Initially through Paul and Polly, then later Greg and now Simon, the Provident team have taken the stress out of creating financial security for my lifestyle aspirations.

Now happily retired and feeling fitter than ever, my gym and pool memberships are fully utlitised, I'm engaging with new friends in hobby classes and local events and my travels post Covid have self activated again.

Recent travel to the Red Centre, and to both Spain and Portugal have be avidly seeking adventurous destinations to talk my breath away long into the future.

Thanks Provident for assisting my 'enjoy factor' and giving peace of mind. Read less

We enjoyed walking and hiking so for each of the countries we visited we had researched interesting walks to do, first in Ireland on the Dingle Peninsula and Mt Brandon, under blue skies in T-shirts and shorts. This Fisherman's Trail on the Algarve coast in souther Portugal was a delight. Constant views over the Atlantic from cliff-top paths with regular steep decents to secluded bays for a swim, through a fishing village or two then a beach-side cafe for lunch, and in this party of Portugal, all with the slight feel of Rottnest, Freo and Margaret River combined for a West Australian traveller.

In the UK, we loved walking a section of the famous south west coast path. This took us along the Dorset coast around the Isle of Purbeck region. We also covered a bit of the Costwold Way around those wonderful named villages, the Lower and Upper Slaughters, and around Broadway. All of this was much need prepration for our bigger hiking challenge in the Dolomite Mountains in north east Italy. It's a place where we've hiked before and we just love it. We stayed in two mountain villages, each for four days, taking chair lifts up to what woud be ski runs in winter but in summer are alpine meadows, ablaze with wildflowers. Dramatic hiking trails took us high into the mountains, one through well preserved WWI tunnels and trenches, sites of the Italian army's battles against Austrian troops. Part of the Dolomites' appeal are its Refugio's dotted at regular intervals on the trails where you can have a beer, classic Italian food or event stay the night.

Next year, the Kimberley Read less