• Holiday 2011,  Travel

    Day 16 – Winchester

    Well yesterday I bought a nice scottish woolen scarf and today the icy winds arrived.Today we head to Winchester via the long way, and the first stop is the Avebury barrow, a earth barrow that would be at least 20 meters high quite amazing to see in a flat field.Next is Stonehenge, the icy wind is blowing as we make our way around the henge and I am glad to have my new scarf on. Lots of people are also doing the anti-clock wise walk around the stones, audio guide to ear. A warming cup of coffee and a bite to eat later and we are on the road to…

  • Holiday 2011,  Travel

    Day 15 – Bristol

    Bath is covered in cloud this morning, we are heading to Bristol today, followed by an afternoon in Bath.The traffic is a bit heavy as we head to Bristol, our first stop is the Clifton suspension bridge, we are lucky and get a park at the start of the bridge, we head to the observation point to get a few snaps before a walk across the bridge, the drizzle comes in and it is a wet trip across the bridge, next it is off to the SS Great Britain, for a visit, we spend an hour exploring the ship from top o bottom.Next it is back to Bath, for a…

  • Holiday 2011,  Travel

    Day 14 – Bath

    Sunshine greets us and it is a short trip to Pontcysylite which is the home of the longest aqueduct in Britain, it is 1007 ft long and 127 ft height and is a one lane river in the sky. A very impressive sight all made from cast steel and sealed with lead. The wind is blowing and the drizzle hits me square in the face as I start out across the Aqueduct, there is a single path on the left side, it is quite interesting in the middle but there is no going back now. Safely across I look back to see my first long boat heading across, a very…

  • Holiday 2011,  Travel

    Day 13 – Wrexham

    Well today we are off to Wales, Wrexham is our final destination today.Due to the bad weather our first stop today is a bit of a back track, we head out of town bound for Hadrian’s Wall, and it is a trip down tight windy tracks, hopping for no farm vehicles coming the other way. We finally arrive at the wall and are greeted with showers, but thankfully they don’t last to long. The wall is amazingly intact in some parts despite it’s age.Next it is off to the Lakes district, the rain is persisting as drizzle as we drive along towards Windermere, a few breaks of sunshine allow for…

  • Holiday 2011,  Travel

    Day 12 – Carlisle

    Today London is forecasted to be the hottest day on record for October, 30 deg, but we are not in London we are in Oban and we are in for rain, rain and more rain.Today we are off to Carlisle in Cumbria, it is going to be a bit of a meandering journey and a long drive but it should be fun.The first attraction on the trip is Loch Lomond unfortunately it is rainy with low hanging cloud which obscures the lovely views over the Loch, it would be a great drive on a sunny day, next we are off to Stirling, the castle is covered in low cloud, we…

  • Holiday 2011,  Travel

    Day 11 – Inverness

    Wet. It has been raining most of the night, but luckily it has eased and after a hearty breakfast we head off for a walk along the river, over the bridge, and around the castle. Today we are off to Oban and so it off along the lochs we head.Loch Ness is first on our trip and it is a nice trip through light rain that finds us Nessy spotting down the loch, next it is a short drive, crossing the Caledonian canal several times, to Loch Lochy. Mmm thoughts of Michael Palin run through my head as we drive along the calm water.Fort William is shrouded in mist and…

  • Holiday 2011,  Travel

    Day 10 – Inverness

    Another sunny day greets us as we rise and think of the highlands. Today we are off to Inverness and we are bathed in sun light as we cross the fourth bridge and head for Perth. Last time I was here I journeyed to Aberdeen but this time I am heading to Inverness via the Grampians. First stop is Perth a lovely town on the river Tay, I have to stop for petrol, and the current price seems to be around 1.30 pounds per litre.We head out of town and head for Pitlochy which is situated on the upper part of the river Tay, it is a picturesque little village…

  • Holiday 2011,  Travel

    Day 09 – Edinburgh

    Yes another sunny day, perfect for walking and so it is off to Calton park to have a look over the city, the climb to the top is rather steep but the view is well worth it. The weather is taking a turn and the wind has picked up and is blowing a gail. Our morning is spent exploring the area around princess street and then back to the car for lunch and to put more money in the machine for parking.The afternoon is spent in a walk up the royal mile to the castle. The mile is full of buskers, most likely left over from the comedy festival and…

  • Holiday 2011,  Travel

    Day 08 – Edinburgh

    Well it is time to point the car north and head for Scotland and today is another sunny day, after taking a walk around Warkworth and a closer look at the castle it is off to Alnwick and then Bamburgh for lunch and more castles this part of Northumberland coast is castle heaven. After having a nice lunch in Bamburgh it is of onto the motorway again heading north.Next stop the border, and the obligatory photo shoots and goodbye Britain hello Scotland.It is a smooth drive into Edinburgh and the hotel is found with ease, we are lucky to get the last park at the hotel. Tomorrow the walking begins.