The Mendip Hills

Posted on February 12, 2011 by admin

The Mendip Hills, commonly also called the Mendips, are modest range of limestone hills in Somerset south of Bristol and Bath.

From the summits of the Mendips you have a spectacular view of the Bristol Channel and towards Exmoor. In the many attractive valleys mellow, stone-walled villages nestle and underground the Mendip Hills are honeycombed with caverns carved out of the limestone rock. Many of them like Wookey Hole or Cheddar caves have been popular visitor attractions, others are known only to experienced cavers.

Gough's Cave © gas_station_sushi/flickr.com

Everywhere in the region evidence of man’s former settlements and industries, including Neolithic earthworks, Bronze Age barrows, Iron Age hill forts and lead mining remains dating from Roman can be found.

Being an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the Mendips also offer super spots for wildlife-watching, especially butterflies and wildflowers. The wide open spaces are perfect for walking, cycling and horse riding.

Standing as an island surrounded by water and marshes Brent Knoll was known by the Romans as ‘The Mount of Frogs’.  After the Somerset Levels were drained it can be reached by walks form the villages of Brent Knoll and East Brent. The Iron Age hill fort dominating the summit offers great views towards Wales.

Many finds like bones, tools, cooking utensils and ornaments in caves dating back to Neolithic times and being found throughout the Ebbor Gorge Nature Reserve can be seen at the museum in Wookey Hole.

Wells Cathedral © IDS.photos/flickr.com

Wells, about two miles from Wookey technically is a city as it is home to Wells Cathedral. It has the charm of a small village with the cathedral being one of the architectural highlights of Britain. It houses a wonderful clock with mechanical knights who exchange blows every hour.

Just a few miles away is Glastonbury with the enigmatic Glastonbury Tor, topped with a 14th century tower. According to the legend the Holy Grail is buried inside the Tor which can be climbed for wonderful view.

Another of the reputed hiding places for the Holy Grail is Chalice Well, sleeping in a peaceful garden at the foot of the Tor.

Glastonbury Tor © AndyRob/flickr.com

Glastonbury Abbey in the centre of Glastonbury used to be one of the richest abbeys in England at a time and during the Middle Ages Glastonbury was on of the premier pilgrimage destinations in the UK. It has been associated with Jesus, the Holy Grail and King Arthur. Still today travelers can find a bed in the George Hotel built by the abbey to accommodate the flood of pilgrims.

In the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey you can see the burial place of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere discovered in the 12th century by the monks of Glastonbury who needed funds to finance the rebuilding of the abbey. You can of course draw your own conclusion about the tomb and the legends about Arthur including the Holy Grail, but the place is well worth visiting.

In the Somerset Museum of Rural Life and the nearby Peat Moors Visitor Centre you can get a good idea of how early settlers in the area lived thousands of years ago.

And of course the Mendips offer a wide range of accommodation suiting every taste and budget.

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Aberdeen

Posted on February 5, 2011 by admin

Aberdeen is Scotland’s third largest city and located between the mouths of the Don and the Dee. It has a long sandy beach between the two rivers which turns into high sand dunes north of the Don.

People have been settling in the area for more than 8,000 years and the earliest charter was granted by William the Lion in 1179.

Due to its sparkling granite buildings Aberdeen is often called the ‘Granite City’ or the ‘Silver City and Aberdeen’s skyline certainly is the most recognizable in Scotland. It boasts a wide range of shops, award-winning cuisine and a vibrant nightlife and is well worth a visit.

Aberdeen Union Street © roger4336/flickr.com

The most notable buildings of Aberdeen are the Town and County Bank, the Music Hall, the Trinity Hall and the National Bank of Scotland in Union Street.

And as Aberdeen has won the Beautiful Britain in Bloom title no less than 10 times, it is also named ‘Flower Capital’. It is famous for its 45 parks and gardens and the floral displays you can see everywhere in the city.

