Category: UK Holidays (Page 3 of 5)

Snowdon Mountain & Llanberis Lake 24.6.24

25 June 2024 / admin

Snowdon Mountain Railway

We have had three previous attempts to visit the Snowdon Mountain Railway. 10 years ago the weather forecast for the following day was poor and we then drove past Snowdon in bright sunshine with the peak clearly visible! A couple of years ago we were returning from Ireland and the booked trip was cancelled ten days earlier as the railway had been unable to complete repairs to the track and the visitor centre.

The sunshine bodes well as we drive to Llanberis first thing on a Monday morning. Even the Ringgo app works first time to pay for the parking and we join the 09:30 departure. Like too many other railways the absence of a proper timetable is an annoyance. In particular I had originally wanted to book the afternoon steam train but it was sold out when I did book – which was fine as it was easy enough to book the morning train – as only one engine was in steam and the other workings are diesel.

Which would be well and good but on arrival there is a second steam engine in steam and which took a steam service up the mountain at a time which was not advertised for booking and would have permitted a leisurely breakfast.

We are pushed to the summit by No 5 Moel Siabod, the locomotive dating back to 1896. Along the way the number of walkers seem high – but it is a bright sunny day – and at the summit itself reaching the top is not easy. It is not just the slightly uneven steps but building works continue eliminating some of the route and the numbers at the top soon fill the available space!

From the top the view is pretty good – we can see northwards but to the south of the peak there is cloud – which is impenetrable! I do not envisage another visit – but at least to see some of the scenery is good. It does mean that the route for the trains is fairly clear and so the views can also be enjoyed on the train returning to the base of the mountain.

As already mentioned a second locomotive, No 6 Padarn which is of the later 1922 batch of locomotives, is also in service today. This is the only one of the later batch of steam locomotives now remaining in service with the other two requiring replacement boilers and therefore now laid aside.

These days, unlike a previous visit many years ago, you now simply walk across the road to the Llanberis Lake Railway which extended here some years. It is quite a contrast – the line must be nearly flat as it progresses along the side of the Lake and passenger numbers are nothing like the Mountain Railway.

Llanberis Lake Railway

It runs down the back of the Welsh Slate Museum where it used to terminate in what is now the car parking area and then runs along the lake – the far end is not at a station, just a run round loop before returning to the picnic area – where it did not stop on the outward journey. The only extension since the previous visit is at the start as previously we had to go in via the Slate Museum (I think) rather than it being a stand alone attraction.

We now meander over to Anglesey where our progress is delayed by major work being undertaken on the Thomas Telford designed Menai Suspension Bridge – all of the suspension is being checked for the first time in many years – Michael Portillo mentioned it when he visited earlier in the year.

Once back at Chateau Rhianfa I seek assistance for the car. It takes a couple of hours before they reach us as their base is so far away. A faulty ABS sensor is likely and all should be well until we are home and it can be replaced.

Bodnant Gardens 23.6.24

24 June 2024 / admin

Bodnant Garden

Our journey is now into North Wales where we plan to spend the rest of the week. We soon gain motorways to leave Manchester behind and then the A55 along the North Wales coast. Much of the rest of the holiday is rail related but today we are visiting Bodnant Gardens which are a part of the National Trust therefore assisting to defray the membership cost previously mentioned.

2024 marks 150 years since Henry Davis Pochin purchased the Bodnant Estate. His wealth came from a process to use china clay to improve the quality of paper, owning South Wales coal pits plus Cornish clay pits which (much later) were acquired by English China Clays. Bodnant Gardens was effectively his retirement project and it subsequently passed to his daughter and her husband who were responsible for funding the travels of plant collectors bringing foreign plants, particularly rhododendrons and magnolias to the estate.

One of the first part of the gardens created was the Laburnum walk , which was part of Pochin garden, where we pause briefly before continuing around the gardens. It is of course a little late for most of the rhododendrons this year – but they were obviously magnificent. The roses are however blooming madly and there is a long walk through the wooded area which given the temperature is welcome.

