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Exploring the British Isles
  • The Rushs Adventures
sep. – okt. 2018

Exploring the British Isles

En 42-dags äventyr från The Rushs Adventures Läs mer
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  • Resans start
    1 september 2018
    The Rushs AdventuresExploring the British IslesResenär

    Singapore

    2 september 2018, Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Our second big adventure has begun. Left New Zealand at 10 50 am and arrived in Singapore at 5 30 (10 half hours later). Checked in at Holiday Inn, Clarke Quay and headed out. The temperature was amazing-just so warm and balmy. Wandered around Clarke Quay, enjoyed our first drink and then boarded a lovely open deck boat for the river cruise. First impressions are that Singapore is beautiful, clean and full of atmosphere.Läs mer

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    SINGAPORE 2

    3 september 2018, Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    A beautiful but exhausting day exploring Singapore. Woke early and headed out in the thunderstorms for breakfast only to find most places not opening until 12 on Sundays. Wandered all the way to Marina Bay and Starbucks for coffee. Decided to keep walking over to the Singapore Flyer (wheel). Spectacular views and rain had stopped. Caught Hop on Hop Off Bus to China Town. Explored the market and ate yummy lunch. Walked back to our hotel for a shower and a short rest which was just as well as still had heaps of sight seeing and walking ahead of us. Couldn’t believe it to find a cafe across the road based on Friends so just had to stop for a drink. David was in his element and I told him it was the treat I’d been promising him for Fathers Day. The cafe was full of memorabilia from the show, even Rachael’s wedding dress. Caught bus to Marina Bay Sands. Wandered into the hotel foyer which was amazing. Then walked down to Gardens by the Bay. The walkway in the treetops was great and the gardens were stunning and the extra money we paid for the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest was money well spent. Both were gorgeous with the most beautiful and extravagant garden displays. We left there at 6 pm and walked a very long way back to Boat Quay where we both settled for a burger and a drink before our walk back to the hotel. Finished our night sitting on the riverside steps watching another night of huge activity on the water.Läs mer

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    Last day Singapore

    4 september 2018, Singapore ⋅ 🌧 24 °C

    Another early rise. Not good at sleeping in when there is so much to see and do! Had lovely hotel breakfast before walking to the Orchard Rd district for some shopping. Mall after mall and seemed there was a huge demand for active wear judging by how many sports shops there were. Walked back to the hotel before catching taxi to the zoo which was about 40 minutes from town and involved driving through some long road tunnels. The landscape changed to thick lush bush and the zoo was set amongst it. The river cruise was cool. Went in little boats similar to those in theme parks. The commentary pointed out the animals but you did have to be quick to spot them. Then had time for a walk around and definitely the highlight was the manatees, which are huge water mammals similar to sea lions but covered In fine hair and very playful. Had a bite to eat there and then set off at 8 pm on the night safari. It was a walk all round the zoo in the dark but all set up for viewing and most animals quite active. A highlight was the pack of hyenas. Wasn’t so keen on seeing a large rat on the path though! Got the Hop on Hop Off Bus back and an unplanned tour of Singapore as it did every detour possible. Pleased to get back to the hotel as knew we would be up at 5 15 am.Läs mer

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    Singapore to London

    4 september 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Taxi to the airport to find plane delayed for an hour due to thunder, lightening and heavy rain. Finally left at 10am. Was pleased to get on the plane but novelty quickly wore off. 13 hour’s later we arrived at Heathrow! All went smoothly there apart from bag pick up which was chaotic as they were removing bags from the carousel and stacking them around the area to make room for more, everyone was slightly panicking and roaming around searching. Spotted ours reasonably quickly. Were on the underground in no time at all (useful to have done it before) and at Holiday Inn Kensington by 7. Quickly refreshed and out heading through lower Kensington where we shared a pizza. Wandered up to Harrods to find it still open. Spent an hour wandering around and in their souvenir shop. Saw some beautiful things and loved watching who was shopping there. Wandered back via The Stanhope Arms where we finished the night with a drink.Läs mer

