as high heels are banned because they can damage the landmarks. The ban has been in place since 2009 as part of preservation efforts.

In fact, a statement on the Acropolis website explains: “Most types of shoes are allowed at the Acropolis, except for high heels that have been forbidden in 2009 at all of Greece’s ancient monuments. The ban was put in in place due to the damage that the sharp soles were adding to Greece’s ancient sites.” If you want to visit and you’re wearing heels, you could risk being denied entry to the site. Rule-breakers face fines of around €900 (£771).

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PRINCE Harry was blasted last night for letting a boardroom battle damage his charity Sentebale. 

A watchdog said the public row risked undermining trust in good causes generally. 

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The Charity Commission said chances were missed to settle differences at Sentebale, set up by Harry and Lesotho’s Prince Seeiso in 2006 for young people and kids living with HIV and Aids. 

It launched a probe when they stood down as patrons in support of trustees who quit in a dispute with Dr Sophie Chandauka over a fundraising strategy. 

Board of trustees chair Dr Chandauka said the “toxicity” of Harry’s brand since his move to live in the US had seen a drop in donors. 

She accused the Duke of Sussex, 40, of involvement in a “cover-up” of a probe into bullying and harassment. 

Last night, she said the “adverse media campaign” launched by those who resigned “caused incalculable damage” to the charity. 

The Times reported a source close to Harry blasted the report and said the prince was “devastated the chair had been allowed to succeed with a hostile takeover”.

His spokesman said those who rely on Sentebale would bear the “consequences of her actions”. 

The Charity Commission said the public airing of the row harmed Sentebale’s reputation and risked overshadowing its achievements. 

The regulator, which cannot investigate individual allegations of bullying, found no evidence of systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny or misogynoir at the charity but acknowledged “the strong perception of ill treatment” felt by some involved. 

David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: “Passion for a cause is the bedrock of volunteering and charity, delivering positive impact for millions of people here at home and abroad every day. 

“However, in the rare cases when things go wrong, it is often because that very passion has become a weakness rather than a strength. 

“Sentebale’s problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity’s reputation, risk overshadowing its many achievements, and jeopardising the charity’s ability to deliver for the very beneficiaries it was created to serve.” 

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THE Repair Shop viewers have demanded the BBC show be axed – after ex-host Jay Blades’ rape arrest.

The Sun reported Blades, 55, has been charged with two counts of rape.

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On Tuesday (August 5), the show returned to its usual 8pm slot, although Blades was not featured.

Writing online, fans have called for The Repair Shop to be axed after nearly a decade on air.

One penned: “Could never see the point of him being in the Repair Shop he never restored anything but worn a new leather apron the show is better without him now.” 

Another added: “Surely you must take the Repair shop off now if the presenter is accused of physical rape.”

A third queried: “Will the BBC be pulling repeats of The Repair Shop now?”

Police confirmed the allegations against the dad of three from Shropshire.

He fronted the hit BBC show for seven years before stepping back last year.

King Charles appeared alongside him on a special episode in 2022.

West Mercia Police confirmed charges against the dad of three, with a magistrates’ court date set for next Wednesday.

A spokesperson said: “Jason Blades, 55, of Claverley in Shropshire, has been charged with two counts of rape.

“He is due to appear at Telford magistrates’ court on 13 August 2025.”

The TV star is currently awaiting trial on a separate charge of controlling and coercive behaviour against estranged wife Lisa-Marie Zbozen, which he has denied.

He was arrested in May 2024 – on the same day fitness instructor Lisa announced her decision to end their 18-month marriage.

In September, Blades was charged.

His actions allegedly caused Lisa “to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against her”.

The presenter pleaded not guilty to the charge — which relates to the ­period between January 1, 2023 and September 12, 2024 — at a court hearing last October.

As well as fronting The Repair Shop since 2017, Blades also hosted BBC shows including Money For Nothing and Jay Blades’ Home Fix.