We stay at the higher levels – it is possible to descend to river level for a better view of the waterfall – but all the paths are marked steeply graded and so we avoid those routes.

When we park I am quite a way up the hill in what appears to be “overflow” parking. When I return it is notable that cars have needed to park much further into the overflow area – so I would on that basis judge it to be a busy day at the Gardens but it never felt crowded or difficult to wander around.

Our destination is Chateau Rhianfa which is on Anglesey as it convenient for the next couple of days. Our bedroom has a view out over the Menai Strait which is the channel between Anglesey and the rest of Wales.

To reach Anglesey we pass over the Menai Bridge. The Menai Suspension Bridge is currently undergoing significant inspection works to ensure that all of the suspension cables and their securings remain safe – after all the bridge, designed by Thomas Telford, opened in 1826. It is Grade 1 listed and carries the local traffic as the main road now runs over the adjacent Britannia Bridge which was designed solely as a rail bridge by George Stephenson and re-engineered following a major fire in 1970 to the current double deck structure.

Coronation Street 22.6.24

23 June 2024 / admin

Weatherfield Precinct

This is our third visit to Coronation Street and our second to Media City having previously visited the earlier set at the Quays. It is our first visit since the most recent set extension covering the famous Weatherfield Precinct and playground which was added to the set about two years ago.

Our tour today starts with the outside of the Tony Warren building – which contains many of the internal sets and externally has the signage associated with Weatherfield Hospital. We then join the main outside set via the Freshco car park – which merely consists of a trolley park these days! Originally filming in Freshco used a local Morrisons supermarket on Sundays.

We then move around to the Weatherfield Precinct and associated shops plus the flats above. One amusing feature is that all of the flats have external doors (with letter boxes) which are visible above the shops along the walkway – but visitors to the flats always enter from the rear of the flat – which appears to be completely impossible as the main door is at the front. Ours is not to reason why!

The playground equipment is made from recycled plastic but does look entirely new and unused – which is not surprising given the very rare appearances of many of the younger children in the programme – Glory, Aled, Bryn, Carys, Lilo, Harry, Bertie and Alfie! As ever access is limited and it is not possible to pass directly in front of the individual shops.

Our tour then moves onto the Police station and then into Victoria Street area which was relatively new on our last visit. The vegetation in Victoria Gardens is particularly verdant (our last visit was in late Autumn) preventing decent photographs of the memorial bench to Martyn Hett and those who lost lives in the Manchester bombing.

Seb Memorial Garden

A Sainsburys / Argos store is coming next door to Hays Travel with past incumbents in this area now being a distant memory. Seb’s memorial garden is a new addition but currently the entrance to the former gym and the builder’s yard are unused with the latter apparently now boarded up. Trim Up North appears closed.

Although Nuttall’s brewery is closed there are still abandoned barrels and no sign of any change whilst there were a couple of StreetCars outside the office. There are few changes obvious along Coronation Street itself since our last visit. Indeed it may even be the same menu outside the Bistro! A few cheeky shots were taken of the Platt garden and around the back of the factory.

The other major addition since our last visit is the internal exhibition which has various costumes on display plus display boards telling the stories of the families and characters past and present. In addition there are internal sets – mainly a mock up of the Rovers and Roys Rolls. Not mentioned in the literature is the Duckworth’s living room with bar – but I have a feeling this may not be as permanent.

Prior to visiting the above addition we also met Alan Halsall who briefly meets the visitors for a photo. He was particularly good with an individual on the tour to whom the Street is obviously a passion. And he is not very tall as he admitted!

Bistro Menu

Our travel to and from Media City was by tram – use the Imperial War Museum stop and it is a short walk past that Museum to the entrance. The return trips on the trams cost a total of £3.10 each – a bargain.

Congleton 21.6.24

22 June 2024 / admin

Little Moreton Hall

Friday 21.6.24

Our UK holiday this year started yesterday with a night at John’s House in Mountsorrel near Loughborough where we ate and stayed in one of the cottages. We enjoyed an excellent meal and the hospitality offered in the cottage was outstanding. I can recommend this as a suitable stopping point on journeys which need a break as well as a decent destination in its own right for dinner.

