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00:00Hello and welcome to the Weekend Travel Show with Kim Marsh and me, Richard Arnold.
00:14Across this series, we will be taking the hassle out of your next holiday,
00:18whether you're after something exotic or you're looking for fantastic destinations
00:22closer to home in Europe and right here in the UK.
00:25And who better I hear you cry to show us around
00:28than a whole host of our favourite faces, from cruising Queen Jane MacDonald
00:31to father and son duo Larry and George Blam,
00:34our favourite Scott, Susan Kalman, or our roaming railwayman, Nick Knowles.
00:39Kim, you and I have met so many times and we've worked together so many times,
00:42but we've stopped short of booking a holiday together.
00:45I know.
00:46I can't imagine why.
00:47I don't know. Could you imagine? That would be havoc.
00:50We would create scenes everywhere, Richard.
00:53We would indeed. We would indeed.
00:54Favourite place then, Kim, if you were to take me away, finally.
00:57Ooh, well, if I take you away,
00:59I think I'd probably go somewhere like the south of France,
01:03somewhere like that I love.
01:04I was a late bloomer.
01:05We did big holidays on the south coast.
01:08But they were wonderful, wonderful holidays.
01:10It would have been in Weymouth, Bournemouth, the Isle of Wye.
01:12I can't recall the time when I didn't sleep on a plastic sheet
01:16up until about the age of 12.
01:18And mum said, well, you know, that's the family room.
01:20That's what you get, you know.
01:21But I loved it.
01:22It just goes to show, isn't it, whatever the view, I think,
01:25particularly when you're talking about childhood memories,
01:27it's how you felt at the time.
01:29Yeah, absolutely.
01:30I mean, we always went to North Wales.
01:32We went to Anglesey, to a place called Triada Bay.
01:35And if you've never been, you should go,
01:36because it's still wonderful, and I love it.
01:38I've taken my kids there,
01:40and my kids are now taking their kids there.
01:41But I have some wonderful memories of that.
01:44Let's do that.
01:46So, coming up on today's programme.
01:48Five famous faces are on the Gower in Wales,
01:50enjoying a motor-homing holiday.
01:52A city break full of colour,
01:54as Susan Carman shows us one of Barcelona's brilliant festivals.
01:59Ore Oduber takes us on a tour of the stunning Lake District,
02:03and so much more.
02:04But first, Lady Jane MacDonald herself
02:07has stepped off her cruise liner
02:08to find herself on dry land in the sensational Seychelles.
02:15Lush forests, golden beaches,
02:18and crystal-clear waters are awaiting us.
02:21I'm heading to Port Lorne, on the west of the island,
02:25and I've jumped in a cab from the airport.
02:27But most hotels offer a transfer service,
02:30which you can book before you fly.
02:32I've gone half-bored at one of Mahe's five-star resorts.
02:42Most places have a little bell on reception.
02:44Mine's slightly bigger.
02:47Look at you ringing my bell.
02:49Good morning, Mrs Jane.
02:50Good morning.
02:51Good morning.
02:51Good morning.
02:51Good morning.
02:51Good morning.
02:51Good morning.
02:51Good morning.
02:51Good morning.
02:52Good morning.
02:52Good morning.
02:52Good morning.
02:55Sophia is showing me to my room.
02:57Let's go.
02:59Oh, you get a nice breeze.
03:00Yes.
03:01I'm giving my travel-weary feet a welcome rest.
03:06Yes, please.
03:07Just follow me.
03:09Oh, this is nice.
03:12You're surrounded with this beautiful nature.
03:14You can say that again.
03:17You're most welcome.
03:18Thank you so much.
03:20Oh, wow.
03:21Look at that view.
03:22Yeah, it's beautiful, isn't it?
03:24Oh, my gosh.
03:26Look at how green it is here.
03:28This is our stunning view on Pertlon High Marine Park.
03:31Oh, beautiful.
03:34And the pool.
03:36As well, yes.
03:37I wish you a pleasure to stay with us.
03:39That's very kind.
03:40Thank you so very much.
03:42You're most welcome.
03:42You're most welcome.
03:45Look at that.
03:47It's breathtaking, isn't it?
03:49All that green.
03:52It's lush.
03:53It's all beautiful nature just welcoming me here.
03:59And then the blue sea there.
04:03Oh.
04:09Look at this.
04:11Oh, the temperature.
04:13Oh, it's like five degrees cooler.
04:16There's some lovebirds there, I think.
04:20Wasted on me, really.
04:22I love the fact that I've got all that bed to myself
04:28and I can see that view.
04:38The pool outside my door is calling to me.
04:41But I have to confess, it's actually calling me stomach.
04:52You see, my resort offers a floating breakfast.
04:56And as I've never coiffed a croissant whilst boomed deep,
04:59I thought it'd be rude not to.
05:02Are you coming to help?
05:02No.
05:03No, it's fine.
05:03It's fine.
05:06Oh, my God.
05:08That's never going to float, surely.
05:10Oh, my God, it floats.
05:16I can't believe that.
05:18I can't believe there's all this food just for me.
05:21Wow.
05:22Thank you, gentlemen.
