Beautiful Britain.

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire.

2011-10-11T14:45:00.000-07:00

Lovely Tutor hall set in the beautiful Derbyshire hillside. The hall is often known for being made of more glass then wall. In the Tutor period glass was seen as a luxurious expense, therefore the people who wanted to show-off their wealth the more glass they had the weather they were.

Hardwick Hall is well worth a visit, though at £11 for the Hall and garden I think it is a little on the steep side.

Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire.

2009-08-11T23:53:00.000-07:00

Aysgarth falls in the Yorkshire Dales are a stunning triple set of waterfalls which are on the river Ure. They are beautiful and the upper falls lovely place to go for a picnic as you can walk down to the river edge. They are also an ideal place to paddle, though the water is fast flowing and can in heavy rain be dangerous. At the right time of year can can see fish jumping up the falls. The upper falls were also used in the Kevin Costner film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, where he has a fight in middle of the river with Little John.

The middle and lower falls, which are a short walk though gorgeous woodland, from the upper falls, are also lovely though access is limited.

This is a definite must see place to go if in the area, it was recently voted one of the natural wonders of Britain.

Tattershall castle, Lincolnshire.

2009-08-03T23:10:00.000-07:00

Tattershall Castle is situated in rural Lincolnshire. Built in 1434 by Lord Ralph Cromwell (Henry VI's treasurer), on the site of a older stone castle, which some of it can still be seen in the grounds. Tattershall castle is built from red brick which is rare for the period. It dominates the surrounding fen land and can be seen for miles around.

The castle it lucky to have survived, as it was left to decline for 200 years. However in 1911 the castle was brought by Lord Curzon, who set about restoring it to its former glory. The stunning medieval fireplaces were rescued before they were shipped off to America. The floors and windows replaced and restored. When Lord Curzon passed away in 1925 he give the castle to the National Trust.

The castle itself is quite bare inside, some of the room often have exhibits in them and Dutch tapestries have been placed in the dinning room to give visitors an idea of how it use to look. The visitors can go onto the roof and admire the beautiful views of the surrounding area. If visiting keep an eye out for some extraordinary graffiti, some of it dating back to the time of the civil war.

Boston Stump, Lincolnshire.

2009-08-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

Boston Stump is one of the defining landmarks in Lincolnshire. The Stump is the tower which forms part of the St Botolph's church in the heart of the town of Boston. Standing at 83 metres high it is the tallest parish church in England, and up until the 19 century the highest building in the world. It was built 1309 and finished in 1510, the tower was built in 1450 and despite being built metres away from the river Haven, the foundations, which are under water, have never been renovated. It is a stunning piece of architecture, which at the time it was built seems very frivolous and extravagant when most of the residents of the town were living in poverty.

It is also a very special place to visit, a place of quiet contemplation or for the more active you can climb up the stump, though not to the top as people keep jumping off it. The views are stunning and if you look carefully you can see Lincoln cathedral, Ely cathedral, Tattershell castle and my house.

Warwick Castle, Warwickshire.

2009-07-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Warwick Castle is a lovely place to visit. You need to give yourself plenty of time to look round and if you time it right during summer there are loads of special events on ranging from medieval knights jousting to battles being re-enacted. The castle is own by the Madamme Tussard group who also own Chessington World of Adventure and Alton Towers, but don't let this put you off, as Warwick castle has not in anyway been spoiled and turned into a theme park.

The castle is stunning, built by William the Conquer in 1068, the building has been adding to throughout the century's, it is amazing that so much of the castle is still intact. It is a great place for all ages. I loved it and hopefully going to go back soon because they have added some more things, like a catapult.

Thorpe Cloud, Dovedale, Derbyshire.

2009-07-21T23:47:00.000-07:00

Thorpe cloud is the name of a limestone hill in Dovedale. It is a popular walk and and views across Dovedale are well worth the effort. It is a short trek, but can be tough in areas near the top. There are good paths which are well signed. At 287 metres high it doesn't take long to reach the summit (30Min's). Though the summit looks flat from the bottom, it is narrow and steep so take care, it can also be windy at the top. Once at the top you can choice to go back the way you came or down a more tricky but quicker slope.

