West Berkshire, United Kingdom Travel Journals & Blogs

Traveler Northabout
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- Jul 4, 2023, 5:22pm
- 🌧 15 °C
- Altitude: 127 m
- England Chieveley 51.450212, -1.30940251°27’1” N 1°18’34” W
Day 7
Drenched
July 4, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Well Portsmouth was fine but on the way towards Oxford it rained a bit....then more....then torrents of the bloody stuff. Deep standing water all over the road, huge spray from too fast lorries and I couldn't see a thing. My Roku kit kept most of me dry but my boots filled up....so I abandoned the day and retreated to a travel lodge. Early tomorrow looks ok and I will continue but my few hours in hand have all gone.Read more
Traveler Grim
7/4/23Reply
Horrid and we’ve been huddled indoors most of the day. [Jeanne Latham]
7/4/23Reply
And I thought your ferry wasn’t until Thursday! [Jeanne Latham]
7/4/23Reply
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Traveler Living my Camino dream
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- Sep 20, 2023, 10:07am
- 🌧 17 °C
- Altitude: 121 m
- England Great Bedwyn 51.39101, -1.58371551°23’28” N 1°35’1” W
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Day 39
Oxford
September 20, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Wonderful day wandering through Oxford- beautiful old town with lovely buildings. Ride a double decker bus, had a drink at the varsity bar with an amazing view over oxford. No punting done tho, weather not the best.Read more
Traveler Only gamble what you are prepared to lose ( is that a dad joke or clever?).Think punting.
9/20/23Reply
Traveler You should add it to your comedy routine🤣😂
9/20/23Reply
Traveler Then my whole routine would be very English.
9/20/23Reply
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Traveler Living my Camino dream
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- Sep 18, 2023, 11:25pm
- ☁️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 121 m
- England Great Bedwyn 51.391074, -1.58354851°23’28” N 1°35’1” W
Day 37
Stonehenge
September 18, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Staying in Little Bedwyn with Em (namesake not the daughter 😉). After a much delayed flight yesterday and a yummy roast dinner, today we visited Stonehenge. Another "I can't believe Im seeing this" moment.
It is amazing that this structure was built over 5000 years ago, that the people here could move these mammoth stones from Wales, carve them into square shapes and lift them onto the top of each other is unfathomable.Read more
Traveler I almost got to see Stonehenge!!
9/18/23Reply
Traveler Yes nearly bought you tiny replica- cos I know how you love knick knacks 😜
9/19/23Reply
Traveler Now we’ve seen it 👏👏👏
9/20/23Reply
Traveler Not the same 🤣😅
9/20/23Reply
5 likes
England '22
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- Jul 12, 2022, 6:49am
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 115 m
- England Hermitage 51.4628, -1.244651°27’46” N 1°14’41” W
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Day 9
Auf nach Gatwick
July 12, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Unser letzter Morgen in Bristol beginnt früh, denn um 10:00 müssen wir unser Auto in Gatwick abgeben. Bis dahin haben wir aber noch 3h Fahrt vor uns und auch das Autoputzen und ein Frühstück müssen noch Platz finden🧐
Lösung: Noemi putzt den Autoinnenraum während Jonas am fahren ist, gefrühstückt wird während der Fahrt und dann schaffen wir das irgendwie 😅💪Read more
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Traveler hoffentlich hat's Euch gereicht 😘😘
7/12/22Reply
Traveler drive safely ♥️
7/12/22Reply
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- Jun 13, 2023, 1:55pm
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 145 m
- England Basingstoke and Deane District Highclere 51.339493, -1.37567251°20’22” N 1°22’32” W
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Day 31
Highclere Castle!
June 13, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Jane and I set off to go to Highclere Castle whilst Craig and Tony went to pick up our rental car and then have lunch at The Bell hotel. Jane and I were very excited as this was a very expensive tour and it did not disappoint. We were only allowed to take photos outside (for security reasons??) but the tour guide was outstanding. The castle is magnificent and there are many beautiful rooms. It is owned by Lord & Lady Carnavan and his great? grandfather was the Carnavan who financed Howard Carter who found the Tutankhamen treasure. We heard all about the history of the family, their links with royalty (big deal) and also all about the filming of Downton Abbey. Afterwards, we were served High Tea - which was rather filling but we did have a lot of fun doing this. As part of our tour we were given a copy of the Countess's latest book which is rather heavy!Read more
Traveler Such an impressive place, but I did think of Hyacinth Bucket being dragged through that hedge
6/13/23Reply
Traveler Saw this picture on Facebook first and did think,.. not Lina’s normal fare. Glad you had fun having a go.
6/13/23Reply
Traveler Looks fabulous. Can you go in?
6/13/23Reply
Traveler Yes but it is not open to the public until July. We had to do a so-called private tour which cost a lot and strangely it was accompanied with a lot of other tourists. However the high tea was very big and included as wasn’t very heavy book
6/14/23Reply
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European Summer
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- Aug 12, 2023
- 🌬 21 °C
- Altitude: 120 m
- England Donnington Donnington Castle 51.419685, -1.3378851°25’11” N 1°20’16” W
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Day 66
Donnington Dash
August 12, 2023 in England ⋅ 🌬 21 °C
The mornings started off cool, damp, and grey, but we ventured out for a run anyways. We were quite wet by the time we returned to the house from the light intermittent drizzle.

