Andrew's Travels

Andrew's Travels

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Northumberland Traveler
The Alnwick Garden
September 14, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
The site was derelict 10 years ago, but the Alnwick Garden today is one of the world’s most ambitious new gardens; its construction was the vision of The Duchess of Northumberland as a public garden for families to enjoy.

We see the Grand Cascade, have a guided tour of the Poison Garden (for obvious reasons, you must be accompanied) and wander through the Cherry Orchard up to the magnificent Ornamental Garden. On the way back down, we wander through the Rose Garden, go through the dark maze that is the Bamboo Labyrinth and see the excellent water sculptures in the Serpent Garden. The features in the Roots and Shoots Garden are the result of collaborations with local schools and the NHS. On the way out, we pass The Trehouse; this is the largest wooden treehouse in the world: and built around 16 mature lime trees, which grow through and into the building, and is a restaurant with rooms linked by rope bridges (it is closed at present).

The Alnwick Garden is a thoroughly recommended visit!Read more
Wolfgang und HeidiNice pictures 👍
9/15/21Reply
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Northumberland Traveler
Alnwick
September 14, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Today we visit Alnwick; once a village, Alnwick was eventually acquired by the Percy family, the Dukes of Northumberland, who built and expanded Alnwick Castle. The other family residence was Warkworth Castle (see future FP entry).

Now a peaceful and thriving market town, Alnwick is accessed at the southern end by one of the original gates, the 15th century Hotspur Tower. There are many old buildings and monuments as we pass through to the market square. At the the northern end of town is Pottergate Tower and a modern statue celebrating Alnwick's famous son, Harry Hotspur (Sir Henry Percy, a 14th century knight who fought against the Scots and the French).

Alnwick Castle is still owned by the current Duke of Northumberland and has featured in the Harry Potter films as Hogwarts. The lion is the family symbol of the Percy family and is featured on the main entrance to the castle and on bridge crossing the River Aln.Read more
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Northumberland Traveler
Holy Island of Lindisfarne
September 13, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
The small island of Lindisfarne is only accessible by crossing a tidal causeway, so timing and planning is important. We park at the huge parking site and walk into the village to visit Lindisfarne Priory (English Heritage).

Founded over 1400 years ago by an Irish monk called Aidan, the monastery became a bishopric in the Northumbrian Kingdom and converted to the religous practises of Rome under another monk, Cuthbert - both are now Saints. The isolated monastery fell prey to the Vikings and was eventually re-established as a richly decorated priory in the 12th century and it is the ruins of these that still remain.

We walk to the castle next, passing the small harbour; it is a 16th-century fortification built on the highest point of the island - it was eventually converted into a "family home" by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1901, with disused boats upturned and used as sheds. Lime kilns were built next to the castle on Castle Point in 1860 and used for 40 years until that industry declined.

We explore the beach and walk back to the village via the small Gertrude Keller flower gardens, which she designed in 1911 using an existing walled structure. It's been another great day out.Read more
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Northumberland Traveler
1
Bamburgh
September 13, 2021 in England ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
We drive to Bamburgh via the coastal road on our way to Lindisfarne and stop for a visit.

Walking into the village we see St Aidan's Church and have our first real view towards Bamburgh Castle - Bamburgh is all about its castle. We cross lawns, where local people are playing croquet, and head towards the beach.

We walk along the beach past the castle and double back to the Harkass Rocks where there are lovely views in all directions - including that of our next destination.Read more
Wolfgang und Heidi Wow 👍
9/14/21Reply
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Northumberland Traveler
Low Newton by-the-Sea
September 12, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
As we leave Dunstanburgh Castle, the rocky shore eventually changes to sand; we have reached Embleton Bay. There is a golf course on our left as we walk along the beach; we turn off at the club house to walk a half mile uphill to the village of Embleton and the local shop. It is pretty here and we visit the Church of the Holy Trinity before heading back to the bay; en route we have a lovely, different view of the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle - quite different to that from further along the bay.