05:24Welcome.
05:25I don't know where to start.
05:27I know.
05:28Cup of tea.
05:30That's what I'm after.
05:31But really, I should have the breakfast of kings.
05:35That's what they say, don't they?
05:37Eat most of it in the morning
05:38and then do less as the day goes on.
05:41And that is definitely what's going to happen here.
05:45I'm quite excited.
05:46I might do this in a bath.
05:48Put your cup of tea in it.
05:49It'd be grand, that, wouldn't it?
05:50Well, that looks like the kind of place where you could really pamper yourself, doesn't it?
05:59Doesn't it, though?
06:01Having your own private pool is such a treat, isn't it?
06:04Imagine the view.
06:05Seychelles is a fantastic holiday destination.
06:09Never been, but not Jane has.
06:11So, they said, right, come and in, try some towel art.
06:14I had no idea what towel art was, right?
06:16I can't even knot a towel without it falling off at the gym,
06:19which leads to all sorts of worrying situations.
06:23Who knew that there would literally be two towels when it comes to towel art?
06:27Yeah, I mean, I've got to say, that is quite rubbish.
06:31Don't tell me, Kim, you've got one we made earlier.
06:34I have only done one here.
06:37Check that out!
06:39See?
06:40It's...
06:40Oh, it's drooped.
06:44How I feel, that refrigerated.
06:47Which takes me back to the gym.
06:49Anyway, Kim.
06:50Don't go anywhere.
06:51If the Seychelles is a little out of your budget,
06:54George Lamb takes us for a taste of the tropics much closer to home.
06:58He's going to need a bigger towel.
07:08Welcome back to the Weekend Travel Show.
07:11This, tell me, is a taste of the Seychelles,
07:14a postcard from the Seychelles from our Jane.
07:17No, that isn't the Seychelles at all, actually.
07:19It's not even abroad.
07:21What would you say if I told you that is right here in England?
07:25It's absolutely stunning.
07:26Book me a ticket.
07:27It is gorgeous.
07:29Believe it or not, that is just off Cornwall.
07:31So if you can't stretch to a holiday in the Seychelles
07:34or somewhere equally exotic,
07:36head to the Isle of Scilly.
07:38It is described as a piece of the Caribbean in the UK.
07:41Or with 140 islands,
07:43they've even been compared to the Maldives.
07:45Absolutely stunning.
07:46George Lamb is in the heart of the West Country tropics,
07:49Tresco Abbey Gardens.
07:50The plants that thrive there
07:51wouldn't survive outdoors anywhere else in the UK.
07:54And there's some pretty special wildlife there too.
07:56What is that?
08:03That is amazing.
08:06There's another one.
08:08It's like a kind of tropical looking pheasant.
08:12Look at those colors.
08:13It's really weird because you kind of come around that corner.
08:16All of a sudden you're in big, big, kind of feels Jurassic-y,
08:20you know, and these huge, beautiful pine trees.
08:24We're in a tropical paradise.
08:25It's true what it says in the guidebook.
08:27I can't wait to check out these Tresco Abbey Gardens.
08:32So I'm meeting up with the head curator, Mike Nellums,
08:35who's offered to show me around his 17-acre office.
08:38What about that?
08:39Wow.
08:41Small islands out there, blue sea, and then palm trees.
08:44What could be better?
08:45It's just incredible.
08:46My mum is a really keen gardener.
08:49And for the last probably 10 years,
08:51I've been going to Chelsea Flower Show with her.
08:53So she'd absolutely love it here as well
08:55because she likes kind of slightly wild gardens.
08:58And it is kind of...
08:59That's our style.
08:59All of these plants come from all the nice places of the world,
09:02California, South Africa, Australia, the Canary Islands.
09:06Not too hot, not too cold.
09:08So I think your mother would enjoy it.
09:09And the great thing is, actually, even a non-garden,
09:11you don't have to be a gardener or too interested in gardening
09:14to come and look at a view like that.
09:16Yeah.
09:17The gardens were first developed back in the 19th century
09:20by the island's owner, Augustus Smith,
09:23and they've gradually expanded over generations.
09:26Thanks to the warming effects of the Gulf Stream,
09:29Tresco's subtropical garden now hosts
09:31a whopping 20,000 different species of plants.
09:36Could you show me around, maybe?
09:37Let's go and have a look.
09:38All right.
09:39Well, this couldn't be a more relaxing way to spend the day.
09:42What kind of wildlife do you get in the gardens?
09:47Well, funnily enough, there's a lot of things that we don't have.
09:49We don't have badgers, stoats, weasels, snakes, foxes,
09:53but we do have red squirrels.
09:55And they like it here?
09:56Well, we feed them, but they also feed themselves on some of our special flowers,
10:00so sometimes we get a little cross with them,
10:02but we've got to live with that.
10:04And what about, as I was coming in,
10:05I saw the most incredible birds.
10:08They look like a kind of mix between a pheasant and a peacock.
10:10You've got it, the golden pheasant.
10:12Yeah.
10:12They've been in the garden for some years now,
10:13and they've run about and amuse the visitors.
10:18Being here, I really am struggling to believe I'm still in the UK.
