Big Beach Picnic, Papua New Guinea with Chris Packham, and a journey round Britain from dusk to dawn: Travel agenda

The National Trust is hosting the Big Beach Picnic at 26 venues on 4 July

Shore things

The National Trust is hosting the Big Beach Picnic at 26 venues on 4 July. Events will take place on beaches across England and Wales, from Towan in Cornwall to Robin Hood's Bay in Yorkshire. Activities will include surfing, orienteering, and sandcastle building.

nationaltrust.org.uk/bigbeachpicnic

Mombasa OK

The Foreign Office has taken Kenya's second city off the no-go list. In May last year the government advised against all but essential travel to Mombasa, which had the effect of invalidating the travel insurance of Brits who decided to go there. The city is now regarded as safe.

bit.ly/KenyaFCO

Grain of truth

'Sandgazer' is the new photographic exhibition by the artist Jenny Natusch, featuring close-ups of sand grains from across the globe. View it at the Gallery Print Centre in London's Covent Garden until 10 July (10am-6pm), with some pieces at the SEEART fair in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, next weekend.

sandgazer.com

Insider tips

InterContinental Hotels has launched four new Insider Experiences in Madrid, Berlin, Porto, and Dusseldorf. The new experiences include a classic car tour through Porto, a private tour of the Art Academy Düsseldorf, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Berlin Zoo.

intercontinental.com/insiderexperiences

Fort for the day

The seven Redsand Forts, built in 1942 for anti-aircraft defence in the Thames Estuary, can now be viewed – at least from the outside. Boat trips to these fascinating structures depart most weekends from Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey, price £60 per person.

operationredsandforts.com

Barca bound

Manchester is already connected to Barcelona by Jet2, Monarch, and Ryanair, but this weekend Vueling starts flying the route as well. As with most new services, fares are pitched below the competition to help fill seats – typically under £200 return, less than fares on other airlines.

vueling.com

Get Packham

Steppes Travel has launched a 12-day adventure cruise through remote areas of Papua New Guinea led by Springwatch presenter Chris Packham. The trip departs on 8 November 2016. The price of £10,895 per person includes international flights and a helicopter ride.

steppestravel.co.uk

After dark

At Night is the title of a new book by Dixe Wills, subtitled A Journey Round Britain From Dusk to Dawn (£16.99). The author samples night-time sports events, after-dark rambling, and the Caledonian Sleeper from Fort William to London, as well as the nocturnal wanderings of insomniac Charles Dickens.

theaa.com