We cross Embleton Mouth, where the burn enters the North Sea, and walk along the sand to Low Newton by-the-Sea. In the distance on top of a hill is the former Coastguard Station; it is now a National Trust holiday cottage. There are good views out to the sea from the beach.

Low Newton has a strong fishing heritage which is charterised by its picturesque three sided village square; the cottages were built in the 19th century for local fishermen. There is a nice looking pub here - The Ship Inn.Read more
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Northumberland Traveler
Dunstanbourgh Castle
September 12, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C
Dunstanburgh Castle is a 1.3 mile walk along the coast from Craster; the village is the nearest access point.

It was built in the early 14th century by Earl Thomas of Lancaster; the castle was intended both as a refuge and a statement of power, since the Earl was opposed to the Crown. Subsequently, Dunstanburgh's defences were expanded in the 1380s by John of Gaunt in the light of the threat from Scotland and the peasant uprisings of 1381. It is now owned by the National Trust and run by English Heritage; we are members and go in to explore (see pictures and captions).

The castle was used as an observation post against invasion during WWII and we see some of the pill boxes as we leave and walk along the rocky shore towards Embleton Bay; once again, there are beautiul views as we look back.Read more
Travelerlovely place, lovely weather...
9/13/21Reply
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Northumberland Traveler
Craster
September 11, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The drive from the main town of Alnwick to Craster takes you through the Gateway close to Craster Tower; this is an 18th-century Georgian Mansion where the rooms can be booked as holiday accommodation. Craster itself is a small fishing village with one pub, The Jollty Fisherman, and a small harbour; it is very famous for its kippers (smoked herring) and there is one smokehouse remaining - that of L. Robson and Sons.

Crasyer is very picturesque and a lovely place to stay for a week. The ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle beckon further along the rocky shore as you leave the harbour.....Read more
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Northumberland Traveler
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Howick Burn to Craster
September 11, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
We are in Northumberland and staying in Craster, which is on the coast. The Northumberland Coastline in an AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty) and one of our plans is to walk part of the coastal path (aka St Oswald's Way).

We walk from Craster on a footpath heading inland via Craster South Farm and the outskirts of Howick Hall, the home of the Earls Grey (as in tea). From here it is down to Howick Burn, where it enters the North Sea, and a walk along the attractive route passing Sea Houses Farm and The Bathing House; this was built in the early 19th century by the 2nd Earl Grey who was the Prime Minister responsible for the passing of the Great Reform Bill of 1832. There are many more fine views as well back to Craster, including the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle in the distance.Read more
TravelerBeautiful area of the country! Highly recommended 😀
9/12/21Reply
Wolfgang und Heidi Beautiful 👍
9/12/21Reply
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Norfolk Traveler
Downham Market
September 6, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Downham Market is situated on a terrace overlooking the Great Ouse and was an important market centre for the surrounding agricultural area, as it incorporated a famous horse fair and weekly livestock and butter markets; the Town Hall was used as the Corn Exchange. With the coming of the railway there was a rapid industrial and residential development into Downham Market; a steam mill was built next to the railway and this is now run by Heygates, one of the 4 main flour suppliers in the UK.

At the southern end of the town centre is a decorative town sign depicting the crown and arrows of St Edmund with horses to show the importance of the horse fairs in the town's history. At the Market Square, we see the Victorian Clock Tower and other old buildings, including the Town Hall and the Crown Coaching Inn. Behind the Square is the medieval Parish Church of St Edmund, built of local carrstone, sited on the crest of a hill with fine views of the town and the fenland landscape beyond. Walking back down the High Street we pass Castle Hotel (recently closed and scheduled to become flats), with its distinctive parapet, and then along Station Road we see the 18th-century Dial House (once a private school for gentlemen in the 1860s but now a bed and breakfast), with its sundial painted high on the wall. We soon reach the Victorian era Downham Market railway station, also built of carrstone with pale brick dressings, and the old signal box; both are now Grade II listed buildings. Next to the station is the distinctive looking Heygates Flour Mill, which is visible for miles around. A short, but interesting, visit to the town.Read more
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The River Great Ouse Traveler
3. Littleport to Ely
September 6, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
From Littleport railway station, I cross Sandhills Bridge and it is a 3 mile walk along the floodbank of the River Great Ouse to reach the hamlet of Queen Adelaide; this has three railway lines crossing its main street, each with a separate level crossing!