10:22I mean, look at this.
10:24I feel like I'm in Borneo or something.
10:26It's just amazing.
10:29And as if the plants aren't enough,
10:31the gardens are also home to another very special collection.
10:35Look at these.
10:36All of these were original and collected from shipwrecks around the island.
10:41These from wrecks?
10:42Every single one.
10:44Right, okay, because Silly's famous for having all these shipwrecks, yeah?
10:47I think we've probably got the highest density of shipwrecks anywhere in the world.
10:51Really?
10:51There are hundreds and hundreds of wrecks over the years that have gone down.
10:56What's the story with this guy?
10:57This is the Palaenurus.
10:59Right.
10:59It went down in 1848, went on to something called Lion Rock, which was off St Martin.
11:05All 17 of her crew were drowned, eventually being washed ashore and buried on St Mary's.
11:10It's mind-blowing to think a place so peaceful has had such a turbulent history.
11:15Hundreds of wrecks and thousands of lives lost.
11:19These figureheads are just one tiny reminder of it all.
11:23Thank you so much.
11:24It's been our pleasure.
11:25And I can't wait to bring my mum back.
11:26We'll see you again.
11:27Thank you, George.
11:28Thank you, George.
11:28Thank you very much.
11:31See, here you go.
11:32There's me again.
11:33But, yeah, I think it's fair to say you've been around a bit.
11:34You have.
11:35You've been everywhere.
11:37You know, it's been great.
11:37I've been very lucky through work and play.
11:38All of this, me and Jason Donovan.
11:40Hey, you.
11:40Bumped into him on Bondi Beach.
11:42Did you actually?
11:43Yeah, he was running on Bondi Beach.
11:45Came out of the salty spray and suddenly, behold, there's Jason Donovan, which is what you want
11:49if you want an authentic experience down under, right?
11:51Of course you do, yeah.
11:52Did you immediately get the Neighbours theme tune in your head?
11:54In my head.
11:55And I became an airworm for him for the rest of his run, unfortunately.
11:59You must have travelled a bit because we first met, didn't we, when the whole pop stars thing
12:03kicked off for you guys?
12:04Yeah, yeah.
12:05So what was that, 2001?
12:062001, yeah.
12:07And did you take to the road a lot?
12:09I mean, up and down the M6, yeah.
12:11The glamour.
12:12We did a lot of up and down.
12:13But you did record abroad.
12:14I'm sure I remember that.
12:15Yeah, we did.
12:16We recorded a lot of our first album out in Norway in a place called Trondheim, which was
12:22the most beautiful place ever.
12:24And we saw the Northern Lights and it was terrific.
12:26Northern Lights, I'm with you.
12:27Absolutely extraordinary.
12:28It's why I've always wanted to do a Nordic cruise.
12:31And that would be just my dream, to be quite honest.
12:33I've only done one cruise.
12:35And as luck would have it, I think I've got a snap here.
12:38It's me and my mate, Damien.
12:40We made a point, we were on a carnival cruise going down the Pacific coast of Mexico.
12:45Yeah.
12:45And we dressed for dinner every night.
12:47Like properly, like your dinner suits.
12:49Proper bib and tucker.
12:51And I never thought cruising would be for me.
12:53Yeah.
12:53But it was.
12:54You see, I don't think, I don't know if I'm a cruise person or not.
12:57I mean, I know it would be amazing to kind of stop off in different places and all the
13:00rest of it, but I don't know if I'd get bored.
13:01Do you think there's anyone coming up on the Weekend Travel Show that might convince
13:05you otherwise?
13:06Maybe.
13:07Let's see.
13:08Let's see if Susan Coleman has chosen the right cruise ship.
13:11Oh, Richard, put that photo away.
13:14Here it is.
13:16This is my cruise ship for my journey.
13:18And it is breathtakingly huge.
13:21I'm one of the smallest television presenters you'll ever find.
13:24I'm one of the largest cruise ships in the world.
13:26It's a match made in heaven.
13:29Harmony of the Seas is longer than the Leaning Tower of Pisa is tall.
13:34362 metres no less.
13:36This colossal cruise liner will be taking me and over 5,000 other thrill seekers on a week-long
13:43action-packed trip.
13:44There are nearly 3,000 cabins, and for this cruise, I've gone for an upgrade to see how
13:51the other half lives.
13:53Reckon I'm in for a treat.
13:56Just to warn you, okay?
13:58I like to explore my cabin in the way I like to start a relationship.
14:02Faster and furious, and then you can relax.
14:05So brace yourself for a bit of a whirlwind tour.
14:08Oh, wow.
14:13This is just amazing.
14:18It's more incredible than I could have hoped for.
14:20Let's have a quick look.
14:22I mean, this is brilliant to begin with.
14:24I think it's intended as a wardrobe, but when you're Kalman-sized, it doubles as an entire
14:31walk-in dressing room.
14:33I could sleep in here.
14:37Come on, Kalman.
14:38You can do it.
14:39Oh, this is beautiful.
14:42Bed, television, luxury.
14:46Oh, I love it.
14:53The ship's 18 decks, yes, 18, are divided into seven neighbourhoods, and on deck six is
15:00the boardwalk.
