Three months away - Italy & UK

[VPS]

York .. time for some train cough at the Railway Museum just a short stroll from York Station.

A wonderful way to spend an afternoon spent for rail enthusiasts.

Over the next few days I wandered around the city walls, took a walking tour ..no. Need for thise hop on and off bus tours here as the city is very walkable. Bettys Tearooms is a must although the one in Harrogate is less crowded.

It rained that warm English summer rain again ! ... so I enjoyed an hour in the Jorvik Centre learning about the Viking connection.

Whitby and Harrogate are easily accessible from York as day trips.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the Jorvik centre.

 

[Antoallison]

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the Jorvik centre.

So was I, It had some innovative exhibits, lots of staff on to engage with and that little train ride experience was fun.

 

[Antoallison]

 

[Antoallison]

I had a great 4 days in York despite still being under the weather from the cold I caught in Scotland.

So much history in a compact area inside this wonderful walled city.

In the summer I like the way the streets and pubs are decked out with colourful flower baskets.

If you like gardens then a trip to RHS Harlow Carr at Harrogate is worthwhile, and they have a stripped back Bettys Tearooms inside, where you can have a Fat Rascal!

I had a short visit to the Pump House at Harrogate and saw a nice little exhibition on wedding dresses through the years. The photo demonstrates those teeny, tiny waistlines from the Victorian era.

Driving through the Yorkshire Dales on a weekend was amazing. Such green rolling hills, and quiet beauty. There was plenty of evidence in each little village of some “big bike race” that had been held previously ??

 

[Antoallison]

 

[Antoallison]

Haworth and the Bronte Parsonage was everything I thought it would be and the short local bus trip from Hebden Bridge was a great way to acess the village.

I stopped myself from shouting out “ Heathcliff, Heathcliff” as the bus rolled over the moors, so as not to alarm or amuse my fellow passengers.

I was able to indulge my interest in both old churches, graveyards and quaint tea rooms !

Next another short point to point train ticket and on to see the dark, satanic mills in the town of Todmorden, as I have family links there.

 

[Antoallison]

 

[Antoallison]

Ready to see those dark, satanic mills and those funny place names like Studley Pike that I had heard mentioned over the decades.

Todmorden and the Rochdale canal area was surprisingly pretty in the summer sunshine.

A tiny town with an enormous Town Hall, clearly a statement by some of the wealthy mill owners. A beer in the Mucky Duck ..otherwise known as the White Swan, walks along the canal system, local bus trip to the market and Bangers and Mash for supper. Hold the Spotted Dick and Parkin !

The home I stayed in for 2 nights was built in 1795.

I tried to imagine what was happening in Australia then. I googled “Convict from Todmorden area” and found the name of Simeon Lord who was transported as a 19 year old in 1790.
He eventually ‘did good’ in his new land and died a prominent merchant and wealthy man in NSW.

 

[Antoallison]

Next up the Arcades of Leeds (very briefly) and Lively Liverpool.

 

[drron]

We visited York,Harrogate and the gardens a week before the certain bike race.Saw many of the teams out riding the course.Did slow us up in places.

 

[Antoallison]

L

We visited York,Harrogate and the gardens a week before the certain bike race.Saw many of the teams out riding the course.Did slow us up in places.

Lovely town..did you ‘take the waters’ ? Too stinky for me !

I went to some Springs around Castlemaine, Daylesford last week but just could not take a sip of the water from the pump in the park.
When I asked in the supermarket I was told CocaCola own the bottling rights to the commercially bottled local waters.

 

[Antoallison]

The previous photos are of Leeds which apart from a brief stroll through the Victorian shopping arcades and the unusual tiled cafe in their Art Gallery and some awful Damien Hirst artworks, has nothing of interest ..although I believe many cricket fans might argue this point !

By contrast I found Liverpool to be of great interest. The revitalised area around Albert Docks, the wonderful museums of the hard life in the docks and some great municipal buildings warranted a hop on/off bus trip that included a free glass of Prosecco at the magical Phillharmonic Pub.

 

[Antoallison]

Next off a quick visit to Daresby - population 216 - to see the Anglican All Saints Church and a new visitors centre dedicated to the author of Alice in Wonderland books, Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) who was born there.

Then onto the market town of Frodsham, Cheshire and a short stay 2 night stay in the Roman city of Chester.

 

[Antoallison]

Unfortunately the weather closed in and it bucketed down during my stay in Chester, but I was able to get out and about on local buses to see a little.

I feel I will have to come back to Chester one day in better weather to fully appreciate wandering down “ The Rows” covered walkways of shops and black and white Victorian restoration buildings, walking the intact Roman city walls circa 79AD, and taking a boat trip on the River Dee.

This trip I just sought refuge from the drenching rain in a great pub overlooking the canal, called Telford’s Warehouse. The next day I had lunch in the old Benedictine monks refrectory inside the magnificent sandstone Chester Cathedral on St Werburgh’s Street.

 

[Antoallison]

Chester.. I’ll always remember you this way !

 

[Antoallison]

Another train journey from Chester to Telford with a change at Manchester Piccadilly, and the only time I missed my connection. Never mind this is the British rail system and there will be another one soon.

Stayed the weekend with old friends in Shropshire. They took me to a tourist attraction called Blists Hill near Ironbridge Gorge and Coalbrookdale.
An interesting and full day out.

Lunch was at a quaint pub and I chose the Roast of the day..it was served deconstructed on a slate platter and a wooden board !
Really ..don’t mess with the traditional Sunday pub meal !

Then a visit to the best Gin heaven in this small village.

 

[Antoallison]

The actor playing the role of headmaster in the Blists Hill village school was very talented, so was his twin brother who I saw later on at the police station.
The chap belting out songs on the piano at the village pub looked familiar -
Triplets perhaps ?

 

[Antoallison]

I enjoyed the visit to Blists Hill..a bit of industrial history, lots of relocated businesses and houses from late 1880’s.

Very touristy but sometimes you need a light hearted break from all the visits to ancient churches, gravestones, museums or windswept moors.

 

[Antoallison]

Train to Oxford next.

A wonderful University town with old buildings and a youthful vibe. Not as scenic or compact as Cambridge, so I found a Hop on and off bus tour useful.

For the next 2 nights I stayed in Keble College, booked through the University websites that all offer accomodation during the long summer break.

Full English Breakfast was included in the price and served in the atmospheric Hogwarts style dining room.

 

[VPS]

What sort of facilities were at the college. Was it an individual en suite room and if it was warm how would it be and what sort of cost. Thanks