Lonely Planet Books – Best Bike Rides Great Britain and Amazing Train Journeys

Disclaimer: We received these books free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I’ve always enjoyed reading Lonely Planet books, with decades of travel know-how and a genuine passion for discovering the world, their guides are full of expert advice, practical tips, and breathtaking photography. With Father’s Day just around the corner they also make lovely gifts and whether your dad is planning a real adventure or simply enjoys dreaming from the comfort of his armchair, there’s a Lonely Planet book that is bound to spark his imagination!

For the dad who enjoys life on two wheels and loves the open air, Best Bike Rides Great Britain is a fantastic gift. This beautifully put-together guide features 40 routes that crisscross the country, from the wild coastal paths of Cornwall to the rolling roads of the Scottish Highlands. But it’s not just about the maps. Each route comes with local tips, scenic stop-offs, downloadable digital maps, and helpful details like distance, terrain, timing, and difficulty ratings. Whether he’s a seasoned cyclist or just keen to potter along on a Sunday afternoon, this book will help him plan rides that are as rewarding as they are refreshing.

RRP £15.99

And if your dad prefers to travel from the comfort of his armchair, Amazing Train Journeys might be just the ticket. This book captures the romance of rail travel through 60 of the world’s most breathtaking routes. From the iconic Settle to Carlisle line and the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, which are two of my personal favourites, to the dramatic, snow-dusted landscapes seen aboard Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer, the journeys are as varied as they are magnificent. Each journey is handpicked from the recommendations of over 200 travel writers, celebrating everything from breathtaking engineering marvels to lines that hug rugged coastlines or wind through mountain peaks. With practical information like ticket options, distance and journey time as well as inspiring photos and illustrated maps, this book is perfect for dreamers and planners alike. Whether he’s reminiscing about past travels or planning the next great adventure, it’s the perfect guide for train lovers of all ages.

RRP £22.99

So this Father’s Day, why not skip the socks and beer and give your dad the gift of adventure, whether that’s out on a bike, onboard a train, or tucked up with a cup of tea and a good book.

Contigo West Loop Mini Travel Mug

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate all of those friends and family who buy us Christmas gifts which are both stylish and practical.  With the Contigo West Loop Mini travel mug, you could be one of those gift-givers because Contigo have come up with this excellent design of travel mug that will make anyone happy!

The Contigo West Loop Mini travel mug is designed to fit into outdoor pockets or be able to be carried snugly thanks to its curvy design. It keeps drinks hot for p to 4 hours or cold drinks are cold for up to 14 hours due to a clever design with BPA-free stainless steel.  It’s dishwasher safe as well, including the lid which twists off and reveals 470ml of drinking space – the size of most coffee mugs.

The most ingenious design of the Contigo West Loop Mini is the 100% leak-proof seal.  If you play around with the lid, you find that there’s a spring release autoseal (marked ‘AUTOSEAL’) which when pressed, release the sip cover so that you can drink. When it isn’t pressed, the West Loop Mini is completely sealed so that it doesn’t spill anywhere. That means you can use it in the car, put it in a bag or rucksack and not only will it keep the heat of the drink but it will not leak at all. You can see by the sturdy design of the lid and the inner spring that it’s really effective and when I tested taking it out into the garden, there was indeed no spill no matter how much I threw it around!  This would be great for when you’re out with the children or if you’re into real outdoor pursuits in all weathers.

tea mug

The team at Contigo were also generous enough to send me what I consider a luxury – a proper tea infuser! For those of us who appreciate loose tea, this is a fabulous addition you don’t normally find in travel mugs.  Once the loose tea is put inside the stainless steel strainer, the infuser fits inside the lid before you affix the lid in place. Perfect for having the West Loop Mini full of boiling water, then you can add the already filled infuser to the mug and allow the tea to brew. No more stewed tea when you go out!

Contigo have thought of everything with this travel mug, and there are other products in the Contigo range such as the water bottle which has similar clever designs. The Contigo West Loop Mini comes in 5 different colours (the one featured here is the liquorice design) and sizes.

Available on sale from £24.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Contigo-Autoseal-Stainless-Leakproof-Easy-Clean/dp/B07TRG2RGH/ref=sr_1_5?crid=10N00O7XWBK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ogA6XhsejKBbFGmkCasxzOXzSCx29RM-0uVZYE8lOLFz7qAzDuDzdktzKHqhIp3r9qmIxhzLB7E-ry8Yg9FHPTxXNAzqcAJeyeviFR8CZch-QogxE_O5yyfIAQfFlHb1gGXRpZEbTm6NdFmJdGXHQCPGhIKTbt6hA3NAaznjAz-vODrevzmiXzj3NyQPduKjoL-f2BFd1J3RMmITfKlELJ4vBUEMoWoJ8_DOprMcMcRNKGE1voWwPKlRVfQqoQG6YRItmMv2USIWdP5p_H-yvi3dulsawpgipU6sfXMGvjE.I9HFuC3mx6yte5i-trYQXRlOZJFFsiZunzc7tUooUNo&dib_tag=se&keywords=contigo&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1730636284&s=sports&sprefix=contigo%2Csports%2C74&sr=1-5

Tea Infuser £15.99 At: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Contigo-Infuser-strainer-stainless-dishwasher/dp/B084C25JMQ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2BWY8VOYMITXI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SCRFxTLti8pkQw7yg8bFVAlfG4qU32VNabvQjZjyTx3pFvmNSKQE7IdNQfuZzVV432WZc1nks_BhQEJlXeq1flfHLg4Gldudz0gMEZ63sOk7x5TeZ_MD_d9YZRc9v5foD4rWDYMFzaXMzE_IlYJapkmaTjD9OGxpGD_nM6IZIznyiBc8z3kByLO7Zxp49Pha0cQeQ7JdGfsOIWrtRN9Hrr8nzNHpyMQcrmNjmgAZ8oLdZlhlhAK4XzZEVBIu8mAhM8Eee0UOGtAzLMZnYYq6h20wAQxg5xQSC4e6K3ksyIE.T6hoMdPPp0fa-inAPsOEa2Uc_lDoYEr350cK0fo8nQ8&dib_tag=se&keywords=contigo+infuser&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1730636581&sprefix=contigo+infuser%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-5