15:01With restaurants, bars, and even a carousel, it's the perfect place for a stroll.
15:06I think cruising is a perfect time to let yourself go a little bit.
15:18And by that, I mean do things that you wouldn't normally do.
15:22You know, exciting things.
15:24Adrenaline-fuelled things.
15:26Things you've hankered after, but wondered, will I ever do that?
15:30And that is this, a 12-metre tall climbing wall towering above me.
15:36Luckily, instructor Joal is nearby to reassure any cruisers brave enough to give it a go.
15:44I don't know why I tap dance there.
15:48Hello.
15:48Hi, how are you?
15:49I'm good, thanks.
15:50How are you?
15:50Can I help?
15:51I quite fancy to go in this.
15:53Is that all right?
15:53Yeah, all right.
15:54I've never done it before, though.
15:55No worries.
15:56It's going to help you to reach the top.
15:57I'm quite nervous.
15:58I got you all the time.
15:59Okay.
15:59It's 100% safe.
16:00100% safe.
16:02Now, I'm quite short of stature.
16:03Is that going to be a difficulty?
16:06Yes and no, but make sure you use your legs all the time.
16:09Is it mostly legs?
16:10Mostly legs.
16:11The arms are there to keep the balance, but you need to push with your legs all the time.
16:16When I'm at the gym, people would always comment on my strong legs.
16:20I mean, that's another story.
16:21I don't know why I'm telling you that.
16:22Like I said, a bit nervous.
16:24Let's do it.
16:24Okay.
16:25Let's go climbing.
16:27But with my harness on, and Joal as my anchor, it's time to climb.
16:33All right, ready?
16:36Okay, use your legs.
16:38Oh, my goodness.
16:39Right hand up.
16:42No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
16:45Catch you.
16:46Hold on to the rope.
16:47What?
16:47I'm like Mary Poppins.
16:49Stand up, stand up, stand up.
16:52If you look graceful up in the dictionary, that's what you just saw.
16:56Right.
16:57And you're about to see the very definition of perseverance.
17:00Okay, okay.
17:01Legs, legs, legs.
17:02Left leg.
17:02Legs, legs, legs.
17:04Left hand on the green one.
17:06There you go.
17:07My notoriously strong legs have done it again.
17:10Look at me go.
17:11I'm two whole Kalmans up the wall.
17:13This is hard work, but my goodness, it's incredible.
17:18I need to come down now, though.
17:19Oh!
17:20Oh, my goodness.
17:23Oh, my goodness.
17:23Here we go.
17:24Awesome job.
17:25Honestly, I have a newfound respect.
17:28You know, in the Olympics, they did the speed climbing, and they went right up to the top.
17:34I've just got that far, and I'm exhausted.
17:36Oh, what a ride.
17:39I need to lie down now, though.
17:41Nothing's working anymore.
17:43Oh, thank you.
17:44I'll tell you what.
17:47Susan is a braver soul than me.
17:49So, picture it.
17:49You've got Susan on the biggest cruise liner you've ever seen, right?
17:51You've got restaurants.
17:52You've got bars.
17:53You've got viewing platforms.
17:55Anywhere that you choose to lounge, and she goes straight to the climbing wall.
17:59I mean, do you know what?
18:00As a mum, I mean, when my kids were younger, I can see the appeal that that kind of holiday
18:04does have, because, I mean, there's so much to do, and the kids would never moan about
18:07being bored, would they?
18:08Oh, you wouldn't have to sell it to me, to be quite honest.
18:10Never mind the kids.
18:10I genuinely would quite fancy that myself.
18:13We've still got lots more to come, including Alexander Armstrong ticking off a bucket list
18:17item of mine.
18:19That's whale watching in Iceland.
18:21While back in the UK, Aurea Duba has 48 hours to cram in as much as he can in the stunning
18:28Lake District.
18:29We'll be back soon.
18:36Welcome back.
18:37So far, we've seen Jane MacDonald soaking up the sun in the Seychelles, George Lamb taking
18:41on life in the Scilly Isles, our very own Susan Cowman bobbing up and down on a rather
18:46large boat.
18:47And now it's time to travel a little bit closer to home in the beautiful Lake District.
18:51This is a place I have visited many times, Richard.
18:54I love it.
18:55Shall I pull up a chair?
18:56Pull up a chair, grab a brew.
18:58So my friends own a little boat on Ullswater, so we like to go and visit them in the nicer
19:03weather, and we kind of sail around, have a few drinks.
19:05It's beautiful, but I also love to go walking in the lakes.
19:08I think it's just gorgeous.
19:10The views are stunning.
19:11The last walk I did was up the Old Man of Coniston.
19:14And if you've never done it, you should do it because it is beautiful.
19:18You've sold it to me, Kim.
19:20I can't wait to see what Aurea Duba gets up to now.
19:22This is the only way you can drive in the Lake District.
19:30You never know what's going to pop out.
19:34Sheep, goat, mountain ewe.
19:36You just can't tell.
19:39Tucked away in the far northwest corner of England, the Lake District is a genuine natural
19:45wonder.
