Ian Middleton: Travel Writer

travel

Artist’s Palette at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland

Rotorua – A Smelly Place in New Zealand.

Ian Middleton

Situated on New Zealand’s North Island, the Taupo Volcanic Zone is the country’s most geothermally active region. Rotorua is a popular destination for travellers and holidaymakers, despite the perpetual smell of rotten eggs. I found out why.

Fishing boats at sunset over the Brijuni Islands, Croatia. Seen from Puntižela Beach, Štinjan north of Pula.

Pula or Pola

Ian Middleton

Pula (in Croatian) or Pola (in Italian) is the largest city on the Istrian peninsula. And if the abundance of holiday and budget airlines flying in is anything to go by, it’s the most popular vacation destination too.

Finn McCool's home on the Hill of Allen.

The Bog of Allen.

Ian Middleton

The Bog of Allen, home of the legendary Irish Giant Finn McCool. The Bog of Allen is an immense raised bog covering an area nearly 1000 square kilometres in size. […]

Kočevski Rog, the forest of Kočevje, Dolenjska, Slovenia.

Kočevje Part 2 – Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Ian Middleton

In a country well-known for being heavily forested, Kočevje takes this to the extreme. With over 90% of its hilly terrain being covered in thick woodland, a day wandering, driving […]

The stone of the Divisions (AKA the Cat Stone) on the Hill of Uisneach in County Westmeath is is possibly the most significant ancient monument in the whole country. Firstly, legend say that this is the burial place of Queen Eriu, Queen of the Tuatha de Danann (A powerful, magical race that inhabited Ireland before the Celts). She was defeated and mortally wounded in a battle with the Celtic King, Amergen granted her a dying wish. He promised her that the island would bear her name forever – The Gaelic name Eriú was later changed by the Vikings into “Eriú’s Land”, or Ireland. This 30-ton stone looks more like a giant bolder that has been cracked into several pieces. The splits are believed to represent the ancient divisions of Ireland. A book called Beneath the Shadow of Uisneach, says that it was from here that the five ancient provinces of Ireland met, symbolising this as the centre of Ireland. The stone’s Irish name depicts this: Ail na Mireann (“Stone of the Divisions”). The division were first made by the Fir Bolg. It is on this hill that the first fire was lit for the ancient festival of Bealtaine. It was said that a fire lit at the summit here could be seen all over Ireland, and that all fires were lit from this one. This hill was also the gathering place of the kings of Ireland.

The Hill of Uisneach

Ian Middleton

Ail na Mireann (the stone of the Divisions) – Burial place of the Goddess Ériu, from whom Ireland takes its name. On the R390 between Mullingar and Athlone in County […]

Rough guide to slovenia by Norm Longley

The Rough Guide to Slovenia – Book Review

Ian Middleton

Insightful and informative, Rough Guide to Slovenia is an essential part of anyone’s Slovenia travel kit! As a seasoned traveller, having an accurate and useful travel guide is an essential […]