Cautley Spout, Cumbria.

2009-07-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

Cautley Spout is in the county of Cumbria and in the far west of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is said to be the highest waterfall (198 metres) in England, though it is made up of several broken falls. It is truly stunning place to visit. The waterfall can be seen from the main road on Howgill Fells. One of the magical things about this spectacular waterfall is that is has a feeling of discovery about it, though it is seen from the road, few venture the 1.5 mile (one way) trek to see it. Once reaching it you can explore, boulder climb or walk to the top. We went on a glorious summers evening and there wasn't a soul about, we even ventured a dip under one of the less fierce cascades. Truly an amazing beautiful place to visit.

Nine Ladys. Derbyshire.

2009-07-11T23:14:00.000-07:00

The nine ladies is a bronze age stone circle which is situated in Derbyshire and is part of the peak district. It is surrounded by woodland which is inhabited by tree people, a protest camp, who live in homemade tree houses. They are protesting about a quarry that is proposed to be built near the stone circle. They have been there five years and as far as I know they are still camping out. The stone circle is not as impressive or as large as Stonehenge, but it is a pleasant place to walk to and visit.

Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire.

2009-07-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

Burghley House is one of the most beautiful and impressive house in the country. Built for William Cecil (Elizabeth I treasurer) in the 16th century, Burghley house is a beautiful if some what eccentric house. The room are full of extravagant furniture and elaborate decor and paintings. The heaven and hell room and staircase are very extraordinary, though not to everyone's taste. Every room in the house is teaming with antiques and treasures from around the world. It is no wonder that Burghley is frequently used for film locations and most recent being the DeVinci Code and Pride and Prejudice.

The park and gardens were laid out by Capability Brown, who also landscaped Chatsworth and Longleat. Even if you don't visit the house, the gardens and the walks around the park are delightful at any time of the year. There is also a hands on sculpture trail around the park and the children will enjoy trying to spotting the sculptures and exploring them.

Wing Turf Maze, Rutland.

2009-07-04T23:47:00.000-07:00

This maze at the village of Wing is actually a labyrinth. The Difference being a maze has many dead ends and different paths, where as a labyrinth has one path which leads to the centre. Though hard to date, Wing turf maze of thought to be medieval. It is an interesting place to visit if in the area as there as not many of these mazes left in Britain.

St Mary's church, Wainfleet, Lincolnshire.

2009-07-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

St Mary's Church Wainfleet is one of my favourite places to visit. I lived near this church as a child and have always loved it. I don't know much about the church and I'm currently in the process of finding out when it was built and why is 2 miles away from the town of Wainfleet. I know that in the field North of the Church there are the earth works of what used to be the medieval village of Wainfleet. If anyone has any information please let me know.

Newquay, Cornwall.

2009-06-28T23:36:00.000-07:00

Newquay on the North coast of Cornwall is a beautiful place to visit. It has 10 stunning beaches all which are assessable (though some are quite steep to walk down to). The town, I found, was a little run down, though it does have a typical British seaside feel to it. It is the sandy beaches which are the main attraction in Newquay they are absolutely spectacular. There are rock pools to explore, the sea is perfect to swimming and paddling (keep to the areas where the lifeguards monitor) or you can lie back and relax enjoying just being by the seaside. For the more adventurous you can learn how to surf.

Conway castle. North Wales.

2009-06-25T23:39:00.000-07:00

Conway Castle or Castell Conwy in Welsh. It is charming castle to visit, though it is best to go on a sunny day, as most of it is outside. The castle is situated on the North Coast of Wales, and looks over the harbour of the medieval fishing town of Conway (another must see). The castle was built between 1283 1289 during the reign of Edward I. During this reign many castles were built in Wales, including Caernarfon and Beaumaris.

The castle, though not intact, has lots of look at and is a lovely place to roam round. You can walk up most of the turrets and along the battlements. At the top, there are splendid view of the town. While visiting the castle take a look at the Conway Suspension bridge. Built by Thomas Telford in 1826, this bridge is one of the first suspension bridges in the world. Though the bridge is now out of action for cars you can still walk along it. Running along side Conway bridge is the Robert Stevenson's wrought iron tubular railway bridge, built in 1848 another first of its kind.

