Solo Travellers
‘The river becomes an otherworldly bayou’: five of the best paddleboard and kayak adventures in the UK | Canoeing and kayaking holidays
Make this the summer you get back out on the water, with fish plopping beneath you, bulrushes shimmying and kingfishers darting by. Even if you don’t have your own kayak or paddleboard festering in the garage, there are dozens of excellent hire places and guided tours up and down the country, on beautiful rivers, lakes, canals and coastlines. I’ve spent a couple of years researching a book about the loveliest, and here are five of my favourites.
Whisky and wildlife, Highlands
For many years the Old Forge Inn – often referred to as the most remote pub in mainland Britain – was well known for its live music sessions that would break out when the whisky started flowing. Locals and visitors were often moved to take down the musical instruments hanging on the walls and burst into tune. It sounded like the best party in the land, all the more so for the degree of difficulty it took to reach it, and the ridiculous beauty of the surroundings. It’s the only pub in the only village, Inverie, on the Knoydart peninsula, a heathery, mountainous hunk of the Scottish west coast that juts between three deep sea lochs, where seals play and white-tailed eagles soar.
And now it’s back. There was a period when things went off the boil under new ownership and the parties dwindled, but in 2022 it was bought by the community and thrives once more. Its pontoon has space for six boats, or you can pull up on the beaches nearby.
The Knoydart Brewery, occupying a deconsecrated Roman Catholic chapel here, supplies the house ales, while a Knoydart venison burger (£18) from the local deer estate is a menu must, along with cullen skink (£11).
As there is no road access, people come by ferry from Mallaig, make the 15-mile hike from Kinloch Hourn (a taxi ride from Fort William), or even kayak over – a strenuous and splashy seven miles. Far easier is to hire a kayak when you get there from Love Knoydart and explore the edges of the pristine loch, looking out for sea otters.
On of the best places to stay is the Bunkhouse, which has dorms and camping with views to the Isle of Rum (dorm beds from £29pp).
Arisaig Sea Kayak Centre can tailor-make day and multi-day wild camping trips in the area from £130pp per day, minimum four people.
A beaver safari in Kent
Hunted for their pelts to near extinction by the 16th century, beavers have been re-established in certain British rivers, including a stretch of the River Stour near Canterbury. They were reintroduced in 2001 at Ham Fen, a Kent Wildlife Reserve site near Sandwich, where they thrived and spread.
The most enchanting way to spot nature’s cutest carpenters is on a sunset safari by Canadian canoe down the chalk stream waterway, which ends at a riverside pub. Canoe Wild (£37pp) runs an atmospheric trip, timed to pass the places the beavers visit most frequently at dusk, when they’re most active.
Starting at Grove Ferry, you’re whisked by minibus to the village of Fordwich for a guided paddle back of just under five miles. On my September trip, a glorious pink sunset was the backdrop at Bootleg Lake, around which many beavers have dens, and we began to notice slippery mud chutes pocked with paw prints. Then, in the near dark … two loud splashes, and a dark shape careering into the water. “Definitely a beaver,” whispered the guides. “When they hear something coming, they whack their wide tails onto the water to scare away predators.”
Even a shadowy splosh felt Attenborough-level exciting under a blazing Milky Way, and we finished in the fairy-lit beer garden of the ivy-wreathed Grove Ferry Inn. Nethergong campsite nearby has pitches from £42.50, as well as a sauna, yoga and bushcraft classes.
A hidden brewery in Hampshire
This fantastically quirky paddle involves a hidden creek, accessible only at high tide, and a place where you can order your drink to be brought straight to your paddleboard or kayak.
This beer pilgrimage is on the tidal River Hamble, a baby river of 6.3 miles that flows east of Southampton towards the Solent. At its narrow upper end, near Botley, spidery creeks run off at the sides, including one leading to the Botley Brewery’s Hidden Tap bar.
Those with their own kit can park at Burridge recreation ground on the east side of the river, then follow a leafy footpath through woods to the water. Or launch further upriver from YMCA Fairthorne (for a £5.50 fee), which rents paddleboards and kayaks and has a cafe and campsite (hire from £20, pitches for four people from £39).
Heading upstream towards Botley, the river becomes gentler, narrower and shallower until it feels like an otherworldly bayou. Set off at least two hours before high tide so it’s high at the upper, final navigable end of the river, follow the stream through a tunnel and emerge at the foot of the brewery wall. You yell your order up and your pint is lowered down in a wooden box to be sipped while you float.
Another short channel, Curbridge Creek, leads to the Horse and Jockey pub’s waterside beer garden.
