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I’ve always been fascinated by Gallipoli in Turkey. The peninsula was the scene of one of the great Allied failures of the First World War. From April 1915 to January 1916, the campaign saw 15-16 British and Empire divisions involved in a struggle against 14-15 Turkish divisions, with a total cost of 500,000 casualties.

For Australians and New Zealanders, the memory of Gallipoli is particularly raw because of the sacrifices of the ANZAC troops. For Turks, the campaign symbolizes resilience, courage, and the emergence of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey.  Soldiers faced rampant disease, extreme heat, and freezing winter blizzards. Thousands died from dysentery, sunstroke, or exposure.

Today, the Gallipoli Peninsula is both a battlefield memorial and a peaceful coastal destination where history and natural beauty exist side by side. Dozens of cemeteries and memorials are scattered across the landscape and rusting metal still sits on the beaches

For travellers, Gallipoli offers more than military history. The peninsula itself is strikingly beautiful, with pine forests, rolling hills, and sweeping views of the Aegean Sea. In late spring, with the poppies blooming, it’s easy to see why the English troops thought they’d arrived in the Garden of Eden.

Small fishing villages dot the coastline, and the nearby city of Çanakkale makes a good base for visitors. It’s on the Asian side of the Dardanelles, so every day I take one of the frequent small ferries, dodging the huge container ships, across to the Gallipoli peninsula.

Cape Helles

The Allied landings at Cape Helles began on 25 April 1915 and troops came ashore at five beaches named S, V, W, X, and Y at the western edge of the peninsula. Their goal was to capture the heights overlooking the Dardanelles and open the sea route for Russian grain.

The terrain favoured the Ottoman defenders: ridges, ravines, and exposed beaches turned every advance into a costly struggle. Thousands died in attacks measured in mere hundreds of metres.

The Cape Helles Memorial stands dramatically above the sea, a towering obelisk commemorating more than 20,000 Commonwealth soldiers with no known grave. It also serves as the main British memorial for the Gallipoli Campaign.

Immediately below the memorial lies V Beach, scene of one of the most catastrophic landings of the campaign. British troops attempted to storm ashore from boats and from the intentionally beached converted collier SS River Clyde. Ottoman machine guns devastated the attackers. Many died before they reached the shore.

The beach is tiny, with the remains of the landing jetty running out to sea. The troops never stood a chance and their graves sit just above the sand. Sadly, erosion is taking its course and the cemetery wall is in danger of collapsing into the sea.

Anzac Cove

Around 20 km north, Anzac Cove is a narrow strip of beach framed by steep cliffs and scrub-covered ridges. The geography immediately placed the invading troops at a disadvantage, forcing them to climb steep ravines under heavy Ottoman fire. Of the 16,000 men who landed during the first day, more than 2,000 had been killed or injured by next morning

Walking inland and upwards from the cove leads to some of the campaign’s most important battlefields. The steep slopes leading toward Plugge’s Plateau, Russell’s Top, and Chunuk Bair show the impossible terrain soldiers faced. Scrub-covered gullies twist unpredictably through the hills, making coordinated attacks extremely difficult.

Today, Anzac Cove is quiet and contemplative. The sea is calm, fishing boats drift offshore, and memorials line the road beside the beach. A commemorative site near the shore hosts dawn services every Anzac Day, attracting thousands of visitors from Australia and New Zealand as well as Turkish representatives.

Suvla Bay

Four months later, in August, the landings at Suvla, just north of Anzac Cove, were an attempt to break the stalemate at Gallipoli. British and Commonwealth troops came ashore hoping to seize the surrounding heights and link with ANZAC forces. The landings passed off without incident, so much so that the soldiers were seen taking tea on the beach.

These delays and further confusion allowed two divisions of Ottoman troops to arrive and turn the operation into another costly deadlock. Two weeks later an attack on nearby Scimitar Hill was mounted in full view of the enemy and had disastrous consequences.

By December 1915, Allied leaders decided to evacuate. The withdrawal from Suvla Bay and nearby ANZAC positions took place between 18 and 20 December 1915. Around 83,000 men, thousands of animals, guns, and stores were removed with almost no casualties. It was a sad end to a foolish campaign.

