Jack Montgomery
@jackmwriter.bsky.social
Author, travel writer, photographer, routefinder, Slow Travel specialist & enemy of most things magnolia.
Today is Ada Lovelace Day. Earlier this year, we followed a path from Porlock Weir to see England’s smallest church. En route, we passed the ruins of old tunnels, the ‘Fairy Tunnel’s’ of Lord Byron’s daughter, one Ada Lovelace, constructed so Ada could access the beach below without being seen.
October 14, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Today is Ada Lovelace Day. Earlier this year, we followed a path from Porlock Weir to see England’s smallest church. En route, we passed the ruins of old tunnels, the ‘Fairy Tunnel’s’ of Lord Byron’s daughter, one Ada Lovelace, constructed so Ada could access the beach below without being seen.
Normally in UK seaside resorts, it’s the seagulls you have to protect your chips from…
#Exmouth #dinosaurs
#Exmouth #dinosaurs
August 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Normally in UK seaside resorts, it’s the seagulls you have to protect your chips from…
#Exmouth #dinosaurs
#Exmouth #dinosaurs
Lost gardens, a book quiz, Portuguese nosh, green Spain, and a working-class loner all feature in my August newsletter. It’s issued at 4pm (UK), so there’s still time to subscribe. jackmontgomery.co.uk
August 7, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Lost gardens, a book quiz, Portuguese nosh, green Spain, and a working-class loner all feature in my August newsletter. It’s issued at 4pm (UK), so there’s still time to subscribe. jackmontgomery.co.uk
My home island of #Bute has many features which could act as inspiration for stories. This old building in the north of the island was part of a decoy village built by the Royal Navy in WWII. The 'village' was lit up at night to try to draw German Bombers away from Greenock and Clydebank.
#Scotland
#Scotland
April 17, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Two things notched up on #Bute that I hadn’t done before despite growing up there. First was a #hike to a swing on a hill from #Rhubodach in the north of the island. The second is one I should have done years ago, visit the magnificent #MountStuartHouse.
April 17, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Two things notched up on #Bute that I hadn’t done before despite growing up there. First was a #hike to a swing on a hill from #Rhubodach in the north of the island. The second is one I should have done years ago, visit the magnificent #MountStuartHouse.
I was disappointed with the final episode of #PortugalwithMichaelPortillo.’ It started off well enough, featuring Sintra. But completely missed out #Lisbon & spent too long on activities that weren’t particularly Portuguese. #Portugal #Sintra
April 7, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I was disappointed with the final episode of #PortugalwithMichaelPortillo.’ It started off well enough, featuring Sintra. But completely missed out #Lisbon & spent too long on activities that weren’t particularly Portuguese. #Portugal #Sintra
It can be hard to tell the difference between lazy #travelwriting & deliberate misinformation. Take this advice in a tabloid article about #Tenerife –‘staying in the north gives you excellent access for exploring’. The northern hotel suggested was in #LaCaleta in #CostaAdeje
April 7, 2025 at 11:22 AM
It can be hard to tell the difference between lazy #travelwriting & deliberate misinformation. Take this advice in a tabloid article about #Tenerife –‘staying in the north gives you excellent access for exploring’. The northern hotel suggested was in #LaCaleta in #CostaAdeje
There are some quite spectacular displays of magnolias in bloom around Somerset at the moment. This one above Porlock was a monster, too big for me to capture all of it as it was also surrounded by other trees and plants.
#Somerset #trees #springbloom #magnolia
#Somerset #trees #springbloom #magnolia
April 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
There are some quite spectacular displays of magnolias in bloom around Somerset at the moment. This one above Porlock was a monster, too big for me to capture all of it as it was also surrounded by other trees and plants.
#Somerset #trees #springbloom #magnolia
#Somerset #trees #springbloom #magnolia
This daffodil shot was taken in the charming little village where some scenes in the TV series Wolf Hall were filmed.
#Somerset #Montacute #daffodils #spring
#Somerset #Montacute #daffodils #spring
March 31, 2025 at 3:18 PM
This daffodil shot was taken in the charming little village where some scenes in the TV series Wolf Hall were filmed.