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    London Day 2

    6 september 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    A wonderful day in London. Just love this city. Still woke early despite need for sleep! Set off for lovely walk through Hyde Park. Spent considerable time spotting squirrels which we love, so cute and friendly! Came out at Hyde corner and made our way to Buckingham Palace for our tour of the staterooms. It too was excellent. The audio guide was particularly useful and easy to navigate. It was so beautiful and finished with scone, cream and strawberries in the cafe overlooking the royal gardens. Wandered back through the gardens (more squirrels, but no royals) and headed to West Minster Abbey. That too was amazing and again the audio guide was useful. No photos allowed though but David did get one at the door. We then caught the tube back to our hotel where we had a rest before dressing up for our night out. Headed by tube to Covent Garden and looked at markets before enjoying a nice drink at bar there. We then found a great restaurant for dinner. By then the streets were becoming quite busy and the atmosphere was great. We headed round the corner to the Aldwych Theatre to see The Tina Turner musical. Wow, definitely a highlight of the trip so far. It was so good- best musical we have been to. The lead was an incredible singer and dancer and her energy was exhausting. The music was wonderful and everyone was up singing and dancing for last few songs. We made our way back by tube with no trouble and the words of “Simply the Best” buzzing in our heads.Läs mer

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    London Day 3

    7 september 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Headed off to the Natural History Museum which was about a 10 minute walk from the hotel. It is an incredibly huge and beautiful building and entry was free. We spent three hours here wandering the many halls looking at the exhibits. All so beautifully displayed and the atmosphere was lovely. Thousands of people but calm, quiet and families (mainly preschoolers ) everywhere. We left to catch the tube to Notting Hill and Portobello Rd. Enjoyed a drink and very small plate of fries at old pub and then looked around the quirky shops full of jewellery, antiques and souvenirs. Surprised to find the shop people not very friendly or enthusiastic. Searched for the blue door from Notting Hill movie as the book shop has gone. Found the door but can’t believe that was the one as just like any other doorway and led to an alley. Caught the tube to Bond St station and separated to look around the shops there, including Selfridges. So many people and difficult to make your way down the footpath. Decided to walk back to our hotel via Hyde Park. Turned into a very long walk due to a wrong turn but enjoyable despite a few spits of rain. Finally arrived in South Kensington just 10 minutes from the hotel. Found a very cool restaurant The Honest Burger where we ate dinner. Pleased to get back to our room and in bed by 8.30 pm.Läs mer

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    London to Bakewell

    8 september 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    We left our hotel and caught tube to Heathrow where we were picking up the rental. Arriving at Heathrow we navigated through numerous escalators, lifts and travelators to finally catch shuttle to Avis site. It took about an hour and was a frustrating process made more testing by some very vocal and pushy Americans. Finally drove out of Heathrow(thank goodness for the GPS) heading for Oxford. My research had already told me that it was impossible to get a park in Oxford so we located one of serval Park and Ride services. What a great set up. Parked the car for 2 pounds and then boarded a bus for the centre of town (about 15 minutes). The drive in was itself beautiful but the town was spectacular. So much amazing architecture and a lovely atmosphere due to their being few cars! We bought Pret A Manger bread rolls and sat in a church yard eating them. We wandered around until 4 when we caught the bus back to the car. So pleased we made this stop. Only surprise was that there were very few students to be seen (maybe they just didn’t look like our students or else it was the holidays). The motorway from Oxford to turn off to Bakewell (2 half hours) was horrendous as Friday night traffic had built up. It was multi-lanes and seemed to be swells of even more traffic every time we were near exits to the big cities. Traffic was almost at a standstill in some places. Took all our patience and concentration. Finally (after only one wrong turn) turned off for Bakewell and drove for another 30 miles through winding narrow roads and numerous little villages. Arrived feeling exhausted and then had to find a park. The house was up on a steep hill and all the parking was permit only. We drove further up and finally did locate a spot. Then had to walk down to Cheryl’s cottage which was gorgeous but would definitely rate as a “small house”. She was out but had recommended a pub to eat at. We found The Manners easily and had a table in the snug. Had the best meal of our trip including some beautiful fresh vegetables cooked to perfection. We really were hungry and ordered the dessert which was one of the best I’ve ever had- a hot cookie cooked in a little pan served with salted caramel ice cream. Such a treat after a long day!Läs mer

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    Cottage with open fire in Bakewell