Ingleborough. Yorkshire Dales.

2009-06-22T23:46:00.000-07:00

Fell Beck.

Fell Beck falling into Gapping Gill.

Trowl Gill.

Ingleborough nature trail.

Fell Beck stream.

I have been to Ingleborough a few times, though for various reasons never made it to the summit. Ingleborough is the second highest mountain in the beautiful area of the Yorkshire Dales, and is one of the three peaks of Yorkshire. It is a lovely place to visit, even If like me you only go part of the way up. We started at Clapham and followed the the Ingleborough nature trail. This is a charming walk, which goes through a delightful wooded area, following a stream and travels steady up to Ingleborough show cave. Here you can visit the caves or just grab yourself an ice cream as you continue up. A bit further and you reach Trow Gill, which is a small ravine that is a little tricky to walk up, but has a beautiful views.

As you travel up the hill there are many caves and pothole to look at, some are many mile long and are only recommended to go in if with a trained party of cavers. One of these caves is Gaping Gill, a pothole which the stream Fell Beck falls into, creating a waterfall (the tallest unbroken waterfall in Britain) which falls into the main chamber. On certain days of the year the river is diverted by the local caving club and people (for a charge) can be winched down into the main chamber. This is a fantastic experience and I highly recommend it, the main chamber it floodlit and you can explore some of the entrances from the chamber. The best bit is being winched down the 105 metre shaft.

Unfortunately that is as far as I have venture up Ingleborough, I'm hoping to go back and try again and then I will be able to tell you what the summit look like.

Lundy Island. Devon.

2009-06-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

Lundy is a small island (3 mile long) situated in the Bristol channel just off the coast of Devon. The only way to get to Lundy is by boat or by helicopter. The name Lundy is a Norse for Puffin, and the island has a number of pairs. A visit to the island will take all day, the boat ride over takes about 2 hours and is an exhilarating part of the trip. On the island is a small shop, pub, holiday apartments and a campsite. There is a walk which goes to the top of the island and back round by the coast. It is relaxing walk on an easy path. The walk round the island is very pleasant and although there were quite a few tourists on the boat, the walk itself was quiet and peaceful and included some delightful coastal views.

Lindisfarne, Northumberland

2009-06-19T07:06:00.000-07:00

Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island, is a small island just off the coast of Northumberland. Is is a really charming place to visit, and is steeped in history. One of the most amazing things about the island is that it connects to the mainland by a causeway, which is flooded over twice a day by the tides. It is important that before you go you check the tide times and keep to the marked paths.

The island has a quaint village, which includes shops, pubs and post office. There is also the castle, arts and craft centre and the monastery to visit. Another must it trying mead, a honey flavoured alcoholic drink, which was made by the monk who lived in the monastery and recipe has been pass down.

Dovedale, Derbyshire.

2009-06-19T06:09:00.000-07:00

I love this area of the Peak District. It is a beautiful place to go for a afternoon or a day out with a picnic. Dovedale is set in a valley, which was formed by the river Dove running through it. There is a pleasant walk at the bottom of the valley, following the river. It is a gentle walk with a good path. For the more energetic, you can climb Thorpe Cloud, a 287m hill, which has striking views of the surrounding area.

The stepping stones are a great place to stop for a picnic. Both children and adults enjoy splashing around in the water. Though take care as the stone can be slippery and in wet weather the river can flood over them, making them dangerous. Further up from the stepping stones are two caves to explore (not very deep caves) called Dove holes. Dovedale is well worth a visit and I think it is one of the most beautiful places in the peak district.

Blackgang Chine. Isle of Wight

2009-06-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

Blackgang Chine amusement park is located on the south coast of the Isle of Wight. The park has a slightly old fashioned appeal to it, there are no fast, whizzing, long queuing rides, but a mixture of odd, eccentric areas to play, hide and enjoy. Set in what was a coastal Chine, which has now been washed away due to coastal erosion, the chine offers breathtaking view of the coast. It is an easy, effort free day out which both children and adult will enjoy.

Flamborough Head. East Yorkshire.

