Archives: Links

https://frankiesays.uk Excellent apartment accommodation in London’s Soho.

https://drury188189.co.uk An excellent coffee and café located in Drury Lane, London.

https://naturalresources.wales/days-out/places-to-visit/mid-wales/dyfi-national-nature-reserve-ynyslas-visitor-centre/?lang=en An excellent nature reserve consisting of sand dunes, coastal scrub, beach and salt marsh near Borth in West Wales. In the Summer, it’s a haven for the Ringed Plover.

https://west-coast-cottages.co.uk A company offering accommodation in Western Scotland. We stayed in a nice apartment in Oban, overlooking the harbour.

https://www.wiltshirebirds.co.uk An active ornithological group for the county of Wiltshire, which celebrated its’ 50th anniversary in 2024, of which we’re a member.

https://herjolfur.is/en If you want to take a vehicle to the spectacular Westman Isles off the South of Iceland, this is the way to do it.

https://www.vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is/en/areas/skaftafell/tjaldsvaedid-i-skaftafelli A well-appointed campsite located close to several glaciers on the South of Iceland.

https://www.east.is/en/service/vopnafjordur-camping-ground A campsite in Eastern Iceland with a scenic vista.

https://www.searoselipari.com/ Our pleasant self-catering accommodation on the island of Lipari, part of the Aeolian Islands.

https://theviewbar.com.br/ An enjoyable “sky bar” and restaurant in downtown Sao Paulo, Brazil.

https://www.tnmcoll.com Our pleasant B & B accommodation on the island of Coll in Scotland.

https://www.swanathay.co.uk Our accommodation in Hay-On-Wye, the UK’s “town of books”.

https://www.tipis-indiens.com/anglais Quirky tented accommodation in the Pyrenees, not far from the Cirque de Gavarnie.

https://tillotson.ie/ A friendly karting team and series with an international reach. Zac had a try with them at the Buckmore Park Circuit near Chatham in Kent.

https://www.taphousewarminster.co.uk A friendly place to unwind with a drink in Warminster, stocked with local tipples.

https://www.seafari.co.uk/ Based out of the tiny settlement of Easdale, this company offer boat/RIB trips to view wildlife and “ride” the Corryvreckan Whirlpool.

https://setterres.com/en Quirky and modern accommodation in an old building in the Spanish enclave (or exclave) of Llivia, in the eastern Pyrenees.

https://wildeastdevon.co.uk/nature-reserves/seaton-wetlands-local-nature-reserve An excellent nature reserve at Seaton in South Devon. In season, the Sand Martin “wall” is really worth spending some time.

https://settersfarm.co.uk/ A pleasant and well appointed cabin, close to the Knepp Wildlands and the RSPB Pulborough Brooks Reserve.

www.studfarmglamping.co.uk A pleasant shepherds hut at Sway in the New Forest overlooking fields. Nice for a bit of quiet time.

https://stay.is/ A selection of apartments in Reykjavik. Ours was centrally located and had parking for the motorcycles.

https://www.smyril-line.com Ferry company that offers voyages to the Faroe Islands and Iceland, and the only way of getting your own vehicle to these locations (unless to freight them in a container). They offer a good service onboard.

https://montrahotels.dk/skaga-hotel A hotel in the port town of Hirshals in Northern Denmark, ahead of my motorcycle trip to Iceland.

https://www.strandhotel-dagebuell.de A hotel stopover in Germany, enroute to Denmark, ahead of my motorcycle trip to Iceland.

https://www.sealsbacton.co.uk A nice beachside base on the coast of Norfolk.

https://www.suzukacircuit.jp A spectacular and iconic race circuit in Japan, and host to the Japanese Grand Prix.

https://www.visitczechrepublic.com/en-US/e08b9447-885b-4d2e-b018-cc1dd8b879d2/place/c-sumava-national-park An excellent national park in the Czech Republic, with good motorcycling roads.