    Bakewell to Whitby via York

    9 september 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Really loved our time in Bakewell. Cheryl was a friendly host and her house was so quaint. She put on a good breakfast for us and David then retrieved the car from up the hill. Packed it up and located car park in town. The town was gorgeous especially the river with its large fish, swans, ducks and two beautiful bridges. We looked around the shops and bought two small Bakewell puddings from one of several shops selling them. We then headed off towards York but following the route suggested by Cheryl which kept us off the motorway and took us past Chatsworth House. We paid to enter the grounds, but not the building as so expensive. The grounds themselves were amazing and hard to believe it is owned by a private family, the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. We carried on towards York through numerous little villages. By this time the rain had set in but luckily we were in the car! Found another park and ride at York and decided to use it. This time it was free parking with the ride into town. York was amazing even in the rain. We quickly found the Jorvik Centre (Viking Museum) and almost decided against going in as it was already 4pm and we had to queue in the rain. So pleased we persevered as once inside we boarded a ride which took us around an amazing Viking display of a town as it was. The figures, all moving, and the sounds, were so lifelike. It was just so cleverly put together. We were pleasantly surprised to find on leaving that the rain had stopped. We spent the next hour roaming around, viewing The York Minster, the wall and The Shambles. Amazing history everywhere. We were back at the car by 5 45. Headed off and again pleasantly surprised to find the motorway was small and not that busy. Our drive took us up over the Yorkshire moors with its low cloud and expansive views of the surrounding area. We arrived in Whitby at 7 and were greeted by the most amazing view of the old town as we crossed the bridge. We followed the directions for finding the house and a carpark, both with great difficulty as the street was not on the GPS since you can’t drive on it and the parking was horrendous. Paid for a 24 hour park and then dragged our luggage about 10 minutes along the cobbled street. Knew there was reason I wanted to be fit before we left! Once again the cottage is gorgeous and very small. We are very close to the main area so walked down for dinner and a wee stop at a bar on the way home. Went to bed with the sound of loud seagulls outside.Läs mer

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    6a Henrietta Street.11

    Whitby

    9 september 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    A wonderful day in Whitby. Warm and windy as we set off to locate a laundromat, due to there being no anticipated washing machine at the cottage. Walked about 25 minutes to the one we knew of and left our machine going while we had a coffee down the road. 30 minutes later and it was all done! Returned to set it up to dry before heading off for a walk up the 199 steps to the Abbey. The audio guide at the abbey was excellent and the scenery stunning. We stopped at the White Horse and Griffin for a drink before heading to the Captain Cook museum. It was in his original lodgings and very nicely laid out within the house. We left there for a fish and chip lunch (every restaurant specialises in them!) Numerous pirates were around including a couple with two brightly coloured parrots. The streets were so busy with people everywhere. We then made our way back to the cottage for a lovely rest and some downtime. We headed out again at 5 and topped our walking steps up to 20504 as we walked along the Whitby cliff tops and along the pier. Dinner was in the tiny pub at the end of our street overlooking the port. Whitby is a beautiful town, so full of character and seaside atmosphere.Läs mer

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    Whitby

    10 september 2018, England ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    Well what a bonus the extra day in Whitby was. Last night as we packed for Edinburgh we realised we had another night here! Got up a bit later and headed off in the car. Stopped for coffee and one of “ Dotty’s fruit scones’ at Staithes, a gorgeous little town on the coast north of Whitby. Best scones ever! Carried on up the coast to Middlesbrough to visit cousin Jane and her daughter. Over 30 years since I had seen her and was so pleased we went. Left there for the drive back over the North Yorkshire moors to Goathland, the location of Heartbeat and The first Harry Potter movie. The drive was up and down very narrow country roads and was very picturesque . Goathland was just beautiful with Aidensfield Hotel, complete with sheep wandering loose on the road outside, and the railway station straight from both. We were lucky to be there just as the steam train arrived. Such atmosphere! We carried on to Scarborough but it was a complete surprise, firstly because of its size( 600 000 people live there) secondly we were in the 5 pm traffic and thirdly it seemed pretty unattractive and hard to see its appeal. We drove on to another beautiful spot, Robin Hood’s Bay where we had dinner. This would be a good place to explore further in the daytime. Have re-checked our schedule and know we are off to Edinburgh tomorrow!lLäs mer

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    1View from 107 High Street

