All Climate Opinion Travel One of the 100,000 Flight Free 2020

The 'New Story' Adventure

The adventure world is full of people who are passionate about the outdoors and the planet. But with exploration comes a significant impact, especially if it involves a flight. How can we change the narrative and create a New Story?

24 Aug 6 minute read

Podcast episode 8: stay-at-home travel

We speak to two travel writers about making the #flightfree2020 pledge and what lockdown has meant for our attitude towards travel

21 Aug 8 minute read

Travelling through literature

Trapped at home by the pandemic? We investigate whether books can stand in for adventures abroad.

09 Jul 7 minute read

Scotland by Rail

Scottish artist Leo du Feu has spent much of the past 15 years exploring Scotland by rail, and shares his experiences, motivations and favourite places with us.

06 Jul 5 minute read

Destination UK: Off the Beaten Track

There's no need to head abroad for holidays when we have so much here under our noses. Away from the crowds, delve into the hidden gems the UK has to offer, from market towns and canals, to castles and beaches.

02 Jul 3 minute read

Making the journey part of the adventure

In deciding not to fly, Athlyn Cathcart-Keays discovers how the journey can become the adventure

29 Jun 4 minute read

Podcast series episode 6: flight-free Europe

We hear from Dr Alexandra Jellicoe about what the climate crisis and covid-19 means for travel

15 Jun 9 minute read

Sleeper train to Sicily

Peter Gilbert travels deep into the Mediterranean by rail, and finds that the two day journey is worth every minute

12 Jun 4 minute read

Adventure begins at home

Renowned adventurer Alastair Humphreys' many adventures include cycling around the world, rowing the Atlantic and walking the Empty Quarter desert. But on a mission to fly less, Alastair sought adventure as close to home as he could – without leaving the borders of his home county of Yorkshire.

19 May 5 minute read

Destination: Scotland

Bonny Scotland is bursting with treasures, and being right on our doorstep it’s an obvious flight-free destination. Why holiday anywhere else?

11 May 7 minute read

A world of experience

Mischa van Kesteren and his partner travelled around the world without flying, and here recounts some of the experiences they would never have had if they'd used a plane.

07 Apr 5 minute read

Podcast series episode 4: Transatlantic travel

Author and adventurer Kate Rawles shares the tale of her transatlantic cargo ship voyage and her 8000 mile bike ride through the Andes

06 Apr 9 minute read

The Community Rail Network

Jools Townsend, chief executive of the Community Rail Network, looks forward to the return of sustainable, community-minded, flight-free and car-free trips

01 Apr 5 minute read

Can the train beat the plane?

The eco-credentials of trains are widely known, but what about the cost and time comparison? Maggie Robertson forsakes Easyjet and takes her family from Bristol to Edinburgh by train to find out.

13 Mar 7 minute read

A flight free holiday in Mallorca

Mallorca is the ultimate package holiday, but there is another side to the island and there is no need to take to the air to discover it, says Rowena Quantrill

25 Feb 4 minute read

Destination: Spain

Our 'Destinations' series takes a look at the nation's favourite holiday destination, Spain.

24 Feb 3 minute read

Prague to Pembrokeshire in a day

How far is it possible to travel in one day? Karen Simmonds shares the story of her 1000 mile journey, crossing five borders, in a single day.

12 Feb 4 minute read

Going with children by train

Long train journeys with children don't have to be a challenge, says Susanne Treadwell, who shares her experiences of travelling by train with a family.

11 Feb 3 minute read

Podcast series episode 2: skiing by train

In the second episode of our 2020 podcast series we talk to SnowCarbon founder Daniel Elkan about why travelling to the slopes by train is always better than flying

04 Feb 7 minute read

Hitting the slopes by coach

Heather Mack tells us how travelling by coach to ski resorts across Europe makes for a less stressful and more scenic journey compared to flying, with the added bonus of being environmentally-friendly.

