John Gaye
Exeter: history, shopping and eating
Exeter, the historic capital city of Devon, has so much going for it that any visitor would be hard pressed to exhaust all the options during a weekend, or even a week. Read on for my recommendations Read the guide
Sherborne, Dorset - a mellow weekend break
The ancient abbey town of Sherborne in North Dorset offers the visitor a delightful centre, either from which to explore a relatively unvisited part of the West Country or in which just to slow down Read the guide
Palmyra: pearl of the desert
With its magnificent ruins, Palmyra is not just Syria's most visited site, but one of the finest tourist destinations anywhere in the Middle East. Best of all, it hasn't yet been over-exploited Read the guide
Bosra: modern living in an ancient setting
The finest and best preserved Roman amphitheatre in the Middle East is just one reason to visit Bosra in southern Syria, a living, thriving city based around ancient and impressive ruins Read the guide
Damascus: bringing history alive
Conquerors, traders, tourists - Damascus has seen them all over the years. Today, visitors to the city will be impressed by their legacy and surprised by the warm welcome from everyone they meet Read the guide
