100 days

[craven morehead]

Just catching up, don't want to miss this one !!

 

[turtlemichael]

We had a day wandering around Manchester to shake off the jetlag. There is plenty to do. The day started out cold and cloudy but ended very warm and pleasant.


Manchester Cathedral


Inviting pub


Amazing Science and Technology Museum

 

[turtlemichael]

Inside the Science and Industry Museum



Loved this recent museum (2010) tracing the history of the labour movement in Britain.


The amazing John Rylands Library.

 

[turtlemichael]

You have to be in Britain to have a Puddings menu. This one is at the Hawksmoor restaurant which was a very good steakhouse.


The gay village on Canal Street is a stone's throw from the DoubleTree. It is hard to miss even if you are not looking for it!

 

[TomVexille]

View attachment 101047
Inside the Science and Industry Museum

If you liked that you should check out the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

 

[turtlemichael]

Time for another map. This one is of our first couple of weeks in England and Scotland.





We got the TransPennine Express from Manchester Piccadilly to Oxenholme then the local train to Kendal where we picked up our rental car – a rather cantankerous Peugeot. From Kendal it was about 45 minutes in heavy traffic to our home for the next 5 days – Grasmere in the heart of the Lakes District.

We are staying at The Grasmere Hotel which is a very small boutiquey place on the edge of the Village. It is in the enviable position of being full all year and booked out 9 months in advance in high season which this now is. Luckily, I am an early planner. I’ll put up some pics shortly. It comes out on TripAdvisor as both the best hotel and best restaurant in the village and for once I have no qualms with TA.

The plans for the time here are to do some walking around the district so we are hoping for fine weather. We are starting with some wandering around Grasmere in the “mist” and a drive to Ullswater.



William and Mary Wordsworth's grave in Grasmere



Grasmere

 

[turtlemichael]

St Johns in the Vale



Castlerigg Stone Circle - not quite Stonehenge but still impressive and 4500 years old.



Ullswater

 

[turtlemichael]

On a superb day ( actually today so I am up to date) we did a trip to Buttermere, about an hour away. We were lucky to see the Lakes at their absolute best.

 

[VPS]

Beautiful - thanks

how did you do the route trip map?

TIA

 

[turtlemichael]

Beautiful - thanks

how did you do the route trip map?

TIA

Using Travellers Point app. Very easy.

 

[turtlemichael]

A week can be a long time in the town of Windemere in the Lakes District. :shock:

 

[turtlemichael]

The hotel we have been staying at in Grasmere is worth a plug in case anyone gets to visit. It is a small boutique hotel as indeed most are here - chains don't really get a look in.

This one happens to be very good - probably the best we have stayed in. At 140 pounds per night high season including a grand breakfast, it is excellent value. It also has what is said to be the best restaurant in the village and i can't disagree. I'd go out of my way to eat here.

The menu, changing daily, is a 4 course meal for 25 pound a head. Amazing for the quality. Not surprisingly, it is booked out and by its website it is full 9 months in advance. You need to be an early planner, like me, to get in or just have good luck with a cancellation. http://www.grasmerehotel.co.uk/

 

[turtlemichael]

Dinner at the hotel last night included a prawn and avocado thingy and seared duck with blackberries. Top quality.

 

[turtlemichael]

More photos around the Lake District


Ambleside Bridge House


John Ruskin;s House at Coniston Water

Coniston Water

 

[turtlemichael]

Grasmere


Grasmere


Blackwell, the Arts and Crafts House on Windemere

 

[turtlemichael]

We are sad to leave The Lakes. The weather has been mostly good and being there, for the first time in the best art of 40 years, has been great. It will long live in the memory. It has to be one of the most stunning areas for a vacation in the British Isles. It was actually awarded World Heritage status a few days ago while we were there and it is deserved. But now we move on.

I had to return our rental car, a Peugeot, to Kendal and managed to scrape the side getting into a narrow parking spot at the drop-off place. I'm hoping Amex excess insurance covers it. Oh dear. Then it was the train to Oxenholme and then on to Glasgow. Getting on mid-trip (it originated at Manchester airport) is never a good thing and though we were in First Class there was no room for our luggage so we had to clutch it beside our seats for the two hours.

We are now at the DoubleTree Glasgow Central for a few nights. Our room, upgraded from a Deluxe King to an Executive King, is adequate and comfortable though a touch small. But it will do. The Executive lounge is better than many Hiltons and the spread tonight was very good -salads, meat and vegetable skewers and a very good cheese selction. There was only beer and wine on display so I don't know if you can get spirits.

 

[turtlemichael]

We has dinner at Two Fat Ladies which is about a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Good meal reasonably priced.




Starter of scallops, smoked haddock cream and black pudding! Yummo.



Sea Trout. Very salty.

 

[turtlemichael]

A sunny and almost warm day around Glasgow.


St Mungo's Cathedral Glasgow


Proband's Lordship - the oldest house in Glasgow - 1471


Very impressive street art in Glasgow


Royal Exchange Square


Wellington at the Modern Art Museum, GOMA

 

[turtlemichael]

I'm sort of falling in love with Glasgow, despite the weather. It is raining steadily and the Met says it is 12C. It is the middle of summer. The city has a lot going for it. Sadly, it is just about time to move on but we have ended with a superb dinner at Cail Bruich in trendy Hillhead. They claim to use the best of Scottish ingredients in inventive ways - I think they succeed.


Loch fyne scallop, pork cheek, apple and hazelnut


Inverurie lamb, peas, lettuce, artichoke and ewes curd. best lamb I've tasted in a long while.


Goosenargh duck, carrots, apricot and girolles.


Superb selection of mainly Scottish cheeses and meadowsweet creme, strawberry and sweet cicely

All topped off with a Pic St Loup and a wee dram of smokey Loch Lomond single malt.

 

[turtlemichael]

Last day in Glasgow.


Third oldest subway system in the world and tiny carriages.


Kelvingrove Art Gallery


Kelvingrove Art Gallery