Introduction
Hello... and welcome to the winter 25/26 of The Journey.
What does 2026 hold for you? There’s often something deeply exciting about the early months of the year, when there are plans to be formed and hopes to be filled. Cast your eye over our network map (see page 34) and it’s almost impossible not to find yourself making a mental wish list of places to explore is a wonderful season. Spring gets the flowers and summer the crowds, but there’s a huge amount to be said for autumn's potential for travel and discovery, when things are quieter and cosier and when hats, gloves and jackets start coming into their own again.
With this in mind, in this issue we’ve selected 26 ideas to consider for the year ahead, as well as providing younger readers with their own 26 challenges. From hiking paths and wildlife spectacles to new books and celebratory festivals, we hope you’ll find plenty to pique your interest.
And the inspiration doesn’t end there. On page 12 you’ll find an interview with former rugby union player Ed Jackson, who was paralysed from the shoulders down in 2017 and has since set up mental health charity Millimetres 2 Mountains Foundation, which uses the great outdoors to help people “redefine their limitations”. It’s an eye-opening read.
Elsewhere, you’ll find a love letter to the joy of maps, a roundup of hostels close to filming locations and much more, including the usual news and reviews. Happy reading — and Happy New Year!
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Highlights from this issue of The Journey
A guide to the making and history of maps
For cartophile Daniel Neilson, maps are more than navigation tools. They are stories waiting to be read — of history, language and landscape, and hold the promise of adventure across England and Wales
A must-do North Yorkshire coastal walk: Whitby to Robin Hood's Bay
Whitby and the cove-hidden villages along the coast of the North York Moors National Park occupy one of the most picturesque corners of the country.
Four hostels near iconic filming locations
Hosting everything from zombies and wizards to Regency romances and windswept dramas, our landscapes are seasoned film stars.
26 things to do in the UK in 2026
What plans do you have for the months ahead? We’ve come up with 26 suggestions for filling the year ahead with inspiration, escapism and adventures.
An interview with empowering mental health charity founder: Ed Jackson
Ed Jackson was a professional rugby player when, in April 2017, he broke his neck in an accident while diving into a pool. It left him completely paralysed from the neck down.