By Rupert Parker
The county of Berguedà in Catalonia, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, is leading the way in Spain in Eco-Tourism – hotels, camping sites and restaurants already sport the EU Ecolabel. It’s only about an hour’s drive North of Barcelona before the hills start rising around you and you find yourself on the edge of the Pyrenees.  This is a wild country, once heavily industrialised, but now the playground of Barceloni escaping their city for the weekend. They’re appreciating the value of their environment and out of 19 …

By Paula Gardner
In early 2012 there were nearly two million single-parent families in the UK, a number that has been steadily on the rise for the last decade. So, it comes as no surprise that there has been a rise in the number of holidays specifically created for single parent families. But how to choose which ones really work for the single parent and which aren’t just a marketing gimmick? Essential Travel has investigated the options out there and handpicked the best of the bunch:
Cornwall
Cornwall – the most popular family destination …

By Jane Wade-Smith
If you fancy an Alpine winter adventure but don’t want to ski….then this could be the break for you. It was a very crisp February evening when we boarded the train from Basel to Interlaken. Even with the thermometer reading in excess of -20 degrees, never did we consider that the train wouldn’t be running on time. They did, and well, and extremely on time. The rail network in Switzerland runs like clockwork and when there are only minutes available to change trains, this never causes an issue.
After …

By Ceidiog Hughes
Human rights campaigner Terry Waite has hailed the contribution of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in helping to give world peace a chance. As he prepares to take his place at the head of the 67th annual festival , Mr Waite has spoken of the crucial role music played in helping him through his dark days of captivity as a hostage in Beirut.
The Eisteddfod President has also described how the festival, which attracts people from across the globe, is a “powerful example” of how ordinary men and women …

By Rupert Parker
Situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, Lausanne is an ideal centre for a Swiss weekend culinary break. It’s all so easy – I get off the plane at Geneva airport and the train takes me to Lausanne in less than an hour. And then there’s the spectacular steep driverless metro which is built on the old funicular track, plunging me down to the lake shores and my beautiful hotel, the celebrated Beau-Rivage Palace.  This is Swiss precision at its best.
The trouble is that the city is spread …