https://www.hotelunique.com/ An excellent bar and restaurant on the rooftop of Hotel Unique in the Jardins area of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

https://www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/travel/gydsi-sheraton-baku-intourist/?hybridAEMFallbackRedirect=true Our waterfront base for visiting Baku in Azerbaijan for the Formula One Grand Prix. We enjoyed our stay.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/lake-vyrnwy A reserve complex in the north of Mid-Wales, home to many species of bird including the “Oak Trio” of Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Redstart.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/ynys-hir An excellent reserve featuring Oak woodland, freshwater and saltwater marshes and scrub. In the Summer, it’s home to many species of Warbler, such as the rare Wood Warbler, plus Pied Flycatcher and Redstart.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/exminster-and-powderham-marshes?channel=paidsearch&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=203905619&gbraid=0AAAAADLmW3hXYEyUVrdPqF3u2S1xd5yFx&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI99W-9P78jAMVXZBQBh2iwwwpEAAYASAAEgLlh_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds An extensive tract of coastal marshes adjoining the Exe Estuary in Devon.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/bowling-green-and-goosemoor?channel=paidsearch&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=203903459&gbraid=0AAAAADLmW3hf5SERl8IoiF9GLqGMWaQiI&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-N32yP78jAMV3ZVQBh2B9AyZEAAYASAAEgLDffD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds An active wetland reserve at the upper end of the Exe Estuary in Devon.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/pagham-harbour-local-nature-reserve?channel=paidsearch&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=203911619&gbraid=0AAAAADLmW3jSBdIP5pUw4hCkOpnuE4G9T&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_cnV3vv8jAMV8ZhQBh26owsyEAAYASAAEgIGE_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds A very interesting coastal area of shingle, salt and freshwater marshes, scrub and woodland.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/pulborough-brooks?channel=paidsearch&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=132343979&gbraid=0AAAAADLmW3j2Lr1_Aey7epKUyAb1zWDLH&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrK6fsfv8jAMVdYpQBh01li4TEAAYASAAEgLPrPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds An excellent inland wetland reserve with tracts of adjoining heathland and woodland. Really worth a visit.

https://www.wiltshirewildlife.org/ravensroost?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvYTPpoiEiwMVnppQBh2rZSMsEAAYASAAEgJWVfD_BwE An ancient woodland near Minety and Malmesbury in North Wiltshire, managed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.

https://www.portlandbirdobs.com A project dedicated to studying the presence and movement of birds, based near Portland Bill on the UL’s South Coast. It’s especially interesting to read about the sightings in the Spring and Autumn migrations.

https://www.wsbrc.org/projects/project-peewit A project to increase the breeding success of Lapwings in the county of Wiltshire, to save them from local extinction.

https://www.princehotels.com/parktower/ Our enjoyable and spectacular base in Tokyo, Japan.

http://www.pension-williams.com/ An English run hotel on the edge of the Black Forest in Germany, in the village of Seebach.

https://www.nationaalparknieuwland.nl/nl/het-park/oostvaardersplassen/oostvaardersplassen-almere?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIysvRlpCvgAMVBejtCh0YEAqBEAAYAiAAEgILyfD_BwE Website for the excellent Oostvardplassen Rewilding project, inspiration to the Kenepp Estate in Sussex.

https://www.biminiscubacenter.com A friendly, long established and professional dive operation at Bimini in the Bahamas. The Great Hammerhead dives were stunning.

https://www.northsailing.is/ A good, professional whale watching company based out of the Northern Icelandic town of Husavik. Husavik, by the way, is known as the whale-watching capital of Iceland.

https://www.tokyuhotels.co.jp/en/nagoya-h/index.html Our base for visiting the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, in the city of Nagoya.

https://www.mocomuseum.com/barcelona/ A really interesting museum and art gallery displaying fascinating and original work from various artists, including Lorca Guillermo.

https://www.montedaesperanca.pt/ Excellent “farm-stay” accommodation in rural Portugal. A great place to unwind after a long day’s motorcycling.

https://mimishotelsoho.com/ A well-located hotel in the centre of Soho in London’s West End.

https://www.mikesdivestore.com Supplier of some of our dive wear an equipment.