Turkish Memorials

Memorials to the fallen Ottoman troops are scattered all over the Peninsula but the most important and impressive is the Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial. Completed in 1960. It stands 41.7 m high and can be seen from far across the sea.

The structure consists of four massive columns supporting a large roof, symbolizing the strength and sacrifice of the Turkish nation. Beneath the monument lies a crypt containing the names of fallen soldiers, and reliefs depict scenes from the Gallipoli battles. This is a major Turkish pilgrimage site and is always full of coaches of adults and children paying their respects.

Gallipoli’s landing beaches are ultimately places of memory, sacrifice, and reconciliation. They tell stories of courage and suffering shared by Turks, Australians, New Zealanders, British, French, and many others who fought there.

More than a century later, the beaches remain remarkably peaceful. Waves lap quietly against the shore where soldiers once landed under gunfire, and the silence itself becomes part of the experience.

Factfile

The visit to Gallipoli was expertly led by Dr. Bruce Cherry and organised by The Cultural Experience. The company specialises in expertly guided cultural, archaeological and historical tours worldwide, led by leading academics and expert tour managers. It offers a range of small-group tours across Europe, the Mediterranean and beyond, with a particular focus on history, art, archaeology and civilisation.

The post Travel Guide to WW1 Battlefields of Gallipoli, Turkey appeared first on The Travel Magazine.

Geneva is a very walkable city with wonderful light, its buildings reflected in the mirrored surface of Lac Léman. The Rhone flows serenely out of the lake and divides the community into Right and Left banks. You can pass from side to side on a network of bridges, but start your trip with a short boat ride on one of the historic Mouettes genevoises (Geneva seagulls). 

These yellow water shuttles have been crossing Geneva harbour since 1897 and sail all year round. The fleet includes three vintage wooden craft alongside more modern vessels, including two electric-solar boats. Like all transport in Switzerland, these ferries are punctual with reliable schedules. Time matters.

A deep horological heritage

Geneva has been shaped into the opulent cosmopolitan destination it is today by the clock and watch industry. Precision craftsmanship has been passed down from generation to generation alongside exquisite visual flair. There’s no better place to find out about this history in high-end horology than at the Patek Philippe Museum, located in a restored Art Deco building. Here you can spend the morning journeying through five centuries of watchmaking.

There are Patek Philippe designs on display, of course – a funky 1957 mosaic clock with electric micromotor is a colourful piece – but also other spectacular brands. Les Astres (The Stars) pendant watch has a beautiful movement made in London by Abraham Beckner in the 1650s. 

Harry Styles loves his Cartier Tank.

Today, the luxury watch sector is booming, and Switzerland has 95% of the market, with labels such as Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Frederique Constant and Cartier all produced in Geneva. (Though Cartier is a French company, its watches are Swiss Made.) Harry Styles sports the 1917 classic Tank Louis Cartier design with an oblong face and Roman numerals. Rihanna favours a vintage 18k yellow gold Rolex Day-Date with a champagne dial.

After a leisurely lunch, immerse yourself in a hands-on half-day Initium Watchmaking Workshop. Here, with the expert assistance of the Master Watchmaker, you can create your own custom watch (from £2,425). You select the movement, case, dial, hands and bracelet of your choice and assemble it with a tiny screwdriver and tweezers in hand. It’s a thrill to see the beating heart of your bespoke timepiece come to life. Then, whenever anyone admires your watch, you can say, “Thanks, I made it myself”.

Saint-Pierre Cathedral’s underground secrets

The next day, explore Geneva’s ancient past before some sweet treats. The city has always commanded a strategic position for trade routes, bordered by the Alps and the Jura mountains. At the highest point of the Old Town, there are extensive archaeological remains in an underground museum beneath Saint-Pierre Cathedral, revealing over 2,000 years of history. The powerful Celtic Allobroge warrior tribe occupied the hills of Geneva in the 2nd century BC, preceding Roman rule and Julius Caesar’s arrival in 58 BC.