Let off steam by the Severn
Paddling back the way you’ve come can be a downer, not to mention hard work if it means going against the flow, so River Severn Canoes’ solution is rather brilliant. At the end of its self-guided trips down the River Severn from the Shropshire town of Bridgnorth you abandon your vessel and catch a steam train back on the Severn Valley Railway to Highley (£15). Routes of several lengths are available, including four hours to Arley (10½ miles).
Halfway along there’s a picnic stop on a beach at the village of Hampton Loade, where you could also have a cuppa and a jacket potato at the Unicorn Inn (mains from £7). It has nine (quite basic) B&B rooms as well as a campsite (pitches for one tent sleeping 2-4 people from £20), if you want to make this your base.
Finish in Upper Arley in Worcestershire, home to another traditional, 500-year-old pub, The Harbour. Trains run between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth, stopping at Bewdley, Arley and Hampton Loade. Those with their own kayak or SUP can take them on the train for a £5 fee.
In Bridgnorth, The Falcon Hotel (doubles from £140) has 14 rooms with whitewashed beams and exposed brick. River Severn Canoes also offers multi-day trips down the river, stopping at campsites.
Kingfishers and canoes in Cardigan
Paddling along the thickly wooded tidal gorge of the River Teifi in Canadian canoes feels utterly otherworldly: peregrine falcons zip from steep banks, kingfishers dart above water busy with salmon, sewin (sea trout) and otters, and there’s a little patch of rapids to tackle on an otherwise gentle two-hour tour with Heritage Canoes (£45 adults/£32.50 children). From its woodland base at the Welsh Wildlife Centre and Teifi Marshes nature reserve it’s two miles upriver to Cilgerran, where a 13th-century castle towers above the river.
Stay at glamping site Fforest Farm (two nights’ B&B for two from £340), a 10-minute drive east of Cardigan, with a range of cabins and tents – the geodesic domes come with their own Japanese-style wooden bathhouse with a super-deep tub. The site has its own atmospheric pub, Y Bwthyn, in a barely converted barn only open to guests, where candles send their twitchy glow onto slate windowsills, cocktails are made with foraged botanicals and local ale comes fresh from the cask. Cilgerran has a couple of heartwarming pubs, including the Cardiff Arms (no website), with a coracle hung outside; or head to Cardigan’s waterside bar at Albion Aberteifi, Fforest’s hip apart-hotel, or, on the opposite bank, its Pizzatipi, which has a festival feel.
Gemma Bowes’ Paddle and Pub is published by Bloomsbury (£19.99). Order a copy at guardianbookshop.com.. More details on paddling and safety advice at gopaddling.info
As the Faroes become increasingly popular with international travelers—a trickle of visitors has turned into more of a cascade in recent years, particularly since 2023—there is a greater need for creatively expanding infrastructure, while prioritizing the needs and lifestyle of locals. The Faroese are essentially asking themselves: How can we invite visitors into the home we love, without losing what we love about it?
I hoped to find out. In April, my husband and I flew into the airport on Vágar, the third-largest island, with a plan to drive to the Northern Isles before slowly making our way back through Eysturoy and Streymoy. It was a route that would allow us to also travel through those undersea tunnels, while also being conscious of the number of pricey tolls we’d rack up from using them. We hoped to also tap into the Faroese rhythm of daily life. What would it mean to take cues from the people who know these wild landscapes best?
On our first day, we beelined for the Visit North tourism office in Klaksvík, a small city of brightly colored houses on a spit of land between the open ocean and a sheltered bay of fishing boats. Reni Heimustovu, who staffs the front desk, smiled when we asked about hiking that day. “Last time someone wanted to go hiking in weather like this, we told them, ‘Choose life!’” she laughed knowingly. Outside, the long grass was blown flat on the surrounding mountains.
And so we learned our first lessons of traveling in the Faroes: One must always be adaptable.
We climbed back into the car, and ditched the hike, instead driving along a muddy road toward Klakkur Viewpoint, below which the sea yawned expansively. In scenic, rural parts of the islands, which describes just about everywhere in the Faroes, a source of tension with rising tourist numbers has come from the fact that visitors aren’t always prepared for sheep on the road. There are so many of the animals here, that in 2016, locals used their ovine population to map areas not yet canvassed by Google Maps’ cars; famously, the Faroes have more sheep than people, and their wavy wool provides a living for many locals. New signage on roads like these gently reminds visitors which grazing lands are off limits to hiking and sightseeing: the sheep have the right of way.
My favorite way to bond with a city is by running through it—whether it’s casual 5K races from San Juan to San Jose or double-digit-miles runs from Rio de Janeiro to Richmond, British Columbia, there’s no better way to get to know a destination’s stride than by pounding the pavement.
