You should have been there

We delve into this delightful holiday activity and suggest some of the best places to try it out. You don't need to go as far as Panama's San Blas Islands as the UK has island hops that are sometimes much easier than you'd think.

In this podcast, Lyn Hughes joins the hosts to discuss the allure of islands and what makes them so attractive. They explore different islands like Myorka, Manhattan, Mombasa, Mustique, and Madeira, highlighting their unique qualities and attractions. They also discuss the best Caribbean islands, share their experiences on an island, and hint at future episodes on the Galapagos Islands and UK islands.

Simon and Mick discuss the role played by luck, miraculous interventions and the kindness of strangers in a fulfilling journey. And we reveal an odd connection between Brexit and Dexy's Midnight Runners

Simon and Mick are joined by walker and novelist, Stephen Marriot, to discuss the enduring appeal of the Caminos de Santiago (I bet you don't know how many there are!) Stephen explains how the first of his "pilgrimages" inspired him to write his Reluctant Pilgrim series, published by The Marsh Books while Mick completes his audio diary of the "Camino inglés"

We talk border towns and their unique features, in particular those curious places which are split by an international frontier. In Baarle Hertog, for instance, divided between Belgium and the Netherlands, the border runs through the middle of the council chamber while the main street of Le Perthus offers opportunities to shop in Spain on one side and France on the other.

We swap tales of footwear malfunctions while shining a light on the neglected, important and richly comic topic of traveller's shoes.

Simon travels to Israel and Hong Kong, finding unexpected pleasures in harsh and politically volatile destinations. In particular, he enjoys the "friendly" Negev desert and the tranquil island of Tai O

Simon and Mick discuss the latter's experience of walking the "camino inglés", the 115 km pilgrims' route from Ferrol to Santiago. On the agenda: the weather, the kindness of strangers, fellow-pilgrims and the nature of the walk itself.

Jessica has visited every country world and is almost certainly the first black woman to do so. She shares her tales of favourite and not so favourite places, of inspiring encounters and lessons learnt along the way. You can follow Jessica's journeys on https://thecatchmeifyoucan.com . Her new WhatsApp docuseries, Crossing Cultures, is about the world's diasporas and starts in London's Peckham : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzndKNV9HrE

We report on recent journeys: Simon to the potentially controversial destination of Israel, Mick to the North of Spain, where the FEVE narrow-gauge railway takes you to some remote and intriguing mountain villages. Find FEVE information here https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/cercanias-feve