Further south, I divert to a factory area bearing right to Kiln Lane and the Roswell Pits; formerly a source of gault (aka Kimmeridge), an impervious clay, they are now a Site of Scientific Interest and a nature reserve. There is an excellent view of Ely Cathedral from here. I follow the trail along the river to pass Babylon ARTS, the leading arts organisation in Ely, and stop at Babylon Bridge for the magnificent view back; the bridge carries a private road to the various marinas that are on the other side of the river. I pass the Jubilee Gardens and the Maltings (see Ely; the Eel Trail part 2) to reach Quayside, where there are lovely views of the marinas and various boats and barges mooring in Ely, before passing The Cutter Inn and walking to Ely Railway Station.Read more
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The Cambridgeshire Dykes Traveler
The Cambs Dykes 3 - Devil's Dyke
August 20, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Devil's Dyke runs in an almost straight line from Woodditton (just south of Newmarket) to Reach (north-west of Newmarket); it is over 7 miles (11 km) long and is the largest of the series of the four ancient Cambridgeshire dykes - in some places the bank measures 9 metres (30 ft) high and 36.5 metres (120 ft) across. When it was created, Devil's Dyke completely blocked a narrow land corridor between the southern edge of a region of water-logged marsh (now known as The Fens) in the north-west and dense woodlands in the south, so making circumvention difficult and forming an effective defensive barrier for the lands to the east.

We start our walk at the southern access point of Devil's Dyke at Woodditton, passing the water tower; the Dyke initially passes through the woods of a private estate. The embankment is very high in parts here and is thickly enclosed by scrub and bushes. After a short while, we cross a minor road and then the B1061 before negotiating the steps down to the gap across the Cambridge to Newmarket railway line.

After crossing this, Devil's Dyke changes in character and becomes much more open, with chalk loving flowers along this stretch. There are views of a links golf course before we enter the domain of horse racing, as the Dyke cuts between Newmarket's two famous courses - the Rowley Mile, with its Millennium Grandstand, and the July Course.

Soon we reach, and cross, the A14 and have views of the surrounding flat farmland before reaching the B1102 to Burwell. At last we arrive at the northern access point of the Devil's Dyke, close to the village of Reach, and the end of this great walk.

There is a local Morris dancing side that is named after Devil's Dyke - follow this link to read more about them (us!).... devilsdykemm.org.ukRead more
Ant TravelsYou’ve been busy on your trips ! I hadn’t seen some of them - good pix
8/26/21Reply
Wolfgang und Heidi(Heidi) Hi Andrew, do you know the book „The Salt-Path“ ? Its a great book and a bestseller in Germany.
8/30/21Reply
TravelerI don't; I see that it describes the SW Coast Path - which Helen and I have also done, in part (Poole as far as Lyme Regis). I will look out for it
9/1/21Reply
Ant TravelsI’ve read it - uplifting !
9/1/21Reply
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The River Great Ouse Traveler
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2. Downham to Littleport
August 16, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
From Downham Market (aka Downham), I head down towards the Denver Sluice Complex. This is important for water management across large parts of the surrounding Fenland area (comprising over 1,500 square miles of former marshland at or below sea level); in the 1650s, the swampland was used to create productive farmland out of the unused land - river channels were straightened, new channels dug, levee banks piled high, and the land was drained. At high tide, a series of sturdy gates at the Denver Sluice are closed, and the water is forced to back up in the river relief channels until the tide falls below the river level. When the tide falls to a low enough level, the sluice gates are re-opened and the river is allowed to continue its flow out to sea; if necessary, an area of animal grazing land at Welney — 20 miles upstream of the Complex — is sacrificed to the waters as a temporary reservoir. It was fascinating to visit this before heading further down river.

