The UK & Ireland experience

kwietnia 2018 - maja 2024
Travel day has arrived. Off to the airport by train for a 3pm flight. Czytaj więcej
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  • Dzień 31

    Wales day 31 Wed 23 May 2018

    23 maja 2018, Walia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Realised that I had left our two beanies and Yvonne’s thermal top in a drawer in our accommodation a few days ago. Score one for messy people because out of sight got left behind. Caught the Sherpa bus after breakfast at 9am to Pen y Pass and followed the PYG track to the summit of Mt Snowdon. The path climbs 723 metres over a distance of five and. half kilometres, and took us 50 minutes in perfect weather. Mt Snowdon is only 1085 metres above sea level and has a train station shop and cafe adjacent to the trig point. Purchased two beanies and a tea towel in the shop and lunch from the cafe, Walked down the seven and a quarter kilometre Llanberis Path under two hours including a stop just before the end Snowdonia National Park. The path mainly followed the Snowdon Mountain Cog Railway. We then walked to the Welsh National Slate museum in Llanberis for an interesting and informative afternoon. Yvonne then wished to look at the Dolbadran Castle round Tower built in 1230 by Llywelyn an lorwerth a supreme leader of the Welsh. Back to the room for a shower and clothes wash then out to a pub for a feed. Czytaj więcej

  • Dzień 32

    Cumbria England day 32 Thu 24 May 2018

    24 maja 2018, Anglia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Breakfast at Idan Guesthouse in Llanberis Wales then purchased a thermal top each at a outdoor shop. Drove to Cumbria and the Lake District with a stop for coffee at a service centre near Lancaster. Petrol was 1.45 pounds per litre (say AUD $2.90 per litre), the highest price I have seen so far. Later spotted and filled up at 1.27 pounds per litre plus a touring atlas so we have some idea of where the GPS is taking us. Continued on to Derwentwater Cumbria. Had to stop sharply in a small lane to avoid flattening a male pheasant which ran right in front of the car. Parked and walked up the lane before the start of the Cats Bells walk then continued up Cats Bells hill (445 metres above sea level) stopping to eat the cheese and bread Yvonne purchased earlier. Lovely views of Derwentwater (just like on the Derwent Coloured pencil tins), and surrounding countryside. After the walk we drove to Penrith Cumbria and ended up in the Morrison’s supermarket car park when I missed the correct roundabout exit. The Red Townhouse has a narrow driveway but a nice bedroom and a huge bathroom for our exclusive use with bath robes provided. Dinner in the Royal Hotel pub down the street in Penrith. We built a hamburger from the salad and sauces provided separately. Not something the barmaid had seen done before. Czytaj więcej

  • Dzień 33

    Cumbria England day 33 Fri 25 May 2019

    25 maja 2018, Anglia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Nice breakfast then drove to Howtown roughly in the middle of the Ullswater Lake. Ended up parking beyond the village and walked back to the pier. Unfortunately the ferry that was there was going to Pooley Bridge the opposite to the way I wanted to go. We walked the remote ten and a half kilometre path which followed the lake shore to Glenridding at the southern end of Ullswater Lake. Apart from the occasional walker, people we passed were involved in water activities, children swimming to a boat in dry suits with helmets, teenagers and adults with canoes and two people paddle boardingr. Took plenty of pictures of the scenery and had a beer at Glennridding before continuing on for another four and a half kilometres alongside both a road and the lakeshore to reach a National Trust carpark and visitors centre called Aira Force. We followed paths beside a creek through an arboretum with labels trees to view waterfalls and some small slot canyon like sections of the river. During this time light rain set in and we used our spray jackets to stay dry for the first time in four weeks. Waited for a ferry to take us back to Howtown and the car under an oak in steady rain. Dinner in a fifteenth century hotel “Dockray Hall” in Penrith. Czytaj więcej

  • Dzień 34

    Cumbria day 34 Sat 26 May 2018

    26 maja 2018, Anglia

    Yesterday’s rain finished during the night so woke up to a nice day. Breakfast at 8am and met the other guests from Anglesea taking the proprietor’s training course before settling up their own bed and breakfast. Drove to Keswick and visited the Castlerigg Stone Circle. This consisted of a complete circle of standing stones and a smaller rectangular “room” within the circle at the top of a hill with beautiful views in one direction. Then moved the car to start a walk I found on a Keswick guest house website. Missed the first public footpath and ended up in a tea and craft shop where Yvonne bought a souvenir sheep and an ice cream. The walk took us initially to the top of a hill called Castle Head. There were superb views of Derwentwater Lake, The walk took us to the lakeshore where we had our light lunch before taking us along the lakeshore with views to Catbells Hill where we walked a couple of days ago, as well as other lakeside views. After lunch walked for two and a half mile walk above the lake and a plateau return via a viewpoint call Walla Crag. Drove back to Penrith and looked at the Penrith Castle ruin. The Castle was built at the end of the fourteenth century and modified by the future king of England Richard III. After dinner we walked up to the Penrith Beacon. The Beacon was built in 1719 in a spot where fires have been lit in times of war and emergency since the time of Henry VIII. Back to the Red Townhouse for the night. Czytaj więcej

  • Dzień 35

    Another dry and windy day. After breakfast left the Red Townhouse in Penrith Cumbria, drove towards Cairnryan. As we had some time available I stopped at Cardoness Castle and took a couple of photos. On the other side of the road was a path following a canal to a wider spot called Port Macadam where goods were loaded onto small cargo sailing ships before steam railways. Continued on to Stranraer where we had lunch with unusual dark headed seagulls. Drove on to Cairnryan Stena ferry terminal and the car travelled on deck 3. Saw busses on deck 5. We found seating on deck 8 and could see Ireland as soon as the ferry reached the end of the bay. Drove to All Seasons Guesthouse on arrival in Belfast Northern Ireland. Difficult off street parking. Purchased a Ireland roadmap guide after dinner. Czytaj więcej