One of the parks is Duthie Park opened in 1899 on the north bank of the Dee. The park with extensive gardens, a rose hill, boating pond, play area and the David Welch Winter Gardens was gifted to the city by Miss Elizabeth Crombie Duthie of Ruthrieston in 1881.
Located on the outskirts of Aberdeen is the large and forested Hazlehead Park which is extremely popular with walkers, picnickers and sports enthusiasts.
Johnston Gardens with its many different flowers and plants was named the best garden in the British Islands in 2002.

And Aberdeen is not only visited regularly by Scotland’s National Arts Companies, but also boasts a wide range of cultural activities and museums such as the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Provost Ross’ House or Marischal Museum. Throughout the year also many events and festivals take place in the city.

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New Chonkinfeckle Album Coming Soon

Posted on January 29, 2011 by admin

In the ‘Wigan Evening Post’ of 28 January 2011 you can read in an article written by Natalie Geraghty that the new Chonkinfeckle album is coming soon.

And that really is something we can look forward to as Leslie Hilton and Tim Cooke probably are Wigan’s funniest ukulele duo and songs like ‘The Texan from Goose Green’ or the legendary ‘I’m from Wigan me!’ are something everybody can relate to.

And as Les Hilton, the duo’s main lyricist of Chonkinfeckle is fascinated by the Wigan dialect ther is a lot of slang in the songs. Les and Tim do not only sing about people’s memories but of newer things as well.

Here’s one of Les’ latest songs on something many people complain about – the rain…

If you want to read the whole article written about Chonkinfeckle in the Wigan Evening Post, you can click here.

Get in touch with Chonkinfeckle through the contact form on their homepage if you are interested in purchasing their new album.

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Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Posted on January 23, 2011 by admin

Newcastle-upon Tyne is located on the banks of the River Tyne in the north east of England, surrounded by the beautiful Northumbrian landscape.

After the Romans had built the first bridge over the River Tyne, guarded by a fort named Pons Aelius, the Normans too realized the strategic importance of the place and built a wooden fort in 1080. It was later replaced in stone and the existing Keep dates from 1168-1178. It is one of the finest examples of Norman military architecture. In the 13th and 14th century the town walls were built.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne © Lola's Big Adventure!/flickr.com

In medieval times Newcastle was an important trading community and one of the great provincial centres.

During Elizabethan times Newcastle was exporting coal and due to the city’s chartered control of the river, all coal from the area was shipped from its port. This brought great wealth to Newcastle.
In the late 17th century shipbuilding became one of the great industries and by the 19th century many trades and industries brought prosperity to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Locomotive building by the Stephenson family was one of them.

At that time the city centre was also rebuilt and the Mining Institute, Durham College of Science and the College of Medicine were opened. Since then Newcastle has also been a good place for shops, large department stores and theaters.
The best known of the six bridges spanning the River Tyne is the Tyne Bridge built from 1925 to 1528.
It was designed by Robert Stephenson and was the world’s first road and railway bridge.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne © mollyig/flickr.com

Besides three cathedrals, the Anglican St Nicholas, the Catholic St Mary’s and the Coptic Cathedral in Fenham there are other attractions such as Earl Grey’s Monument, the Castle Keep, Bessie Surteees’ House and Blackfriars.

The city also boasts three large shopping centres, numerous museums, cinemas, theatres, clubs, restaurants, bars and of course pubs selling the local brew Newcastle Brown Ale.
If you need a rest after all the sightseeing and shopping you should take time for a stroll in the  Jesmond Dean Park in the heart of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

In the city centre you will of course also find a wide range of accommodation.

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Chester

Posted on January 13, 2011 by admin

Chester the city in Cheshire, England is lying on the River Dee, close to the Welsh border and was one of last towns in England to fall to the Normans in the Norman conquest of England.

Chester © Friar's Balsam/flickr.com

Even though Chester has a number of medieval buildings, some of the black-and –white buildings within the city centre are Victorian restorations. It is one of the best preserved walled cities in the UK. The walls are the most complete, accessible and walkable walls in Britain. On the 3km circuit you can enjoy the stunning views.

