A lovely sunny Sunday so we set off on the trail of more kingfishers.
That’s all for now folks!
The Kingfisher Trail part 2
UK Holidays
The Kingfisher Trail
The Kingfisher Trail is an arts trail of 21 kingfisher sculptures decorated by local artists displayed in and around the Cotswolds.
We made a start on the trail, visiting the kingfishers in our local area.
Hopefully we will visit some of the sculptures that are further afield next weekend.
Look out for more photos!
Carol
Porlock Adventure
Thanks to our good friends we were able to enjoy the beautiful weather over the last few days exploring the Porlock area while staying in their lovely static caravan.
Porlock Holiday Camp is a small, family run site in a beautiful setting overlooking the sea and the hills, close to Porlock centre.
On our first full day we drove along the North Devon coast road, visiting some of the many beaches.
The next day we went on the Lynton and Barnstaple narrow gauge railway. It is a very short return trip from Woody Bay but there are big plans to extend the line.
From there we drove to Lynton and took the water powered funicular cliff railway down into Lynmouth.
On the Sunday we drove across Exmoor to Exford for a lovely Sunday roast at The White Horse.
In the afternoon we visited Greencombe Gardens, home to the largest holly tree in England, situated on the hillside overlooking Porlock.
We had a great time and look forward to visiting the area again. It was lovely be on holiday again, enjoying the normal pleasures we used to take for granted.
Thank you, Jan and Mike.
Off to Norfolk next!
An Abbey, a Steam Train and a Herd of Elephants
Sunday May 9th dawned a beautiful sunny day following a rainy Saturday so we set out for a lovely day in the Cotswolds.
We started near Winchcombe, Cheltenham, at Hailes Abbey. Founded in 1246, this was a centre of monastic life for nearly three centuries.
Not far from the Abbey is Toddington Station on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway, a volunteer operated heritage railway. We stopped for lunch (a bacon and sausage bap) at the Flag and Whistle Cafe, just in time to see a train pulled by a steam engine arrive.
After lunch we carried on to Sudeley Castle and Gardens, now the home of Elizabeth, Lady Ashcombe, and her family. We were particularly keen to see the 30+ life sized elephant sculptures that have made a trail through the gardens.
The elephants form part of the environmental art campaign, CoExistence, which highlights the loss of biodiversity caused by humans as they encroach on wild spaces across the globe.
It was launched by the conservation charity Elephant Family, set up by Lady Ashcombe’s late husband’s nephew Mark Shand, who dedicated 27 years of his life to saving Asian elephants.
The elephants, part of a 100 strong herd, were created in India by the Adivasi tribal community, and are set to transform London’s Royal Parks into the Nilgiri Hills of Southetn India this summer, before migrating further afield to the USA.
We had a lovely day out, beginning to feel that things are slowly getting back to normal and better times are ahead. We have missed travelling, although we know we were really lucky to get to India and Scotland last year.
Over the next few months we are travelling to the Wirral, Knutsford, Porlock, Norfolk and the Isle of Man so hopefully there will be more posts to look forward to!
Enjoy the new freedoms that are coming,
Carol
Sharpness Dock
Today, on the 60th anniversary of the Severn Railway Bridge Disaster, Andy and I went down to the river. The disaster occurred in thick fog. Two barges hit one of the piers on the bridge causing two spans to collapse. Five men died.
While we were there we noticed a ship about to enter the lock and stayed to watch.
The weather changed suddenly, and dramatically and we rushed through the rain to the car.
Until next time,
Carol
Autumn in the New Forest
We travelled to the New Forest for the weekend to meet up with friends we made in India earlier this year.
On the way we visited Stonehenge, one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments. Erected in about 2500 BC it consists of a ring of standing stones.
We carried on to Old Sarum, the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury.
We carried on to the New Forest, a large area of unenclosed pasture, heath and forest. Rights of common pasture are still recognised today and ponies, donkeys and cattle are free to graze all year round.
We enjoyed our visit to the New Forest.
Till next time,
Carol
Scotland Tour – Day 17
We set off back to England via the new Queensferry Crossing across the Firth of Forth, and alongside the route of the re opened Borders railway towards Carlisle. Then the A7 and M6 to Morecambe.
We stopped for the night in Morecambe to break up the long journey from Dundee to Dursley. Also it was nice to revisit a place I visited as a child.
Tomorrow we will be back in Dursley.
Thank you for following, I hope you enjoyed my posts.
Until next time,
Carol
Scotland Tour – Day 16
Today we went to St Andrews to meet up with Ralph and Jean, who we first met on our way to India in February. We had a bracing walk on West Sands, followed by lunch at the famous St Andrews Golf Course.
After lunch we followed the Fife Coastal route, visiting Anstruther,
Pittenween,
and St Monans.
Back in Dundee we went to the Tay Bridge Disaster Memorial. On 28th December, 1879, on a very stormy night, 13 spans in the centre of the bridge collapsed as a train was crossing. Everyone on board perished in the River Tay.
Tomorrow we leave Scotland. Our amazing road trip is nearly over.
Carol
Scotland Tour – Day 15
After an ‘unusually rough’ crossing (according to one of the crew) we arrived safely in Aberdeen. That is not a journey I would want to undertake again!
Now in Dundee for two nights.
More tomorrow
Carol
Scotland Tour – Day 14
Early post today as we are leaving the Shetlands and taking the ferry back to Aberdeen, a 13 hour crossing, including a stop on the Orkneys.
Unfortunately the weather has deteriorated and it is very windy!
The skies were still blue and the sun came out while we visited Jarlshof, a prehistoric and Norse settlement, with evidence of buildings from Iron Ages to the Middle Ages. Very interesting, and we nearly got blown off the cliff!
Aberdeen here we come. Fingers crossed for a not too rough crossing.
Carol