20 Pledges for 2020: The flight-free journeys that will be worth the wait

Get planning now, says Helen Coffey

Cammarata in central Sicily (Getty/iStockphoto)

Back at the tail-end of 2019, back when I had mentally if not physically committed to taking the flight-free pledge in 2020, I asked people for their best overland travel tips. I thought I’d get one or two responses but, as it turns out, those who’ve already clipped their wings in the name of climate change are quite vocal when it comes to favourite journeys.

The recommendations came rolling in, each one bringing with it a snap, crackle, pop of excitement. There were far too many for me to realistically contemplate doing in a year – even before a global pandemic came along and stole away at least three months of potential travel dates.

But I was struck by how each one painted a picture; each evoked the heady feeling of potential, and stirred in me the notion that I could go anywhere, do anything, all without flying. It was the turning point when my New Year’s Resolution started to look less like self-flagellation and more like an exotic adventure.

Since I can’t do any of them at the moment – and neither can you – I thought I’d share them. Maybe now’s the time to start dreaming of the next travel adventure; maybe now’s the time to start planning that flightless trip of a lifetime that will be worth the wait…

London to Dublin

“London (or anywhere in GB) to Dublin is a fun and cheap train trip. £49 London – across north Wales – catamaran across the Irish Sea to Dublin.

“The same trip that’s been done for 150 years, but no security queues, cramped 737s or lengthy taxi to the city (it’s a double decker bus)!”

Isles of Scilly by sleeper

“The Isles of Scilly are a real hidden gem, an archipelago with miles of golden beaches, a British Bahamas.

“The journey is part of the fun: sleeper train from London Paddington at 11.45pm, connecting with the ship at 9.15am from Penzance. At St Mary’s by midday for lunch.”

Trans Siberian Express

“The best holiday I had was a train trip across Russia, Mongolia and China... would highly recommend.”

Sicily by train (and boat)

“We got the train to Sicily this year with a two-year-old and it was amazing! Stunning French and Italian coastline. Absolutely loved it. Stunning, stunning!”

US roadtrip

“I took a flight to get there, but once there I travelled all 48 mainland US states without spending a penny – all thanks to hitchhiking.”

Train through the Alps

“We started our honeymoon by travelling to Italy by train, the highlight being the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps. Very highly recommended.”

Orkney overnight

“Head to Orkney. Sleeper to Inverness. Train to Thurso. Ferry to Stromness. Bus, ferry, hire bike and hitch round the islands. Archaeology is everywhere and amazing.

“Top tip for if you do get to Orkney. Leave on the on 6.30am ferry from Stromness. Book a birth for the night before. You board at 9.30pm and spend the night on the boat while it’s docked. Great night’s sleep followed by an all you can eat breakfast while you sail back to Britain.”

Cruising the Danube

“Best train trip: Szczecin, Berlin, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade, Sophia, Istanbul (Bratislava-Budapest via speedboat on the Danube for variety).”

Spain by ferry

“The ferry to and from Santander or Bilbao is lovely – I saw two lots of dolphins off Brittany.”