19:45500 million years of geology have given us lakes, mountains, forests, and the most dramatic
19:52of landscapes.
19:54It's stunning.
19:56It is absolutely beautiful.
19:58It's actually the biggest hazard, is making sure you keep your eyes on the road, because
20:02the view is so beautiful.
20:05I've escaped London for three days of walking and relaxation.
20:09The Brimstone Hotel offers boutique suites and rooms.
20:20And thanks to its position, it's ideal for exploring the whole of the national park.
20:26I mean, this is what I'm talking about.
20:29The perfect little countryside retreat.
20:32You've got the quiet.
20:34You've got the landscape, the scenery.
20:35And my home away from home is just that-a-way.
20:40Excuse me.
20:49Let you in on a little secret.
20:51When my wife and I arrive in a new hotel room, we have to test out the bed, but in a very specific
20:56way.
20:57We do it on width.
20:59Any bed over four persons wide is a good bed.
21:02So, pardon the view, but here we go.
21:08That's one.
21:12Two.
21:15Three.
21:18And that is four.
21:19That is a good bed.
21:23And I'm terribly sorry for what you've just seen.
21:29How do you fill up the bathtub?
21:35Let's see what this does.
21:38Oh!
21:39Oh!
21:43Okay.
21:44We've got running water.
21:47I'll be honest.
21:48So, it looks like someone's having a private moment in another room.
21:53Okay.
21:54After settling in, I'm ready for a pint and a chance to plan my trip.
21:58I've only been here an hour, but already the bustle of the city feels a world away.
22:03The only cloud.
22:05Well, the clouds.
22:06See, apparently, there's around 200 days of rain a year in the Lake District.
22:14So, I'm pretty darn lucky that we've picked one of the few days it's dry.
22:19The t-shirt was brave, wasn't it?
22:22But, do you know what?
22:23Like the beer, you've just got to savour the view, haven't you?
22:28But, while it's tempting to stay here all day, there's a whole list of recommended places to explore.
22:38My first stop, historic Hawkshead, nestled between Lakes Coniston and Windermere.
22:43Here, you'll find whitewashed cottages and cobbled streets, but no cars.
22:48That's right, four wheels are banned from the village.
22:51You'll also see the house where the poet William Wordsworth once lodged.
22:54Just down the road is Nia Sauri, home to another literary genius.
22:59They did say, if you want to get a good look at Beatrix Potter's house, come in early,
23:04because droves of people are queuing up and getting ready.
23:08So, early bird catches the Potter house, if you know what I mean.
23:16Beatrix left Hilltop to the National Trust on her death in 1943.
23:21But her childhood tales live on.
23:23It's really quiet but quaint in here.
23:27I love that tick of the little grandfather's clock in here.
23:31You can really start to imagine Beatrix Potter actually creating these stories in here.
23:40There's a little bit of magic in here.
23:42There really is.
23:47The Lake District draws in walkers from all over the UK and beyond.
23:51There's a seemingly endless number of routes and trails you can follow.
23:56All you need is a map and some sturdy boots, and you're all set.
24:00I just found this walk online.
24:01It is as easy as going on the National Trust website.
24:04It's brilliant.
24:05And where we are now is on the west shore of Windermere.
24:09The quiet side, they call it.
24:10This gentle walk takes you up to an 18th century viewing station.
24:17And according to the guidebooks, it's the place to see Lake Windermere at its best.
24:21Oh, wow.
24:22Oh, my goodness.
24:30Well, that's a view.
24:34They do say when you come to the Lake District, you need to have a wet weather plan.
24:38You need to prepare for all the rainy days.
24:40But do you know what?
24:41I reckon when the weather is like this, it makes up for it.
24:45All of those lost days.
24:49Because it's stunning.
24:51That's me sold on the beauty of the lakes.
24:53Because the glorious thing about them is much closer to home than some destinations, obviously.
24:57And you see nature in the wild firsthand like that.
25:01That's glorious, right?
25:01Yeah, it's absolutely beautiful.
25:03I have to say, I also do like Aure's approach to seeing nature in the wild.
25:07Are you talking about the comfy bed?
25:09I'm talking about the four-person bed.
25:12That is definitely a new rule that I am going to apply to hotel stays from now on.
25:16But there is still plenty more to experience.
25:18And this is actually a special one.
25:20Whale watching in Iceland.
25:22Now, I mean, that sounds amazing.
25:23Have you been to Iceland?
25:24I've been lucky enough to go to Iceland for work.
25:26I haven't been whale watching, but let's just say that all eyes were on me when I went into the Blue Lagoon.
25:32It wasn't ideal for everyone who was there.
25:34But it is a magical place.
25:35Yeah, well, it's somewhere I'd love to go.
25:37And there is something so special about seeing nature in the wild.
25:40And that's exactly what Alexander Armstrong is hoping to do when he visits Iceland.
25:47For years, Iceland was a centre of whaling.
25:51But when whale hunting was banned in 1989,
25:53these erstwhile poachers turned gamekeeper
25:56and Husevich swiftly transformed itself into the whale-watching capital of the north.
26:06I've never seen a whale, but I long to.
