Oliver Smith

I was delighted to write about the Alishan Forest Railway in #Taiwan for Lonely Planet's latest book. I've been on it the mountain many times to get to my aunt's tea farm.

There are also fantastic pieces by @olismithtravel.bsky.social, @shafikmeghji.bsky.social , @monisharajesh.bsky.social.

Nigel Farage looks uncomfortable as Jamie Raskin uses his opening statement to absolutely demolish him

Great stuff Shafik

The real Salt Path: how a blockbuster book and film were ... Penniless and homeless, the Winns found fame and fortune with the story of their 630-mile walk to salvation. We can reveal that the truth behind it is ve...

A superb piece of journalism in The Observer: it seems like the one of the sacred texts of Nature Writing (TM) is not quite as much of an unflinchingly honest read as claimed

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Thank you :-) hope the sailing was fun!

How to plan a pilgrimage by @olismithtravel.bsky.social
psyche.co/guides/how-t...

It was a great pleasure to write this guide on pilgrimage for the wonderful @aeon.co 's Psyche magazine, online here

psyche.co/guides/how-t...

Great rail journeys: nostalgia and magic on the Night Riviera to Cornwall Journeying back to the golden age of English seaside holidays aboard the GWR sleeper from Paddington

I'm a bit late posting this – but this was a special one to write: a trip on the Night Riviera sleeper train, and a journey into the history of railway art, from Turner to Ravilious
@ftweekend
www.ft.com/content/0491...

Empty beaches and Roman ruins on the UK’s prettiest pilgrimage trail A self-guided stroll along the saintly St Oswald’s Way on the Northumberland coast takes walkers from the Lindisfarne foreshore to the crags of Hadrian’s Wall

My latest for Times on a pilgrimage along St Oswald's Way to the beautiful named Heavenfield church. www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...

Why I imprisoned myself in Norwich Medieval Norwich was home to dozens of anchorites, or religious hermits. I spent a day in the cell of its most famous to understand why

My latest for the Telegraph on medieval Norwich’s rich anchorite tradition - and those people who imprisoned their bodies so that their minds (and perhaps souls) could roam far instead www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/desti...

My book On This Holy Island publishes today in the United States of America. Slava Ukraini.

Mentioned in the @financialtimes.com today in this piece by @olismithtravel.bsky.social

Apologies for the picture - I don’t design the pages and didn’t see them before publication - but would have spotted it, not least as my parents were married at PN.

Cornwall’s mystical far west — in the footsteps of Ithell Colquhoun [FREE TO READ] As Tate stages the first major exhibition of the surrealist artist, Oliver Smith follows her to the ancient stone circles of Penwith

Some stories really get into your bones - this was one of them. Exploring the eerie prehistoric landscapes of West Penwith, Cornwall - my latest for @financialtimes.com on.ft.com/4jYYqvk

Stone Club @thesociallondon.bsky.social with @petefowlerart.bsky.social a reading from @olismithtravel.bsky.social a talk from Alex Murdin & Sophie Pierce on their new book Rock Idols, artist @lornarees.bsky.social & Stone Report film from @spaceshipmark.bsky.social
stoneclub.rocks/events/the-s...

Lovely to hear Mark - that means a lot and has brightened my morning! Sorry for slow reply - I need to spend more time on here rather than in the awful other place

#Booksky

Just finished this interesting and insightful exploration of journey, pilgrimage and place by @olismithtravel.bsky.social Thoroughly recommended!

ON THIS HOLY ISLAND | Kirkus Reviews A travel writer explores ancient paths.

First American review of my book... www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews...

Where our top travel writers want to holiday (or not) this year Even experts have wishlists — be inspired by the exciting destinations tempting our team this year — and places they will be steering well clear of

Me praising my favourite Spanish footpath and slagging off my least favourite part of South Devon in this round-up for the Times at the weekend ....

www.thetimes.com/travel/inspi...

Unputdownable: The books you wish you had been given for Christmas - Country Life Country Life's reviewers name the books that have most absorbed them this year, with topics ranging from grey partridges to cricket, rock music, wolves and medieval history, plus the most diverting fi...

Thanks to @Countrylifemag for listing On This Holy Island among “the books you wish you’d got for Christmas” this year www.countrylife.co.uk/country-life...

It's wretched. I have a friend who is writing a book about it. Here's hoping DB rises from the ashes one day!

From vineyards in the Andes to rhinos in Zimbabwe: travel writers’ discoveries of 2024 Stanley Stewart, Monisha Rajesh, William Dalrymple and many more share their personal discoveries — and disappointments — of the past year

I wrote about the joy of Swiss trains (and the misery of German trains) in this @financialtimes.com end of year list... www.ft.com/content/5e32...

And as a chaser, the wonderful and ever popular route to Lindisfarne along the St Cuthbert's Way for the Times t.co/0eSO8WqsDM

On the trail of St Cedd in Essex, from the commuter belt to the Dengie Peninsula... t.co/pmyERxf7Lr

I went on medieval England’s great forgotten pilgrimage Our writer explores St Kenelm’s Trail, which links the outskirts of Birmingham with a holy well on the edge of the Cotswolds

Here's the rest – In search of St Kenelm in Mercia (aka the Cotswolds and Brum) www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activ...

My pilgrimage across the mountains to the most beautiful church in Wales I followed a path deep into the Berwyn Mountains of Powys to a mystical attraction

It's been a great pleasure writing a small series on saint's journeys for Telegraph travel over the past few months. Here's my latest – a journey into the mysterious Berwyn Mountains of Powys to the shrine of St Melangell, patron saint of hares 🐇🐇🐇 www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activ...