Read all of the 40 entries on our 2017 Travel Highlights page and support your favourites by voting for them each day during the next 2 weeks.

IMPORTANT: If you are voting on your phone, please scroll down to the bottom of the Blog page and click on Web view to activate the voting buttons.

With only a couple of hours to go until the closing deadline for this year's Travel Highlights Competition, it is fantastic to be able to feature two entries from Val Vassay. As Val puts it in her e-mail, "Better late than never, as they say".

THE MAGIC OF THE ISLES

Vast expanses of sky; white sandy beaches miles long; thousands of lochs; crystal clear, unpolluted seas. Where are we? Oh yes, of course, we’re in the Outer Hebrides – my spiritual home, the islands I’ve been in love with ever since my uncle came to work here 50 years ago. And, just to make the magical even more magical, on this visit I’m accompanied by my wonderful younger son, Luke. Surely this must be heaven on earth?

THE MOST DANGEROUS WALK IN THE WORLD

I was worried about walking El Caminito del Rey (the King’s Little Walkway), in the mountains about 60 kilometres inland from Malaga. Before being closed for renovations in 2000 it had been a very dangerous walk, as this narrow, concrete path stapled onto the cliffs above the Guadalhorce River had fallen into disrepair and was full of holes and had never had any safety measures! I needn’t have worried. Now it’s a beautiful wooden walkway, with glass safety walls all along it and nothing to fear – well, except for the chunks of cliff that fall off occasionally!

A warm welcome back to Patricia Steele with her brand new travel highlight entry:
He Llegado - I have arrived. Thanks for getting involved Patricia and best of luck in the competition.

He Llegado - I have arrived
 
When I placed my foot onto Spanish soil in Madrid, I felt its magic.  Bliss.  Wispy clouds hung in a bright-blue sky as reality pushed my mind into overdrive.  My España Aventura (Spanish adventure) had begun.  When travelers moved like a gaggle of geese, I followed.  Several concourses, four escalators, two trains and moving walkways.  And then a shuttle across the tarmac to the waiting Iberia Express.  On the plane and breathless to get to Malaga, I smiled.  Airline attendants’ dresses were the color of the Spanish flag.  Excellent.  

It's always great to welcome a newcomer to our travel writing contests. It is therefore a real pleasure to feature this wonderful highlight from Vernon Lacey, with only a day left in this year's Travel Highlights Competition.

Pablo

Where was the stranger taking me? We were on a remote part of the Collserola hills. I glanced backwards. Barcelona below me in the dusk. A fantasy of twinkling lights. The vast arc of inky sea.

Ahead of me a lone figure. Pablo, leading. Arid grass crunching. On past prickly pears - cladodes the size of elephant ears.

‘Come and meet my family,’ he’d said, approaching me in the Sarrià neighbourhood where I lived.

I followed, trusting.

We arrived.

His gypsy home in the woods. Plastic sheets. Timber frame. His family. Half a dozen eyes.

Waiting.

Vernon Lacey

I grew up in the countryside in Cheshire, UK. I teach Philosophy, Drama, and English in Munich. Before moving to Germany I taught in Barcelona where I met my German wife. We have two children, Hannah and Myriam. 
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DIY shops are toy shops. My guitar is my therapy. I cycle everywhere. After a bad accident and knee operation in April 2017 I learned to cycle with one leg. Glad to say I can now use both. I want to cycle the full 2860km of the Danube. Ten countries. One river. Border free. 
 
P.S The photo was taken at the Beatles Museum, Liverpool. I'm standing next to George Harrison's guitar. 
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With the 2017 Travel Highlights Competition rapidly drawing to a close, it gives me great pleasure to feature 3 entries in one post from Robyn Boswell. What a treat!

Robyn told me, "I do like the restrictions of this genre - an interesting challenge! One day I might be brave enough to start writing a memoir".  I really think you should Robyn and am sure we would all enjoy reading it.

Left Behind 

Who could resist the warm, crocodile-free river after a day's hiking in the searing Northern Territory sun? We wallowed by a small weir, watching families picnic along the bank.
 
The short waterfall by the weir, smoothed by centuries of tumbling water was too tempting. Three of us went first, crashing together in a laughing tumble of arms and legs.
 
Dad followed. He didn't take the smoothest route and he hit the bottom minus the seat of his shorts.
 
His ignominious walk through the park to the car where we left our towels is a family legend to this day.

The Sea, the Sea, the Glorious Sea 

Four months living in Scotland, miles inland; suddenly we needed the sea. Despite it being mid-winter, we hitched a ride on a frosty morning. In a tiny fishing village on the coast, two women passed, reeking of fish, no doubt employed by the local fish factory. We came across a rocky, freezing beach. The fierce North Sea wind cut through us, howling out of a slate sky, grey waves tumbling on the shore. We were as far from our blue Pacific home as we could be. We stood there, inhaled the salt air and felt that we could breathe again.

Standing in the Sky 

June 2001. I fell in love with New York City.
 
We stood in the sky, looking down on rooftops of the concrete and glass canyons far below. A few minutes before they had towered over us.
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Thousands of taxis, reduced to toy cars now, threaded the streets like endless yellow veins, carrying the lifeblood of the city.
 
