Reflections on history, cycling, travel and more by Rob Skinner
It was the moment I’d been dreaming about for over five years. In 1997 I’d bought a Raleigh Randonneur touring bike with the intention of riding it from Land’s End to John O’Groats, the classic British cycling odyssey. In June 2002 I set off on that adventure at the famous Cornish headland, arriving in John […]
It seemed like my perfect camera. The Insta360 X5 would let me film the world around me on my cycling adventures, rather than just the road ahead. After my ride, I could decide which angle gave the best views. I first used it on London Wales London, a 400km audax ride, in May 2025. Unfortunately, […]
Another childhood hero has slipped from earthly legend to eternal status. The death of Kevin Keegan has ended yet another link with my 1970s childhood. As a 10 year old, I was captivated by this charismatic, talented footballer. His spell-binding partnership with a Cardiff hero, John Toshack, helped. As Keegan’s fame grew, the Radio Times […]
Not long ago, Nigel Farage seemed dominant. The political campaigning genius who destroyed Britain’s membership of the European Union seemed set to be the next UK prime minister. But his Reform UK party balloon is deflating. After the Makerfield by-election, won at a canter by Andy Burnham, Farage resorted to blaming voters for choosing badly, […]
The view stopped me in my tracks. As I cycled along the coast road from Arthog to Tywyn in north Wales, I spotted the spectacular Barmouth railway viaduct snaking across the Mawddach estuary, overshadowed by the brooding mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia). This bridge and the line that crosses it feature heavily in a book published […]
Today is Keir Starmer’s date with destiny. If Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield by-election, this deeply flawed prime minister’s fate will be sealed. If Burnham fails to win the seat – a distinct possibility – Starmer may cling on, but his party will be critically damaged. UPDATE: Burnham won with a massive majority. Starmer has […]
I’ve always loved taking photos. Forty years ago, I learned how to shoot images on a basic Praktica SLR (single lens reflex) camera, which forced you to understand how to apply the alchemy of shutter speed and aperture to create decent images. (That Praktica was a graduation present from Mum and Dad.) But then I […]
If you visit the lovely village of Beddgelert in Eryri (Snowdonia), you can’t miss the signs for the grave of Gelert, a dog. Some say that the hound gave the village its name – bedd is Welsh for grave. A short walk along the Afon Glaslyn will bring you to a grove of trees, under […]
Frongoch isn’t a big place. But some believe this tiny Welsh village played a significant part in securing Irish independence. After the failure of the Easter Rising in Dublin in April 1916, Michael Collins and 1,800 other Irish republicans were interned here. Collins took the opportunity to school other prisoners in guerilla warfare, learning the […]
My son Owen is in the middle of his A level exams, which has brought back vivid memories of my own A levels, which began 44 years ago this weekend, on 7 June 1982. (These are the school leaving exams in Wales, England and Northern Ireland.) I have a detailed record of my A level […]