Exploring new, awe-inspiring or intriguing destinations sparks the imagination and brings creativity to life. In celebration of World Book Day on Thursday 3rd March, we’re inviting you to follow in the footsteps of literary greats and take a trip to one of our wonderful literary destinations to discover what inspired their world-famous novels and poems. Read on to find out our favourite literary trips for aspiring writers and bibliophiles.
The magnificent landscape of the Lake District cannot fail to fill you with wonder. With its brooding dark green fells, interrupted sporadically by dazzling, emerald lakes or meandering trails, it’s little surprise that writers and creatives over the years have come here to contemplate.
Wordsworth, Ransome and Potter are among the famous creators whose haunts are all ticked off on our Literary Walking in the Lake District trip. Wordsworth made the area around Grasmere and Rydal Hall and Gardens his home, his poetic pen detailing the forms of the blue lakes and surrounding mountains. Arthur Ransome’s children’s adventure novels, Swallows and Amazons, took inspiration from the inviting shores of Coniston Water. Meanwhile, Sawrey’s Hilltop Farm became the quiet retreat for Beatrix Potter, as she brought her many wonderful woodland creatures to life.
Best time to visit: June and July, when temperatures are warmer, and there is less chance of rain.
As the sun drops behind the foreboding Carpathian Mountains, creating a chilling silhouette of the spiked turrets of Bran Castle in Transylvania, it’s easy to see where the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s 19th-century Gothic novel, Dracula, came from.
However, our Transylvania and the Carpathian Mountains trip is not all about the foreboding darkness. On the contrary, walking the high Bucegi Plateau and the stunning Prapastiile Zarnestilor gorge, you’ll discover colourful, wildflower-covered meadows, rare birds and beautiful butterflies. Visiting towns, such as Brasov and Pestera, you’ll also take in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings and picturesque medieval squares.
Best time to visit: spring or autumn when nature’s colours are at their best.
Sugary pink sands, secluded bays, and gently lapping iridescent-blue water makes Bermuda a real vision of paradise. The island’s serenity captivated infamous American writer, Mark Twain, who spent 187 days here between 1867 and 1910, ruminating over its tranquillity. Famously commenting, ‘You go to heaven if you want. I’d rather stay here in Bermuda’; his passion for the island is unmistakable in his writing.
As you walk the spectacular coastal paths and gentle, traffic-free trails on our Islands of Bermuda Walk, you’ll explore every corner of the mainland, discovering sea grottoes and sweeping seascapes, colourful streets and quaint harbours.
Best time to visit: From May to October, the weather is consistently warm. March and April are quieter, but the weather is less predictable.
Taking in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Pisa and its Leaning Tower, the Renaissance town of Lucca and the picturesque, rich landscape of Tuscany on our Cycling in Tuscany: Pisa to Florence trip, you’ll appreciate where artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci and composers, like Puccini found their inspiration.
Upon reaching Florence, the romance of Italy is amplified, its elegant Renaissance architecture, seductive art and compelling history ubiquitous. Here, the lovestruck poet, Dante Alighieri, found inspiration for his monumental poem, the Divine Comedy. Dante lived in Florence, and his birthplace is now the Museo Casa di Dante, a great starting point to learn more about his work.
Best time to visit: May and September when the temperatures offer the perfect conditions for cycling.
Our Passau to Vienna Cycling route follows easy-going cycle paths alongside the glorious River Danube, where numerous cafés provide welcome refreshments. Leading you through an ever-changing landscape of valleys, gorges and forests, the area is rich with colourful flora and fauna. Pause to explore the medieval centre of Linz, admire the 11th-century Baroque abbey at Melk and discover stories of Richard the Lionheart, held in the hilltop castle at Durnstein.
In the beautiful city of Vienna, you’ll have time to explore its wealth of classical music, history and arts; today quite different from the post-war capital that inspired Graham Greene’s film, The Third Man. The Central Cemetery, Prater Park and Sievering’s famous sewers are still there to be explored by fans, seeking to bring this British film noir to life.
Best time to visit: Summer is the high season, so the shoulder months of April-May and September-October are quieter.
If this has inspired you to start planning your own literary-inspired trip, take a look at our Walking and Cycling Holidays.