18 Dec 3 minute read

A very British adventure

Does adventure have to involve a flight? Not necessarily, says Anna Hughes, who went on the adventure of a lifetime without leaving Britain.

09 Dec 4 minute read

Be more Greta, Part II

As Greta Thunberg sails across the ocean again, we ask if new enterprise VoyageVert could be the future of transatlantic travel?

28 Nov 3 minute read

London to Leverkusen by train… in an afternoon

Does a business meeting in Europe have to mean a flight? Definitely not, says Martin Siegert, now he has discovered Europe’s high speed rail network.

06 Nov 3 minute read

Overnight by coach

Sarah Clayton from AirportWatch travelled by train and coach for a walking holiday in Italy, and asks if long-distance coach travel could soon become a popular alternative to flying.

05 Oct 4 minute read

Destination: south of France

The glorious south of France is a popular holiday destination for its great weather, fantastic coastline and incredible mountains. Here are seven accounts of getting there without flying.

20 Sep 5 minute read

Wall to Wall without flying

Christine and Peter Lloyd spent thirteen months pedalling to the Great Wall of China, and were determined not to fly home

21 Aug 4 minute read

Family staycations in the west country and Wales

Elizabeth Roper lives with her family in the South Cotswolds, and shares with us the incredible holiday destinations to be found in this part of the world

20 Aug 5 minute read

"I don’t have time!" – a rail and sail journey to Dublin

Flight Free UK Director Anna Hughes travels to Dublin via train and boat, a journey that prompts her to question our relationship with time

14 Aug 4 minute read

Travel tips for train first-timers

Ian Garman, travel blogger at Best Dead Ends, offers his advice for people going on their first ever European train trip. From knowing the train system to things to watch out for, he takes the guesswork out of planning for a less worrisome journey

14 Aug 4 minute read

Gran Canaria by rail and boat

Professor Trevor Dale shares his experience of an overland trip to Gran Canaria, a journey that the vast majority of people make by air

22 Jul 3 minute read

Train-setting across Europe

Arts and sustainability group Creative Carbon Scotland has a general ‘no flight’ policy – here, Director Ben Twist, a seasoned rail traveller, offers some flight-free tips.

17 Jul 5 minute read

Train travel is a gem waiting for rediscovery

Slow travel makes the whole experience far richer, as discovered by environmental scientist Alexandra Jellicoe on a recent trip to Italy.

10 Jul 4 minute read

The great British holiday

Flight Free campaigner Anna Hughes questions if asking people to fly less is asking for an end to foreign holidays

10 Jun 4 minute read

Forsaking all flights

The honeymoon is traditionally a time to push boundaries and splash out on exotic travel. But when Rebecca Casson was planning her wedding, she wanted married life to start as she meant to go on.

31 May 3 minute read

Adventures in happiness

After travelling for eighteen months, cycling through Europe, South and North America and Asia, Christopher ended up in Bhutan. But the carbon footprint of his journey led him to question his motivations and consider giving up flying for good.

16 May 3 minute read

Long Train to China

Research fellow Roger Tyers shares his plans for an upcoming no-fly field trip to China, and explains the importance of leading by example

11 Apr 4 minute read

The slow boat to South America (and other stories)

A keen traveller, it was difficult for Lewis to reconcile his desire to travel with his ambition to reduce his carbon footprint. But by giving up flying Lewis realised he would gain much more.

25 Mar 3 minute read

Evelina Utterdahl: Earth Wanderess

We meet Evelina Utterdahl, Swedish climate activist and eco-warrior who gave up flying without giving up her career as a travel blogger.

04 Mar 4 minute read

An experiment in No Aeroplanes

Traveller and writer David Charles explains that giving up planes doesn't mean giving up travel

07 Jan 5 minute read

The beauty of slow travel

Flight Free UK Director Anna Hughes travels from London to Copenhagen by train

05 Jan 3 minute read

Make the pledge to be flight free in 2020!