    Whitby to Edinburgh

    11 september 2018, Skottland ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    Sadly left Whitby as have loved it. Set off for Corbridge in an effort to avoid the motorway. Stopped at a Roman archeological site outside Corbridge which was interesting. It was just like the sites David watches on Time Team. Very interesting. Stopped at a small tea rooms in the town for lunch and a walk around the lovely village shops. Carried onto Jedburgh where we walked around the abbey which was the feature of the town. Our drive to Edinburgh was uneventful, apart from stopping on the border where a lovely Scotsman took our photo despite the strong winds. We easily found Staiton Park and Drive. Our plan was to leave the car here for three days( no fee) and catch bus into the city as no parking near our accommodation.The first bus wouldn’t take us with our luggage but the second did and we were in town in less than 30 minutes. The hardest part of the day was carrying our luggage up 6 stories to our apartment. It was a nice surprise to arrive there and find it is lovely with all we need. The view out the window is great down onto the main thoroughfare which is called The Royal Mile. Definitely would never have been able to find parking though. We headed straight out and walked around the corner to find Grey Friars Bobby, a statue of a little dog, which can bring luck when its nose is rubbed. We ended up eating at the bar beside it with the same name. Were happy to have one more stop at a bar before heading to bed.Läs mer

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    Edinburgh

    12 september 2018, Skottland ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Explored Edinburg today. Started off on Hop on Hop Off Bus and so useful for getting our bearings. Got off at Edinburgh castle and it was amazing. Had audio guide which was useful. Crowds of people were there and the views down over the city were lovely. We left there for Carlton Hill which also gave amazing views over the city. David not so keen to do Alfred’s seat which was much higher and required a long uphill walk. Instead settled for some shopping in main shopping area. Boarded the bus for return journey to High street via parliament buildings and Holyrood. After a quick refresh we headed off to Grassmarket for dinner at an Italian restaurant. Finished our evening back at Sandy Bells for the live music. Luckily found a seat and enjoyed listening to the four piece band ( maybe 5 if you counted the banjo player in the corner!)Läs mer

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    Edinburgh

    14 september 2018, Skottland ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Interesting day in Edinburgh yesterday. Got up later and headed off to town. Found a tour we were interested in so booked to do it at 12 15. It was Mary King’s Close. It took us underground to a warren of hidden streets from the 17th century and lived in until the end of the 1800s. The guide was excellent and the streets so narrow and steep. We learned a lot about Mary Queen of Scots as well as the plague. We also visited St Giles Cathedral in the centre of town. It was truly beautiful. When we arrived back on the street we found Rose Street where David was able to get new battery for watch and a repair on his jersey. We then wandered for some time mainly trying to find a bus to Leith to see the royal yacht Britannia. Did not find the bus drivers helpful or friendly but finally sorted it and headed out to the seaside area of Leith. The yacht tour started with afternoon tea in the tea rooms on board. All very lovely - yet another scone! The yacht was so interesting. Lots of photos of the royal family over the years and got to see into every room just as it was, even the bedrooms. We loved that. Made our way back into town and headed out to meet Eimear and Craig McCallum, my Irish relation and her husband. Had lovely evening with them. Only dampener has been David not being 100 percent. The hacking cough has turned into a big cold. Will be looking for a decent pharmacy today.Läs mer

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    Edinburgh to Inverness

    14 september 2018, Skottland ⋅ 🌫 9 °C

    Well what a great day. David awoke with dreadful cold and miserable but we packed up and caught bus around the corner to Straiton where the car was parked. Relieved to see it still there and no parking fine. Free parking for three days! Could never have had the car in town. Leaving Edinburgh was itself stunning as we crossed the Queensferry Crossing across the Firth of Forth-an amazing long bridge only opened last year. It is the longest bridge of its type in the world. We headed off towards St. Andrews. To my relief found a lovely pharmacist at St Andrews who was able to give David some relief-and advice. We then headed for the highlight of David’s trip - St Andrew’s Golf Course. It was a beautiful spot and we wandered around before heading into the golf shop. He will be looking good on the Tinwald Course! We left there and stopped not far away at a cool farm shop and cafe. Bought some lovely bits for our dinner, including a pot of “Hough” traditional Scottish meat paste, and had lovely lunch there. It left Maggie Beer’s for dead! I then took over the driving and what a drive. It was amazing. The road took us up over many hills and mountains, through ski fields and through villages. Just loved it. Even with the added challenge of at least 200 cyclists on a charity ride on mainly one lane roads. It was a very long trip but the scenery really was spectacular. We stopped at Braemar for a coffee in very old fashioned tearooms. It was another hour onto Inverness which is about the size of Timaru. Wandered around the corner for a lovely drink in a very local pub. We are now back at our third “small” home and after all my driving David is putting together a lovely platter from the farm shop. Cooking up some broccoli as determined to cure his bugs- and not catch them!Läs mer