During the Industrial Revolution railways, canals and new roads brought substantial expansion to Chester. Victorian Chester Town Hall and Grosvenor Museum date back to this time.

Chester was founded as a Roman fort with the name Deva Victrix in AD 79. Probably originating from trade with the fortress a civilian settlement grew around the military base. Even Chester’s four main roads Eastgate, Northgate, Watergate and Bridge follow routes laid out at this time.

Chester Cathedral © Martin Pettitt/flickr.com

Churches have stood on the site of Chester Cathedral for over 1.000 years. The 10th century minster was built to house the relics of St Werburgh. St Werburgh’s Abbey was transformed to a cathedral in 1540 and is still one of the best preserved examples of a Benedictine abbey in England and a place where history has happened.

In the heart of the Cloisters of Chester Cathedral lies the cathedral garden, a place of interest not only because of the plant species but the design.
Chester not only has a rich heritage but also boasts a vide range of museums and galleries with fascinating collections.

As Chester is best seen on foot, you should either discover the hidden treasures by walking alone or joining one of the guided walking tours available. You can explore the traffic-free streets, the city walls and the river and canalside walks. Another great way of discovering the ancient city is of course by boat.

Chester Eastgate Clock © Martin Pettitt/flickr.com

A great day out for all the family is award winning Chester Zoo with 7,000 animals. There are big animals like elephants and giraffes as well as delicate butterflies. Many events take place throughout the year and the wide range of restaurants and kiosks got something to suit everyone’s taste. The Zoofari monorail will give you a giraffe’s eye view of the zoo, or you just relax on the Waterbus.

Children will also love the Grosvenor Park Miniature Railway. The 7 ¼ gauge railway is located only a few minutes walk from Chester’s historic city centre and operates steam and diesel hauled trains.

And you will of course find a wide range of accommodation in Chester suiting every taste and budget.

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Southampton

Posted on January 2, 2011 by admin

Situated 75 miles (120 kilometres) south-west of London and 19 miles (30 kilometres) of Portsmouth, Southampton is the largest city in Hampshire on the south coast of England.

Southampton is well known for its association with the RMS Titanic, the Spitfire and a number of the largest cruise ships in the world.

The Bargate-Entrance to Old Town © Jim Linwood/flickr.com

The residents of Southampton are called Sotonians and as archaeological finds show, the area has been inhabited since the Stone Age. The place was called Porth Hamon by the ancient Britons. The Anglo-Saxons formed an even larger settlement that was know as Hamwi and was later named Hamtum and Hampton. This is how the county of Hampshire got its name.

Southampton’s Old Town today is one of the gems of England and you can walk in the footsteps of people like William the Conqueror, Henry V, William Shakespeare, the Pilgrim Fathers, Isaac Watts and Jane Austen. You can also see the church in which Philip of Spain heard Mass before riding to Winchester to marry Queen Mary in 1554, find out why Tudor Merchants’ Hall was moved and enjoy the wide variety of architectural styles. In award winning museums you can also learn a lot about the city’s and region’s past and why the loss of the Titanic had such a devastating effect on Southampton.

If you want to start right from the beginning you should first visit the Museum of Archaeology as it is home to one of the most outstanding archaeology collections in England and you can learn a lot about the history of the city from the times of the Romans to Victorian times.

The Wool House, built in the 14th century as a warehouse for the wool trade, is now home to the Maritime Museum and will help you understand the history of the docks and the maritime past of Southampton.

The Medieval Merchants House built in 1290 is one of the earliest surviving merchant’s houses in England.

Southampton-Tudor House © Christophe/Finot-wikipedia.org

The Tudor House Museum and Garden are closed at present as long term refurbishment takes place there. It was built in 1495 for Sir John Dawtry, the Controller of Customs in Southampton.

