Sarah Marshall

1 week ago | independent.co.uk | Sarah Marshall

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh is an unexpected, mid-haul destination to exploreForget Paris or Rome, travellers seeking a unique city break are increasingly looking beyond traditional European hotspots. Marrakech, Reykjavik and Dubai have already seen a surge in popularity, but now another, more unexpected destination is emerging: Riyadh.

2 weeks ago | independent.co.uk | Sarah Marshall

The UK and Ireland offer various pilgrimage routes for walking enthusiasts, providing both physical and mental health benefits. The South West Coast Path, England's longest national trail, stretches 1,000km and follows the coastline of Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset. The Stonehenge Ancient Day Pilgrimage offers a shorter 11km route exploring Neolithic sites and the surrounding landscape.

2 weeks ago | independent.co.uk | Sarah Marshall

Walking increases endorphin production and reduces cortisol levelsPutting one foot in front of the other is a simple process with the power to relieve some of life’s most complex and complicated problems. For thousands of years, religious devotees and spiritual pilgrims have hiked long distances on personal journeys that carry them much further than the kilometres covered on a map. The benefits have been medically proven.

2 weeks ago | telegraph.co.uk | Chris Leadbeater |Sarah Marshall |Simon Parker |Charlotte Lytton

A change to this attritional situation is one element of the "revamp". Last week saw a new gateway given a trial run. Traditionally, visitors have reached the site via the main entrance, on the north-east side of the complex. But recent days have seen the testing of a fresh way in, on the Faiyum Desert Road, on the monuments' north-western flank. This is a deliberate measure, designed to reduce congestion - in part by limiting the access afforded to private vehicles.

2 weeks ago | telegraph.co.uk | Sarah Marshall

The animals here look at you as if they've never seen a jeep - or indeed, a human - before. Until a few months ago, that was trueEmerging from a muddy gully, a pride of 16 lions paraded along a grassy catwalk. Although declining in number across Africa, the regal big cat is bossing out in the . What made our early morning sighting so unusual was the feline family's behaviour - looking back at us with wild, inquisitive eyes as if they'd never seen a vehicle before.