I pass the small, but growing, village of Ten Mile Bank before en route to Brandon Creek; is where the River Little Ouse joins the Great Ouse and for much of the its length it defines the boundary between Norfolk and Suffolk; indeed, after crossing the bridge, one is in Suffolk. From here the walk south is sandwiched between the A10(T) and a floodbank of the River Great Ouse (it is both hot and a little noisy at times, but there are good views of boats on the river), before heading to Littleport railway station.

It was fascinating to visit this before heading further up river to reach Downham Market (aka Downham) and the end of this leg of the Fen Rivers Way.Read more
Wolfgang und Heidi We really liked cruising with those narroboats. Sometime in the future we are going to do it again
9/7/21Reply
TravelerLet Ant and I know when you come here!
9/7/21Reply
1 like
Imperial War Museum Duxford Traveler
Introduction to IWM Duxford
August 10, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Based at the historic Duxford Aerodrome, the IWM Duxford site was originally operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the First World War. During the Second World War Duxford played a prominent role during the Battle of Britain and was later used by United States Army Air Forces fighter units in support of the daylight bombing of Germany. Duxford remained an active RAF airfield until 1961.

After the Ministry of Defence declared the site surplus to requirements in 1969, the Imperial War Museum received permission to use part of the site for storage. The entirety of the site was transferred to the Imperial War Museum in 1976.

In keeping with the site's history many of Duxford's original buildings, such as hangars used during the Battle of Britain, are still in use as exhibition halls for aircraft. The site also features several purpose-built exhibition buildings, such as the American Air Museum.

Over the years we have lived in Duxford, there have been many air shows with all sorts of aircraft flying over the house; before the Shoreham air disaster, it was possible to view the air shows directly from a nearby road that passes over the M11.Read more
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The Cambridgeshire Dykes Traveler
The Cambs Dykes 2 - Fleam Dyke
August 7, 2021 in England ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Fleam Dyke is the oldest of the four Cambridgeshire Dykes and comprised a 7 metre-high linear earthwork bank and ditch that ran from Fulbourn up to Balsham; thought to have been built in the seventh century as a defence of the Kingdom of East Anglia in its wars with Mercia, most survives now as a footpath that is now part of the Harcamlow Way (a walking route running in a figure-of-eight from Harlow to Cambridge and back again).

Parking in Fulbourn, we soon reach the start of Fleam Dyke, walk its top and enjoying good views of the wind turbines at Wadlow Wind Farm site in West Wratting, near Balsham. The Fleam Dyke pumping station, now redundant, is ahead; there are good views of the dyke and ditch looking back to this. Crossing the disused railway line, we eventually reach a circular mound of earth - the Mutlow Hill Bronze Age Barrow; dating from 4,000 BC, this old shrine was used as a meeting place in the medieval period. We now have to cross the A11 using a footbridge and our guide map draws our attention to the Juniper Trees on the dyke on this side - they are the last nine wild Juniper trees in the whole of East Anglia! We walk down from Fleam Dyke to cross the Bedford Gap before walking up it again to continue south east into wooded land, as trees cover both sides of Fleam Dyke from here on. Our route takes us through Dungate Farm and then ascends, still through trees, to The Ambush (a local name with no historic meeting) to the end of Fleam Dyke near the Balsham ridge; the Harcamlow Way continues or you can take the path to the village of Balsham. We double back and do the walk in reverse to return to the car.

Walking the length of Fleam Dyke did not disappoint, as it is a good and interesting walk.Read more
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The Cambridgeshire Dykes Traveler
The Cambs Dykes 1 - Bran and Brent
August 6, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
There is a series of four defensive dykes that crossed the old Icknield Way - a pre-Roman path, often claimed as the oldest in England - that were built by the Anglo Saxons during the 5th - 7th centuries AD. Each comprise a substantial earthworks with a high bank and a ditch on its southwest side, and they run across the chalk downland ridge that carries the Icknield Way; they cross the South Cambridgeshire chalk plain from the springline and wetlands to the north to the junction of the chalk and boulder clay on the higher ground to the south. These monuments, generally referred to as The Cambridgeshire Dykes, increase considerably in scale from Bran Ditch to the west to Devils Dyke in the east, with Brent Ditch and Fleam Dyke in between; all are protected scheduled monuments. It is believed that these earthworks were designed both as defensive structure and as a means controlling trade along the ancient Roman roads that crossed the dyke (including the Icknield Way).