In the Solent Sky (Hall of Aviation) you can discover the incredible story of aviation in the Solent area. Many of the planes that made Southampton famous are on display in the museum. Along with many others you can see the Spitfire, Britain’s most famous fighter plane, which was designed by R J Mitchell.

But there are not only museums in Southampton. The city also offers outstanding art galleries, two theatres and numerous concerts, festivals and events throughout the year. And thanks to its parks it is the greenest city in Southern England. There are seven formal parks close to the Old Town. Once common land where medieval townsfolk used to grow crops and gaze animals, they were converted into elegant parks in the early Victorian period.

Queen Elizabeth at Southampton © eastleighbusman/flickr.com

And besides all the exciting attractions Southampton has to offer, it is today the UK’s number one cruise port and people from all over the world come here to either join cruises or simply observe the majestic vessels at close quarters. During the golden age of the liners, legendary ships such as Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Mauretania were a constant sight on the waterfront skyline.

You can easily get to Southampton by air, sea or road, and the city of course not only offers a vide range of accommodation, but is also renowned in the region for its exciting nightlife with traditional and historic pubs and funky bars and music venues.

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A Short History of English Beer

Posted on December 22, 2010 by admin

As the Roman historian Tacitus commented, Beer was the normal drink of the Germanic and Gallic tribes. And since the Gallic tribes were closely related to the British Celts, it can be assumed that they too drank beer.

But it can’t be said exactly when beer came to Britain. The first British brewer was mentioned in a wood carving of one of the forts of Hadrian’s Wall. But nothing is known about Atrectus the brewer (Atrectus ceruesarius) or of the quality of his drinks.

In the seventh century the number of ale-sellers was restricted by Ethelbert, the King of Kent and three centuries later, another Kentish King, Edgar, regulated the size of drinking vessels. This of course suggests that ale was served and drunk at particular locations. Drinking vessels were shared at that time and each measure was marked by a peg. The drinker was supposed to drink down to the peg and than pass the vessel on to the next person. When the drinker drank beyond the measure he was taking the next drinker ‘down a peg or two’, an expression that is still used today.

Ale © unclewilco/flickr.com

When Christianity spread the drinking habits were adopted by the Christian church and ales were even brewed for church festivals or to raise funds.

The word ‘ale’ originally described an alcoholic beverage brewed with malted barley and water with no hops added. Until about 1400 it only consisted of malted barley, water and yeast and therefore was full of protein and carbohydrate. This made it a good source of nutrition not only for peasants.

It is believed that in the 15th century merchants from Flanders and Holland introduced a new version of ale, made with hops, to England. Hops not only added a measure of bitterness to the ale, they were also thought to help preserve the ale.
By the end of the 15th century the new beer had almost completely replaced the old English sweet ale and was even exported to Europe.

From the 16th century onwards the main hop growing counties in England were Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Worcestershire. The hops were dried by hot air from a wood or charcoal-fired kiln in special oast houses. The earliest still in existence dates to 1750 and can be seen in Cranbrook, Kent.

Queen Elizabeth always sent couriers ahead to taste the ale when she was about to travel through the country and William Shakespeare’s father as an ale-tester or ‘conner’. At that time ale was tested by pouring some upon a bench and sitting on it while drinking the rest. Was the ale impure or sugar added to it, the tester’s leather breeches would stick after sitting for about half an hour.

During the Industrial Revolution it was hard for smaller alehouses or pubs to exist due to the heavy taxes. This changed with the 1830 Beerhouse Act which allowed anyone to sell beer for a small two guinea fee. As this happened during the reign of William IV, it is no wonder that his name is still today the most common Monarch’s name attached to pubs.

Today British beers are renowned for their variety of taste, aroma and strength and an extraordinarily wide ranging selection for British beers are available at the Great British Beer Festival held at Earls Court, London, every year. About 450 varieties can be tasted and purchased at this event.

Today there are 767 breweries in the UK and this is more than at any time since the Second World War.