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    Muirtown Apartment - note pub across the road!

    Inverness

    15 september 2018, Skottland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    A lovely relaxing day spent exploring Inverness. What a lovely place with beautiful river and green spaces. We loved this after Edinburgh. Up early and David has improved overnight. Off on the Jacobite Loch Ness Tour at 10 30. We enjoyed the commentary of the bus driver out of town to a spot where we boarded the Jacobite Warrior boat which took us out over Loch Ness. At that point the weather was cloudy but it improved and the sun came out. Fresh enough though as we sat out on the open deck. Sadly no sign of Nessie. Got off up the Loch At Urqhart Castle. It was truly beautiful as we roamed around the ruins. Peaceful and photo opportunities at every corner. We boarded the bus again and were taken to the Loch Ness Centre and exhibition. This too was excellent with lots of short movies with its information about the Loch Ness Monster. We again boarded the bus for the ride back into town. We arrived back at 2 and found some lunch. Was surprised my Caesar Salad came with chicken, bacon and black pudding! Not sure about their claim as the best cafe in Inverness! We walked through the streets and over the swaying bridge to the apartment where we took a break. Headed out at 4 30 for a beautiful walk along the river which again was gorgeous. We stopped at a very noisy bar for a drink before heading back. Dined later at a lovely bar around the corner with a great menu. Couldn’t believe it was where we had stopped last night as the clientele were unrecognisable. It was much quieter and we ate well. Have an early start tomorrow though as have to be on Fort William by 10 to catch the train to Malaig.Läs mer

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    Inverness to Luss

    17 september 2018, Skottland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    An action packed day. Up very early as had to pack up and leave for the drive down the side of Loch Ness and over to Fort William which was about 2 hours. Once there we caught the Harry Potter steam train for Mallaig at 10 15. Everyone boarding was excited and the train was full. The trip to Malaig was 2 hours and just so relaxing and full of atmosphere, mainly steam! The line travelled along the coast, through bush and around lochs. The highlight was going over the Glenfinnan Viaduct from the movie, although tricky to get a good photo as everyone trying to do the same. We left the train in Mallaig for a lovely lunch in typical Scottish hotel before wandering around the village and fishing wharf. Got back on the train at 2 10 for the return journey. Our trip was made even more pleasant by the young couple sitting opposite who were from Austria and on their honey moon. They spoke excellent English and were very interesting to chat to especially as the girl had been a Bosnian refugee as a child. She had a fascinating life story. We arrived back at Fort William for our two hour trip to Luss at the bottom of Loch Lomond. The journey began with the most beautiful views as we headed up over the highlands. There were many lochs, waterfalls and interesting road features. However a road accident meant a diversion and very frustratingly our 2 hour journey became 4 hours so arrived in Luss tired and hungry at 8. On the plus side we saw many beautiful sights including gorgeous farmland and villages we would not have otherwise seen. In the dark Luss which is rated as the most beautiful village in Scotland seems to be in the middle of a forest but right beside the lake. On finally finding our accommodation which is a cabin right beside the lake we wandered 500 metres up the road to a beautiful big Scottish hotel for dinner. It was basically empty but we had the undivided attention of 4 lovely staff and a beautiful meal. It finished with a mini whiskey tasting (just to say we had had some) given to us by a nice young guy who knew so much about it. Can’t wait to explore here tomorrow as even in the dark we could tell that Luss is stunning.Läs mer