In the afternoon, chocoholics will love the Choco Pass – it’s a delicious way to explore more of the city. Swiss chocolate, made from Alpine milk, is renowned for its creamy texture. With the Choco Pass Discovery (£37) voucher, you visit selected partner stores – Sweetzerland, Favarger, Zeller, La Bonbonnière and more – to claim a gift bag of chocolate from your chosen five.

A melted chocolate dream class

At La Bonbonnière, you can also whip up your own Swiss chocolate creation in a L’Ecole du Chocolat workshop. (From £47 per person.)  As a chocolate apprentice, in an apron and chef’s hat – which you get to keep – you’ll learn how to manage and sculpt melted chocolate with the help of a team member from this renowned artisanal chocolatier. A warmed palette knife is a magic tool.  One option is to make your own chocolate clock, which seems like a timely idea.

Where to eat

On Boulevard James-Fazy, Coffee Up is a new cosy café with vintage style, open for breakfast (homemade granola bowl £11) and lunch. Dedicated to watchmaking, their motto is ‘Sip slowly, time will wait’.

La Coupole café-restaurant has a lively atmosphere. A generous serving of fillets of fresh lake perch with lemon butter and French fries (£46) includes the price of a starter.

The Breitling Kitchen, on the Quai des Bergues, has outside tables available along the sunny riverside promenade to eat your shrimp and avocado brioche (£24).

Le Lyrique first opened in 1881 next to Geneva’s Grand Theatre. The three-course lunch menu (£40) of octopus salad, rigatoni with peas and cuttlefish sauce, followed by fresh fruit, is served in an elegant setting.

For a special dinner, F.P.Journe Le Restaurant is a collaboration between Michelin–starred chef Dominique Gauthier and artist-horloger François-Paul Journe. A Signature Dish to enjoy alone or share is frogs in tempura, spinach and garlic milk mousse (£56).

Where to stay

The 4-star Hotel Marmont is perfectly situated on Rue du Prince in a historical building with modern comfort and style. (Classic Double Room from £182 a night.)

This boutique hotel’s inviting bar-restaurant is a fashionable hangout with bold décor.

You may also like:

• A tour of Geneva with a sweet twist
  
• Two day trips from Geneva

Getting to Geneva

Visit myswitzerland.com to research and plan your trip. SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines) has 160 weekly flights from UK airports. Go to swiss.com.

The Geneva Transport Card is free for hotel guests and can be downloaded digitally before your arrival. The card gives unlimited free access to Geneva’s public transport network UNIRESO: buses (TPG), trains (CFF), and boats (Mouettes genevoises). Geneva Airport is just a seven-minute train ride away from the city centre.

The post Travel Guide: 48 hours in Geneva, Switzerland appeared first on The Travel Magazine.

The northern reaches of Leicestershire open into one of England’s most ambitious landscape transformations: the National Forest. Spanning rolling countryside, former industrial land, and ancient woodland, this region offers a travel experience that blends heritage, creativity, and outdoor adventure.

At its heart lie the towns and attractions of North West Leicestershire – places like Coalville, historic estates, hidden monasteries, and lively heritage railways. This is not a single destination but a patchwork of experiences, where every stop reveals a different side of the region’s story.

What makes the North Leicestershire National Forest so compelling is its story of transformation. Covering an area of 200 square miles in 3 counties, regeneration began in the early 1990’s. More than nine million trees have been planted and it’s a place where former coalfields have become green spaces. The best way of exploring is both on foot and by e-bike.

Day 1 Walk: Normanton le Heath to Hastings Retreat 6 miles

I start just outside Coalville by Jubilee Woods, a large area of new woodland on an old mining site. Established in 2012 to mark 60 years of the Queen’s reign, and over 300,000 new trees have been planted.

The path leads downhill past a large lake and climbs again to reach the village of Normanton le Heath. Here I join the National Forest Way, which winds 75 miles through the entire National Forest, and follow purple markers across fields to Packington, Leaving through the churchyard, and crossing the busy A42, I’m soon on Willesby Park Golf Course.

