Europe

April - December 2017

A 254-day adventure by Our Year Off Read more

67footprints
22countries
254days
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34.5kmiles
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Our Year Off Europe
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- Apr 8, 2017
- ☀️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 515 ft
- Wales Henllan 53.1823, -3.47748353°10’56” N 3°28’39” W
Day 1
Brecon Beacons
April 8, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
First stop on our year off was Wales..
Expecting cold and wet, we had beautiful sunny days and lots of fun with the family.
Via Bristol to Brecon Beacons we picked up Juliet on the way to met Jen, Doug and the girls. Visited the national showcaves - 250 dinosaurs, 3 caves and a playground - lots to keep all of us entertained!
then we were off to celebrate Richard and Nia's wedding at the stunning Lake Vrynwy.Read more
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Our Year Off Europe
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- Apr 10, 2017
- ☀️ 8 °C
- Altitude: 814 ft
- Wales Llanwddyn 52.777426, -3.48805752°46’39” N 3°29’17” W
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Day 3
Lake Vrynwy
April 10, 2017 in Wales ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Wonderful wedding in a beautiful location. Great to spend time with all of our family before heading off for our trip. Lots of love, laughs and most importantly for a Harnden family wedding - dancing!!Read more
Richard Setters Great shot, thanks for this.
5/15/17Reply
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Our Year Off Europe
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- Apr 15, 2017
- ⛅ 8 °C
- Altitude: 98 ft
- Scotland Highland Beauly River Beauly 57.483411, -4.46035157°29’0” N 4°27’37” W
Day 8
Beauly, Scotland
April 15, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
So after a brief stop in Dumfries the day after the wedding, we drove up to the north of Scotland where I became a bit excited at the sight of snow on the mountains 8D
The view from the croft - panoramic from Inverness to big Ben Wyvis - is quite something.
Walked by Loch Ness to Urqhart Castle, went to Mass on Easter Sunday and left to some playing bagpipes, wandered around the Old Priory at Beauly and even helped move a few stones.Read more
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Our Year Off Europe
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- Apr 21, 2017
- ☁️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 230 ft
- England Manchester Piccadilly Gardens 53.480759, -2.2426353°28’51” N 2°14’33” W
Day 14
Manchester
April 21, 2017 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Always a great time had here! Fire breathing on canal street?? Millions of Mopeds on a St George's day parade (photo expertly taken opposite an adult superstore) need I say more?! Yes...
Food food beer beer food food beer beer
In between the beer and food we did visit the Comedy Store, John Rylands library and Salford Quays.
Kate and I destroyed ourselves bouldering at the climbing centre and then she bought some bubbles so we could all act like the children that we still are
Hostess with the Mostess gave up her bed for us and therefore we left her broken and exhausted on Monday morning - til next time my dearest ****Read more
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Our Year Off Europe
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- Apr 26, 2017, 4:44pm
- ⛅ 9 °C
- Altitude: 243 ft
- England Werrington 50.664745, -4.38962850°39’53” N 4°23’23” W
Day 19
Base camp
April 26, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Return to base camp (in-laws) until moving on to Europe via christening in Buckingham!
Good weather seems to be following us around :)
After a brilliant weekend in Manchester, relaxing and repacking!
tried out the bike rack today, taking the bikes to the Tamar Trails - which I would really recommend to anyone who likes cycling/running/walking. showed me how unfit I currently am tho with some steep ascents...Read more
Traveler Great to be able to follow you on your journeying! Have fun, stay safe! X
4/29/17Reply
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Our Year Off Europe
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- May 9, 2017, 2:38pm
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- English Channel 50.898647, 1.47196550°53’55” N 1°28’19” E
Day 32
Dover to Calais
May 9, 2017, English Channel ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
So.. after a lovely few days in Buckingham for new godson William's Christening - save for our bicycles being stolen 😫 - we're now on a very quiet ferry to Calais (sadly sans velos).

It's a beautiful sunny day, hopefully it will follow us for the next few months.