Today we are heading north towards Didsbury tonight but stopping off near Congleton at Little Moreton Hall. We have recently joined the National Trust as our plans on this holiday will mean that it almost pays for itself. Our onward holiday is to Manchester and then to North Wales and Anglesey for a couple of nights and somewhere along the line some railways.

However the highlight today is allegedly the “wonkiest house” in the country which is located a few miles south of Congleton and apart from encountering the A50 and the delays caused by the roundabouts (all of which need flyovers adding to ease traffic flow).

Construction of the Hall commenced before 1450 with William Moreton adding significantly from 1500 onwards. There were earlier buildings on the site. The family at this stage were growing in wealth and continually adding to their land estates and so whilst the house commenced small the family kept adding to it. The extensions were to build a larger house and then to form buildings on three sides of the small courtyard. Finally in common with other grand houses the family added a long gallery as a third floor running the length of the newer extension – but this gallery was not as wide as the floors below so the weight was not carried on the external walls. A slate roof added weight estimated at 32 tons to complete the structure. This was added in 1570-1580 marking a high water in the family fortunes.

A fuller description is held in the Official Listing.

Being on the wrong side in the Civil War cost the family the accumulated fortune and much of the estate was sold to buy the freedom of William Moreton III. In the early Twentieth Century attempts were made to stabilise the structure and to restore it and it passed to the National Trust in 1937 who have in recent years spent a small fortune to seek to prevent further movement.

From Little Moreton Hall we headed further north to Didsbury for a couple of nights. In the evening we dined at Adam Reid at the French – a restaurant inside the Midland Hotel. Absolutely stunning meal plus some good wines. The team here are young and very talented – and the service is excellent.

Amberley / Arundel Castles

12 April 2024 / admin

Tulips Arundel Castle

Sussex Castles 9 & 10 April 2024

The prime reason for this expedition was to see the tulips at Arundel Castle where for some years they have been holding a tulip festival to show off the grounds where they have planted huge numbers of the said flowers and have been producing a riot of colour.

A secondary reason is that following write-ups some years ago staying at Amberley Castle has long been something we have wanted to do. And the two castles are within about 5 miles of each other – so it is possible to cover two targets with a single return journey over some very potholed roads. One of the latter was so large in Petworth that if the car had gone into it the TT would have vanished. It is round a corner so is not visible – but it is very deep. I also found out about some others not so deep – but still capable of shaking the car badly.

it is not quite warm enough to have the top down but it is a pleasant drive down to West Sussex and the TT’s satnav takes us along a narrow village road before delivering us to the first castle at Amberley. Originally the Palace of the Bishop of Chichester there has been an excellent conversion to a hotel and our room was well appointed but oddly (as far as I could find) lacking a ‘fridge. However we can for once sit down and catch up on some reading and the wifi certainly seems to be working.

Drinks before dinner are slightly marred by the waiter slipping in some way and covering his lovely bright blue suit with sherry and probably some beer. Not a great start to the evening. The menu looked interesting but for reasons best known to others there was a distinct lack of taste. On departing for our room Jackie was asked for feedback and the following morning the Restaurant Manager came to see us at reception, acknowledged her concerns and indicated that steps were underway to change the menu and the offering with improvement being the aim. The surroundings are superb and at the time we both felt that the food did not match, so hopefully it soon will. Breakfast is excellent.

Fitzalan Chapel Arundel Castle

Our destination is soon reached and we park across the road from the entrance to Arundel Castle. The secret for people of our age is to take the golf buggy to the gardens which are at the highest point (apart from the historic Castle Keep) and to go around the gardens and then slowly descend visiting the other parts of the castle as you walk back down the hill. Of course we only find out about this service as the buggies descend the hill whilst we walk up it!

Tulip display Arundel

The beds and displays are simply magnificent. The festival dates are always slightly variable and we had booked on guesswork that by now they would be in bloom – the commencement date this year was 1 April and it runs for around three weeks – so it would have been disappointing if it was not happening now.

