In Royal Footsteps-southern England and the long way home.

[drron]

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I now climbed to the top of the wall and walked around.You are not allowed on the motte though.
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You could see the view point.
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[drron]

Not the only one getting the great views.
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[drron]

Finally the chapel.
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So it was back to the apartment and leftovers for dinner.

 

[drron]

Monday morning and it was time to pack up and leave.We were going back on the ferry from Yarmouth to Lymington.We had a little time to explore Yarmouth.Not that there is much to explore.
From the pier another fort in the Solent.
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The town.
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Now to the High street.
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[drron]

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Yarmouth Castle and the George Hotel.The hotel was initially part of the Castle grounds but a Governor of the Isle built his house there which is now the hotel
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That was the ferry before ours coming in.
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[drron]

I now set out to explore Yarmouth Castle-free with our English Heritage membership.The lady in front of me was incensed that she would have to pat 5GBP to enter so flounced off saying-"You know more people would visit if it was free."You don't say.
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You got some early history of the place.
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Just off the castle is a yellow buoy.It marks the site of a Spanish wreck from the 16th century.No treasure thouh.
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Yarmouth Roads Wreck - Maritime Archaeology Trust

 

[drron]

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Time though to go back to the shops and collect mrsdrron and go and wait for the ferry.But intrigued with this menu-fat Shauns?
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When the car was in line for the ferry I noticed a bakery.I was feeling a bit peckish so went over.
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Result-the best pastie I have had in England.Nearly like my mothers.And it did contain carrots.

 

[drron]

Finally on our ferry back to southern England.Some views on the way.First where we are headed then the fort.
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The needles and a couple of hitchhikers.
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A yacht not in good condition.
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[drron]

Lots of birds as we approached Lymington.
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Some nice houses.
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After driving off the ferry a short stop in Lymington for mrsdrron to visit a shop where she had seen something she liked.Unfortunately again not in her size.So we set off for our office tonight-Rhinefield House in the New Forest.
We soon came upon the New Forest ponies.
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[drron]

We had driven along this road a fair distance from the village of Brockenhurst so I felt we must have been on the wrong road so back to the vllage and talk to a nice lady in the Post Office.We had been on the right road about half a mile short of our destination.An impressive driveway lined with rhododendrons and giant redwoods finally revealing an impressive 19th century English stately home.
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There was a new wing cleverly hidden from view where our room was.No room numbers but names.We were in Bluebell.
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And our view.
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[drron]

After unpacking we went for a walk around the front of the property.Magnificent redwoods.
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Lots of birds and sqirrels but here the American grey sqirrel.
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[drron]

Back to the house.
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[drron]

Then we got ready for dinner.Down to the bar and mrsdrron had her Sav.Blanc and I a Lymington New Forest oak aged gin with pomegranate seeds and basil as well as tonic.I thought it really good.

Spirits

AWARD WINNING GIN! Our Lymington Gin has been awarded the prestigious Hampshire Life Drinks Product of the Year award in 2016. The gin is made in Sarah – our 500 litre column still made by Ba…

dancingcows.co.uk

Lovely view from the bar.
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You are given menus in the bar and put in your order.When things are ready you are escorted to the restaurant-we dined in their fine dining restaurant.There is a more casual option.
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The menu.
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[drron]

The really good thing we found at this and the next hotel was that 3 x 250ml glasses of wine cost less than a bottle.So mrsdrron could drink her sav blanc whilst I had an Argentinian Malbec.Forget the name but it was magnificent so I ended up drinking 3 x 250ml glasses.
The food.For starters mrsdrron had the scallop and pork belly which was great.I had the crab cake.Good but not the best I have had.
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For mains I had the pork belly and fillet whilst mrsdrron had the mushroom risotto.Both beautiful.
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For desserts she had the raspberry cheesecake and I had the cheese plate.I really liked the black bomber and the Oxford blue.
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A really good meal and reasonable value so we decided to eat there again the second night.

Breakfast was included and served in that restaurant.A reasonable amount of continental buffet offerings plus order a hot dish.I had the eggs bennie.
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Walking back to our room from breakfast they had their function room open.
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[OZDUCK]

You are obviously "To the Manor Born".

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

You are obviously "To the Manor Born".

So true !!

 

[drron]

After breakfast we went for a walk around the rest of the property.
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