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    The Cabin at Luss

    Luss to Glasgow

    17 september 2018, Skottland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Another great day. Woke to a view 500m out the window of Loch Lomond. Overcast weather but mild and a stunning view. We ate our lovely breakfast that our host had provided overlooking the lake. Then left for a beautiful walk through the local forest following a quirky fairy trail which included lots of hidden fairy houses, a troll, toadstools and even a book of spells. The river and bush were beautiful and took us on a circuit arriving back in the village. The village really was gorgeous but very busy with at least 4 tourist buses stopped. We collected our belongings and headed into a beautiful coffee shop before departing for Glasgow. The 40 minute drive was surprisingly easy and in no time we were parked outside the hotel and checked in. We then moved the car to a car park building around the corner which allows us to park for half price. We then boarded the Hop on Hop Off Bus and did a lovely tour of the city for the rest of the afternoon. This included disembarking once at the Clydesdale Distillery for an hour long tour and tasting. We really enjoyed learning more about whiskey and tasting was actually ok. We returned to the hotel for complementary wine and cheese in the bar and sorted out our arrangements for the night. We met cousin Seamus and his new wife Jaqueline and headed off for dinner at a cool pizza place which was huge and full of people and atmosphere. We left them and taking their advice visited two very cool bars while aquainting ourselves with the main shopping area. We have loved our first day in Glasgow and finding our way around very easily. It seems a very interesting city with lots of atmosphere.Läs mer

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    Glasgow

    18 september 2018, Skottland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    We have loved our time in Glasgow. It is a really interesting city with very friendly people and so easy to find our way around. Added to that we have loved spending time with Seamus and Jaqueline. Yesterday we ate a lovely breakfast at the hotel before setting off in light drizzle for a 7 km walk basically following the bus route from the previous day. Walked along the banks of the Clyde River to the Squinty Bridge, the SSE Hydro arena and auditoritium. They are amazing pieces of architecture built for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We carried on to the Westend where we veered back into the main shopping area. There we separated for two and a half hours and looked around the shops. Some of the centres off Buchanan Street were amazing such as the Princess Square and the St Enoch Centre. Meeting up again we ate lunch at an American themed bar at 3pm. We refreshed at the hotel before boarding the Glasgow underground for Seamus’s. It was so easy to use as only goes in a circle and we were there in 10 minutes. Seamus picked us up and drove us another 5 minutes to their lovely tenement home. Jaqueline cooked a beautiful meal (so welcome after all our hotel food) and special that Flora McNulty joined us. Their two Russian Blue cats were entertaining and we had a wonderful night. When it came time to return to the subway we all realised we had had too much wine to drive anywhere so the four of us set off on a lovely 15 minute walk first to the University of Glasgow and Flora’s flat and then to the Subway station (totalled 29465 steps of walking for the day!) We were back at the hotel probably before Seamus and Jaqueline walked home! All in all a lovely night with my NZ cousin. Tomorrow we leave for Windermere. Slightly nervous as weather warnings for high winds are out. Hopefully it will come to nothing.Läs mer

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    Glasgow to Windermere

    19 september 2018, England ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    Considering it is the largest city in Scotland, Glasgow would be one of the easiest to get in and out of. We collected the car from the carpark and were on the road by 10. We headed off in very heavy rain on the motorway to Carlisle. By the time we were there the wind had got up and was at it’s worse between Carlisle and Cockermouth, where we stopped for a lovely coffee at very quaint tearooms. We carried on knowing the storm hitting Scotland was behind us. By the time we were driving through the beautiful countryside and villages of Keswick and Ambleside it was barely raining and still quite warm. We carried onto Windermere and had to do quite a drive around to find Glencree Guest House. It seems there are two distinct areas, Windermere and Bowness-on -Windermere and we are right in the middle, ten minutes from each. Both areas are full of guest houses and the lake front itself looks busy with activities. We will see what the weather brings tomorrow as to what we will do. Tonight we wandered up and down finally settling on a lovely restaurant in Bowness to eat at. Ready now for an early night as breakfast is served in the dining room between 8 and 9.Läs mer