https://www.mountmulligan.com/ Our incredible wilderness digs in outback Queensland. A great experience all round; wildlife, history, service… It was sad to leave the place and return back to “places with lots of people”.

https://www.martinique.com.au Our overnight accommodation after our arrival in Australia, following the usual stresses and faff of getting reading to go away in good shape, and the journey itself. A nice accommodation that served to set us up for an excellent trip.

https://marskhotellet.dk My accommodation on the return leg from Iceland. A very nice breakfast, but I’m not sure they were very trusting of me as I turned up on a motorcycle.

https://myvatnnaturebaths.is A geothermal pool and spa near Lake Myvatn. It’s similar to the Blue Lagoon near Reykjavik.

https://melarguesthouse.is/en/ An excellent guesthouse in Northeast Iceland. The hot-tub was very welcome after a long day of motorcycling.

https://masp.org.br/en An excellent gallery located in central Sao Paulo which we enjoyed visiting whilst “in town”.

https://www.instagram.com/museuminnbaku/?hl=en We enjoyed visiting this restaurant with great views of the Old City and the Caspian Sea. In fact, we visited twice.

https://www.guillermolorca.com A fabulous artist producing new takes on the Neo-Baroque style of painting.

https://www.lepatiodeluchon.com A small quirky hotel in the Pyrenean spa town of Bagneres Du Luchon.

https://www.uksouthwest.net/powys/llangattock-escarpment An interesting and scenic reserve within the Brecon Beacons area of Wales, near Crickhowell.

https://www.littlecurlew.co.uk A pleasant and well appointed static caravan close to the beach and the Ynyslas Nature Reserve in West Wales.

https://www.portobay.com/en/hotels/sao-paulo-hotels/l-hotel-portobay-sao-paulo Our base in Sao Paulo for attending the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos Circuit. We found this to be an excellent hotel attended by a friendly and helpful team who helped us with transfers to and from the circuit. They served up a good breakfast each day as well.

https://www.kwseagoart.co.uk Friend and talented artist Kimberley Watts, who grew up in the Wiltshire village of Corsley. Her work, mostly featuring the natural world, has its’ roots from those times.

https://www.keahotels.is Our hotel in northern Icelandic city of Akureyri, located in the centre.

https://www.mountainguides.is The company that Fuzz and I used for our glacier climb on the edge of the Vatnajokull glacier complex near Skaftafell. Slightly against the odds on our chosen day, the weather just about held out until we’d returned. It was a good day and an ambition fulfilled.

https://www.hcchotels.com/en/regente Our accommodation on Las Ramblas in Barcelona whilst attending the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The roof bar was really nice.

https://www.madeloc.com/en Pleasant accommodation in the excellent town of Collioure in the South of France.

https://www.hotelibaia.com/en A hotel close to the beach at Hendaye, just inside France. Hendaye is the town where the Route Des Cols Des Pyrenees starts, hence the reason for staying there.

https://www.hospederiadelosparajes.com/en Decent accommodation in the walled hill town of Laguardia in the Rioja region of Northern Spain.

https://heightshotel.com A hotel perched atop Portland with stunning views over Portland Harbour, Chesil Beach and the Dorset Coast. It’s been a place Jeremy has visited as a base for writing and birding.

https://www.hotelaldan.is Our accommodation at the end of our Icelandic motorcycle trip.

https://hofnaccommodation.is/en Clean and functional accommodation on the South of Iceland.

https://www.camping.info/en/campsite/tjaldsvi-holmavik Our campsite base for the Westfjords in Iceland.

https://www.hotel-meurice.fr Our hotel at the “spiritual end” of our 2023 European motorcycle tour. Unusual place, well located, and with secure parking for the bikes.

https://www.vaduzerhof.net/en Our base for our overnighter in the tiny alpine micro-state of Liechstenstein. 

https://hotel-schlicker.de/?lang=en Our weekend base in central Munich in Bavarian Germany. A good hotel with secure motorcycle parking.

https://www.eurostarshotels.co.uk/eurostars-park-hotel-maximilian.html Our base for an overnight stay in Regensburg. A bit tired, but the room was spacious and a decent breakfast.

