Winning tip: Lake District walks helped me to switch off

I did a circuit of the Old Man of Coniston in the Lake District on a grey, drizzly weekday in October and it quietly rewired my head. I’d been running on always-on mode, and that climb forces you to slow down and breathe properly. From the Coppermines valley up to the ridge, then along the rocky summit and back via Goat’s Water, it’s rugged without being showy. The weather kept the crowds away, and the low cloud made the tarn feel like a secret. I came home muddy, soaked and weirdly calm, and started making space for long walks again.
Brandon Kindell

I binned the car after cycling in Italy

A couple of years ago, after turning 60 and retiring, I invested in a simple but nice bicycle, and participated in a “silver Giro d’Italia”, organised by a cycling club in Milan. I met like-minded people from all over Europe and we followed our own mini tour – starting from Milan’s cathedral down to Pisa, ending with a route along the coast and around the famous tower. We stopped at wonderful trattorias along the way for pasta-fuelled lunches and slept in simple hotels. The experience motivated me to sell my car and use my bike to get around – it’s been a brilliant move. I am fitter and better off. I’ve done a favour to myself and the environment.
Bill

Volunteering raised my horizons

The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) ran very popular working holidays doing environmental conservation in the 1980s – hedge-laying, walling, scrub-bashing in the UK and exciting wildlife adventures such as tracking wolves in Slovakia. Volunteers ranged from teenagers to pensioners, some employed and some signing on every week. My first experience was building a footbridge and hanging some farm gates in a remote part of Devon. We slept on the floor of the local village hall, cooked our own meals and had a shower in a sports centre midweek. Teamwork and friendship blossomed over the week and I exceeded my wildest expectations of what could be achieved with largely unskilled honest labour. BTCV changed its name to the Community Volunteers in 2012 and I continue to volunteer with a local group that is a member of TCV’s community network, still getting scratched and sore but revelling in the company and continually amazed by what gets done.
Martin

Seasick captain gave me a North Sea adventure

Crossing the North Sea when I was 16 in 1962, I crewed on a small wooden yacht sailing overnight from Belgium to the Suffolk coast. The wind increased and the waves got higher. The skipper stayed below with severe sea sickness until dawn. The seas got bigger and then I was looking up at them breaking over me while I steered alone by the compass. I tied myself in the open cockpit with two ropes. At last there ahead was the Southwold lighthouse flashing a welcome beam. My adventure had included fear and uncertainty. But learning some tenacity and perseverance was a life-changing experience.
David Innes-Wilkin

Alpine yoga and hikes in Austria

Desperate for an exciting winter break we ended up choosing MoaAlm near Kals am Großglockner in Austria. Beyond MoaAlm’s superb vegan food we discovered authentic Austrian warmth as locals greeted us in their villages. Sophie’s yoga classes transformed our practice, especially sun salutations as dawn light flooded the mountain-view studio. I had one of the best mountain hikes of my life climbing to the snowfields and culminating in views across to the distant Dolomites. For my wife, it was a chance to rediscover her love of skiing with one on one tuition. The holiday was with Weareactive.
Adam

Hospitality and kindness in Florence

The Florentine night sky exploded with noise and colour, as I celebrated the San Giovanni festival in June with hundreds of excited locals. After a bereavement, I booked a three-week Italian language course through Apple Language Courses, opting to stay with a local host family. During that time, I immersed myself in learning the enchanting language, spending my free time admiring Botticellis at the Uffizi, daydreaming by the River Arno with its terracotta reflections, consuming my body weight in gelati and experiencing some sorely needed Florentine hospitality and kindness. I returned from my Italian adventure with my heart soothed and something that money cannot buy … hope.
Alison N

Children’s joy on a road trip in France

Our first road trip as a family ignited a love of France and travel in our sons. A drive to the Loire valley, via an exciting ferry crossing, and a wildflower meadow in which to eat our picnic and stretch our legs. Then there was the wonder of our “tiny” house (a mobile home on a campsite). There was daily swimming, endless seafood and pain au chocolat. We planned and executed it on an absolute shoestring but realising that the smaller parts of travel, which as adults we take for granted, can be awe-inspiring for children was our biggest and most valuable lesson.
Clare

Scandinavia with my daughter

I travelled to Scandinavia with my adult daughter on a backpacking trip and came home changed. In Stockholm the Abba Experience turned singing badly into pure joy. In Gothenburg we slowed down and did some vintage shopping, enjoyed the green spaces and had some long cafe stops, which created space for real conversation. In Copenhagen we walked everywhere – from the lights of Tivoli Gardens to the cool Meat-Packing district, the city rewards curiosity. Travelling with my daughter stripped away old roles and reminded me the best journeys aren’t just defined by where you go, but by who you travel with. Ask someone you love to come with you; it will make your trip unforgettable.
Lindsay Partridge

Serenity in Croatia

My sailing holiday in Croatia was truly serene, with breathtaking scenery at every turn. From crystal-clear waters to dramatic coastlines, every island felt beautiful in its own way. Exploring the islands revealed an incredible diversity of landscapes and atmospheres. The cities of Split and Dubrovnik were especially memorable, rich with history, charm and timeless beauty. Wandering their ancient streets and coastal views made the experience unforgettable and deeply inspiring.
Debra

Backpacking in Colombia taught me to improvise

Sometimes it’s things going wrong that change you most. I went backpacking through Latin America at 26, organised and needing everything to go to plan. In Mocoa, where the Colombian Amazon tangles with the Andes, thick jungle clings to steep green mountains, with monkeys calling from the canopy. I did not speak Spanish, had no phone signal and did not bring enough cash for the bus, but the kindness of strangers got me where I needed to be. I learned you don’t need to plan everything, and I sleep much better for it.
Sarah