More new National Forest follows, this time on the site of Thortit Colliery, and I end my walk at my base for the next two nights, Hastings Retreat. I’m staying in one of their luxury barn conversions and there are stunning views of the countryside and the lake below. It’s also home to Naughty Hare, a micro gin distillery, so I enjoy a guided tasting with co-owner Gabriela Silion

Day 2 Cycle: Hastings Retreat to The Milking Parlour 14 miles

The first part of today’s cycle ride takes me to Hicks Lodge, This is the National Forest Cycling Centre, also a former mining area, now a mix of cycle trails and forest walks. I carry on passing the Moira Canal Basin and the restored blast furnace building, and join the towpath and then an old railway line.

Gorse Lane takes me uphill and near the top I meet Dave McDowell, a famous local beekeeper. He’s developed a sustainable beekeeping business within the National Forest. Dave the Bee manages hives across the region and produces award-winning honey, while also delivering educational experiences.

My journey continues along quiet lanes, through small villages, including Smisby where’s there’s a village lockup built into the wall by the church. It’s said that Sir Walter Scott decided to write the novel Ivanhoe when he went to the top of the tower and saw the tournament field in the valley below.

A long woodland track through walnut fields leads to the Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts at Staunton Harold Hall. It houses a wide range of artisan craft workshops, as well as the popular Stables cafe and deli. Very close is The Milking Parlour, home to the Tollgate craft brewery. A pint of their excellent beer and homemade pizza is lunch.

Afternoon Walk: Milking Parlour to Hastings Retreat 8 miles

My walk back to Hastings Retreat again follows the National Forest Way. Although this is mostly through new forest, I start in old woodland with lots of hazel trees, now managed by the National Trust.

I follow the distinctive purple markers, thinking I can’t get lost, but indeed do lose my way in the middle of woodland. Of course, it’s my own fault but the consolation is masses of bluebells in the scattered sunlight. I retrace my steps and eventually reach the charming town of Ashby de la Zouch.

I’d planned to visit the ruins of the castle, once a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War, but am too tired. A shame as it’s featured in the novel Ivanhoe and offers great views over the area. From here I pass the Hicks Lodge Cycle Centre, before climbing back up to Hastings Retreat.

Day 3 Cycle Hastings Retreat to Quorn Station 25 miles

My first stop today is the 1620’s House and Garden, tucked away in the village of Donington le Heath. One of the oldest buildings in Leicestershire, the house has been completely restored to provide an insight into life in the 1620s. Back then it was owned by the Digby family who were involved in the Gunpowder Plot.

From here, the route follows a Sustrans trail through the heart of Snibston Colliery Park. Situated in the centre of Coalville, it’s one of the best preserved former colliery sites in the country, started back in 1832 by George and Robert Stephenson. It closed in 1983 and the highlight is an underground tour to the pit face.

The landscape starts to change as I climb up into the craggy hills of Charnwood Forest Geopark. One of the highest points is Mount St Bernard Abbey, founded in 1835 and the first permanent catholic monastery in England after the Reformation. It’s also the UK’s only producer of Trappist beer, Tynt Meadow, and you can buy it in the shop.

Shortly afterwards, I reach Beacon Hill Country Park, once the location of a burning beacon to warn folks of danger. The Park is the Eastern end of the National Forest Way, as well as the start point for the Coal and Canopy Way, a new long-distance cycle route through the National Forest.

My final destination is Quorn and Woodhouse station, one of only four on the Great Central Railway, which runs eight miles from Loughborough to Leicester North. It’s the UK’s only heritage railway with double tracks and both steam and diesel engines ply the route.

The station was used for D- Day preparations and has retained its 1940’s theme, complete with  NAAFI style Refreshment Room . I leave my bike here and take the vintage diesel to Leicester North and then onwards back to London.

Factfile

GO: East Midlands Trains link London’s St Pancras with Leicester in around an hour. National Forest E-Bike Holidays specialises in self-guided electric bike and luxury walking holidays in the National Forest.

INFO: Visit Leicester has information about Leicester and Leicestershire.

STAY: Hastings Retreat makes a perfect base and is 100% carbon neutral with wind turbine power. Naughty Hare offers gin tastings onsite

EAT:

• Stables cafe at Staunton Harold has excellent coffee and cake.
• The Milking Parlour brews its own beer and has great pizza.
• Zamanis Restaurant in Ashby de la Zouch offers tasty Italian food at good prices with locally sourced ingredients.

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