| A TOUR AROUND WALES AND ENGLAND September 2005 Following a season of tours to Africa, Geoff's last major trip of 2005 was a privately hosted tour of Wales, England and the Isle of Wight. |
| This report and photographs are Copyright to Geoff Cooke |
Day 1
We drove from Manchester Airport
to Chatsworth House in the Peak
District, a stately home where
Pride & Prejudice had recently
been filmed. From there we drove
back to Chester for the night.
Day 2
Chester is a delightful medieval
town with excellent shops and an
interesting Cathedral. We had time
to look around before continuing to
north Wales.
Day 3
We visited Bodnant Gardens, one
of Britain’s most spectacular,
situated above the River Conwy.
The craft and chocolate shops
were visited before we continued to
Conwy town.
Our walk around Conwy took in the
world’s first iron suspension
bridge, which stands alongside
Robert Stevenson’s tubular railway
bridge. We made our way into the
walled town via the harbour and
the smallest house in Britain. After
visiting Aberconwy House, the
oldest house in Conwy, we ended
our tour with an exploration of the
Castle.
Day 4
This morning we drove around the
island of Anglesey. A stop was
made at Amlwch, the heritage port
that once served the largest copper
mine in the world. Before visiting
Plas Newydd, home of the 7th
Marquess of Anglesey situated on
the banks of the Menai Straight, we
stopped at Llanfair PG for a picture
under the station sign with the
longest name in Britain.
Leaving Anglesey we drove though
Bangor to Penrhyn Castle, a neo-
Norman castle with magnificent
rooms, astonishing kitchens, art
exhibitions and a railway museum.
There was time this afternoon to
drive to Llandudno, explore the
Great Orme and watch the sunset.
Day 5
The Snowdon Mountain Railway
was unable to reach the top of the
mountain because of strong
winds, and so we spent the time
underground in the Dinorwig
Power Station instead. This was
followed by a visit to the Slate
Museum, and a drive over
Llanberis Pass to Caernarfon,
where we visited Edward 1st's
greatest Castle.
Day 6
We drove to Porthmadog for a ride
on the Ffestiniog Railway. On
arrival at Blaenau Ffestiniog it was
time for more slate with a trip
underground at the Llechwedd
Slate Cavern.
Lunch was at Portmeirion Village,
followed by a trip down the coast
with antique shopping and a castle
to view at Harlech.
Day 7
Celtica, the Celtic Museum, was
preceded by a quick visit to the
street market in Machenlleth. We
continued to Aberystwyth where the
first stop was at the National
Library. The Library proved so
interesting that the Hill Railway and
Camera Obscura had to be
skipped in order to catch the steam
train to Devils Bridge and back.
Day 8
Today was spent in Shrewsbury,
where we visited the Abbey, made
famous by Brother Cadfael, the
medieval Monk created by Ellis
Peters.
Day 9
A drive down to Cardiff, with a
leisurely stop at Hey on Wye, the
second hand book capital of Britain.
Day 10
There was time this morning to
walk to Cardiff Castle and the
National Museum and Art Gallery
before driving to the Museum of
Welsh Life, a fascinating collection
of over 40 relocated buildings on
the outskirts of the city.
Day 11
A drive over the Severn Bridge and
past Bath and Salisbury took us to
Southampton, where we boarded a
ferry for the Isle of Wight.
On arrival at Cowes we visited
Osborne House, the favourite
residence of Queen Victoria.
Day 12
A day touring the Island with stops
at a glass studio, two potteries, a
pearl center and The Needles.
There was also time to look up an
old friend.
Day 13
We sadly left the Island this
morning and drove to Portsmouth
to visit the Historic Dockyard. A
highlight was a tour of HMS Victory,
just short of the 200th anniversary
of the Battle of Trafalgar. Also
visited were the Mary Rose and
HMS Warrior.
Day 14
A short drive to Gatwick Airport saw
the tour come to an end.
Until next time.
We drove from Manchester Airport
to Chatsworth House in the Peak
District, a stately home where
Pride & Prejudice had recently
been filmed. From there we drove
back to Chester for the night.
Day 2
Chester is a delightful medieval
town with excellent shops and an
interesting Cathedral. We had time
to look around before continuing to
north Wales.
Day 3
We visited Bodnant Gardens, one
of Britain’s most spectacular,
situated above the River Conwy.