https://www.hotel-goldener-hirsch.de/en We enjoyed staying here, in this fantastically preserved walled medieval town. The balcony overlooking the valley below was great. I would have happy staying a few days.

https://www.maritim.com/en/hotels/germany/hotel-cologne/hotel-overview A large and well located hotel on the riverfront in Cologne. Our base for a night on our 2023 European motorcycle odyssey.

https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/almere/leonardo-hotel-almere-city-center?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzYrJ9o-vgAMVsIhQBh0ZuANmEAAYASAAEgKSm_D_BwE Our base to visit the Oostvardplassen Re-wilding Project. A good way to do a modern hotel in a new town. The bar was good.

https://www.hotelduvin.com/locations/cambridge/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhLnJqI-vgAMVhevtCh3CgwsfEAAYASAAEgKNhPD_BwE We stayed in the “Cambridge branch” of the Hotel Du Vin chain. The cellar bar was good, where we enjoyed tasting different rums with the bar manager.

http://www.goldenestheaterhotelsalzburg.com/ Our base for an overnighter in Salzburg. The manager was friendly and helpful.

https://www.castlebridge.cz/en/welcome Our base at the excellent town of Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.

https://www.hotelvillaparadisotaormina.com/en Our base at Taormina in Sicily, with brilliant Mt.Etna views from our room, and from the top floor breakfast area.

https://www.deboegschroef.nl/en A hotel stopover in Holland, enroute to Denmark, ahead of my motorcycle trip to Iceland.

https://hoteldjurhuus.fo/?_l=en Our pleasant and convenient base at Torshavn in the Faroe Islands.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/glasdrum-wood-national-nature-reserve An excellent reserve featuring ancient deciduous “rainforest” on the West Coast of Scotland. Sadly, a very rare habitat.

https://glampingandcamping.is/en A collection of cabins set in a spectacular location close to the main town in the Westman Islands, off the South of Iceland.

https://www.vegagerdin.is/en/the-transportation-system/public-transport/ferries/saefari-grimsey Other than flying, this is the only way to reach the island of Grimsey. They know what they’re doing.

https://www.akureyri.is/grimsey-en A remote island off the North of Iceland astride the Arctic Circle. It’s home to ridiculous amounts of seabirds, and especially Puffins in the summer months.

https://www.geosea.is/en A clifftop geothermal pool and spa at Husavik in Northern Iceland. On a clear day you might see whales in the bay below.

https://www.grossglockner.at/gg/en/thehighalpineroad/thehighalpineroad A mountain pass in Austria that so iconic, it has its’ own website!

https://www.fullertonhotels.com An iconic hotel in Singapore and a special treat for us to stay there.

https://fjalladyrd.is/ A wilderness lodge and restaurant in the interior of Iceland. A nice place to stay.

https://www.islandshotel.is/hotels-in-iceland/fosshotel-stykkisholmur Our inadvertent base on the Western side of Iceland, after we were chased out of the Westfjords by bad weather.

https://www.islandshotel.is/hotels-in-iceland/fosshotel-myvatn An upscale hotel in a spectacular position overlooking Lake Myvatn.

https://www.biosphaere.ch/en An interesting reserve area in Switzerland where we stayed for a couple of days on our 2023 motorcycle tour.

https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com A well established Osprey reintroduction project in West Wales. It’s good to see these birds returning each year and fledging young. There’s also a nature reserve at the site, with a viewing platform from where to view the nest.

https://daintreewildernesslodge.com.au/ Our accommodation in the Daintree Rainforest, where we had a really enjoyable stay. The Cassowary encounter by our cabin was magical.

https://www.northiceland.is/en/service/dalvik-camping-ground Our campsite base for two days, from where we visited the island of Grimsey on the Arctic Circle.

https://dragonpub.co.uk A nice country pub with accommodation, close to the Knepp Wildlands in the South Downs.

https://www.circuitcat.com/en/ Excellent and long-established Grand Prix circuit on the outskirts of Barcelona in Spain. The only criticism is the lack of infrastructure in the vicinity of the circuit, which would benefit from some improvement.