Latest news with #WildfootTravel
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
UK's abandoned ghost station frozen in time that Brits queue to see
Once a critical site of polar research, this British base was abandoned for over half a century shortly after opening. Today, it has taken on a second life as a heritage site and tourist hotspot British tourists are travelling in droves to this long-forgotten outpost in the icy wilderness of Antarctica. Abandoned for 60 years, the tourists are describing it as the most haunting time capsule in the southern hemisphere. Tucked away off the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula is Base Y. Constructed in the 1950s, the British base stands as evidence of the country's post-Second World War push for polar research. Operated by what is today the British Antarctic Survey, the base supported meteorological, geological, and glaciological studies and contributed to some of the UK's earliest scientific efforts in the region. But in 1960 — just five years after opening — the base was abandoned. It comes after news that an abandoned UK Butlin's site is now a seaside town's 'hell hole' hotel. Luckily, Antarctica's extreme cold and dry conditions helped preserve the station. Inside, visitors will find neatly stacked mugs, logbooks laid open on desks, and heavy coats left hanging. One visitor noted that the interior 'feels like someone just stepped out for a walk'. Beachgoers left stunned after rare sea creature spotted off British coast Spanish islands fear Brits won't return as tourists are dealt another blow Today, Base Y is listed as a Historic Site and Monument under the Antarctic Treaty, recognised for its cultural value. Small groups of visitors are allowed entry but only under careful supervision. According to Wildfoot Travel, the sudden interest in Base Y signals British travellers shifting interests to prioritise heritage and once-in-a-lifetime destinations. 'Base Y offers a powerful sense of connection — not just to history, but to British resilience and scientific legacy,' said a Wildfoot spokesperson. 1 of 7 UK Antarctic Heritage Trust 2 of 7 Getting there 3 of 7 Remnants of the past 4 of 7 Heritage preservation 5 of 7 Frozen in time 6 of 7 Cost of visiting 7 of 7 Additional activities
Daily Mail
30-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Pilot with 22 years of experience reveals the place he would NEVER go near
A commercial pilot has revealed one destination he steers clear of - despite having over two decades of flying experience under his belt. It's not a lack of experience that had Richard Wells avoiding routes to Antarctica, it's the extreme weather conditions. The 54-year-old retired long-haul pilot, from Kent, spent more than 22 years flying across Europe, Asia and the Americas and has experienced almost every kind of common flight problem, from turbulence to emergency landings. In spite of this, Well draws the line at flying to Antarctica as there are too many risks involved. According to travel guides at Wildfoot Travel, pilots face significant challenges and risks when flying to Antarctica, resulting in many commercial airlines avoiding the route entirely. The primary reasons include a lack of infrastructure, such as airports and emergency landing sites, extreme weather of strong winds, freezing temperatures and low visibility, and the heightened risk of mechanical issues occurring. These combined factors make any flight to Antarctica a high-risk journey, especially for passengers and crew on commercial flights. Wells, who's clocked up over 10,000 flight hours over the years, noted his familiarity with 'mountainous regions, remote islands and tropical storms' but was quick to dismiss Earth's southernmost continent. As reported by the Mirror, he said: 'Antarctica? That's different. Weather changes with no warning, there are no proper runways in most areas, and if something goes wrong - there's no backup. It's not worth the risk.' He added: 'There's no margin for error. The infrastructure is minimal, and even experienced flight crews have limited options if conditions deteriorate mid-flight. That's not something I'd ever gamble with.' While the continent is not a no-fly zone, there are are a limited number of specialised charter flights that operate within Antarctica - though frequent delays and cancellations are common due to little-to-no visibility, whiteouts and high winds.
Daily Record
29-07-2025
- Daily Record
'I'm an experienced pilot but there's one place in the world I would never fly'
Despite decades of flying experience many pilots will refuse to navigate one place A long-haul airline pilot has revealed the one place in the world he avoids. Despite having more than 10,000 flying hours under his belt and two decades of flying experience in places across the globe, he steers clear of one location. Commercial airline pilot, Richard Wells, spent more than 22 years flying across Europe, Asia and the Americas before retiring. But there's a spot on his no-fly list because the conditions are far too extreme. The 54-year-old said he draws the line at flying in Antarctica. According to travel experts from Wildfoot Travel, Richard is not alone. They said that seasoned pilots with vast experience will avoid the area thanks to its unpredictable and unforgiving conditions. Tourists to the area will usually get their own specialised expedition vessels rather than on a commercial aircraft for this reason, reports The Mirror. Richard said he has encountered every type of flight scenario in his time in the skies, but explained why Antarctica is a no go. He said: "I've flown into mountainous regions, remote islands and through tropical storms. But Antarctica? That's different. " Weather changes with no warning, there are no proper runways in most areas, and if something goes wrong — there's no backup. It's not worth the risk. While a limited number of flights do operate into the continent, particularly to King George Island, these are highly regulated and weather-dependent, with frequent delays and cancellations due to sudden whiteouts, high winds, and near-zero visibility. Commercial airline pilots do not fly there. Only highly specialised charter flights or military and scientific missions operate in the region. Richard added: 'There's no margin for error. The infrastructure is minimal, and even experienced flight crews have limited options if conditions deteriorate mid-flight. That's not something I'd ever gamble with.' In addition to visibility and runway issues, the lack of air traffic control, unpredictable jet streams, and absence of emergency diversion routes all add to the risk. Despite the aviation challenges, Antarctica remains a dream destination for thousands of British tourists every year. Wildfoot Travel reports a sharp increase in interest for 2025 departures, especially for those seeking to explore the continent's wildlife, towering glaciers, and surreal landscapes without relying on direct air access. Their most popular options include: Small-ship cruises from Ushuaia, Argentina, crossing the Drake Passage Fly-cruise hybrids, where travellers fly to King George Island and board an expedition vessel Extended voyages including the Falklands and South Georgia, known for penguin megacolonies and elephant seals All itineraries are supported by expert guides, marine biologists, and ice navigation crews trained specifically for polar conditions. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Passengers also benefit from daily landings, often by Zodiac boat, with chances to see Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins, whales, leopard seals, and towering icebergs up close — something impossible to do by air alone. Antarctica is not only the coldest and windiest continent, but also one of the most aviation-unfriendly. There are no large-scale commercial airports, minimal navigation aids, and the environment can shift rapidly with little warning. Extreme temperatures also regularly affect flight instruments and engines, and strong katabatic winds - wind that flows downhill and are caused by gravity pulling higher density air downslope to lower density air - can make landings unsafe with little notice.
