Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for united kingdom
Legendary Waterloo
By Linda Tancs
On June 18, 1815, French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte met a bloody end against British troops led by the Duke of Wellington near the village of Waterloo in modern-day Belgium. The historic victory would end France’s quest for domination of Europe and give rise to one of the world’s greatest generals. Across Britain, the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo is being celebrated throughout the year with re-enactments, exhibitions and concerts. A particular project of interest is the Descendants Book, a collection of stories about the soldiers who fought at Waterloo. Are your ancestors among them? You can add your own details.
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Waxing Poetic in Wales
By Linda Tancs
Welshman Dylan Thomas is best known for his poetry although he also wrote scripts for radio broadcasts, radio plays, short stories, films and an unfinished novel. Wales is undergoing a yearlong celebration of the centenary of his birth. The son of Swansea wrote many of his major works at a house in Laugharne, where the annual Laugharne Weekend takes place each April. This year’s centenary event will feature additional poetry weekends there into early May.
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A Weald View
By Linda Tancs
The views across the weald are stunning at Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex’s highest point in England’s South Downs National Park. Kite flying is, unsurprisingly, a fun activity there. It’s also a great spot for sheep spotting, hiking and blackberry picking. This time of year, though, you’d best look forward to a bracing winter walk; conveniently, the South Downs Way national trail runs right through Ditchling Beacon.
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The Smallest City in England
By Linda Tancs
The medieval city of Wells is the smallest city in England. Just 45 minutes from Bath (a UNESCO World Heritage City), this historic place gets its name from the springs that bubbled up during Roman times. Today those springs form part of Bishop’s Palace, home of the Bishop of Bath and Wells for over 800 years. The uniquely moated palace is famous for its resident swans that ring a bell alongside the gatehouse when they want food.
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A Cruise Ship Fit for a Queen
By Linda Tancs
Undoubtedly it’s safe to say that Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II doesn’t charter cruise ships willy-nilly. So when the monarch did just that to celebrate her 80th birthday, you’ve got to think that the ship must be something special. That ship is the Hebridean Princess, a luxury ship hosting just 50 guests. Now in its 25th season, the former ferry boat has come a long way indeed. From March to November the ship sets sail from Oban for Scotland’s far flung isles, offering travelers the best way imaginable to discover the remoteness and beauty of the west coast.
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Lumiere Dazzles in the U.K.
By Linda Tancs
The medieval city of Durham in northeast England will once again be transformed into a bedazzling landscape of light during this year’s Lumiere Festival today through 17 November. Artists from around the world will adorn the city with their light projects, such as an installation of “dancing” sparks, giving the appearance of fireflies, at Durham Cathedral. From 28 November to 1 December the festival of light continues in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, featuring neon balloon dogs, an interactive forest, and a fire garden.
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Baroque Wonder in Wales
By Linda Tancs
A baroque garden is an elaborate entanglement of color, shape and size with artistic or dramatic flair, characterized by grand terraced landscapes. In Powys, Wales, Powis Castle’s hanging terraces remain virtually intact since the 1600s. That makes Powis one of the best surviving examples of baroque gardening in the United Kingdom. Hewn from the rock, the terraces are dominated by yew topiaries over 300 years old. The views of parkland below are dazzling, and don’t miss the woodland walks opposite the terraces.
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Scotland Park Celebrates Ten Years
By Linda Tancs
The Scottish Highlands is a captivating region featuring the highest mountain (Ben Nevis) and the deepest lake (Loch Ness). A lesser known distinction may be that it’s also the site of the largest national park in the United Kingdom. Now in its tenth year, Cairngorms National Park offers an abundance of award-winning visitor attractions—like Britain’s only herd of free-ranging reindeer and a wildlife park boasting European bison, red deer, camels, yaks, red pandas, and even polar bears. The castles of Braemar, Blair and Balmoral beckon as well, along with a hodgepodge of adventure parks, distilleries and leisure activities. his dog owner-friendly expanse is easy to reach by road, rail, plane—or even bike via Deeside Way or National Cycle Route 7.
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Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
By Linda Tancs
Eighteen percent of the finest countryside in England and Wales is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, or AONB. The 38 AONBs in England and Wales and eight in Northern Ireland are protected by national legislation granting them special legal status. Many are well known, like the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Wight, Cornwall and the Cotswolds. Other areas may not get as much press–hidden gems just waiting for you to explore them. Consider, for instance, the Ring of Gullion, a ring dyke in Northern Ireland not found anywhere else in the United Kingdom. One of the few lowland AONBs, the Wye Valley straddling England and Wales boasts the first major river to be designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest along its entire length. And don’t neglect the smallest of the AONBs, the granite Isles of Scilly off the coast of Land’s End. What about Scotland, you ask? The countryside acts creating AONBs do not apply to Scotland; they have National Scenic Areas instead. The 40 NSAs cover idyllic landscapes, including legendary peaks like Ben Nevis and Glencoe.
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Highland Ghillies
By Linda Tancs
Derry (also known as Londonderry) is Northern Ireland’s second largest city and the first city in the UK to be designated a City of Culture in 2013. That means a yearlong slate of festivities is underway, including this weekend’s Highland Dance Festival. A hub for Scottish dance, Derry’s event is expected to draw the best of highland dancers from the UK and Europe. Get your ghillies on.
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