2009-06-17T23:00:00.000-07:00

Flamborough head is a lovely place to go for a sunny afternoon out. The car park is at the top of the cliff and the beach is a short, but strenuous walk, which have loads of uneven steps, but is well worth the effort when you get to the bottom. The bay is small and stony, but there are plenty of nooks and crevices to look it and if you time it right with the tides you can get to a sea cave. I do advise anyone going to be aware of the high tide times, just encase!

Ben Nevis. Scotland.

2009-06-17T01:57:00.000-07:00

Standing at 1,343 metre above sea level, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the UK. A trip up Ben Nevis is not for the faint hearted. It is a strenuous walk to the top and you need to be well planned and equipped for the journey. A map is essential as is good walking shoes and warm clothing.

The most popular and easy route to the top is known as the Pony Track and it starts at the Fort William.The route up the mountain is stunning and involves climbing over mini waterfalls and boulders. You need to take you time and don't forget to look at the views along the way. Nearing the top the weather can often close in and Ben Nevis is known for its thick fog. We went in April and there was a lot snow about, and though it looked pretty and made good pictures, it was very slippery and deep in parts, so take care. At the top we were very lucky and the fog cleared showing up breathtaking views. It is worth the effort and defiantly one of the most amazing places I've been.

The Shell Grotto, Margate, Kent

2009-06-17T00:57:00.000-07:00

Found in 1835, whilst digging for a duck pond, the shell grotto is an anomaly. As the name suggests, the underground passage and chamber are covered everywhere in local shells, arranged in pictures and patterns. No-one knows why or when the grotto was built, but there are many speculations including the builders being the knights templar.

The Needles. Isle of Wight.

2009-06-16T23:00:00.000-07:00

The Needles, on the Isle of Wight are said to be one of the top 10 natural wonders of the British Isles. They are situated on the Far west side of the island. They take they name from fact that one of the stacks was tall and pointy, like a needle. Unfortunately this stack fell down in a storm in 1764. One of the best ways to see the Needles close up is by a boat, there are a number of tourist boats offering sight seeing trips are the Island. As well as boat, from the headland you can walk or take a cable car down to Alumn bay to get a good view. There is also a road, which winds to the top of the headland and you can look down upon the Needles, but there is no access for cars and you have to take a bus.

Malham . Yorkshire Dales.

2009-06-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in the Yorkshire Dales, Malham is a must see. It is beautiful English village, with delightful English pubs and quaint shops. There is a small stream running through the village, shallow enough for kid to paddle safely in. A short walk from the village is Malham Cove. Malham cove was once a impressive waterfall (think a smaller version of Niagara falls) the river which use to fall over the top, now appears from under the cliff of the cove (again plenty of places to paddle and rocks to climb on).

A mile (up hill) walk from the cove and you come to Malham Tarn. Malham Tarn is a small glacier lake, formed during the ice age. It is also the highest lake in England.

Hadrian's Wall.

2009-06-15T05:59:00.000-07:00

Hadrian's Wall runs from Carlisle in the West to Newcastle in the East. Following the wall is 73.5 miles (80 Roman miles) of footpath. The wall was started around AD122 by Emperor Hadrian and was built to prevent attacks from the Pictish tribes from Scotland. Originally the wall is said to have been 6 metre high, though, at most it is now 1.5 metres.

Every Roman miles along the wall there was a fort and every 1/3 mile a watch tower. Though most of the wall, forts and watchtowers are now little more than foundations you still get a sense of awe at the man power and effort required to build such a feat. It an impressive place to visit, with (in the right weather) stunning views of a beautiful part of the country.

High force Waterfall. County Durham.

2009-06-15T05:21:00.000-07:00

This beautiful waterfall is a must see if you are in this part of Britain. Situated near Middleton-Tees-Dale, High force waterfall is often wrong stated as being the highest natural waterfall in Britain, that award goes to Cautley Sprout in Cumbria. It is however one of the most spectacular. There is a short wall through beautiful woodland to the bottom of the waterfall. Those of you who are feeling very energetic may want to climb up the stairs to the top, and the very brave can peer over the edge and look down the fall, though I do warn you it is quite dangerous and the rocks at the top can get slippy.