Sometimes when I take out small groups on guided tours around southern England, I get to go to places that I haven’t been too but have often wanted to go. It’s like those lucky people who love movies and get to work at film studios or animal lovers who get to become vets. There are… Continue reading The magic of Avebury Stone Circle and Lacock Abbey
Tag: national trust
The English Landscape Garden
Given that it’s Easter time, the traditional beginning to the summer season in the U.K., it means that I’m once again able to enjoy the countless country gardens around and about. Many have seen our gardens on various TV shows and movies and they set the image of what people around the world imagine Britain… Continue reading The English Landscape Garden
Eyam – The Plague Village of Self Sacrifice
Of all the posts I have written in the last year or so, one of the most popular has been on The Black Death or The Plague as it is known. This week it was revealed the archaeological work continues right beneath the streets of one of the busiest parts of London with the graves… Continue reading Eyam – The Plague Village of Self Sacrifice
In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia
Hopefully you will have read the previous post about the classic epic movie, Lawrence of Arabia, it’s not entirely necessary but it sets this post in perspective. I came to Lawrence through the film and after watching it, you do get a good idea of what he must have been like. Lawrence was also a… Continue reading In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia
Calligraphy: The Art of writing or why I bought a Fountain Pen
I don’t know about you but I hate pens. Not all pens but just the cheap throw-away biro type pens that we all seem to have to endure these days. The sort of pens that 20 years ago would be attached to the end of a chain at banks or medical practices. Sufficient to write… Continue reading Calligraphy: The Art of writing or why I bought a Fountain Pen
All about Attingham Park (and Croft Castle too)!
Today my blog returns us to the green hills of Shropshire and our final full day of our holiday towards the end of September. We chose to spend our day at Attingham Park, a grand house a few miles east of Shrewsbury. Compared to the houses we had visited earlier, Attingham seemed to be on… Continue reading All about Attingham Park (and Croft Castle too)!
The Mappa Mundi and the chained library at Hereford Cathedral
Wednesday saw the promise of better weather and so we chose it to go on our furthest trip, down the A49 to the city of Hereford in the neighbouring county of Hereford. It was a 35 mile drive through valleys and over hilltops but generally as we left Shropshire the land became flatter though none… Continue reading The Mappa Mundi and the chained library at Hereford Cathedral
Berrington Hall
Monday was our first proper day of the holiday and it had been raining all night and though by mid-morning we were down to drizzle, it was definately still wet. As this was never planned to be a sunshine and beach sort of holiday we had already researched some places to see. England is fortunate… Continue reading Berrington Hall
A lakeside walk
Following the culture and forests of the last few days yesterday we decided to do a nice steady lakeside walk. We decided to go to Wast Water which is much less touristic than other lakes with no villages, paddle-steamers or through roads to distract us. I have been carrying an injury the last few weeks… Continue reading A lakeside walk