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Exmoor National Park

Posted on December 13, 2010 by admin

The Exmoor National Park lies on the Bristol Channel coast of South West England on the West Somerset / North Devon border.

Including the Brendon Hills, East Lyn Valley and the Vale of Porlock it covers 267.5 square miles (692.8 square kilometres) of heather-clad moorland and a breathtaking coastline of plunging cliffs and sheltered bays.

Exmoor © IDS.photos/flickr.com

Here you find hidden haunts, deep valleys, ancient oak woodlands, sparkling rivers, waterfalls and England’s highest sea cliffs. In between this magnificent landscape lie medieval towns and villages as well as resorts and harbours.

Natural beauty and an abundance of wildlife, including the Exmoor Pony and the wild red deer, are guaranteed by its National Park status. You can choose from all kinds of holidays and short breaks when visiting the Exmoor National Park. Enjoy a few days by the sea, explore the magnificent countryside or explore the local heritage. Staying in one of the picturesque villages, on a farm or in one of the popular resorts you can spend your time walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing or wildlife spotting. And if you want to do nothing but sit back and enjoy the stunning views, well, why not.

Exmoor Ponies © me'nthedogs/flickr.com

Exmoor National Park has something to offer for everyone and can easily be reached via the M5 and major airports and train services at Exeter, Bristol and Taunton. It is only about 3 ½ hours drive time from London or Birmingham.

With over 1000km of footpaths and bridleways, signposted by the National Park Authority (NPA), through woodlands and open heather covered moorland Exmoor National Park is the ideal place for not only experienced walkers but also those who prefer a short stroll. But of course you can also go mountain biking or road cycling or horse riding. And as Exmoor has some of the UK’s highest cliffs you can also go climbing in the stunning coastal location. And if the weather happens to be not so good you can experience the fantastic indoor climbing centre.

Gorse and Heather © me'nthedogs/flickr.com

The good choice of beautiful rivers, lakes and the spectacular coastline provide great opportunities for canoeists of all ability levels. A special pleasure is also to go fishing at one of the rivers or streams in the Exmoor National Park. On the East Lyn, the Barle and the Exe along with a number of pools and reservoirs permit fishing is available. Sea fishing along the stunning coastline is also available for free. You can catch brass, cod, whiting, conger and skate. As some of the stony beaches and rocky headlands are limited by the state of the tide it might be wise to join an escorted boat fishing trip if you really want to catch sea fish.

One of the must-sees and great family fun is the steam powered West Somerset Railway running for 20 miles through magnificent countryside between Minehead and Bishop’s Lydeard, near Taunton. Butlins in Minehead is the ideal place for a great day out with all the family as it is packed full of attractions, rides, shops and the sub-tropical ‘Splashworld’. Other attractions are the Tropiguaria outsid Watchet, Watermouth Castle and the Wildlife and Dinosaur Park. At the Exmoor Falconry and Animal Farm near Porlock there are daily falconry displays.

As Exmoor is blessed with some of the best local produce in the country you will really enjoy sampling local food. Lamb, beef and pork are produced by local farmers but there also is an abundance of game and fresh fish as well as a huge variety of locally produced preserves, hand made cheddar cheese, Exmoor ice-cream or chocolate. Three local breweries, a vineyard and cider makers will provide you with the right drink.

A large variety of accommodation offers something for all tastes and budgets. You can stay in elegant country houses, hotels, B&Bs, cottages, inns or pubs. And as much of the accommodation also is pet friendly, why not bring your dog. He will for sure enjoy the long walks in the countryside.

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Kidderminster

Posted on December 6, 2010 by admin

Lying in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England is Kidderminster. The town is located about 17 Miles south-west of Birmingham and about 15 miles north of Worcester.

Church and canal at Kidderminster © mike warren/flickr.com

The earliest written form of the name Kidderminster (Chedeminstre) wasn’t seen in the Domesday Book before 1068. The land around Kidderminster might have been populated before by an Anglo-Saxon tribe called the Husmera.