Daily Mirror
28-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I'm a pilot with 10,000 flight hours but I won't go near this place'
ccording to Wildfoot Travel, a travel expert, even seasoned pilots acknowledge that the world's southernmost continent presents some of the most unpredictable and unforgiving flying conditions on the planet Despite having over 10,000 flight hours and two decades of global flying experience, one commercial airline pilot says there's one place he still avoids. It's not because of fear of flying, but because the conditions are simply too extreme. The place is Antarctica. According to Wildfoot Travel, a travel expert, even seasoned pilots acknowledge that the world's southernmost continent presents some of the most unpredictable and unforgiving flying conditions on the planet — which is exactly why most tourists don't fly in on commercial aircraft, but arrive by specialist expedition vessels. Richard Wells, 54, is a retired long-haul pilot from Kent who spent over 22 years flying internationally across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. With over 10,000 hours in the air, he's experienced nearly every type of flight scenario — but he draws the line at Antarctica. "I've flown into mountainous regions, remote islands and through tropical storms. But Antarctica? That's different. Weather changes with no warning, there are no proper runways in most areas, and if something goes wrong — there's no backup. It's not worth the risk," he said. While a limited number of flights do operate into the continent, particularly to King George Island, these are highly regulated and weather-dependent, with frequent delays and cancellations due to sudden whiteouts, high winds, and near-zero visibility. Commercial airline pilots do not fly there. Only highly specialised charter flights or military and scientific missions operate in the region. Wells added: 'There's no margin for error. The infrastructure is minimal, and even experienced flight crews have limited options if conditions deteriorate mid-flight. That's not something I'd ever gamble with.' In addition to visibility and runway issues, the lack of air traffic control, unpredictable jet streams, and absence of emergency diversion routes all add to the risk. Despite the aviation challenges, Antarctica remains a dream destination for thousands of British tourists every year. Wildfoot Travel, a travel expert, reports a sharp increase in interest for 2025 departures, especially for those seeking to explore the continent's wildlife, towering glaciers, and surreal landscapes without relying on direct air access. Their most popular options include: Small-ship cruises from Ushuaia, Argentina, crossing the Drake Passage Fly-cruise hybrids, where travellers fly to King George Island and board an expedition vessel Extended voyages including the Falklands and South Georgia, known for penguin megacolonies and elephant seals All itineraries are supported by expert guides, marine biologists, and ice navigation crews trained specifically for polar conditions. Passengers also benefit from daily landings, often by Zodiac boat, with chances to see Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins, whales, leopard seals, and towering icebergs up close — something impossible to do by air alone. Antarctica is not only the coldest and windiest continent, but also one of the most aviation-unfriendly. There are no large-scale commercial airports, minimal navigation aids, and the environment can shift rapidly with little warning. Temperatures regularly affect flight instruments and engines, and strong katabatic winds can make landings unsafe with little notice. All expeditions follow strict IAATO environmental protocols, ensuring safe and responsible tourism in this fragile ecosystem.
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Daily Mail
The world's only place where the sun never sets for two months every year - and how to travel there
From late November until the end of January there's a destination that experiences 24 hours of sunlight. Antarctica is located at southernmost point of the planet and is the least populated continent in the world. The chilly location attracts thousands of visitors a year with its gigantic icebergs and clear waters. Unknown to some, a natural phenomenon happens annually, mostly during Antarctica's summer months where the sun never completely sits below the horizon due to the Earth's tilt. This creates a constantly glowing sky, a natural wonder dubbed the Midnight Sun. Wildlife activity is also enhanced during the enchanting time and elephant seals basking on ice floes are a common sight. Adélie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins tending to their chicks can also be seen. Holiday website Wildfoot Travel described the natural wonder as 'disorienting yet magical'. They said: 'You'll find yourself walking among penguins at 10pm, sailing past glowing blue icebergs well past midnight, or standing on deck as the sky turns gold and pink – and never goes dark. 'It's one of the most disorienting yet magical sensations on Earth.' Interest in visiting Antarctica is 'surging', according to the travel site, and travellers are encouraged to book early, especially for trips during the festive season. The company added: 'For many, it's not just about seeing the wildlife or the scenery – it's about feeling like you're part of a completely different world. 'The Midnight Sun adds a dreamlike quality that you can't get anywhere else on the planet.' Visitors not prepared for the sun never setting often find it difficult to sleep at first or feel confused over what time it is. The travel site recommends bringing a sleep mask to help block out light. Weather appropriate clothes are also recommended with temperatures only as high as -2 to 5 degrees in the summer months. It is advised to stick to a regular schedule, including set times for meals, to help stay regulated during the constant light. Though it isn't a tropical location, sun cream and moisturisers are still recommended because of how much the sun reflects off the ice. The cold temperatures can drain batteries quickly, so extra equipment is also encouraged.