But there’s one major challenge that comes with running outside of your home turf: packing the best running shoes that will keep you going while you’re traveling. After all, when you only have so much room in your luggage, choosing the right pair becomes more important than ever.
I learned just how essential the right sneakers are when I suffered a foot injury four years ago and a podiatrist told me to throw away all my shoes, scale back my travels, and never run again. Resigned to a lifetime of armchair travel, I was at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, when a sports medicine orthopedic specialist took one glance at me and told me to get a pair of Hokas and just keep running.
I did just that, and by some miracle (and a wise physical therapist), I went from sharp aches with every step to crossing the Boston Marathon finish line pain-free last year while wearing Hoka Cliftons. That’s when I realized just how crucial footwear choice is to support you on your strides.
With so many popular brands out there, it can be difficult to know which pair of kicks is right for you. To kickstart your search, we’ve rounded up some of the best running shoes on the market, tailored to a variety of needs and terrains, with recommendations from both casual runners and professionals alike—starting off with some of our editors’ favorite running shoes.
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FAQ:
What should I look for the in the best running shoe?
Running shoes come with different criteria than walking shoes: It’s important to consider the type of running you’ll be doing, your foot shape and arch, and the overall weight of the shoe. “A great fitting running shoe should have a snug fit in the heel and midfoot with a roomy toe box,” says Shawn Marlovits, owner of Fleet Feet Hoboken. “This gives the foot some good support in the heel and around the arch while allowing the toes to breathe. It should lace up the foot evenly and not put pressure on the instep of the foot.”
What’s the difference between an athletic sneaker and a running shoe?
While the initial appeal of running seems to be that you can strap on any old pair of sneakers and head out, that can wreak havoc on your feet, as I learned the hard way through unsupportive footwear. Many times, off-the-shelf athletic footwear will not provide enough support, shock absorption, and stability,” for running Dr. William Spielfogel, a podiatrist and medical advisor to The Good Feet Store, says. “Adding a quality pair of arch supports to your footwear of choice can prevent unnecessary pain and alleviate the discomfort associated with increased activity.”
What brand makes the best running sneakers?
Finding the right running shoe is a bit of a Cinderella dilemma—everyone’s foot shape and contour are unique, and thus each individual has their own specific needs. When I first graduated from casual 5Ks to long-distance running about a decade ago, I had stopped in at my hometown Fleet Feet and was lucky enough to meet Marlovits. Not only did he take precise 3D images of my foot, but he also watched my gait in motion, pointing me to Brooks Adrenaline GTS, the shoes that got me through my first marathon.
As my needs and distances have changed over the years, so have my preferred brands. I’ve had periods of favoring Asics, New Balance, Hokas, and even unlikely running shoes from Lululemon and Allbirds. All of these brands make shoes that are mindfully designed for runners. It’s all about finding the right match for you at the moment.
How do I find the right size for my foot?
Marlovits suggests going up a full shoe size, no matter the brand. “You should have about the width of a thumb from your longest toe to the end of the toe box when you are standing in your running shoes,” he says. This rule of thumb takes into account that feet often swell while running. Spielfogel concurs, suggesting trying on shoes at the end of the day when your feet are most swollen.
Editor favorites
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Best for city runs
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This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Paris Wilson.
Solo Travellers
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Japan Solo Travel Explosion Unleashes New Wave Of Empowered, Independent, And Budget-Savvy Explorers Across Asia-Pacific
Monday, August 4, 2025
The solo travel trend is surging across the Asia-Pacific, with countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and Japan witnessing an unprecedented rise in independent, empowered, and budget-conscious explorers. This new wave of travelers—led predominantly by millennials, Gen Zs, and increasingly women—are driven by a desire for personal growth, flexible itineraries, digital nomad lifestyles, and cost-effective experiences. Fueled by visa-free access, safety enhancements, social media influence, and an expanding ecosystem of solo-friendly accommodations and activities, these nations are rapidly becoming hotspots for self-reliant adventurers seeking both introspection and immersive cross-cultural journeys.
Solo travel has surged in popularity among Malaysians, especially younger travellers who are eager to explore the world on their own terms. What used to be a niche activity has become a mainstream trend, with recent data revealing that six out of ten Malaysians took at least one solo trip in the past year. Even more striking, nearly a third of these travellers completed three or more independent journeys during the same period.
Millennials lead this movement, representing 38 percent of those who currently travel alone or plan to do so soon. Their enthusiasm signals a broader cultural shift toward valuing personal freedom, self-discovery, and tailored experiences over conventional group travel.
