It’s so cold that my chest tightens and I battle the urge to retreat to the warm car. The rain feels like it’s passing straight through my ears, falling in long, wind-whipped filaments. The water is the same slate grey as the sky. Right in front of me a man is wading into a loch. This is Dave of Sconser Scallops, and he does this for a living.
There’s no need to be torn between a cultural city break and a relaxing bit of beach time. Here are five of our favourite spots to spend your days wandering from sunny sands, to cool, shaded galleries and hot musical nights.
The story of how Sawday’s began explains a lot. Two decades ago, Alastair Sawday was a walking guide in France, exploring the country and getting to know its secrets and its characters. Inspired by meetings with old winemakers, Parisian ladies with a taste for Scottish sword dancing and multi-tasking fishwives, he eventually turned his scruffy notes on unusual French places to stay into a simply designed book, so that people could avoid standardised, soulless accommodation and find these amazing things for themselves. Everything that followed sprang from that simple purpose and 20 years on, it’s still what we do. We meet people, we find special places and we share them with everyone looking for something that breaks the bland mould which so much modern accommodation seems to be printed from. Continue Reading…
Most pubs can manage a decent fish & chips or a good salmon fillet, but we like the sort of places who go the extra fathom to make their seafood something special. Here, we’ve picked out a handful of pubs that don’t just show creativity in the kitchen, but have a deep connection to their local waters that comes out in the delicious dishes they create.
“The thing about France is that the French aren’t great at building bike routes, but they don’t need to be because there are endless stunning roads with no traffic – and what little traffic there is, is considerate towards cyclists.”
Peter, Owner of Le Cheval Blanc
France is a dream for cycling, after all, it is where the Tour De France was born. With its wealth of virtually car-less backroads, the option of a challenging climb for the sports enthusiasts or a gentle pootle between pretty villages for the more laid-back, freewheeling in France is a joy.
Purpose-built routes allow you to cycle the length of the Loire all the way to the Atlantic, making it irresistibly tempting to hop on a bike and discover a different perspective to this beautiful country. But it’s the locals that really know how to work this wonderful landscape and create epic cycle-routes that show off historical sites and jaw-dropping views. We asked four of our Owners to share with us their favourite routes leaving straight from their front door.
We invite pubs to join Sawday’s when they are interesting, imaginative and hospitable. We look for authenticity, laughter, a vibrant sense of community and gastronomy deeply rooted in the soil. So if you’re a pub person, we think you’ll love these six, chosen because they make perfect starting (and finishing) points for exploring beautiful spring-transformed landscapes. Wander through hidden valleys, pretty villages and picture-perfect hills to finish at a gorgeous inn and reward yourself with the freshest food. Because the best kind of walk is a pub walk. Continue Reading…
Being pioneers of Special Places, the Sawday’s office is always full of chatter about weekend plans and wanderlust. With the Easter bank holiday looming, we asked for some inspiration on where to escape – being an eclectic bunch this post takes you from Edinburgh to Milan so buckle up your seatbelt (or tighten your walking boots) and get some inspiration for your next adventure…
Sleepy English villages, jaw-dropping Portuguese architecture and Italian mystical folklore; we’ve selected some unusual destinations to inspire your next holiday. Continue Reading…
When adventure calls and the countryside beckons, strap on your walking boots for an expedition to utterly remote British pubs that are worth the journey. Continue Reading…
Venture out to these brilliant stargazing spots in Britain for a stunning natural light show. It’s a proven fact, everyone benefits from time spent in nature. Whether it’s climbing a lonely mountain, walking wild coastal paths or even hugging a tree, taking time out to reconnect with the great outdoors gives a boost of mental wellness. Continue Reading…