Private Chapel Arundel Castle

Once we have walked around the gardens we start back down the path and into the main house. To my memory despite it not being that far from home I do not think that I have ever visited the Castle and we do the complete tour – including the Keep and the bedrooms. The Dukes of Norfolk have for a very long time been important in the Royal Court and the current Duke was deeply involved in planning the King’s Coronation.

I had not perhaps realised how magnificent Arundel Castle is – it is on a par with Castle Howard in many respects and that comes as a little of a surprise to me as I had assumed Howard stood alone – but seemingly not.

East Kent 20-22 March 2024

23 March 2024 / admin

Dover Castle

20-22 March 2024

Back in 2020 we had a holiday based in New Romney and during that trip had an excellent tea at the Hythe Imperial hotel (in the garden due to covid) and promised ourselves a return visit as the place looked interesting plus there are a couple of restaurants in the area which deserve sampling.

A midweek special offer finally lands and gets booked for two nights including dinner on one night, which we have tonight (20 March) following our drive along the M3, M25 and M26.

The dinner is excellent and we are a little bit surprised as it is better than we expected. Additionally the food is served hot which means that even when reaching the end of each course it has not gone cold. Equally welcome the hot elements of breakfast are warmer in the repositories than normal. If they can do it why not everywhere else?

With the railway running season not yet having started our choices today are limited and we did the zoo last time so this time we are going to Dover Castle (21 March).

There are numerous elements but we restrict ourselves to the WWII tunnels which largely tell the story of Dunkirk and the vast troop numbers which the small ships managed to bring across the Channel. I just wonder how the influx of demoralised troops were able to reach their own regiments again. I suppose each regiment had a nominal base and ways were found.

Henry II Tower Dover Castle

I also visit the Henry II tower. Henry ruled much of Western France following his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine. In his own right he held England, Normandy, Anjou, Maine and Touraine and on marriage added Aquitaine. He maintained control by regularly visiting those lands – so they were regular visitors to the Castle on journeys to and from the continent. Consequently having a suitably royal stopping place here was essential.

Hide and Fox Menu

Dinner this evening (21 March) is at the Hide and Fox which is holding a wine evening. The restaurant is a taxi ride out of Hythe to Saltwood – a small place up on the hill above Hythe. The food is excellent. Our chosen date was also a special wine evening and it is pleasing to see an obviously good restaurant full with all tables taken and appreciation for the team.

Moving on to Friday 22 March our return home commenced by a gentle journey to Bridge and the Bridge Arms for lunch. Another excellent meal – the team are also responsible for the Fordwich Arms at Fordwich which we visited back in 2020 and the place steadily fills up whilst we are eating.

The journey home is marred by serious traffic delays. The exit from the M2 to the A249 is closed with little warning. It is therefore not a surprise when the junction for the A229 is causing huge traffic delays. So we then head to the M25 and do well for a while – but once the M26 and M25 merge we are then in solid traffic with overhead displays requiring lower than normal speeds and yet there is nothing to justify the reduction. Inevitably the A3 junction roadworks cause even more delays, so a nice simply journey takes nearly an hour longer than planned. Typical of simply trying to get out and about these days.

Cotswolds 1-3 November 2020

5 November 2020 / admin

Broadway Tower 2.11.20

2020 will be remembered as the year of covid – and we are once again lucky. With some freedoms currently in place we have been able to book a couple of nights at a hotel which has long been on my wish list to visit – The Lords of the Manor in Upper Slaughter. The hotel is one of the bastions of the Country House Hotel movement – with a reputation that was strong in the last century and whilst it might not currently meet the highest heights in those terms it remains a beautiful place to visit.

Bourton on the Water Model Village 2.11.20

Obviously we have the disbenefit of short days and that simply means we can spend more time in the comfort of the hotel. We only have one complete day and we drive over to Bourton-on-the-Water as it is probably half a century since I visited the model village and it is a pleasant way to spend some time wandering around looking at the detail – which includes a model of the model village which also includes a model of the model village.