This post covers the first two - Bran Ditch and Brent Ditch

Bran Ditch (aka Heydon Ditch) begins on the outskirts of Heydon Village and it is now part of both the Harcamlow Way and Icknield Way walks; it extends as far as Heydon Grange Golf Club before these two modern routes turn west. Bran Ditch originally extended for approx. 3 miles from Heydon to Black Peak at the south end of Fowlmere RSPB Nature Reserve, but only a short section along part of these modern walking routes has not been lost to agricultural reforms etc - I walked it from Heydon down to Gravelpit Plantation on the outskirts of the Heydon Golf Club.

Brent Ditch was built around the 6th and 7th Centuries and, unfortunately, most of its structure has also been lost over time. It was originally approx. 1 mile in length and now runs from Pampisford Hall in the North-West to Abington in the South-East; for most of its length it is wooded and on private land and so difficult to access - I viewed it as a low ditch in a wooded area besides the A11.Read more
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Cambridgeshire; South District Traveler
Fulbourn
August 6, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Fulbourn lies about 5 miles southeast of the centre of Cambridge and is the next village after Cherry Hinton. With the Cambridge city boundaries to the west, the land north and east of the village is flat, drained fen whereas in the south and southwest the Gog Magog Hills rise up and to the east there is a wooded area, including a nature reserve (Fulbourn Fen), and Fleam Dyke – an ancient defensive earthwork (see post).

In Norman times, Fulbourn was recognised as having five manors but only Fulbourn Manor remains today. A bit of a walk away is Hall Orchard, the site of an Anglo-Saxon moated manor known as Dunmowes which survives as an earthwork; it has a water-filled moat when suitable conditions exist - not today though, as I walked around the length of the bottom of the moat. After that, Fulbourn Fen nature reserve was an interesting walk back to the village.

Back in Fulbourn, there is the Church of St Vigor's with All Saints. A dedication of two churches is highly unusual; at some stage in its early history, Fulbourn became two separate parishes, each with its own church, All Saints and St Vigor’s - All Saint's church was only a few feet away, apparently, and was ruined in May 1766 and the two churches became one. Not far from the church is the war memorial.

Leaving Fulbourn on the road to Cherry Hinton, you drive past Fulbourn Windmill (on low chalk hills looking out to the very flat Fens) and then Fulbourn Hospital (a former Victorian age pauper lunatic asylum, but now providing proper mental health care and appropriate therapy).Read more
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Roots - where I grew up Traveler
Bexley
August 3, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Bexley is the site of the Old Dartfordians Rugby Club (now the Dartfordians Community Sports Club) and is where our sixth form discos and parties were held back in the day. The rest of the village is also rather interesting....

We enter Bexley as part of the London LOOP walk there from Erith, via Slade Green and Crayford, and see the Church of St Mary The Virgin; built in the Middle Ages, it has an unusual spire which resembles an octagonal cone balancing on top of a truncated pyramid.

As we walk along the High Street, we cross the River Cray and pass under the railway line - the arches have been converted to small businesses (much like in Bermondsey, further up the line) - to reach Freemantle Hall; built in Victorian times, the hall acts as a community centre and focal point for the village.

Walking further on the road to Bexleyheath, we see the Old School House and the Community Library before reaching "the Old D's". Of course it has changed a lot since the mid 70s, but it would still be a long walk back to Slade Green from here (especially after lots of Brown Ale)!Read more
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Roots - where I grew up Traveler
Walk 3 - Crayford to Bexley
August 3, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The walk from Crayford to Bexley is also part of the London LOOP. On leaving the Waterside Gardens in Crayford, it is not possible to walk further along the River Cray due to industrial development. Crossing the road we pass through the small Tannery Garden (there used to be a tannery and brickworks in Crayford) and onto London Road (Watling Street), forking left at the junction with Bourne Road until a garage is reached; the two posts either side of this are all that remains of Crayford Cinema and on the other side of the road is Shenstone Park. Here there is a sculpture of cows (Cows about Crayford?) illustrating another aspect of Crayford’s industrial history; cow dung and the roots of the Madder plant were used to create red dyes for silk (there used to be a silkworks in Crayford too). We walk down the edge of a playing field to reach the River Cray; it is a pleasant walk along the river bank and after a while we reach Hall Place; this is a beautiful Tudor house on the outskirts of Crayford and on the banks of the River Cray - we divert from the London LOOP route to explore the award-winning gardens, .