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    Windermere

    20 september 2018, England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    An amazing day exploring the Windermere area. Got up for breakfast in the guesthouse dining room. Then headed down to Bowness where we boarded a large boat which carried us over to Wray Castle( about 40 minutes). The weather was overcast with some sunshine and very mild. The lake was still and the scenery was stunning. Many huge manor houses were visible in isolated spots around the shore and there was a variety of boats out on the water. The forest came down to the water’s edge and there were numerous little bays. Our boat pulled into the village of Ambleside and we immediately boarded a much smaller craft which took us another 15 minutes to Wray Castle. We wandered around the grounds before setting off on the 6km walk along the edge of the lake. The walk was flat and through beautiful forest with lake views all the way. No squirrels, otter, deer or foxes though which was disappointing! We stopped at a caravan site for 15 minutes to chat to the owner of one of the caravans. All good until we were just about running at the end to catch the small boat back over to Bowness 35 seconds late, which the driver made a big deal of! Otherwise would have had to wait another hour and a half. Had a coffee back in Bowness and then caught the bus to Ambleside Village. By this time it was raining and it only got worse while we were there. However we did manage to stay dry as we went in and out of the shops. We returned to Bowness in the bus at 4 30 and chatted to a lovely English couple (she had been to David Lange’s wedding as was a family friend of Naomi Lange) and then spent a frustrating hour trying to connect to the wifi. Gave up and headed into town where we ate at a Thai restaurant which was recommended-and such a lovely change from pub food. We then went for a lovely walk as the rain had stopped. Finished up having a lovely cocktail in a bar. All in all a beautiful day despite the weather.Läs mer

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    The cottage at Betws-y-Coed

    Windermere to Betws-y-Coed

    21 september 2018, Wales ⋅ 🌧 9 °C

    Well not such a special day today! Left Windermere at 10 heading over a one lane pass taking us to the highest pub in Scotland. All going well despite light rain when suddenly the traffic was at a stand still and some doing dangerous manoeuvres in order to turn around. Anything bigger than a car was backing down! As there was an accident further up the road we too had to do a u- turn and head back down hill. Did get to see the views of the lake below. We were then headed for Oakworth mainly so I could see the location of The Railway Children. The roads in Oakworth were challenging as only one lane but we easily found the station. It was just as I imagined but a big disappointment to find we couldn’t actually stand on the platform as all gates were locked. Was tempted to climb the fence but the threat of CTV cameras stopped me. We did get some good photos. Then carried on around the narrow streets searching for the house in the movie but were unable to locate it. All a bit frustrating. Carried on to another huge farm shop where we gathered some food for tea and had a coffee. I took over driving and our road then took us out through north York and some very industrial towns and then onto the motorway, by which time it was raining very heavily. To my frustration there was nowhere to stop for the next two hours as I took on the major ring road (4 lanes) around Manchester. A major driving feat. No chance to pull over or stop, no lunch, poor visability, desperate for the toilet and exhausted. Made for very little conversation in the car! Anyway we finally pulled over just before the Welsh border at a roadside Starbucks. For once their coffee and muffin tasted amazing. David drove for the next hour as we crossed the border and headed off into the very picturesque countryside of Wales. Betws-y-Coed was a big surprise as it is a very busy little tourist spot set in the absolute middle of a forest and mountains. Our cottage is quite unusual but will be cosy, set up on the hill overlooking the bush. No wifi so wandered down to the hotel for a much needed drink and a chance to use the Internet.Läs mer

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    Betws-y-coed

    22 september 2018, Wales ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    A lovely day exploring such a lovely area of Wales. Left our fairly rustic accomodation in search of a laundromat as washing machine not working! We drove about 39 minutes to Llandudno where we anticipated finding the one on the Internet. To our surprise this was a huge town on the coast with a whole strand of hotels and shops. There were cars everywhere and crowds of people on very narrow streets. We drove around but had little hope of finding a laundramat as the streets were so busy, and narrow and all the signage was in Welsh! We carried onto Conwy, a much smaller and quieter town characterised by a huge castle and castle walls that surrounded the town except for the sea frontage. We had our left over tea with us so found a spot to eat it, which was lovely. We headed into the castle and every turn was amazing. We actually found it more impressive than Edinburgh Castle as older and more to see, even though no guides and a lot less people. Really worth a visit. We then walked down to the pier to find Britain’s smallest house. Not only was it small but so was the lady outside so I looked like a giant! We carried onto a very small village only 4 miles from where we are staying and located a good laundramat. While our washing went round I got rounder by eating yet another gorgeous scone, this time at the quaintest little house covered in ivy with very low ceilings and heaps of character. After picking up our washing we returned to the cottage to organise a parcel of “heavy gifts” to send home. We then wandered into town for dinner and a lovely drink- and good wifi at a bar. Ireland tomorrow.Läs mer