The craft and chocolate shops
were visited before we continued to
Conwy town.
Our walk around Conwy took in the
world’s first iron suspension
bridge, which stands alongside
Robert Stevenson’s tubular railway
bridge. We made our way into the
walled town via the harbour and
the smallest house in Britain. After
visiting Aberconwy House, the
oldest house in Conwy, we ended
our tour with an exploration of the
Castle.
Day 4
This morning we drove around the
island of Anglesey. A stop was
made at Amlwch, the heritage port
that once served the largest copper
mine in the world. Before visiting
Plas Newydd, home of the 7th
Marquess of Anglesey situated on
the banks of the Menai Straight, we
stopped at Llanfair PG for a picture
under the station sign with the
longest name in Britain.
Leaving Anglesey we drove though
Bangor to Penrhyn Castle, a neo-
Norman castle with magnificent
rooms, astonishing kitchens, art
exhibitions and a railway museum.
There was time this afternoon to
drive to Llandudno, explore the
Great Orme and watch the sunset.
Day 5
The Snowdon Mountain Railway
was unable to reach the top of the
mountain because of strong
winds, and so we spent the time
underground in the Dinorwig
Power Station instead. This was
followed by a visit to the Slate
Museum, and a drive over
Llanberis Pass to Caernarfon,
where we visited Edward 1st's
greatest Castle.
Day 6
We drove to Porthmadog for a ride
on the Ffestiniog Railway. On
arrival at Blaenau Ffestiniog it was
time for more slate with a trip
underground at the Llechwedd
Slate Cavern.
Lunch was at Portmeirion Village,
followed by a trip down the coast
with antique shopping and a castle
to view at Harlech.
Day 7
Celtica, the Celtic Museum, was
preceded by a quick visit to the
street market in Machenlleth. We
continued to Aberystwyth where the
first stop was at the National
Library. The Library proved so
interesting that the Hill Railway and
Camera Obscura had to be
skipped in order to catch the steam
train to Devils Bridge and back.
Day 8
Today was spent in Shrewsbury,
where we visited the Abbey, made
famous by Brother Cadfael, the
medieval Monk created by Ellis
Peters.
Day 9
A drive down to Cardiff, with a
leisurely stop at Hey on Wye, the
second hand book capital of Britain.
Day 10
There was time this morning to
walk to Cardiff Castle and the
National Museum and Art Gallery
before driving to the Museum of
Welsh Life, a fascinating collection
of over 40 relocated buildings on
the outskirts of the city.
Day 11
A drive over the Severn Bridge and
past Bath and Salisbury took us to
Southampton, where we boarded a
ferry for the Isle of Wight.
On arrival at Cowes we visited
Osborne House, the favourite
residence of Queen Victoria.
Day 12
A day touring the Island with stops
at a glass studio, two potteries, a
pearl center and The Needles.
There was also time to look up an
old friend.
Day 13
We sadly left the Island this
morning and drove to Portsmouth
to visit the Historic Dockyard. A
highlight was a tour of HMS Victory,
just short of the 200th anniversary
of the Battle of Trafalgar. Also
visited were the Mary Rose and
HMS Warrior.
Day 14
A short drive to Gatwick Airport saw
the tour come to an end.
Until next time.
| Bodnant Gardens. One of the best in Britain |
| The River Dee. A short walk from The Rows, Chester's unique two level shops |
| Penrhyn Castle. A Neo-Norman masterpiece built on the profits from Welsh Slate and Jamaican Rum |
| The smallest house and a well dressed Welsh woman. Conwy |
| Llandudno at sunset. The Little Orme from the pier |
| Mminfordd Station on the Ffestiniog Railway |
| Porthmerion Village. A picturesque Italianate village on the Welsh coast |
| Antique shops at Harlech. Some well priced gifts were found |
| Harlech Castle from the tea room garden. Advertised as the best view in town |
| Shrewsbury Abbey. Home of Brother Cadfael |
| Hey on Wye. A town full of book shops |
| Cardiff Art Gallery and Museum |
| The Red Funnel Line. Ferry to the Isle of Wight |
| The Museum of Welsh Life at St. Fagans near Cardiff |
| The Needles. Isle of Wight |
| Osborne House. Queen Victoria's favourite |
| HMS Victory. 200 years of Portsmouth history |
| England Expects |
| All photographs copyright: Geoff Cooke |
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