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Take also a look at holidays 2007: England Tour in
the south of England
In 2009 in July, we have
made again a tour in England and Wales. We
mostly stayed two days at an hotel.
The route was: Sutton (East Anglia) - Worcester (Heart of England) -Tal y bont
(North-Wales)
- Easingwold (Yorkshire) - Bowness on Windermere (Lake district)
Like in 2007 we had a National Trust Pass.
Some
beautiful areas and gardens.
Wicken Fen
We arrived on Monday in England. There was much closed. Fortunately Wicken Fen
was open.
It is one of the oldest nature reserves in England (in Cambridgeshire).
A landscape with reedsbeds, open water and new wet grassland areas. There
are three suggested trails (1,2 km, 3,6 km and 4,5 km) It is acquired by
the National Trust.
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Cambridge
Obviously a university town. The buildings of the universities are
scattered through the city. Most buildings are not open for public. There
are large lawns, where people can relax.
The chapel at King's College is a fee to visitors. King's College,
unfortunately not.
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Christ´s College. King´s College.
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Botanic garden in Cambridge
This garden of 16 hectares was intended for scientific research for
Professor JS Henslow. (1831) In 1846, it is opened to the public.
There are over 10,000 labeled plant species in the garden. There is a
water garden, winter garden, rock garden etc.
The glasshouses are already old, but are certainly worth visiting. The glasshouse consists of a long
corridor. From there you can enter different glasshouses. In
each glasshouse are plants from a particular climate or region.
In the largest greenhouse are tropical forest plants.
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Stowe Landscape Gardens
The gardens are just outside of Buckingham. A 3 km long avenue leads to
the Stowe House. This was formerly the residence of the Dukes of
Buckingham. Now it is a public school. The hall and the main state rooms
in the house are open to the public.
Very interesting are the large landscape gardens (managed by National
Trust).
In the 18th century, Sir Richerd Temple, known as Lord Cobham, asked many
architects and garden architects to design this park. Famous garden
designers such as Bridgeman, Kent and Gibbs.
You see buildings and statues. It is a little bit kitsch, I think, but
it's still fun to watch.
There are 42 monuments. We haven't seen all, but we have had a great time.
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Claydon House
Buckinghamshire, England, close to the village of Middle Claydon.
The Claydon Estate Gardens near the house we haven't visited this time.
Formely the house belonged to the Peverell family.
The house
was rebuilt by Ralph 2nd Earl Verney between 1757 and 1771. It's just part
of its original planned size. In the house you can see the original design.
In the 19th century, Florence Nightingale often visited the house. She was
the sister in law of Sir Harry Verney. The Verney family still lives in this
house in a side wing.
Beside the house a very old church.
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Worcester
A pleasant town with a nice shopping center.
Important are the River Severn and the Cathedral. Bishop Wufstan began the
presant building in 1084. There had been a church on the same place.
One of the attractions is the tomb of King John Lackland.
William Shakespeare
Anne Hathaway´s Cottage
In the village of Shottery is the house where William Shakespeare's wife
lived before they married. You can visit the house the garden and orchard.
Shottery is close to Ford upon Avon Stat. There is much more about
Shakespeare to be found.
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 In the garden are sculptures inspired by
Shakespeare plays. I have taken some photos.
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Statford upon Avon
This is the birthplace of William Shakespeare. You can find much about the
time the lived.
It is a tourist town.
Between modern houses you will find beautiful old houses.
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Birthplace of William Shakespeare.
In this house he was born and has grown up.
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 Nash´s house
This house belonged to Thomas Nash, who married the granddaughter of William
Shakespeare.
Next to Nash's house was the house New Place, that was demolished in 1759,
where William Shakespeare died in 1616. It is a garden now.
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 The house of doctor John Hall.
He
married Susanna the oldest daughter of William Shakespeare.
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 The Holy Trinity Church (1210) where William Shakespeare, his wife Anne and members of the family are buried.
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Croft Castle
Croft Castle is an early 17th century house.
There 's a family connection dating back more than 1000 years!!! The
current Lord and Lady Croft still live in the castle today..
The part, which you can visit is certainly interesting. There was also a special exhibition of
art. Two examples are shown here.
There were also people in the clothing of the past.
The parkland (1.500 acres) is open to the public from March to December
Powis Castle
This castle is located in central Wales in Powis near the town of Welshpool.
It is not like many other castles in Wales built by the British. It was a
castle for the Prince of Wales. The red stone of the castle are striking.
Powis Castle is built in the 13th century.
Next to the castle is a beautiful (baroque) garden on the terraces. You
can walk all the way down.
