Jaclyn Keighley - Travel Maven

Jaclyn Keighley - Travel Maven Maven definition - Someone who is dazzlingly skilled in their field.

Said with tongue in cheek, but with over 36 years travel experience and a couple of national awards under my belt - why not? 😁

Ah, Lake Maggiore, on we go into Switzerland. Picture perfect water, mountains that practically beg to be photographed, ...
15/09/2025

Ah, Lake Maggiore, on we go into Switzerland. Picture perfect water, mountains that practically beg to be photographed, I've only taken about a million. We've seen little towns like Ascona and Locarno that clearly know they’re pretty and charge you accordingly. Walking around, you’ll quickly realize these “charming” lakeside strolls are hiding a grim reality: hills, or maybe I'll rename them hells. Everything is uphill.

But fear not! Locarno offers you the funicular and cable cars, because nothing says “relaxing holiday” quite like being hauled up a mountain in an overcrowded glorified ski lift. The views are spectacular, sure, but so is the sudden realization that you’ve paid mightily for the privilege of dangling over enormous cliffs in a tin can. Then you cheer up because at least your legs and lungs can function normally.

Still, when you finally step off at the top, the lake sparkles waaay beneath you, and you forget your wallet’s suddenly much lighter. Welcome to Lake Maggiore, where beauty hurts, sometimes literally.

After yesterday’s route march, we staged a “rest day” by hopping the ferry to Isola Bella, one of the Borromean islands....
11/09/2025

After yesterday’s route march, we staged a “rest day” by hopping the ferry to Isola Bella, one of the Borromean islands. Rest, of course, meaning wandering through a palace stuffed with enough chandeliers and seashell grottoes to make Liberace blush.

Then out into gardens so polished you'd think they were tended by an army with ocd. Everything is colourful except the peacocks, they're white, just to be smug. A beautiful, utterly bonkers spectacle, and just surreal enough to feel like we hallucinated it.

Day 3 The Pilgrimage to StresaWhoever first described the walk to Stresa as “scenic” was clearly carried there on a litt...
11/09/2025

Day 3 The Pilgrimage to Stresa

Whoever first described the walk to Stresa as “scenic” was clearly carried there on a litter by sherpas. Ten miles through the mountains doesn’t sound so bad on paper. In reality, it’s a game of survival where your legs negotiate terms of surrender halfway through.

The route lulls you in with alpine charm, pines swaying, distant cowbells tinkling before revealing its true nature, a vicious, never ending downhill climb. Yes, downhill climb. Somehow both gravity and incline joined forces to make every step feel like controlled falling into the abyss. My calves still haven’t forgiven me.

And then, just when you’re certain Stresa is a myth, the lake appears. Lake Maggiore, shimmering like a smug blue jewel, waiting at the finish line as if to say, “See? Worth it.” You limp in, blistered, salt streaked and half feral.

Would I do it again? Of course not. But I’ll tell the story like I floated down on a mountain breeze.

12 mile walk around a large chunk of Lake Orta. We've earned our beer today
09/09/2025

12 mile walk around a large chunk of Lake Orta. We've earned our beer today

We're in the Lake District, Italian style. Lake Orta to begin with
08/09/2025

We're in the Lake District, Italian style. Lake Orta to begin with

20/08/2025

Go to bed tired as hell, but then the brain's dodgy gears kick in 1.2..1212...1. 2..1..21212 and eventually at around 3am ...1.2......N, and finally, sleep 🤣

The offending article, removed with pliers. It had gone in to the tyre sideways, no air escape, no loss of pressure. Ba...
10/08/2025

The offending article, removed with pliers. It had gone in to the tyre sideways, no air escape, no loss of pressure. Back in business. Happy days! 🏍🏍

Not what you want to see in the back tyre of your motorcycle 😭🙈
09/08/2025

Not what you want to see in the back tyre of your motorcycle 😭🙈

Flintshire Aviation Park. Chocks Away Diner - nearest I'll get to Top Gun. Decent breakfast though.
02/08/2025

Flintshire Aviation Park. Chocks Away Diner - nearest I'll get to Top Gun. Decent breakfast though.

Little trip down to Birmingham last Sunday to visit Black Sabbath Bridge
29/07/2025

Little trip down to Birmingham last Sunday to visit Black Sabbath Bridge

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