26:09As someone who gets excited by spotting a carp in a pond,
26:12I suspect it might blow my mind.
26:15How are you?
26:15I'm good.
26:16It sounds like it's not just whales we might find here.
26:20Because the whales, it seems, are in danger again,
26:23but this time from a much less obvious assailant.
26:27Even here in this beautiful remote bay,
26:30the sea is full of nasty microplastics.
26:33This, by the way, is an extraordinary and very special vessel.
26:53This is the Opal,
26:55the world's first retrofitted plug-in hybrid sailing boat.
27:00This is the most beautiful ship.
27:09She's totally carbon neutral and completely silent.
27:14Her battery-powered engine recharges at sea,
27:17using the wind in her sails.
27:20It's breathtaking, quite literally in my case.
27:24I mean, it's very beautiful, this.
27:27It's very beautiful, but...
27:30God, you've got to be so strong.
27:35But an electric engine isn't the only innovation on board the Opal.
27:40I've noticed they've also got a hot tub on deck.
27:42I mean, well, this is Iceland, after all.
27:44I've never seen a whale.
27:52I think today's going to be the day.
27:56Oh, well, fingers crossed we see something.
27:58Oh, look, yes, there's something going on over there.
28:11Ah!
28:15Look at that.
28:16A pod of pilot whales is off the port side.
28:20That's left, isn't it? Port.
28:22Yeah.
28:23Wow.
28:24Wow.
28:24There's tons of them.
28:32Even the experts on board seem madly excited to see them.
28:37They are almost never here.
28:39And it's actually the first time I see them, you know, in the bay.
28:42And I've been here since 2014.
28:48That's just the most wonderful sound, isn't it?
28:50I don't know, it's like a lot of people opening bottles of ginger beer.
28:58Something like that.
28:59I have now seen a whale.
29:04I have now seen a whale.
29:05Oh, hang on.
29:07What's this?
29:12Wah, wah.
29:14A humpback whale has joined us.
29:18It's just sort of addictive.
29:20It's like this sort of euphoric feeling you get when you see them.
29:23Why, I wonder, something popping up from the deep.
29:32Just that connection with another totally different life form.
29:39You feel it here.
29:40I mean, wow.
29:49Not only is that nature in the wild,
29:51that is nature in the wild from the deck of a carbon-neutral sailing ship.
29:56That's stunning.
29:56Xander, hoping to see one whale,
29:58and then you find yourself in a situation...
30:01Well, I've lost count.
30:01How many pilot whales did he see?
30:02That's extraordinary.
30:03No clue.
30:04I lost count as well.
30:05If you fancy a trip like that, though, timing is everything, Kim.
30:08The best time to see whales is from May to September,
30:11and obviously there are lots of different tours that are available.
30:13Well, listen, it is time to move on now to our next fabulous destination,
30:17and it is one of my favourite cities, Barcelona.
30:20The weather, the people, the architecture.
30:23And the parties.
30:24If you like to party,
30:25then it's easy to time your break to coincide with one, right?
30:27Certainly is.
30:28Yet the Spanish love their fiestas,
30:31and Barcelona has loads of them to choose from.
30:33Sounds fantastic.
30:34So plan before you book,
30:35which is exactly what Susan Kalman did.
30:38Barcelona is Europe's busiest cruise port,
30:44with up to 800 ships docking here each year.
30:47So while the ship gets ready to sail,
30:49I've a few hours to explore the Catalonian capital.
30:57I love it here,
30:59and I have to tell you,
31:00this is not my first Barcelona rodeo.
31:04I'm on La Rambla,
31:06and it's wonderful to be back here,
31:08because I have been here before.
31:09About 15 years ago,
31:11I came on a city break,
31:13and I had the best soup of my life.
31:15Honestly,
31:16I still think of those days with fondness.
31:19But the weather is warm,
31:20the people are friendly,
31:21and it is amazing to be back.
31:25I could ramble along the Ramblas all day long,
31:28but I should really get a wiggle on,
31:30and get myself down to one of my favourite places in the city,
31:34the fabulous Sagrida Familia Cathedral,
31:37whose construction began in 1882.
31:39Now, it's not finished,
31:42but it looks very different to when I was last here.
31:45And I don't mind,
31:45because it gives me an excuse
31:46to come back in a few years
31:48and see how they're getting on.
31:51Something to remember it by.
31:52But I'm always up for new experiences,
31:57and lucky for me,
31:58across town people are getting ready
31:59for one of the city's major festivals.
32:05The La Merced is one of the hottest events in the calendar,
32:08with a month-long celebration
32:10to honour the patron saint of Barcelona.
32:13And it seems,
32:14size matters.
32:18It's absolutely incredible.
32:19All the way up and down this huge street in Barcelona,
32:24there are these giants appearing.
32:26They do things bigger and better in Barcelona,
32:29and at La Merced,
32:31there's even a parade of giants.
32:34This is usually one of the busiest streets in Barcelona.
32:38It's also, it's in one of the posh streets.
32:40You've got a bit of Dolce and Gabana,
32:42and a bit of Jimmy Choo.
32:43Obviously, my natural environment.