This insight comes from a comprehensive survey conducted across five Asia-Pacific countries—Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Australia—by YouGov on behalf of a leading low-cost airline. The survey polled over 5,000 respondents and provides a clear window into the mindset and motivations driving today’s solo travellers.
Among Malaysian respondents, 86 percent said they would recommend solo travel to friends and family. This widespread endorsement reflects changing lifestyles marked by heavier work demands, more complex home responsibilities, and an increased focus on mental and emotional well-being. Many people now view travel as an essential part of self-care, offering a chance to recharge away from everyday pressures.
When asked about their primary reasons for travelling alone, 56 percent of Malaysians cited the freedom to plan their own itinerary. Solo travellers relish the flexibility to choose what to do and when to do it without needing to compromise with others. Nearly as many, 53 percent, emphasized that solo travel allows them to take a break and focus fully on themselves.
The value of independence shines through clearly: 49 percent appreciate the opportunity to explore new destinations at their own pace. Without anyone else dictating the schedule, solo travellers can linger in places that fascinate them or move on quickly if something doesn’t capture their interest.
The survey also highlights how solo travel encourages Malaysians to reconnect with personal interests. Forty-seven percent said travelling alone motivates them to engage in hobbies and activities they truly enjoy, a figure notably higher than the regional average of 43 percent. This trend suggests that solo travel serves as a powerful means of escaping routine or social expectations and rediscovering passions.
What do Malaysian solo travellers prioritize as they plan their trips? The data shows they approach their journeys with care and intention. A vast majority—95 percent—reported that they actively plan their travel in advance. This planning goes well beyond simply booking flights. Over half of solo travellers focus on managing their budget carefully, securing safe and comfortable accommodation, and ensuring their personal safety throughout the trip.
To make smart decisions, Malaysian solo travellers rely heavily on digital resources. They frequently visit online travel agencies and hotel websites and trust user reviews on dedicated platforms to assess flight and lodging options. For discovering the best places to eat and things to do, social media plays a critical role, offering recommendations from fellow travellers and influencers alike.
When it comes to choosing destinations, Malaysians show a strong preference for exploring within the Asia-Pacific region. Nine in ten respondents plan to travel within this area in the coming twelve months. Many still prioritize domestic travel, with 21 percent intending to stay within Malaysia exclusively, while 71 percent remain open to combining both domestic and international trips.
Among international destinations, Thailand tops the list with 25 percent planning visits, followed closely by Japan at 23 percent and Indonesia at 22 percent. These countries attract Malaysian travellers for their vibrant cultures, beautiful landscapes, and diverse experiences.
The kinds of trips Malaysian solo travellers seek also reveal their interests. Cultural and historical explorations lead the way, chosen by 46 percent of respondents. City breaks follow closely at 43 percent, as many enjoy urban adventures that offer entertainment, shopping, and dining. Beach getaways appeal to 42 percent, providing relaxation by the sea, while nature holidays attract 41 percent, emphasizing the desire to connect with the outdoors.
Despite the enthusiasm and range of travel experiences sought, affordability remains a key driver for solo travellers. Seventy percent of Malaysians flying alone opt for economy class tickets, demonstrating their focus on value. Meanwhile, 28 percent prefer low-cost carriers to keep expenses manageable. These choices reflect practical budgeting considerations for independent travellers who often handle all aspects of their trips themselves.
The rise of solo travel in Malaysia signals more than just a growing leisure activity—it represents a shift in how people view travel as a tool for personal growth and fulfillment. Many now prioritize experiences that promote independence, self-reflection, and freedom, away from the constraints of group expectations.
In addition, the ability to plan trips deliberately and access reliable information online empowers solo travellers to feel confident and safe. This independence encourages them to take more frequent trips, explore varied destinations, and customize their journeys to fit their evolving interests and lifestyles.
As the trend continues, travel providers and tourism boards in Malaysia and across the Asia-Pacific will likely see increased demand for products and services catering specifically to solo travellers. These might include tailored travel packages, safety-focused accommodations, and platforms designed to facilitate connections among independent explorers.
A powerful solo travel boom is sweeping across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, and Japan, driven by rising demand for personal freedom, digital nomadism, affordable travel options, and safer, more accessible experiences tailored to empowered and independent explorers across the Asia-Pacific.
In conclusion, Malaysian solo travellers today embrace their freedom with enthusiasm and purpose. They are intentional planners, budget-conscious, and motivated by a desire to discover the world on their own terms. With their preference for nearby regional destinations and diverse types of trips, they contribute to a vibrant, evolving travel landscape that celebrates individuality and personal well-being.
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