The other local attraction is Broadway Tower which is open. However visiting numbers are limited and we are asked to wait outside – which would be well and good if it was not a very cold wind blowing. Jackie returns to the car whilst I do go around the Tower.

There are two dining rooms at the hotel – the Dining Room and the Atrium so we use the opportunity to dine in each of them once. Both excellent and our only concern is an individual coughing throughout the evening in the Atrium. But if covid germs were disseminated none reached us and laid us low.

Cumbria 1.10.20

2 October 2020 / admin

Red squirrel 1.10.20

Today is our final day in the Lake District before we return home. So some final experiences. There are some further passes to traverse. Heading via Keswick we then head south past Derwent Water and then over the Honister Pass – negotiating which is made interesting when we encounter a bus service coming from the other direction.

Our road then skirts Buttermere and Crummock Water. After another couple of miles we make a sharp turn to the right taking the B5292 which passes through Whinlatter Forest and the Whinlatter Pass.

It is a devious route to find our luncheon dining spot – the Cottage in the Wood. A well known fact is that whilst the foreign grey squirrels, introduced in 1876 from North America, have largely ousted the native red squirrel in most of the country one of the outposts where the red retain control is the Lake District. Until today, as far as I was concerned, this was unproven.

Squirrel in box 1.10.20

The management of the Cottage in the Wood have taken steps to encourage the local squirrels to entertain diners and there are a number continuously scampering around outside the restaurant and we have an excellent view of events through the window.

Peacock 1.10.20

On return to our lodge some of the local wildlife is wandering around between the lodges and whilst the peacock did not give a demonstration of plumage it remains colourful.

Come 2 October it was time to drive home – the usual progress along the M6 and the M40 to get ourselves home. Something like 300 miles and rather more than 5 hours whichever route we take.

Cumbria 30.9.20

1 October 2020 / admin

The holiday plan for this day indicated that we were going to travel on Lake Windermere and then on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. However I have absolutely no photographs of the day at all (and have double checked). After looking carefully I have reached the conclusion that as we had been busy all week we actually stayed in the Lodge during the day only going out in the evening.

In the evening we visited the Lake Road Kitchen which is another excellent restaurant. The only drawback is the relatively long drive back to our lodge at Calthwaite – it is about an hour and marks a slight drawback to this week.

Cumbria 29.9.20

30 September 2020 / admin

Lowther Castle 29.9.20

Having had a day of trains and road passes when I planned this today was intended to be no great drive. All will become clear.

Not that far from where we are staying is Lowther Castle – and from the angle above it may not be immediately obvious that it is a ruined castle. It was finished in 1685 but was closed by the owner in 1935, the contents were sold in 1947 and the roof removed in 1957. Hugh Lowther, the 5th Earl of Lonsdale, had no children and lived a fairly extravagant life selling off other properties to fund it.

The 6th Earl inherited on the death of Hugh in 1944 and this led to the forced sale mentioned of the contents. The next inheritor was faced with £25M in death duties which led to the removal of the roof and a concentration on the farming aspects of the Estate. In recent years a decision has been taken to rewild much of the estate.

Inside Lowther Castle 29.9.20The house opened to public visits following some restoration in 2011 – at a cost of £9m on conversation. That work continues and it is a fascinating site with much of interest in the gardens.

Rose Garden 29.9.20

There are various summerhouses, a Japanese Garden and a rose garden which has a huge number of roses – September is not a good time for seeing this but the area covered is hard to believe.

The Lost Castle 29.9.20

Deep in the Castle Grounds there is the largest wooden playground in the Country in the form of The Lost Castle which was added in 2016. it is a hand built playground and the timber was sourced from within 11 miles – and whilst not intended for adults it is an amazing walk.

Lunch today is at the Punchbowl Inn. And here is where my careful plans fell apart. It seems that there are two Punchbowl Inns. The famous one (and the one where we are booked for lunch is at Crosthwaite near Kendal. There is also one in Askham which is actually close to Lowther Hall. So when doing final checks I realise that we have to go something like 42 miles each way – much of it motorway. I was very grateful when my wife kindly offered to do some driving today.