My diary says ‘Amazing security to get into the tower.’
 
June 2002, nine months from the never to be forgotten day, back to the city that never sleeps.
 
There was no sky to stand in, only a deep, empty hole, devoid of life.

Robyn Boswell

I live in the beautiful far north of New Zealand surrounded by beaches and forests. My family have lived here since the earliest days of settlement in New Zealand.

I love travelling and have been lucky to have explored many fascinating parts of our wonderful world. I’ve visited America many times and stayed with wonderful friends I have made. I lived and worked in Scotland, the land of my ancestors, mostly clearing tables and washing dishes in a slightly questionable restaurant, a million miles from my job as a teacher in New Zealand. My greatest adventure was 3 months camping and 20,000kms around the Outback and Tropics of Australia. Nowadays it’s all about rediscovering my own beautiful country and discovering the joys of cruising. Travel has truly broadened my mind.
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Our latest featured travel highlight is from our most supportive contributor this year, Syd Blackwell. Many thanks for all your support Syd and best of luck in the competition.

OPTIONAL TOURS

Our hotel in Torremolinos overlooks the beach. Tonight, most of our group opt for a tour to Mijas the “white village”, followed by seafood dinner along the beach. At 53 euros per person, we decline this opportunity and go shopping. Later we find an excellent Italian/Indian restaurant. Gundy eats Italian; I eat Indian. Both meals are delicious. The next day we decline the 57 euro optional excursion to Gibraltar. After breakfast, we catch a local bus to Mijas. We leisurely explore the twisting streets of the charming, delightful, white village, and return by local bus, for just 3 euros.
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It is a real pleasure to welcome back Jill Stoking with her second highlight in this year's contest. Enjoy her latest contribution and best of luck in the competition Jill.

THEY HAD WHISKY TASTING AT THE CASTLE TOO!!
 
Devon to Edinburgh by coach with an overnight stop in Leeds. An impulsive decision and a coach that… let’s just say you could choose your own seat. The hotel, opposite a distillery, had once been a hostel for homeless men, now revamped but an indefinable aroma lingered on. Best night was single malt night. The coach driver presided. He knew his whisky disturbingly well. New friend Patricia and I sampled too many and decided a late night walk through the seedier part of Edinburgh was a great idea. Through an underpass where homeless men slept in their new abode.

​"Joan's Descent into Alzheimer's" is the first book Jill has written, though she has had odd bits published in local and national newspapers. ​

Time is running out to get your travel highlight entered in this year's contest.

The 2017 Travel Highlights Competition will be closed to entries at midnight (UK time) next Tuesday 14th November. Public voting will then be open until November 30th by which time the Top 3 will have been selected, winning cash prizes of $75, $50 and $25.

Our thirty-first entry this year is from Angie Clifford and is called The Ferry Ride.

The Ferry Ride 

“Hurry up Jon,” I shouted, disaster as I slipped, uneven paving! Yellow high wedge sandals, meant a sprained ankle, ouch! Wearing only a chiffon skirt and top, a summer’s day shopping in Jersey awaited maybe street cafes.

Our boat, bobbing sedately by the quay, only a few more meters and I was onboard. I sat upfront port side, soon Jon was by my side, and we were off. Amused: I saw, passengers wearing rucksacks, hiking boots and carrying walking sticks.

We dropped anchor by the island, not a shop in sight; seagulls, swallows and puffins; wrong boat, wrong time, gutted.

It's great to be able to feature Mark Boyter's fourth travel highlight this year. If you missed any of his other entries catch up with them on the 2017 Travel Highlights page.  This is another really enjoyable read and is entitled A Lancaster Sunday.  

 A Lancaster Sunday 

Lancaster. Sunday morning. Damp under a weak autumn sun.

It rained last night.

My backpack feels heavy and cold.

The Priory Church pipe organ bleeds through heavy wooden doors. I stop. Belongers and believers in hats and warm coats and polished shoes arrive, and I hesitate closer. A woman in brown wool smiles me a welcome. “There’s space in the back pew.”

I sit. We stand. We sing mountains green. We amen, and a man in gentle grey tweed approaches. “If you want,” and I hesitate, “a photo, that’s the best spot,” and he nods and smiles and turns away.  

A very warm welcome back to our most supportive contributor in this year's travel competitions,, Syd Blackwell. His fourth travel highlight is another classic and brightened up my day. Thank you for entering ISLA DEL SOL and best of luck in the competition with all of your entries Syd. 

Have you got a travel highlight of 50-100 words? If so, there is only one week left to get involved in this year's contest. Find out more on the Competitions page.

ISLA DEL SOL

We stop for lunch at a small restaurant. Our boat and bags depart. We will walk after lunch. It is sunny; the lake and sky incredible blues. The snow-capped Andes glisten. We are the only diners. The resident Aymara family has prepared a traditional meal.
 
Before we finish, a Titicaca reed boat appears, in full sail. From another direction, a speed boat also approaches the dock below the restaurant. They meet and the tourist passengers transfer from the reed boat to the motor launch and leave. The reed boat, sails now furled, heads back, using an unseen, non-traditional motor.
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