Will update when we are settled in Switzerland 🇨🇭Read more
Cormac McCaughey Hmm.. 13 days without a post - better get more disciplined
5/10/17Reply
Anne Setters Beautiful photo of Dover - hope weather improves in Switzerland x
5/11/17Reply
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Our Year Off Europe
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- May 11, 2017
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 2,507 ft
- Switzerland Valais Leuk Susten 46.298405, 7.63686746°17’54” N 7°38’13” E
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Day 34
Camping Bella Tola
May 11, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
The title is deceptive, we haven't pitched our tent..yet. And gladly so as its blowing a gale here nestled between the Swiss Alps. Thunder storm due tomorrow so glad to be in a cabin.
Drove around 8 hours yesterday to get here and seems we left the sun in France.
Campsite is mostly empty and the rep said we're a bit early for Switzerland. Cable cars etc not yet opened so can't see some of the views on high but already seen some spectacular scenery since crossing the border from France.
Went for a walk in the forest today after lunch at a Swiss restaurant (see picture of Stuart and his rosti). Heading to Lausanne tomorrow to check out the Olympic museum and the rest of the city.
Stuart found a beer for about 50p today so is very happy :) everything else in Switzerland is quite expensive!Read more
Helen Price Might have known he would find the beer!.
5/11/17Reply
Helen Price Looks cold😁😁
5/11/17Reply
Anne Setters Live on beer?
5/14/17Reply
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Our Year Off Europe
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- May 12, 2017, 9:37pm
- 🌧 11 °C
- Altitude: 1,667 ft
- Switzerland Vaud Lausanne 46.519654, 6.63227346°31’11” N 6°37’56” E
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Day 35
Lausanne
May 12, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
Today was meant to be horrible weather - only got damp once - so headed to Lausanne for some sight seeing.
It is in quite a stunning setting, set on Lac Lemon and is also set on a pretty steep hill.. as our legs found out.
Spent hours in the Olympic museum (I am a big fan) which is well worth a visit as theres so much to see and so many good stories to ignite your Olympic flame!
Set off up lots of hills and steps to reach the Cathedral, great view from the outside.
Took a picnic as our budget doesn't stretch too far here in Switzerland
Tomorrow is our last day and although we wanted to visit the Matterhorn we may have to save it for another trip.. will wander around the local area instead.
Next stop, Milan :)Read more
Anne Setters Looks fantastic xx
5/14/17Reply
Traveler Olympic Museum is amazing! We loved it, but didn't have the energy to climb all the way up to the cathedral - you do have a good few years on us! 😊 Enjoy Milan. Shame about the beard,Stu....
5/14/17Reply
Richard Setters The fourth one is more like it
5/15/17Reply
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Our Year Off Europe
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- May 14, 2017, 11:10pm
- 🌫 6 °C
- Altitude: 4,843 ft
- Switzerland Valais Simplon Simplon Dorf 46.196114, 8.05572546°11’46” N 8°3’21” E
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Day 37
Simplon
May 14, 2017 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌫 6 °C
The drive from Switzerland to Italy through the Simplon pass is breathtaking!
We were so high when we made a loo stop people were skiing on the mountain nearby!
Up, up, up through endless tunnels then down alongside Lake Maggiore.

Arrived at our purple palace where we have a huge room to make the most before we get camping..

P.s. If you look closely at the first photo you'll see the havoc travelling is playing on my hair.. so static I keep giving stuart shocks ⚡️Read more
Helen Price Is the room big enough for the both of you!
5/14/17Reply
Anne Setters Looks cold but beautiful x
5/15/17Reply
Our Year Off Yes, dropped around 10 degrees climbing up
5/15/17Reply
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Our Year Off Europe
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- May 15, 2017, 9:22pm
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 492 ft
- Italy Lombardy Milan Bruzzano 45.533163, 9.1713945°31’59” N 9°10’17” E
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Day 38
Milano
May 15, 2017 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Saw the sights in Milan today.. Castello Sfrozesco, Parco Sempione, Il Duomo..
Warm for us Brits here, even now and its only May!!
We climbed the steps up to the top of Il Duomo (its cheaper) and the view was as impressive there as the interior.
Saw all the Italian elite out shopping. Wandering past Prada in my primark trousers I must admit I mentioned to Stuart that if we cut out trip short by a month I could buy myself a bag...
Hotel is really good - huge room and good breakfast - but onto our first night camping tomorrow. Heading down to Tuscany to attempt to erect the tent without our tent assistant Soph :) wish our marriage good luck!Read more
Helen Price Steph do you mean to say you resisted the shops!!
5/15/17Reply
Helen Price Fantastic buildings.
5/15/17Reply
Our Year Off Yep they were very impressive, think there'll be more to come In the next few week with Florence and Rome coming up!
5/15/17Reply
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