“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost,
to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences”
Join me on my Travels
Highways Byways & Beyond is a collection of personal travel experiences enjoyed by Photographer, Author and Travel Blogger, John Ironside. These experiences are regularly presented as articles in which he highlights areas, activities and services of his experience.
Experiences to Challenge the Body and Mind
John’s interest in conservation, nature and our environment, local cultures and traditions are the basis for his travels and subsequent articles. Over the years he has travelled to many parts of the world and experienced many different kinds’ of conditions and adventures. These articles are written to encourage you to explore travel, sometimes beyond the ordinary, but always an experience to look back on.
Home or Far Away
Whether you are driving, caravaning, camping or backpacking, traveling at home or far away, the blog will be a source of encouragement and first-hand information on personally tried travel experiences that will contribute to you achieving your own travel goals.
A World Of Experience
John has travelled to many parts of our beautiful world, experiencing different climates and natural environments in all sorts of conditions. This Blog is an on-going project and my experiences will be updated regularly.
The effect of travel on you will vary because of personality and personal travel goals. Some people like to travel in the security of a group for support whilst others like to travel on their own. One thing for sure, a broad, wholesome and generous view of man and our environment cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth for all of one’s lifetime.
Moving out of the comfort zone, away from what you imagine is your secure zone, is difficult for most. Even a walk in the rain can pose a challenge.
By not taking these challenges, you never really discover yourself. Is it always about what is safe or easy or what’s uncomfortable or momentarily unpleasant or the task of planning and preparation that limits you travel goals? How can you discover what makes you tick if you don’t move these boundaries outward and try something new; like speaking to new people, experience a completely different lifestyle, experience new cultures or navigate your way around a mountain.
“Ever changing horizons and new experiences,
within those we truly live in the moment,
we are gifted with the present”
Latest Articles
The Sunflower, folklore says they are a symbol of good luck.
The Sunflower, folklore says they are a symbol of good luck. When we see a sunflower, because of its size of the flower and height of the plant, it does catch your attention. [...]
SS Dunbrody, an Irish Famine Story
SS Dunbrody, an Irish Emigrant Story Recently I travelled to New Ross in County Wexford, Ireland to visit the “SS Dunbrody” a three master “Barque” replica of the Famine ships [...]
Coolaught Garden and Garden Center
Coolaught Garden and Garden Center Coolaught Gardens & Garden Center, Clonroche, Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland. I have visited Coolaught Garden on several occasions at different times of [...]
Mercury, fine lace and natural caves: Slovenia EDEN
Idrija, one of the oldest mining towns in Slovenia. The Mercury Mines, 500 years old legacy of hardship and almost certain early death for the miners while in contrast, the delicate Idrija Lace, a [...]
Slovenia North West: an Alpine Eden
On my recent visit to Slovenia, my first introduction to this stunningly beautiful landscape was the drive from Ljubljana Airport along the valley between the Italian / Slovenian Alps to the west and the Triglav [...]
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