After a hot shower and breakfast we were ready to explore. A found a castle ruin just north of Whitchurch, in Donnington.

The Donnington Castle is perched on a hill top, with spectacular views of the area. The ruins mostly comprised of the old foundation, with the gatehouse being the only structure left.

Our next stop was the Snelsmore Common, a country park reserve. The trails traversed open areas covered in heather, and forested area with pines, birch, ash, and more. Supposedly there was a herd of wild ponies🦄 🦄that had been placed in the reserve, but we didn’t see them.😭

Shortly after leaving the park, the rains returned. We made a quick stop at a grocery store on the way home for a few dinner items. The seasoned Lamb Shank from the local farm/butcher was world class! We enjoyed sharing another meal with H who ended up staying home with Tiger to write his master's thesis.Read more
Traveler I think we were supposed to visit Donnington in January but weather was miserable. But now you have shown me. Thanks
8/18/23Reply
Traveler Happy to share and always amazed how small the world is 🌍❤️
8/18/23Reply
Traveler Yes, true. A friend posted on FB today that they were in Swindon, same day as you.
8/18/23Reply
Traveler ❤️
8/18/23Reply
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Traveler Living my Camino dream
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- Sep 23, 2023, 3:41pm
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 122 m
- England Shalbourne 51.3787, -1.544251°22’43” N 1°32’39” W
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Day 42
Hiking with Em
September 23, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
So yesterday we had a quietish day after London, pub lunch with Ems parents and Aunt and Uncle. Then Em took me on a hike home from the pub. Only took us nearly twice as long as it should have😂😂, there was a distinct lack of a path, and at one point we were surrounded by shoulder high stinging nettle and thistles. It was easier following scallop shells in the dark 🤔
So much fun and laughter. Such a beautiful walk. 💞💕Read more
Traveler Looks like so much fun Bren xxx
9/24/23Reply
Traveler Beautiful countryside. Stay away from those stingey things.
9/25/23Reply
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Traveler Highclere Castle und mehr
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- Jul 11, 2023, 10:24pm
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 106 m
- England Newbury 51.405935, -1.32540251°24’21” N 1°19’31” W
Day 3
BATH
July 11, 2023 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Tagesausflug nach Bath, wir haben das römische Bad besucht, die Poulteney Bridge, waren kurz im Gift Shop des Jane Austin Museums und haben ansonsten die vielen Eindrücke genossen. Die Zeit war definitiv zu kurz! Man sollte doch ein langes Wochenende einplanen. Zum Abschluss gab es einen heftigen Regenguss und Probleme im Bahnverkehr . Die kurzfristige Änderung haben wir nicht mitbekommen und mussten eine kleine "Ehrenrunde " über Swindon drehen. Mit knapp 2 Stunden waren wir um 21: 00 Uhr zurück in NewburyRead more
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Traveler Die Brücke heißt natürlich Pulteney Bridge
7/11/23ReplyTranslate
Traveler Fast wie mit der deutschen Bahn 🤣
7/11/23ReplyTranslate
Traveler Wow, sieht cool dort aus 👍
7/12/23ReplyTranslate
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Traveler Living my Camino dream
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- Sep 23, 2023, 8:06am
- ☀️ 8 °C
- Altitude: 121 m
- England Great Bedwyn 51.391058, -1.58353251°23’28” N 1°35’1” W
Day 42
LONDON Day 2
September 23, 2023 in England ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
London looked after us today after agetting drenched yesterday- blue skies for most of the day.
Went to Buckingham palace and saw the Changing of the Guards, wandered through Green Park and Wellington arch and caught the double decker bus to Notting Hill for the markets. Have never seen markets so big! Did not find Hugh Grant tho!
Finished the day in Chelsea for lunch at Ottolenghi's restaurant in this really cute restaurant area that just appeared as we walked round the corner of these back streets.Read more
Traveler What a great day.
9/24/23Reply
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Traveler SICILY/UK/FRANCE 2023
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- Jun 11, 2023, 7:21pm
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 119 m
- England Compton Berkshire 51.516633, -1.25873951°30’60” N 1°15’31” W
Day 29
Compton Arrival
June 11, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
A much enjoyed quieter day. We took the train to Didcot Parkway and Tony Gartshore picked us up. Lovely day eating and enjoying our dear friends' Jane & Tony's company here in Compton. The warm sunny day turned into a lightning storm. All good though.Read more
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