Hall Place is a stately home; building started in 1537 for a wealthy merchant using, in part, stone recycled from nearby former monastery, Lesnes Abbey (in what is now nearby Abbey Wood). In 1649, the house was sold to another wealthy City merchant who added a second wing built of red bricks, doubling the size of the house, but in highly contrasting architectural styles. Today Hall Place is restored to its original Tudor and later 17th-century designs and is managed by the charity Bexley Heritage Trust. There are 65 hectares of landscaped gardens and grounds, a topiary lawn, herb garden, tropical garden and long herbaceous cottage garden-styled borders. It was lovely to walk round some of these.

We head back to our route and have to skirt the outside of Hall Place gardens to the railway line and cross under the A2 (aka the East Rochester Way) via an underpass where the local graffiti artists have been busy. From here we walk along the edge of Churchfield Wood to Bexley (aka Old Bexley or Bexley Village). Walking along the High Street into Bexley we cross the River Cray at The Old Mill; this was destroyed by fire in 1966, rebuilt in replica form and is now converted to residential use.Read more
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Cambridgeshire; Cambridge City Traveler
Cows about Cambridge
July 24, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
When one thinks about cows about Cambridge, you usually think of the classic image of cows grazing close to Kings College or on Midsummer Common..... but, there is currently a public art event in the city called Cows about Cambridge; this is a free trail of 90 individually designed cow sculptures (44 large and 46 small) around the city that is available until 4th September 2021, after which they will be auctioned off for charity. All the cows are based on the same two moulds, are made from fibreglass and have been painted by regional artists and sponsored by businesses from many different sectors.

The trail had to be done, of course, and the pictures show some of the large cows (they are approx. 1.34m tall, 2.13m in length and 0.55m wide and weigh approx. 45kg).Read more
Wolfgang und HeidiOne of them doesn’t look like a cow but a bull
7/24/21Reply
TravelerIt's a rhinoceros at the University Museum of Zoology.
7/24/21Reply
Ant TravelsThey did moose in Toronto years ago and London has done something too ! They do raise a lot of money
7/25/21Reply
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Cambridgeshire; East District Traveler
Ely; the Eel Trail, part 2
July 19, 2021 in England ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
As we walk along Quayside there are good views of the boats, barges and the marinas in Ely.

We turn left at the river and pass the Maltings (a Victorian brewery building beside the river that now hosts events, conferences and weddings) before walking up Waterside and Fore Hill to reach the High Street. In the Almonry Wall opposite the Market Square is the magnificent City of Ely War memorial, taking the form of an arched and domed alcove within the rough stone wall. There are beautiful old buildings further along up the High Street; after these we pass the Sacrist's Gate and Steeple Gate, both pedestrian entrances to the Precincts of the Cathedral. We then bear left at Minster Place to reach the Cathedral main entrance - the Galilee Porch - and close to where the Eel Trail started.Read more
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Cambridgeshire; East District Traveler
Ely; the Eel Trail, part 1
July 19, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Ely is a cathedral city based in the Fens and about 14 miles north east of Cambridge; the Fens are a naturally marshy coastal plain in eastern England of which most is only a few metres above sea level - the city is built on an "island" of Kimmeridge Clay making it the highest part of the Fenland area. The River Great Ouse runs through Ely on its way north; the River Cam joins this a little further south at Pope's Corner, Little Thetford. Ely’s name relates to a time when the city was surrounded by marsh and its main trade was in eels - eels are still caught in the River Ouse.

