Liz McClarnon creates online community for people who want to travel without flights

Atomic Kitten’s Liz McClarnon has started an Instagram community for people who, like her, want to travel without having to fly.

Singer Liz McClarnon spent years jetting around the world with the Kittens but, after a few bad experiences, became a nervous flyer.

It’s 15 years since she was last on a plane but that hasn’t stopped her sharing trips with her husband, family and friends. Instead she enjoys finding alternative ways to carry on visiting places for work and pleasure.

And, after sharing some on her personal Instagram, she found other people were keen to do it too.

So much so that Liz has set up a new account where she can offer ideas and tips – and hopefully give more people the confidence and some inspiration to look into no-fly options.

She explains: “I did travel as a kid with my family and then with the band especially I was flying a lot. I wasn’t particularly bothered by it for a long time and, even though I had a few bad experiences, I always managed to get past them but one day I just decided I wasn’t going to do it anymore. 

“The first time I booked a no-fly trip myself, I wanted to take my mum away to the south of France so I thought I’d see what I could do. I looked on the internet at different routes and times, worked it out, booked it and it was amazing. We just got on Eurostar, had a little glass of something, then changed in Paris and got on the next train direct.

“Even though obviously it took longer than flying, it felt less like a means to an end and it was so relaxing.”

As Liz started mentioning her trips, she connected with other travellers who also preferred not to fly.

“When I used to say on my own page that I didn’t fly people were really interested and they’d ask me lots of questions so I made a page to show people different routes I’ve done. 

“It’s not meant to be anything huge, but people have just got into it and I think part of the reason is I’m showing them alternative ways to go places. 

“Obviously if you want to go far and wide it’s different, but for a lot of countries it can be quite simple. I think people can be nervous of choosing a different way to travel if they’ve not done it themselves or seen someone else do it so they see these posts and realise it’s actually a lot easier than they might think.”

Liz says she regularly travels via Eurostar, the cross-Channel Shuttle or ferries to get around Europe now. 

“I use Paris and Brussels as the two main gateway stations – Paris if you’re going to other parts of France, Spain or Italy for instance, and Brussels for Germany and the Scandinavian countries. 

“Eurostar can be expensive, but you can get an Interrail pass so if you’re travelling around a lot all you have to do is book your seat, there are new routes launching all the time and it is getting cheaper.

“I also use the Direct Ferries app which is really good for all the ferry options in this country and Europe.”

Her no-fly community isn’t about encouraging people to give up flying altogether, just to consider other options.

“I know a lot of people want the speed of flying,” says Liz. “If you’ve only got two weeks’ holiday and you want to get the kids there as quickly as possible then I get that.

“People aren’t going to stop flying, I’m not saying they should, all I’m saying is if you don’t like it there are alternatives.”

Since she stopped flying 15 years ago, Liz says she’s seen a change in attitudes, not least because people have become more aware of the environmental impact of air travel.

“At the beginning when I’d tell people I don’t fly, I was ridiculed more often than not. There were very few people who said ‘good for you’ but now there are so many more who say they want to do it, even those who enjoy flying. People are definitely more interested in it than they are negative now.

“I also talk a lot with charity Flight Free UK who encourage people to take a flight-free challenge and see what they think because it doesn’t mean we don’t like to travel because we don’t like to fly.”

As her community has grown, Liz says she’s become more and more engaged in helping fellow travellers.

“I’m definitely not a travel consultant, I’m just sharing my experience, but there are still nights when we’ll be having our tea sometimes and I’m on my phone telling a woman about the which sleeper train to get!”

Follow Liz’s No Fly Traveller account on Instagram HERE.

Visit The Guide Liverpool Calendar HERE to see what’s on across the city.