From: Ms VY Living and working in Central London

I work in a busy world 7 days a week. My social life and my work life are one and the same, so when I go away I like to travel alone, to be selfish with myself. That does not mean isolation or a retreat but I am happy to dine alone, order the wine I want and most of all spend my time with a guide who is totally focused on immersing me in the environment I’m exploring. 

<... Continue reading

Once the domain of the English aristocratic gentleman, in modern times these sports have prevailed – but now with a broader appeal across gender and social class. In addition to  ‘huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’’, team games such as Cricket and Rugby, and the resurgent interest in Falconry, are often included in the catch-all term ‘Country Sports’. 

Enthusiasts have often grown up playing or participating in a broad variety o... Continue reading

We just wanted to share the generous comments following our Corporate Bushcraft Experience Day from Strutt & Parker, Canterbury Letting and Rural Land Management Agents. 

“The day exceeded our expectations. Everyone was fully engaged. Highly competent instructors”

Ralph Crathorne, Senior Director, 

Head of Private... Continue reading

Q. So you run the bushcraft for Brelade Travel as well as undertaking the workload of the Operations Director and I understand you’ve recently launched a Taster Day Experience?

A. Bushcraft is a personal passion of mine and yes I do run it when I’m in the country. Safari has been a big thing in my life since spending a summer at the late great Ben Parker’s Tongabezi Lodge and Sausage Tree Camp in Zambia at the age of ten. Continue reading

Imagine staying in one of the world’s most undiscovered and pristine environments. Completely removed from the outside world, able to switch off and enjoy the crystal waters, amazing wildlife and perfect weather all in the 5-star luxury of privately owned and managed boutique lodge.

Just off the coast of Mozambique lies the small chain of islands known as the Bazaruto Archipelago. Home to an amazing marine reserve these 6 islands are... Continue reading

Travelling north by road on the first leg of this trip, I cruise through the rose fields, before sighting the imposing volcanic range above the valley of Otavalo, home of craftsmen skilled in the traditional cultures. Now, it is one of my favourite occupations to wander around markets, and this one at Plaza de Los Ponchos is the largest in South America, so could not be missed. Naturally along with the cloth, silver, pottery and leather goods,... Continue reading

"A desolate landscape of long pebble beaches, small converted railway cottages, 

and ominous looking nuclear power stations – all under the watch of Dungeness’ lighthouses…"

Arriving on the narrow gauge steam train from Hythe, at first glance this eerie settlement on the southern tip of the Kent coast may seem an unlikely destination, inert with the feel of a far-fl... Continue reading

We are here to help you get the best from your next holiday.

Whether this is your first big trip to a new location or you are an experienced traveller ready to explore a region through new eyes – getting insight ahead of departure can help you: 

In a world where tr... Continue reading

A trip to Oman from Dubai was definitely in order, to escape the glitz and glitter that had been surrounding me for a while. It is not a criticism, simply that sometimes it’s essential to find the tranquility, a space for body and mind. And the highlight of my escape was supposed to involve a tete a tete with a turtle.

The aircraft wheels touched down in Muscat which in itself as the capital has around 1.28 million residents, but by... Continue reading

Encouraging children in a practical learning environment where they can experience the natural world and develop a range of important life skills can help them to understand and relate to a range of topics covered in the curriculum – as well as building great leadership and interpersonal capabilities. 

Over the last year, at Brelade, we have worked with a number of schools who are aiming to provide students with a more rounded e... Continue reading

The distance between the adventure-hardened retirees and the eager up-for-fun gap-year students within the family may, at first glance, seem to be a chasm to wide to bridge – but it is not always so. Both are often enthusiastic escapees. And while one is seeking knowledge, the other often has valuable accumulated experience to share. Travelling companions with mutual benefits.

I was not journeying with grandchildren, but I noticed ot... Continue reading

Scattered throughout Kent there is a wealth of the creative people, artisans, many of whom turn their attention and skill to the victuals we so very much enjoy.  Cheese, pies, sausages, graziers of rare breed meats, brewed vinegars, smoked specialities, allotment herbs and foraged food of the wild variety. But in my opinion it is hard to beat the artisan baker. This British county is not the Garden of Eden no this is the Garden of Eng... Continue reading

On a day in late May, the Zambezi River is no longer in full flood but ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ is ferociously guarding it’s traditional name ‘The Smoke that Thunders’, along with it’s accolade as the world’s largest curtain of falling water. I am standing in and amongst Victoria Falls, towards the middle, on a rocky outcrop that penetrates the surface as 550 million litres of water a minute plunge down either side of me – this is is Livingstone Island... Continue reading

A contemporary of the long-extinct sabre-toothed cat, tribes across the Americas have given this notoriously elusive animal many names – Ghost Cat, Mountain Screamer, Panther, Catamount, and Mountain Lion. 

In South America, it’s called Puma, the Incan and Quechua words for powerful and strong. 

The farthest-ranging animal in the Western Hemisphere, its range is the entire length of the New World. Living from th... Continue reading

There is nothing quite like setting off on a walking safari with your guide, never quite sure what you are gong to come across. I still remember the thrill and excitement of my first dangerous animal sighting while on a walking safari. 

On my first visit to Africa, my guide Ch... Continue reading

“Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints.” - Chief Seattle

This is a well-known quote within the outdoor world and shows that the current promotion of a “Leave No Trace” mentality harks back to Native American way of living – understanding the impact of human activities, valuing the natural environment, and ensuring we make use of resources in a sustainable way.

Whether ex... Continue reading

 The lulu or Pearl Oyster was a source of wealth in the Emirates long before the discovery of oil. 

The uniqueness and almost universal appeal of pearls are best explained by two facts: they are the only gems produced by living organisms, and they need no cutting or polishing.

Arabian Gulf’s relatively shallow banks are an ideal home for Pearl Oysters. It’s unclear how long pearl diving has been a part of the way... Continue reading

In many cultures around the world, the head is viewed as the most important part of the body and believed to be where the soul and spirit reside, the head has therefore always been a major focus when it comes to elaborate decoration.

Many headdresses, however, are normally reserved for very special occasions due to how fragile they are and the labour intensity required to make them. 

Special materials such as feathers,... Continue reading

The Blue-Footed Booby is one of the Galápagos’ most distinctive and easily identifiable species and can be found nesting on the rocky shores of North Seymour Island between June and August. 

Their name comes from the Spanish word ‘bobo’, meaning foolish or clown like – in reference to the bird's very clumsy movement on land. This, however, is in great contrast to once they are on the wing and in flight where they are extremely a... Continue reading

My first experience of Africa was on the banks of the Zambezi just upstream from the falls as my dad introduced me to Charles, our canoe guide for the day. 

Soon we were off paddling downriver towards “The Smoke that Thunders”. 

Paddling down the river, hearing the roar of the falls and feeling the spray as we landed the boats at Livingstone Island is something I will never forget.

Having spent over a de... Continue reading