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    Betws-y-coed to Dublin

    23 september 2018, Irland ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    An uneventful trip to Liverpool Airport apart from having to be there two hours early since we couldn’t check in on-line as they wanted us to do. Left Bets-y-coed very early as we were nervous about driving into Liverpool. The road out of Wales was a beautiful drive with very little traffic and surprising the road into Liverpool was amazingly quiet and not at all as major as we anticipated. The airport itself was smaller than Christchurch airport and was old and pretty run down. We dropped off the car, checked in and then filled in two hours having a coffee and reading in the book shop. Our flight was smooth and similar to flying JetStar. We arrived in Ireland an hour later which was 2 30. Mick and Angela Griffin were there to meet us and we loved seeing them again. We drove to their lovely home and Angela produced cups of tea and delicious ham sandwiches. At 4 30 we headed out first to an Irish bar for a drink and then to a lovely modern restaurant for dinner. It had been the site of a shoe making factory and the wall of shoe mounds was a feature. Went to bed looking forward to exploring Dublin, and in particular the Guiness Storehouse visit in the morning.Läs mer

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    Dublin

    24 september 2018, Irland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    A fantastic day in Dublin- we love this city. We were up early for a delicious breakfast cooked by Mick and headed into town for the 10am tour of the Guiness Storehouse which truly was amazing and so interesting. The building had 7 storeys, each with a different part of the tour on it. We learned about the ingredients, the process, the making of the barrels, the history of the brewery and visited the tasting room where we all had a small glass of beer. The floor showing how Guiness has been advertised over the years was interesting and finally on the 7th floor we were on a glass observation deck where a free Guiness was on offer, as well as spectacular 360 views over the city, made even better by the beautiful sunny weather. We left the storehouse and headed off for a walk to a lovely big cafe for lunch. We then walked across the road to Trinity College which was buzzing with students and tourists. We visited the Book of Kells exhibition and the Old Library which really was incredible. Angela and Mick then left us as we wandered around the main shopping area before searching out Temple Bar. We just loved the hour and a half we spent in the Temple Bar listening to Irish music and enjoying the atmosphere. We then wandered along the Liffey River to the oldest bar in Ireland, The Brazen Head. It too was full of atmosphere and people. We then caught the bus back to Angela and Mick’s and after the half hour journey through the suburbs of Dublin congratulated ourselves on finding their house again. It was 7 15 and we then enjoyed chatting with Mick and Angela over dinner.Läs mer

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    Dublin

    26 september 2018, Irland ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Wow! What a day. Had such a cool day. Up early and off with Mick to a lovely modern cafe to meet up with Niamh Griffin and her 2 half year old daughter Sadhbh( pronounced Sive) for breakfast. One of the best breakfasts we have had. Left them to do the Kilmainham Gaol tour. It was amazing as the wonderful guide led us round the gaol and through the history of Ireland. Visiting the site of the 1916 executions following the Easter Rising was incredible and very moving. We departed the gaol and met Angela at the Irish Parliament buildings. Her brother John Lehart is an Irish MP ( TD) currently in opposition and his parliamentary assistant met us and escorted us into the members restaurant for a lovely lunch. We were joined by John before heading to the viewing gallery. We were fascinated to see a debate in progress with the prime minister, Leo Varadka in action. Interesting discussion about how much support children with special needs need in schools and the shortage of housing in Dublin. So lucky and such a privilege to be there. We then had a quick trip around the buildings before leaving Angela and Mick for a coffee and then to catch the Hop On Hop Off Bus which took us all around Dublin. We disembarked at Temple Bar and found our way back to the bus stop to make the return trip to Mick and Angela’s. We then left for a half hour drive up through the most beautiful hills on the outskirts to a pub called Jonnie Fox’s, where we enjoyed a lovely Irish meal and music in a truly Irish pub. We carried on at 9 for another pub down the road called The Blue Light. It was the true Irish experience as we huddled in the smallest of rooms listening and singing along to a 5 piece Irish band (average age was at least 70). We just loved it and the view down over Dublin city was amazing. Mick finally drove us home at midnight. It truly was one of those days you just want to savour forever.Läs mer

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