Ancient to Modern

Heading into Scotland today and just south of the border is Hadrian's Wall. It was built by the Romans about 2000 years ago to stop invaders from the north, and it stretches across Britain from coast to coast about 80 miles.

We visited Homesteads Fort probably the best preserved of the forts that originally were every few miles along the length of the wall.

As you can see from the magnificent views it's the ideal place to keep an eye out for sneaky invaders.

The afternoon was a stark contrast to the morning and an accidental activity. We knew of the Falkirk Wheel from Ross and Brenda sister Jo but didn't know exactly where it was until we nearly drove passed it. 

The Falkirk Wheel lifts boats 24 metres from one canal to another, like a modern day lock. It would take several traditional locks to do the same job and the wheel does it more efficiently.

The photo above shows the wheel raising and lower two boats at the same time and in the foreground you can see a boat being raised the traditional way.

Of course we had to go for a ride. Above photos - entering the wheel, reaching the top, a short ride through a tunnel and back, and another boat going up as we're coming down.

The views from the wheel, through raindrops on the windows.

There was also an intriguing water park for the "kids", with various ways of moving water up hill. Of course someone had to have a go.

Another interesting day and more of Scotland tomorrow.

TOODLES 

A Little bit of Luxury

If you have been follow our travels you may recall our Fawlty Towers experience. Well last night was at the other end of the scale by comparison and our best accommodation by far. Peter managed to find us two £90 ($180) rooms for £60 ($120), at Barrow in Furness in the south Lakes District, on laterooms.com. The service was impeccable, the rooms clean, bright & modern and the food (2 courses for £12 each) was restaurant quality, no pub grub here. It was a real treat for Ross and I, as we haven't stayed in this kind of accommodation before, and even Peter was impressed.

Our destination today was Carlisle just south of Scotland and the day was planned around a half price voucher we received with our train ticket yesterday for a boat ride on Lake Ullswater. 

As you can see the weather wasn't so good, not just raining but it was accompanied by the roaring 40s. If it had been upto me I probably would have some nice inside activity but our philosophy on on this trip is if one person's really keen we're all in and we know Ross and boats. To quote Ross' favourite expressions "anyone can do it on a fine day", and it all adds to the experience, right. 

Once the rain eased off and the sun came out and despite the wind still being fierce and freezing, straight off the snow in Scotland, we ventured up on deck, it was lovely to be able to take in the scenery at gentle pace and not from the back of the car. 

At destination, Howtown, we stepped back into the story book with a stroll along this lane to local hotel.

The public bar was so small you couldn't swing a cat but cosy. We enjoyed a coke and a ginger beer (how English) before heading back for return trip on the oldest commercial boat in England, the "Lady of the Lake". 

Sorry I didn't get a decent photo of her because we didn't realise her history until we were on her. This is her bow as we're coming back to port.

One of the things we did before leaving home was join the National Trust of England ($200/couple), this allows you into any of their sites for free, which is a big saving when most places are at least £10+ ($20) each to get into. We covered the cost within 3 sites. Anyway, the information book on the sites has been our go to reference when we haven't had anything planned and Acorn Bank is one such place. The National Trust are in the process of bringing it back to it original glory. 

While the house might not have been in the best of nick, the garden was beautiful. 

An added bonus required stepping back into storyland with walk through these woods to another working mill. Couldn't you just skip along this path to find Wonderland or the Faraway Tree.

This mill was a bit more professional than yesterday's as it actually produces and small amount of flour for sale so it was a lot neater and clean. The chaps working it were very informative and interesting. The flour they produce is wholemeal but as fine as white flour which surprised me.

What a great couple of days, two of my favourites so far. I've loved immersing myself in the English countryside and transporting myself back childhood stories.

Off to Scotland tomorrow.

TOODLES

Stepping Into a Storybook

The last couple of days have been delightful. It felt like I had stepped into a Beatrix Potter or Enid Blyton story book. Walking along country lanes lined with stone walls and hedgerows, strolling through woods of silver birch, oak and beech trees surrounded by wildflowers, looking at mill houses and riding on a stream train. Do you get the picture?