We follow "The Eel Trail" and start at Oliver Cromwell's House (he lived in Ely between 1638 and 1646); this was formerly St Mary's Vicarage and is now the Tourist Information Centre. We pass St Mary's Church and opposite the Bishop's Palace on Palace Green is the "Cannon on the Green"; this is cannon was captured during the Crimean War at the Siege of Sevastopol and presented to the people of Ely by Queen Victoria in 1860 as a war memorial.

Just behind the cannon is Ely Cathedral; this has its origins as an Abbey founded in 672 and the present building dates back to 1083. Known as the "ship of the Fens" it is visible over much of local area as this is so flat. There are lovely views as we walk around it and then go inside to enjoy the cathedral itself; there is a contemporary piece of work known as "The Way of Life" (2001) and the nave is magnificent.

A little up the road is the 14th century Ely Porta or Walpole's Gate; this was once the main entrance to Ely Monastery and is now part of the King's School, housing its library now; King's School is an independent public boarding school founded in 970 AD, making it one of the oldest schools in the world.

We walk through Ely Park and have a magnificent view of the Cathedral before reaching the lovely Jubilee Gardens; there is a large eel sculpture as well as an 8 metre long eel mosaic made from shards of pottery uncovered by Time Team archaeologists working on the excavations in advance of the creation of the Gardens. The river is directly in front of us as we reach Quayside.Read more
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Cambridgeshire; East District Traveler
Waterbeach, Stretham, and Littleport
July 19, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
This post describes some of the villages, towns and sites along the A10 on the Cambridgeshire part of the Fen Rivers Way Walk which follows the course of the River Cam and then River Great Ouse on their way from Cambridge to King's Lynn in Norfolk (see appropriate posts in that Trip).

Heading north from Cambridge, we soon reach Waterbeach. This is a designated new town and growing rapidly; there was originally an RAF Station and a British Army Barracks here, but they are both gone now. There is a small common on the way to St John's Church. Back at the recreation ground, there is a walk that takes you to part of the Car Dyke; this is Roman waterway / ditch that runs along the Western edge of the Fens and is traceable as far as Lincoln - it was interesting to walk along this short section, even though it was rather overgrown.

Driving a little further up the A10, we reach Denny Abbey; it was founded in 1159 as a Benedictine monastery, in 1170 it was taken over by the Knights Templars before it became a convent of Franciscan nuns known as the Poor Clares. Following the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 by Henry VIII, it became a farm and was in use until the late 1960s.

Further on and only 4 miles south west of Ely is the village of Stretham. The Stretham Old Engine is a steam-powered engine, just south of the village, was used to pump water from flood-affected areas of The Fens back into the River Great Ouse; it originally had a steam-powered pump to drain the fens - it is still in use today, although converted to electric power. It is one of only three surviving drainage engines in East Anglia, and is a Grade II* listed building. Other notable buildings in Stretham include the 12th century St James' Church and the Stretham Windmill (now a private home).

Next is the large village of Littleport, 6 miles north east of Ely; it is famous / infamous for The Littleport Riots which broke out in 1816 after war-weary veterans from the Battle of Waterloo returned home, only to find they could get no work and grain prices had gone up - they took to the streets and smashed shops and other buildings until troops were brought in (there is now a Morris Dancing side called the Ely and Littleport Riot). It is also known for the Harley-Davidson statue which was unveiled here in 2003 to commemorate the centenary of the motorcycle company - William Harley, father of the company's co-founder William Sylvester Harley, had been born in Victoria Street, Littleport, in 1835 and emigrated to the United States in 1859.Read more
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Somerset Traveler
Mendip Hills; Cheddar Gorge
June 28, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Cheddar Gorge is the largest gorge in the UK; it is 400 ft (122m) deep and 3 miles long; there are various individual show caves here, but they are closed at the moment as it is not possible to have a one-way system through them. The Gorge is a very popular walking area as there is a lovely circular walk which takes in both sides.