32:45And it's stopped because of these wonderful giants.
32:49The land of giants is not my natural home,
32:53so it's time I head off.
32:57And I wander up the road,
32:59I find something even more remarkable.
33:03There's just a massive crowd of people,
33:05huge crowds of people watching and taking photographs,
33:08and it's just got this incredible feel about it.
33:10I love it.
33:11One of the main attractions of La Merced
33:14is the castels, or castles,
33:16where teams of human towers compete
33:18to form the tallest and strongest structure.
33:21It's amazing, actually, to watch them getting ready.
33:28We've bagged a good place.
33:31Starting, it's starting, it's starting.
33:33And the blue team are there.
33:37Oh, this is amazing.
33:47This is teamwork in action,
33:49and it's amazing to see.
33:54I actually found that really quite an emotional thing to watch.
33:57Oh, that was brilliant.
34:02Just look how happy everyone is.
34:04It's Barcelona in a way that I've never seen before,
34:07and I love it.
34:08I'm exhausted just looking at that.
34:12I know many countries do a festival like Spain does a festival.
34:15I've been to Barcelona a few times
34:16in my misspent youth with the lads,
34:19so probably can't show you many pictures of those trips.
34:22But I do remember trying to wake the lads up
34:25during the siesta, and also at the crack of dawn,
34:27even though we'd probably gotten in about 4 or 5 o'clock,
34:29because the nightlife is so late there.
34:31But because I'm so used to getting up for the day gig
34:34on Good Morning Britain,
34:35I find it really difficult to even nap
34:38during the day in the heat.
34:40So, yeah, you probably wouldn't want to come
34:42to Barcelona with me.
34:44Yes, I'd have to prepare myself for that.
34:46But back to the festivals.
34:47The La Merce Festival runs in September every year,
34:50and it really is worth a visit,
34:51particularly as, like many of the city's festivals,
34:54it is free.
34:56Yeah, mind you, the human pyramid
34:57might be a leap of faith for me.
34:59I thought that'd have been right up your street.
35:01And if you would like to time your holiday
35:03with one of Barcelona's many parties,
35:05head over to Channel 5's website,
35:07where you'll find information
35:08that you may find helpful.
35:10But after the break,
35:11we still have one more special trick for you.
35:13We're going to meet five famous faces
35:15who take a motor home
35:16for an adventure on the Gower Peninsula.
35:18We'll be back soon.
35:19Welcome back to the Weekend Travel Show.
35:28It's time for our final destination.
35:31Five famous faces taking to the road in a motor home.
35:36Kim.
35:36Yeah.
35:37Motor homes.
35:38Discuss.
35:39Have you ever holidayed in one?
35:41Not in a motor home, but certainly in a caravan.
35:43We used to go to caravans all the time
35:45when we were in Wales,
35:46but this one year, I remember my dad,
35:49in fact, I think it was twice we did it,
35:50he towed a caravan from where we lived in the UK
35:53all the way to Spain
35:55and we stayed there for a month.
35:57Like, went on a ferry,
35:59like, got off in some weird places,
36:00camped in farmer's fields.
36:02I mean, it was crazy.
36:04You spent so much time together.
36:05It was just brilliant as a child.
36:08Not sure how to feel as a parent.
36:10Anyway, back to our famous five now
36:12who are travelling to the Gower Peninsula.
36:14There's Leslie Joseph, Melvin Hayes,
36:16Don Warrington, Nick Haywood and Cleo Ruckus.
36:20Where do I sign?
36:22Well, five strong-minded individuals
36:24in two relatively cramped moving vehicles
36:27driving up some narrow Welsh roads.
36:29I mean, what could possibly go wrong?
36:32Bring me the popcorn.
36:33Can't wait to find out.
36:34We need to go on to the 406-7.
36:42OK.
36:43And then I think we'll take a left
36:45and then a right somewhere.
36:47My map reading's fabulous, isn't it?
36:50Leave it to me, Nick.
36:51You want an adventure?
36:56Oh, we're not an HGV, are we?
36:59It said no HGV.
37:00Heavy goods vehicle.
37:02Oh, I thought it was a huge, giant van.
37:05These signs are making me nervous.
37:08I might have taken us the wrong way.
37:11God, this road is becoming a...
37:12You're OK. You're OK. You're doing very, very well.
37:15I really don't want to get us all stuck.
37:18We're going to have to turn around.
37:19We may need to reverse all the way.
37:21Oh, hold on. Here we are.
37:23The passing spot.
37:25Maybe we can turn here.
37:26You've got clenchy buttocks.
37:30A little bit.
37:30Have you?
37:31Just slightly tense.
37:33With one motorhome six metres long
37:35and the other seven,
37:36turning round's going to be fun.
37:38OK, Leslie, you want to go around?
37:40I'll stay here so the cars can go.
37:42Oh, my God, this is a nightmare.
37:46Well, now we're completely stuck.
37:48Completely.
37:49Hang on.
37:51Hang on.
37:53And then Leslie just come.
37:55Oh, OK.
37:56OK, Leslie, keep coming.
38:00OK, stop.
38:01I need a drink.
38:03I need a drink.