The fantasy started with a visit to Beatrix Potters house, "Hill Top". It was as if time had stood still. Everything is just as she left it, full of all the things that she had collected just because she liked them, very eclectic. I was particularly taken with two very intricate cross stitches she had purchased at some time in her life. 

Looking around the the house, garden and surrounding countryside you can see where the inspiration came from for her children's book. It wouldn't have surprised me if I'd seen a rabbit in and little blue coat.

For something different in the afternoon we drove to Ravencliff, which is near the west coast, to have a ride on a miniature stream 

We arrived at the station minutes before the train was due to leave so Peter while  bought the tickets the rest of us ran to try and hold the train but it leaves on time no matter what. It's alright though, Peter managed to get on as it was pulling away fortunately it wasn't very fast.

It was leisurely ride and while the scenery wasn't spectacular it was lovely relaxing way to see the countryside. We thought it funny that our destination was Eskdale and that we'd travelled half way around the world to a town with same as one about an hour from our home in Australia that, I think, I've been to once.

Once we reached Eskdale we decided to take short walk to England's oldest working grain mill. It doesn't work commercially, just for tourists, mind you OH & S (Occupational Health & Safety) would have a field day it was in Australia. 

It was another step back in time and shall I say rustic, but I love this kind of thing. 

When we returned to Ravencliff we were in for a real treat a large stream came through the station and to small engines were there to greet it, there was lots of tooting and steam everywhere.

All that excitement over we headed south for Barrow in Furness where we were in for a treat.

TOODLES

The Aquaduct

We left Wales for the Lakes District but not before visiting the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct, a few minutes from where we were staying. 

The aqueduct is over 30 metres high and about 300 metres long. It was built in the early 1800s to allow canel boats to across the valley. 

The canel boats are so quaint and it would be a lovely way to spend a leisurely couple of days if we had the time, sadly we don't.

On to Windermere in the Lakes District and more beautiful scenery but not many photos taken. Lots more tomorrow though.

TOODLES

Licorice Allsorts

What an an interesting day it was today, a variety of things to see and do. We decided to stay another night Morton so we could have a full day and not have to worry about accommodation. The goal for the day was to take the train to the top of Mount Snowdonia, the highest peak in Wales, though still only a baby at 1085 metres.

The countryside in Wales is so beautiful, just like all the pictures you've ever seen.

The paddocks are lush and green and divided by stone walls, kilometres and kilometres of stone walls. Most of the time we only saw wire if part of a wall had fallen down or if it wasn't high enough to keep some athletic sheep from getting out. Unfortunately it wasn't the best day for photography.

We took a little detour on our way to Snowdon to visit Trefriw Woollen Mills.

It was interesting to see the process from fleece to fabric. Ross was particularly intrigued by the mechanics of it all, no surprise there.

The fabric on this loom produces traditional Welsh bedspreads which is a double weave with geometric design.

I love the patterns (maybe not so much the colours) and find them very inspiring as a patch worker. I didn't buy anything though, the wool and fabric is very course, unlike our very soft Australian Merino, and very expensive.

When we got to Snowdon, at lunchtime,we were very lucky to get the last available tickets on the train but not until 4.00 so with a few hours to fill in what do you do but go visit a castle.

Penrhyn Castle, by castle standards, is fairly modern, 19th century, and was built basically as a holiday house to show off how wealthy the owners were.

Blurry photo, no flash allowed, but not too bad considering how dark the room was. This is where Queen Victoria slept and gives you a general idea of the opulence of the interior. Not a bad little holiday shack. Our visit was cut short by a fire alarm and immediate evacuation, oh well we had to get back to our Snowdonia train anyway.

The train ride was fantastic and the scenery stunning. 

Unfortunately when we got to the top it covered with cloud so no view. We did the two minute walk to touch the very top but there was no lingering though, it was freezing. It was back to the cafe for a hot drink for the girls and cold bevy (madness) for the boys.

It was getting on by the time we got back down the mountain. We were very thankful accommodation was sorted as we didn't get back til 8 o'clock.

A long satisfyingly day and looking forward to the Lakes District tomorrow.

TOODLES