#Somerset #Montacute #daffodils #spring
#Somerset #Montacute #daffodils #spring
After recent reports about hikers in the UK being trampled by cows, it’s worth remembering cows aren't usually a problem. This advice from Countryfile is worth reading. Incidentally, the cows on path shot was taken in Austria #walking #hiking #cows www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/...
March 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
After recent reports about hikers in the UK being trampled by cows, it’s worth remembering cows aren't usually a problem. This advice from Countryfile is worth reading. Incidentally, the cows on path shot was taken in Austria #walking #hiking #cows www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/...
We seem jinxed when it comes to getting a clear view of Glastonbury Tor, it’s always shrouded in a haze whenever we go walking on the eastern side of the county, even yesterday when the sun was out. Maybe it’s just a mystical aura around it.
#Somerset #Glastonbury #GlastonburyTor #walking #hiking
#Somerset #Glastonbury #GlastonburyTor #walking #hiking
March 27, 2025 at 3:23 PM
We seem jinxed when it comes to getting a clear view of Glastonbury Tor, it’s always shrouded in a haze whenever we go walking on the eastern side of the county, even yesterday when the sun was out. Maybe it’s just a mystical aura around it.
#Somerset #Glastonbury #GlastonburyTor #walking #hiking
#Somerset #Glastonbury #GlastonburyTor #walking #hiking
Still enjoying watching Portugal with Michael Portillo. The latest episode was set on Madeira. It took us years to get around to visiting #Madeira as we felt it would be a bit like visiting another Canary Island. When we did, we saw lots of similarities with the western Canaries. #Portugal
March 27, 2025 at 1:58 PM
These were on sale at Chapito a Mesa in #Lisbon. If anyone is in Lisbon, and they’re still on sale, do something nice for the world, go buy one and give it the attention it deserves. #voodoodolls #Portugal
March 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM
These were on sale at Chapito a Mesa in #Lisbon. If anyone is in Lisbon, and they’re still on sale, do something nice for the world, go buy one and give it the attention it deserves. #voodoodolls #Portugal
What a treat, having lunch in the beer garden of a country pub in March. And the fish finger in cider batter butty with mushy peas was delish. That’s three proper mushy peas in a row, which is pretty good going for the south. #somerset #publunch #fishfingers
March 20, 2025 at 12:07 PM
What a treat, having lunch in the beer garden of a country pub in March. And the fish finger in cider batter butty with mushy peas was delish. That’s three proper mushy peas in a row, which is pretty good going for the south. #somerset #publunch #fishfingers
I'm enjoying watching Portugal with Michael Portillo. It doesn’t just focus on what everyone already knows about #Portugal. In the Ponte de Lima episode, it was nice to see people I know - the Count of Calheiros and Maria, the woman who shows Michael Portillo around.
#travel #Porto #PontedeLima
#travel #Porto #PontedeLima
March 16, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I'm enjoying watching Portugal with Michael Portillo. It doesn’t just focus on what everyone already knows about #Portugal. In the Ponte de Lima episode, it was nice to see people I know - the Count of Calheiros and Maria, the woman who shows Michael Portillo around.
#travel #Porto #PontedeLima
#travel #Porto #PontedeLima
March 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The Bath bun and Sally Lunn’s Bath Bunn aren't really comparable. But if push came to shove, I'd have to say I prefer Sally Lunn’s, but only when toasted and topped. #Bath #Bathbun #SallyLunn
March 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The Bath bun and Sally Lunn’s Bath Bunn aren't really comparable. But if push came to shove, I'd have to say I prefer Sally Lunn’s, but only when toasted and topped. #Bath #Bathbun #SallyLunn
Everything about this bakery on #PulteneyBridge in #Bath screams ‘come in’ – from the boards at the door and the selection of cakes and pastries in the window to the river view and the sun streaming through the windows to light up the daffs.
March 3, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Everything about this bakery on #PulteneyBridge in #Bath screams ‘come in’ – from the boards at the door and the selection of cakes and pastries in the window to the river view and the sun streaming through the windows to light up the daffs.