  • Dzień 36

    Belfast & Dublin day 36 Mon 28 May 2018

    28 maja 2018, Irlandia Północna ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Another beautiful day. Breakfast at the All Seasons Hotel and the manager gave us a Atlantic Way brochure with a large fold out road map of Ireland. Drove to Belfast Titanic Quarter and visited the Titanic Experience. The experience started with a historical look at Belfast before and during the period Titanic was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard. The city was the worlds largest manufacturer of linen yarn from flax as well as woven linen goods. The experience then detailed the construction of the Titanic White Star liner including a “ride” inside a recreation of the construction environment inside the Titanic’s hull. There were displays and information about the double skin of the lowest sections of hill filled with water for the engine boilers and as ballast as well as the steel rib framing about three feet apart for the hull structure. The passenger decks lacked watertight doors and bulkheads that may have saved the ship. There were displays of the fit out of various passenger classes and a theatre with a film of the actual wreck found in 1985 12,000 feet down using remote robotic vehicles. We also visited a tender “Nomadic” commissioned for use in Cherbourg France. We then drove one hundred or so miles to Dublin. The GPS guided us to three separate motorways called the M1, very confusing. Arrived at the Guinness Storehouse car park early and took a carriage tour of Dublin city before visiting the Guinness Storehouse. An informative and fun experience including a display of Irish dancing and the opportunity to pull a Guinness pint behind a bar. Overnight at the IMI Residence (Irish Management Institute) a huge conference centre. Czytaj więcej

  • Dzień 37

    “Hot” day today (26 degrees). Excellent continental breakfast at the IMI residence Dublin, then drove to Aughrim County Wicklow where we asked for directions to the start of our walk in the local pub and had a beer while we were there. Followed the verbal and internet directions to a spot that was the half way through the circuit walk after receiving verbal directions from a local. Walked up the hill to the summit of Craoghanmoira passing an Irish couple with two dogs on the way down who were considering driving to the coast for a swim. There was a strong wind at the summit and the views were excellent as Craoghanmoira (664 metres) is the highest hill in the area of the southern Wicklow Mountains we were in. We found a sheltered spot and had lunch before returning to the car. Drove to Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny and checked in. Walked to the medieval area of Kilkenny. Photographed St Candice Anglican Cathedral and the oldest structure in Kilkenny a round tower constructed in 1111. Then wandered around talking photos and visited a bar called Hole in the Wall. Dinner at a hotel with live Irish music then walked back to the Newpark Hotel. Czytaj więcej

  • Dzień 38

    Waterford & Baltimore day 38 Wed 30 May

    30 maja 2018, Irlandia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Thick curtains so we woke at 8.40am at the Newpark Hotel Kilkenny. Huge breakfast from 9.10am then tried to sort out Saturday’s accommodation at Renvyle as the bed and breakfast advised they are not honoring the prepaid booking. Finally got away after 11am and drove to Waterford and commenced following the R675 towards Dungavan County Waterford, looking for the Waterford Greenway old railway cycling and walking trail to a local tunnel and viaduct. Purchased strawberries and took photos on the way to Durrow. The sign on the cycleway at the Durrow carpark was wrong so we walked for six kilometres when all we needed to do in that direction was walk one kilometre plus an additional three kilometres in the other. Drove to Casey’s at Baltimore at the extreme southwest end of Ireland. Arrived after 6.30pm and walked to the harbour entrance Beacon. Dinner in a pub looking at the beautiful large protected natural harbour. Czytaj więcej

  • Dzień 39

    Breakfast at 8am and left Casey’s of Baltimore County Cork at 9.15am and drove to Mizen Head County Cork, the most southerly point of Ireland in occasional light drizzle. Stopped and photographed an ancient capstone burial tomb used by priests as an alter when they were banned from using a church for worship. Paid the entry and visited the radio signal station buildings and displays as well as taking photos from a number of vantage points. Drove from there to Sheep's Head County Cork and walked the lighthouse loop, about six kilometres. Had dinner in Kenmore pork ribs, before driving to Victoria’s House in Cappamore Kells County Kerry on the Ring of Kerry. We were greeted by biting midges when we got out of the car. Like flying fleas, not pleasant. Czytaj więcej

  • Dzień 40

    Blennerville Windmill day 40 Fri 1 Jun

    1 czerwca 2018, Irlandia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Breakfast at Victoria’s House at Cappamore Kells County Kerry, and had a long chat with the owner. More like a home stay than a bed and breakfast. No midges and nice weather, so we walked down to Kells beach down a mossy and Ferny lane. Clouds were covering the hillsides above so later when we drove past the “Mountain Stage” all the bus tourists where peering through the cloud at the view. Drove to Tralee County Kerry in error as I took the wrong road through a town an left the “Wild Atlantic Way” scenic route. Rejoined the scenic route and drove south to reach the original Tralee Harbour and the Blennerville Windmill restored in 2004. The Windmill was the last commercial windmill in Ireland and was only closed down a few years ago due to dust disease risk. The silted up seaport of Tralee is of enormous importance as the majority of the population that survived the Potato Famine of the 1840’s embarked on what were known as coffin ships bound for the New World (America & Canada). A canal built upstream to Tralee transported grain tp the mill in the 1600s to be shipped to England and France to feed the British army at war with France at a time England controlled all of Ireland. Followed the “Wild Atlantic Way” scenic drive northward to Limerick and our accommodation at the Pier Hotel there. We needed to park in a public multi story parking station paid by the hotel. Limerick is a regional city the size of Parramatta. Czytaj więcej