Detour
Stories, ideas and destinations for people who love travelling slow.
Top features
The scattered hotels saving Italy’s villages
An innovative hotel concept with its roots in the success of the local community is helping to preserve rural culture and revive Italy’s struggling villages. Alastair Sawday meets the people spearheading scattered hotels. I walked up the cobbled streets… Continue reading >
Slow Guide to Yorkshire
A city packed with ancient pubs, a town revived by a love of food, a fishing village full of painters and a landscape tapestry of history and culture. We went to Yorkshire to look beyond the image of rolling hillsides… Continue reading >
48 hours in Lisbon with Kym Grimshaw
We sent food photographer and blogger Kym Grimshaw to Lisbon, she sent us back a foodie’s dream 48 hours. Here, she rounds up how to eat the weekend away in Portugal’s cool capital city. Kym publishes recipes, restaurant reviews and trips… Continue reading >
Guides
Slow Guide to Cultural Cornwall
Cornwall’s wild moors, echoing coves, blustering cliffs and the folds of the hills hide a wealth of cultural and culinary experiences that go far beyond a day at the seaside. So forget what you know about Cornwall. Get beyond the… Continue reading >
Slow Guide to Madeira
The island of Madeira is an inspiring fusion of tropical waters, towering peaks and the cultures of three continents. The seas are warm all year round and teem with an incredible array of marine life; the weather is consistently sunny,… Continue reading >
Slow Guide to the West Highlands
Travelling through the Scottish Highlands it’s hard not to feel small. Grey mountains rise above a sepia spectrum of greens and browns and tantalising roads wind into the seemingly empty landscape. We arrived expecting the humbling drama of massive scenery… Continue reading >
Slow Guide to Sicily
Just like the rumbling slopes of its iconic Mount Etna, Sicily has a lot going on under the surface. Break through the standard tourist trail to the rich volcanic countryside and you’ll find a fascinating place where ancient villages cling… Continue reading >
Inspiration
48 hours in Bordeaux with Alyson Walsh
We sent Alyson Walsh, fashion journalist and author, to uncover Bordeaux’s best boutiques, streets and markets. She found a beautiful city on the River Garonne with handsome limestone buildings that, given the right light, emanate a gorgeous golden glow. Her… Continue reading >
Frozen food: the chilly life of a scallop farmer
It’s early March in the Scottish Highlands and the water is the same slate grey as the sky. A man is wading into a loch. Dave had always wanted to work underwater and, after years as a diver in civil… Continue reading >
Three French B&Bs for cycling enthusiasts
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… Continue reading >
Five stunning rail routes in Europe
Travelling by train lets you surrender control, forget your ETA and give in to the languid romance of the rails. Gaze out on colourful snapshots of life between the landmarks, share unnamed snacks and smile wordless conversations with the locals… Continue reading >
Journeys
Mary Novakovich in hidden Venice
Plagued with news reports on over-tourism, unhappy locals and selfie sticks, it’s easy to wonder if Venice has been loved to death. To find out, we sent journalist and travel writer Mary Novakovich to meet local guides and discover a… Continue reading >
Lois Pryce in Cilento
We sent intrepid traveller Lois Pryce to Italy’s Cilento region. Lois has motorcycled her way around the world, but for this Journey we channeled some authentic Italian spirit and sent her off in a vintage Fiat 500. Follow her journey… Continue reading >
Tim Moore in volcanic Catalonia
Our fourth Journey follows Journalist and extremely adventurous traveller Tim Moore on his trip through Garrotxa, Catalonia’s volcano country. He encounters a zombie army of life-sized plaster martyrs, children fishing for moons and a hot air balloon drifting over forested… Continue reading >
Jo Keeling takes Galicia’s slow train
Hopping on and off the narrow gauge FEVE railway, Jo Keeling explores Asturias and Galicia, on Spain’s unspoilt northern coast – an astonishingly green region with untamed mountains, hearty regional dishes and warm, authentic people. Jo Keeling is the editor… Continue reading >
