You should have been there

Mick Webb and Simon Calder

Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent and former BBC producer, Mick Webb, discuss the world of travel and delight in travellers' tales.

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257 episodes
Updated July 5

Episodes257

Newest first

Oct 1, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 225 ANATOMY OF A MOUNTAIN TREK
Join us for a brief but steep hike through the Pyrenees in the footsteps of exiles and refugees and the hoofprints of sheep, cows and isards.
Sep 10, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 224 Station to Station
Join Simon and Mick on the nearest thing to a hill climb that South London can offer. But will it be a suitable rehearsal for their forthcoming trek in the Pyrenees?
Jul 30, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 223 Travel Conundrums
We get to grips with two very different travelling dilemmas: can you get to the middle of nowhere and how can you combat the trickery and duplicity of car hire firms?
Jul 15, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 222 Ancient and Modern
We track down traditional Spanish houses, search for great Airbnb's and report on a green ferry service across the Channel-by yacht.
Jun 23, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 221 Tales of showers and language malfunctions
We showcase listeners' anecdotes about bewildering showers, linguistic confusions and unexpected strandings. Thanks to Ginger Hendee for the photo (on Unsplash)
Jun 18, 2025 · 26 min
PODCAST 220 Churches in the danger zone
Simon enjoys Lithuania and falls prey to creeping delays and dynamic currency conversions during a whistle stop European tour. Meanwhile Mick takes part in a race across southern England- accidentally.
Jun 4, 2025 · 28 min
PODCAST 219 All the Way to Vauxhall
An underwhelming new dawn for our railways, an inadvertent phone error by an airport boss and the unveiling of a "slow" race across the world.
May 22, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 218 Brits Abroad
We talk about the challenges of settling into French village life, review races across the world and wonder why we need a new airline linking the UK with the USA.
May 8, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 217 Below Deck in the Adriatic
Join Simon on his tour of beautiful Croatian Islands and share your thoughts on holiday souvenirs, Voyages a trois and "Trevi Fountain wishes" for ways to make travel better.
Apr 29, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 216 Travel in Turbulent Times
Electricity blackouts, cancellations, widespread delays............We discuss how to hedge your holiday bets in an era of chaos and confusion. The photograph is of a work by the Argentinian artist, Pablo Suarez.
Apr 17, 2025 · 32 min
PODCAST 215 IN BELGIUM
Enjoy our guide to the varied and often surprising charms of the country at the heart of Europe, and just a train ride from the UK.
Apr 10, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 214 Choosing a restaurant
One of the delights and challenges of a trip abroad is deciding where to eat. We discuss listeners' opinions on what to look for and what to avoid!
Mar 29, 2025 · 30 min
PODCAST 213 The Joy of Maps
Mike Parker, author of the best selling "Map Addict," joins us to share his love affair with maps and his thoughts on the politics of cartography and the strong feelings that it provokes.
Mar 22, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 212 THE WILD PLACES
Author and professor, Jean Mcneil, joins us to talk about her new book, Latitudes, and leads us into some of the world's great wildernesses. Danger, adventure and thought-provoking reflections pepper the book, which is published by Barbican Press
Mar 14, 2025 · 22 min
PODCAST 211 South America for beginners
Which country should you choose for your first visit to South America? We assess the attractions and weigh up the pros and cons of four big-hitters: Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Peru.
Mar 3, 2025 · 28 min
PODCAST 210 DONKEY BUSINESS
We discuss legendary music museums, Chinese airlines, sustainable breakfast buffets and the pros and cons of travelling with donkeys. Thanks to Florian Giorgio for his photo on Unsplash
Feb 13, 2025 · 29 min
PODCAST 209 BUFFET BREAKFAST BATTLES
Foragers take on anti-foragers in the great breakfast buffet debate, we continue the train limerick challenge and feature a topical update on romantic destinations. The website for info on the Robert Louis Stevenson trail is chemin-stevenson.org and thanks to Jill Sauve for her photo on Unsplash
Jan 22, 2025 · 30 min
PODCAST 208 CELEBRATING THE RAILWAY
We welcome Mark Smith, well known as "the man in seat 61" to discuss the bicentenary of the first official railway journey, a gift from the UK to the world. Mark's guide to rail travel is at www.seat61.com And thanks to Roland Lösslein for his photo on Unsplash
Jan 14, 2025 · 30 min
PODCAST 207 Manatees v humanity
We discuss the possible impact on travel to the USA of the impending Donald Trump presidency while Simon reports from Florida on the often fraught interaction between humanity and manatees. With thanks to NOAA for the photo of a manatee and her calf.
Dec 31, 2024 · 28 min
PODCAST 206 NEW YEAR, OLD YEAR
Simon and Mick share their favourite travel moments from 2024- best views, meals and cultural encounters- before looking forward to 2025. Happy New Year, fellow travellers!