We start at the National Trust booth in Cheddar Village, going uphill initially and then heading east on the well-trodden path. There are good views as we move along it before we turn downhill to the Black Hill Nature Reserve and cross the B1315 (aka the cliff road) to walk west back down the other side of the gorge. There are even better views here, especially of the Cheddar Reservoir, at the Pulpit Rock. We head back to Cheddar via the steep steps of Jacob's Ladder next to Pavey's Lookout Tower.Read more
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Somerset Traveler
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Wells
June 28, 2021 in England ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Wells is the smallest city in the UK (excluding the City of London) and is situated on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills; it takes its name from 3 local wells - one in the Market Place and two in the grounds between the Bishop's Palace and the Cathedral.

We pass some prettily decorated Almshouses on our way to the Market Place and the main city attractions. We pass through the Bishop's Eye and start at the Bishop's Palace, adjacent to Wells Cathedral; the Palace has been the home of the Bishops of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for 800 years. The Palace is surrounded by a moat and walls and we walk over a bridge and through the Gatehouse; there is a magnificent croquet lawn in front of the Main House, which is itself next to the Chapel and the ruined Great Hall, and we walk along some of the moat for views. After leaving, and on our way to see Vicars' Close, we pass the Cathedral West Front (unfortunately covered with scaffolding); Vicars' Close was built in the 14th century and is the only completely medieval street left in England.

Then it is back to enter the beautiful Cathedral, which is dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle and built over the period 1176 to 1450; the nave is modern looking due to the "scissor arches" - these were a 14th century solution to sinking tower foundations. The Chapter House is closed due to the pandemic, but the attractive staircase leading to it is visible. The Cathedral has a large garden in the middle of the cloisters, a beautiful Quire, a magnificent Cathedral clock (with one of the oldest medieval clock faces in the world, dating from c1390) and an ancient font.

An excellent place for a visit.Read more
Wolfgang und Heidi 👍
7/1/21Reply
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Somerset Traveler
Mendip Hills; Wookey Hole Caves
June 27, 2021 in England ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Wookey Hole is a village one mile to the west of the city of Wells and is dominated by the Wookey Hall Caves, a series of limestone caverns, a show cave (for visits) and various tourist attractions.

The show cave is of major interest; the River Axe flows through the cave system and it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for both biological and geological reasons. The caves have been used by humans for around 45,000 years and the emerging waters have been used for a corn-grinding mill and a handmade paper mill. The show cave is notable for the Witch of Wookey Hole, a roughly human-shaped stalagmite that legend says is a witch turned to stone by a monk from Glastonbury; there is a legend associated with this.... There are many chambers and the first successful cave dives in Britain were made here in 1946. The caves have been used and/or referred to in many TV programmes.

The rest of the site is popular with families as there are attractions such a dinosaur valley and a small museum about the cave and cave diving, a theatre with circus shows, a house of mirrors and penny arcades housed in the old mills there.

A good morning out for us and something for everybody is here.Read more
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Somerset Traveler
Mendip Hills; East Harptree and area
June 26, 2021 in England ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
We're staying in an Air BnB accommodation in East Harptree, a small village in Somerset, for a few days. This post summarises some local walks we did in the area.

From the church we walk along the bottom section of Harptree Combe, seeing the very scanty remains of Richmont Castle and an old Victorian Aquaduct, on our way to the larger village of West Harptree. We take the paths to Chew Valley Lake and cross this via Herriotts Bridge, where there are good views of the Lake and of Herriotts Mill Pool, a local nature reserve.; the Chew Valley Lake was created as a water supply resevoir for Bristol in the 1950s. From here it is down to Widcombe Common and then along the small River Chew to Tudor Farm across to Townsent and back to East Harptree; we pass the clock tower built in 1897 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. We leave the village sgain and the double back along the top section of Harptree Combe.

Later on, it is a short drive to East Harptree Woods to see the Smitham Lead Mine Chimney; this was built in 1867 as part of an unsuccessful lead mining venture.

Next day, We do a walk near of Ebbor Woods and then head to Ebbor Gorge for a circular walk around this; not surprisingly, it is very steep in places, but there is a good view of the Somerset Levels from one point at the top.Read more
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