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Bodnant Garden
This garden is world famous. It belongs to the manor of Lord and Lady
Aberconway and can be found in North Wales. It is 32 hectares and is
situated above the River Conwy. It is the most beautiful garden we ever
have seen.
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 The
first part looks like a park. There are trees, rhododendrons, but also
flowerbeds.
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There are many high trees. The first tree is a sequoia.
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| Then we went down to a small river. The forest looks very
natural.
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Then we went to the gardens near the mansion of Lord
and Lady Aberconway. The house is not open for public.
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Edward I of England built late 3th century many castles
(fortresses) to contain the Welsh. Most are ruins now .
Three examples.
Conwy
In Conwy there is a
castle constructed by Edward 1. Conwy itself is quite modern for a fortified
town. On the quay is a fisherman's cottage, 3 m high, that seems to be the smallest
house in Great Britain .
You see on one photo three bridges side by side. In the middle the old
bridge.
Right for the train and left the road to Ireland.
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Caernafoon
From the sea,
the castle is impressive. From the city it is a bit less.
It was built in 1283 after the victory of Edward l on Llywelyn ap Gruffydd,
the last Welsh Prince.
In the castle is a museum with military uniforms and medals. The Royal
Welch Fusiliers Museum.
Beaumaris
In Beaumaris Edward I built his last castle. It is a
ruin now .
Beaumaris is a seaside resort and port on the island Anglesy.
The beach isn't very nice. The view over the water is beautiful.
The church is a daughter of King John Lackland was buried.
Snowdon Mountain Railway in Gwynedd
A train for
about fifty people to Snowdon, the highest
mountain 1085 m of Wales.
It is a narrow gauge rack and pinion mountain railway. You will be
rewarded with beautiful vistas. We were at half past 11 in the row and
noticed that we would get the 3:30 pm train.
This took too long. We have left the station to do something else.
Tickets for the train can be purchased in advance by telephone using a
credit/debit card. (Not on the day of travel). But......Tickets are
non-transferable or refundable so you have to check the weather forecast
before making a booking.
Beningbrought Hall
When we drove from Wales to York, it rained continuously. So we didn't
stop.
Near York it was dry. We visited Beningbrough Hall. In the house were
beautiful paintings. As very often in the English buildings were
volunteers who like to tell us about the house.
Unfortunately it was not allowed to take photos inside, (as usually).
I have taken some photos of the walled garden.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway
We stayed only one day in Easingwold (Yorkshire). Therefore we had to
choose between York, Castle Howard and the North Yorkshire Moors
Railway.
We took the train.
From 1836 there is a railway through the Moors (first with horse-drawn
carriages). In 1965 the railway was closed. But in 1967 it was reopened with help of a group of local
people.
The views are not breathtaking. But it is nice to see how proud the
people are on the
old trains. The starting point was Pickering.
We got of the train in Goatland.
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 Goathland.
We
saw many sheep. There are fine walks. You can buy a guide with several walks.
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Fountains Abbey
When
we left Easingwold (Yorkshire) and drove to the Lake district, we first visited the
Fountains Abbey. The abbey was founded in 1132. After the separation of the church of
Rome Fountains Abbey fell into decline.
Now the ruins and the watergarden are a tourist attraction.
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Yorkshire Dales National Park
We were not sure we would take the
tourist route ( the B6160) through Yorkshire Dales.
Fortunately, we have done.
In a parking lot, we stopped. The view is breathtaking. The place is very
high. Wherever you look, you see this view. Everywhere you see the barren
moors with a single house. It is difficult to photograph, for you get a
small part. It is a view we will not forget.
 When we were already close to the Lake District, we stopped again. The view is very
different now . Much greener.
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Bowness
Near Windermere is the town of Bowness. It is a nice town but
very busy. You see a building in honor of the writer, illustrator Beatrix
Potter. Especially for children it is worth a visit.
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We have bought a
gift to take to Holland.
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 Her house is open to
visitors. Except on Friday and then we
were to visit of course.
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Holehird Gardens
This garden is located near Bowness. You have from the garden a
beautiful view. Admission and parking are free, but donations ( £ 3) when
you like the garden. So we have paid.
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View
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Windermere
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View of
Windermere from our hotel. The cat is the hotelkat..
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| Windermere
is the longest lake of England. It is 16 km long. It is also a very touristy
area. This we found quite a pity..
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Hadrian´s wall
We have visited the Hadrian's Wall. This time Vercovicium fort at Housesteads. There was a strong wind and drizzle. But I think
this is within this area.
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end with this photo from the boat to the Netherlands.
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