38:04We're not allowed to drink and drive, though.
38:06Calm down.
38:08When are you taking a test?
38:11Shut up, Melvin.
38:14Just shut up.
38:16You're clear.
38:18Yay!
38:19Well done.
38:20Fabulous.
38:22Woo!
38:23Good one.
38:26Having steamed on ahead of our compadres,
38:37Don and I make it to the gorgeous Gower.
38:41The UK's first area of outstanding natural beauty,
38:45and it's very easy to see why.
38:50Such a dramatic coastline of marshes, beaches, dunes,
38:53and steep cliffs.
38:56Oh, hooray!
39:05There's the sea.
39:09Nick, Mel, and I have arrived at Three Cliffs Bay campsite.
39:13Oh, this is wonderful.
39:17Oh, look at the sea.
39:21Oh, that is magic.
39:23We actually made it.
39:25You are standing on the Gower Peninsula.
39:26I could go a ginger beer now.
39:29I could go a margarita.
39:32Okay, shall we go and do some electric stuff and plug things in?
39:37Time to look like we know how to camp.
39:40Nick?
39:41Yeah?
39:41Do you want to pass me out the cable for the electrics?
39:44Oh, yeah.
39:45Where is that?
39:46Not a clue.
39:48Wonderful.
39:49Do you know what?
39:49You could sleep in there.
39:50That's what I do sleep.
39:52I'd like to say it's lovely, but it's like a coffin.
39:53Oh, I see it is your bed.
39:55I was joking.
39:58Oh, no, it's my bed.
39:59That is your bed.
40:00Yeah.
40:01Oh, there you are.
40:02Cable.
40:02One cable.
40:03That is your bed.
40:05I think it's your bed.
40:06Right, where do we put that?
40:07This one goes in the...
40:09Hang on, it's caught.
40:11Is it packed in?
40:12Have you got the wrong end?
40:14Wrong end, as I say.
40:17This is fun.
40:17Speak for yourself.
40:19Do you think everybody has to do it like this?
40:21No, just us, because we don't know what we're doing.
40:24Shall we water the garden while we're here?
40:27We must look like right nanas in front of all these seasoned motorhomers.
40:32Fortunately, we're not the only nanas for long.
40:36Wow, look at that.
40:38What a surprise.
40:40That's unbelievable.
40:41Hello.
40:42Hello there.
40:43Oh, look.
40:44We've been here for hours.
40:45Where have you been?
40:45No.
40:46Yes.
40:46We've been here, no, about an hour.
40:48No.
40:48Look at that.
40:49Look, look at that view.
40:50Isn't that fantastic?
40:51Unbelievable.
40:52And look at this.
40:53What?
40:54Salt marsh lamb.
40:59I've never used this type of a barbecue before, but let's see what happens.
41:07Now this feels like camping.
41:10Look at the light on that sea.
41:13It's beautiful.
41:14It's fantastic.
41:15It's such a surprise, isn't it?
41:16Beautiful.
41:17It's absolutely lovely.
41:18It's absolutely gorgeous.
41:19As queen of tequila and all things celebratory, I declare Barocos open.
41:25Can I try one of your specials, please?
41:28Absolutely.
41:29Yeah, I'll have a tiny bit as well.
41:30Can I smell it?
41:32I've just got to try it.
41:32You smell it and you just sip.
41:35Don't you swallow it?
41:36No, yes, but in a sipping form.
41:38Yeah, you swallow it.
41:40I know.
41:40I'm just smelling it.
41:41There we are.
41:41Here's to happy days and naughty nights.
41:47Cheers.
41:47Cheers.
41:50And here's to the Gower Peninsula.
41:53Beautiful.
41:54Cheers.
41:55Cheers.
41:59That's official, the Gower.
42:00It's on my top list now for a cheeky bit of a carry-on.
42:03You've got to feel for Melvin, though.
42:04Short straw, that bed.
42:05Yeah, well...
42:06Off.
42:06Yeah, that bed was red.
42:08But Melvin's bed aside, I can see the appeal of that kind of a holiday.
42:12I mean, it's like freedom to go where you want, when you want to.
42:15So, you're no stranger to a tour bus, I suppose, back in the day with Hearsay.
42:18Yeah, that was a bit different.
42:19Right.
42:20That was a little bit more luxurious.
42:23What I would say is that I think, you know, I think my parents were so brave taking four
42:28of us on holiday, just all cramped up together in a caravan.
42:31But I can see why we loved it as kids, and I think it would just bring so many nice memories.
42:36Oh, amen to that.
42:37Well, I'm looking forward to seeing how much more fun our Famous Five can get up to next
42:42week, along with...
42:43Jane MacDonald living her best life on safari when she encounters elephants.
42:48and sleeps out under the stars.
42:50Nobody's told us she's going donkey trekking then.
42:52If you can't quite stretch to Kenya, Pam Ayres takes us on safari right here in the UK,
42:57where she even gets to rub shoulders with one of the big five.
43:01Susan Coleman cruises her way around the Canaries, that's a good one.
43:04Plus, there is lots more.
43:06Thank you for travelling with us, and we will see you next time.
43:18I'll see you next time.
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