Field Notes: January
Including a rebranding & an update about upcoming content
Is it just me or is January 100 days long? I’m writing this introduction on 29th January, and it feels like this month has dragged on and on. I’ve somehow gone from that fresh ‘new year’ feeling to wondering ‘is it spring yet?’ within the space of a very long month.
Thankfully, February is just around the corner, bringing an end to what I usually perceive to be the gloomiest month of the year. I struggled to leap into the new year, feeling lethargic and pessimistic for the past few weeks, but the end of the longest month of all time seems to have sparked something in my brain. This week I’m eating better, rising earlier and exercising more - all of which are contributing to a renewed, positive attitude.
I’ve also been inspired to give my Substack and website a bit of a refresh: updating my brand colours, refining my focus and making everything feel a bit more cohesive. The focus here is still going to be on slow travel with a pinch of simple living and semi-regular updates on what I’ve been reading - but I’m planning on developing my travel content to bring more value to you, my readers.
I relish the research stage of planning a trip, spending hours getting to know my destination before I even arrive there. I’ll scroll through Instagram highlights, read countless articles and catch up with the travel curators and creators who inspire me, subsequently creating a long list of the very best places to stay, swim spots, delicious bakeries and cafes, places to drink and dine, independent shops and galleries, and the walking routes with the most inspiring views. I want to share my finds with you - from the floating cabins you can only reach by canoe to the coastal paths where you’ll find the very best place to watch the sunset.
Coming very soon, I’ll be sharing mini-guides to the destinations that I keep on returning to and that I love the most. These guides will include my recommendations for where to stay, eat, drink, swim, walk, shop and much more. Upcoming guides will include Wales, Copenhagen, Andros, Mallorca and West Sweden.
Alongside these more comprehensive guides, I’ll also be curating lists of my favourite secret spots in destinations that I love. Rather than a full guide to the area, they will include a snapshot of recommendations for anyone planning on spending a weekend there. Upcoming features include Athens, Bath, Cardigan and Paris.
I’ll be continuing to open up my Little Black Book of accommodation recommendations, share more musings on slow & sustainable travel, and offer insights and insider tips for planning your own trips. I have so many ideas for what I can write and share with you here!
TRAVEL NOTES
Despite always being determined to run away and spend January elsewhere, I’ve had a relatively quiet start to the year. Other than a few days in Devon for work (during which I didn’t have time to explore at all), I have only been away for one short trip this month.
A couple of weeks ago, I spent a couple of nights in the Lake District with one of my best friends, her baby and my dog, Evie. We holed up in the wonderfully cosy Rothay Manor, spending as much time warming up inside the hotel as we did exploring the local landscapes over a very cold and frosty few days. Temperatures plummeted below freezing during our stay, with a fresh snowfall turning precariously icy beneath our feet and somewhat hindering our plans for longer hikes or exploring nearby Ambleside. We walked (slipped) our way to Rydal Hall, where we had to turn back twice from the Coffin Route to Grasmere and attempting to scale Nab Scar, but were still rewarded with dramatic views. The next day, we walked around Rydal Water, abandoning plans for a swim and opting to instead walk up to the caves. Other than navigating icy paths, we snuggled up in front of the fire, sipped glasses of the hotel’s impressive wine list and took turns in indulging in long soaks in our gigantic bath tub.
I’m heading back to the Lakes this weekend to stay in a cabin in the woods - I’ll share more details next month.
MONTHLY EDIT
Every month I’ll share what’s been inspiring and tempting me in the worlds of travel, fashion and interiors.
5 things: travel
I’m taking my first solo trip in May (12 days in Greece) and am most excited about discovering the isle of Andros. I have yet to book my accommodation, but Melisses, Ktima Lemonies and Onar are all tempting me.
Tasmania has been on my bucket list for years, and is somewhere I hope I can finally visit someday soon. I long to explore its remote, dramatic landscapes - but also to stay in an ever-growing list of idyllic places: Captain’s Rest, Satellite Island, Captain’s Cottage and Tinderbox Beach House.
I’ve been a little bit obsessed with Eilean Shona since I first stumbled across the private, car-free Scottish island and began dreaming of retreating there. My choice of their various cottages would be the Sail Loft, a two-bed hideaway located right on the water where you can admire the view from the comfort of the roll top bath, explore the coastline in a Canadian canoe or warm up in the private sauna.
I’m constantly kicking myself that I didn’t stay at Deetjan’s Big Sur Inn during my California trip 4 years ago. This cosy retreat nestled amongst the trees gives me an excuse to one day return to one of my favourite destinations.
Located just outside Padstow, Atlanta Trevone Bay offers a choice of five seafront properties that have been beautifully decorated with an acute attention to detail. It’s almost impossible to pick a favourite, but I think the Net Loft would be my first choice.
5 things: fashion
I’ve been searching for the perfect pair of off-white jeans forever, and I think I may finally have found them in Le Bon Shoppe’s Arc Pants. They tick every box - elasticated waist, cropped leg, slightly curved silhouette - and are incredibly comfortable.
I’m not usually one to fall for a trend, but I adore my pair of red cable knit socks that arrived from Straw London this week. A pop of red on your feet just somehow manages to pull your outfit together, whether you’re pairing them with a white dress or if they’re peeking out from beneath your jeans.
I wish I suited them better, but I love a knitted hood to keep my head and ears toasty during the winter months. Rise & Fall and ROWS make my favourites.
I’m always inspired by the outfits Sabina aka Librarian’s Wardrobe wears (it was her who alerted me to the Arc Pants). She champions small, ethical brands, has a penchant for a pop of red and shares effortless styling inspiration.
These green gingham Toast trousers are firmly on my wishlist. I can see myself wearing them now with knitwear then folding them away in my suitcase to wear with simple linen vests during my trip to Greece in spring.
5 things: interiors
I shot for interior designer Studio Alexandra recent project in Devon last week, and fell in love with her and her team’s inspiring, colourful designs. If you think you haven’t come across her work before, she was the mastermind behind Glebe House’s whimsical decor.
The red kitchen cabinets at Ollerton Cottage in Deal are making me want to add a splash of red to my house. At some point in the (hopefully near) future, we will be redoing the downstairs of our house and I’ll get to pick out a new kitchen. I want it to be red.
Searching for antique accessories or paintings? Tat London is one of my favourite curators of all things old and beautiful for your home. Owner, Charlie also writes one of my favourite substacks
.Ali of Studio Alexandra introduced me to Celia Wood’s ceramics and illustration work, and now I’m saving up for one of her beautiful vases.
I have a bit of a lampshade problem, in that I have a huge list of lampshades that I wish I could buy for my house. My favourites are by Beauvamp Studio, Munro and Kerr x
, Matilda Goad, Ceau Studio and Alice Palmer.
Thank you for subscribing to Field Notes. It really means the world to me, and I notice every single time someone new subscribes. If you’d like to have a chat or have anything to say about what I’ve talked about in this newsletter, please leave me a comment and let’s start a conversation!
If you enjoy reading my newsletters, it would be AMAZING if you could share Field Notes and help me to reach a wider audience.
Emma x