There are two Commissioners’ churches in Kidderminster. St George’s Church was designed by Francis Goodwin and built between 1821 and 1824. With just over £17,000.00 it had the third largest grant by the Commission of any church outside London. St John’s Church was built by Matthew Steele in 1843 and the grant in this case was only just over £4,000.

The carpet industry founded in the area in 1785 was and still is extremely important to the local economy. Even the local newspaper is named ‘The Shuttle’ after the shuttles used on the carpet looms.

Worth a visit is for sure Hartlebury Castle, which has been home to the Bishops of Worcester for over a thousand years. Permanent exhibitions show the past lives of the regions inhabitants’ from Roman to modern times. There are Worcestershire toys, horse drawn vehicles and complete room sets on display.

Broadwater's Kidderminster © mike warren/flickr.com

On of the best glass museums in the world is Broadfield House Glass Museum situated in the historic Stourbridge Glass Quarter. Here visitors can see a magnificent collection of British glass.

The region is also a must-see for railway enthusiasts. There are the Severn Valley Steam Railway, travelling the 16 miles from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth and the Kidderminster Railway Museum where the collections are housed in a warehouse built by the Great Western Railway in 1778. The warehouse was used for the storage of grain for the nearby flour mills and wool for the carpet industry. The railway museum houses railway artefacts, most of which date back to the days of steam travel. You can see pen nibs, clocks, signs, signaling equipment, photographs, timetables and of course rolling stock.

Severn Valley Railway © mike warren/flickr.com

If you prefer plants to railways you should pay Stone House Cottage Gardens a visit. In the one acre walled  garden a huge range of unusual plants is grown. Climbing plants are a speciality of Stone House Cottage Gardens.

Dudley Zoological Gardens offer a great day out for all the family. You can get close to some of the rarest animals in the world and discover the magic of Lemurs while wandering through their woodland home or walk through the rainforest of Monkey Tails, where small primates roam free.  But you can also see farm animals and birds of pray.

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Forest of Dean

Posted on November 29, 2010 by admin

Located between the rivers Wye, Leadon and Severn in Western Gloucestershire the Forest of Dean became Britain’s first National Forest Park in 1938 and also is England’s largest oak forest.

River Wye © me'nthedogs/flickr.com

In this magical place you can get away from everyday life and enjoy the beautiful landscape. The Forest of Dean, also called the ‘Queen of Forests’, has something to offer for everyone.

You can go on guided walking tours, go cycling, or choose any of the more sporty activities like canoeing, clay shooting, paintballing, abseiling, raft building or high wire assault courses.

But of course there are also museums, caves, a steam train and historic buildings in the Forest of Dean waiting to be explored.

Cinderford in the very heart of the forest for example is not only a former mining town; it also used to be the industrial capital of the region. In the beautifully restored Edwardian Palace Cinema you can watch films and afterwards have a meal in one of the best Indian restaurants in the area. Cinderford also offers a wide range of shops. In the Dean Heritage Centre in nearby Soudley you can learn more about the area’s past and see traditional craftsmen at work.

Forest of Dean Steam Train © mattbuck4950/flickr.com

In the villages Littledean, Drybrook and Ruardean you find a range of country pubs and inns.

Lying on the western side of the forest is Coleford. In the centre of this market town there are several historical buildings and in the library you can find excellent books on the local history of the region. Besides a very old cinema there are also a golf course and the Great Western Railway Museum. Coleford boasts a wide range of shops, restaurants, cafés and hotels. Popular family attractions such as Perrygrove Railway, Puzzle Wood and Clearwell Caves are not far.

Sculpture Trail © hpeguk/flickr.com

The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail was established in 1986 and was one of the first to open in the UK. The trail with a length of about 4 miles features sculptures by different artists. On a walk with all the family you can discover art and see how the artists interpret this very special area.

The Forest of Dean also offers a wide range of accommodation. There are historic hotels and inns, B&Bs, country cottages and campsites.

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