#anglesey boat tour

[seabreeze2022]

Wales, August 2024.

Crossed from Dublin on the ferry due east to Holyhead. Then it was a 45 minute drive to Neil and Beverly’s house.

They live in a small hamlet called Liannerch-y-medd. Neil grew up here and knows many of the people. Just about every house and farm has a name given to it. Most names are in Welsh. Recently a law was made all house names in the future will be in Welsh. The Welsh are fiercely holding on to their Welsh language and heritage. Neil built his house himself and it is named “Pen-Llyn.” I believe it means “head of the lake.”

Their house is in the top left quarter of the photo with the coordinates. We would walk a mile out and then back on farm roads each day.

Neil was kind enough to provide us each red LL Bean union suit pajamas. Nancy used hers every night.

Each farm had either sheep or cows.

This is Church was originally built in the 7th century and rebuilt in the 14 th century. Later in the 19th century it was rebuilt again using the stones from the 14th century church. We would walk by it each day. St. Ceidio’s Church, Rhodogeidio. It has a small graveyard surrounding the church. Most gravestones are made of slate. All the graves on Anglesey face East, in preparation of the Resurrection.

Slate head stone.

Nancy climbing the built in steps sticking out of the rock wall instead of using the gate like Neil.

The Gadsby household runs on a strict schedule. Breakfast followed by a walk. Followed by tea. Followed by lunch. Then we would go sightseeing. This is Bull Bay on the north shore of Anglesey. Neil and Beverley used to rent a house that was across the road from here. Even though this is only 30-40 minutes away from their house. The Welsh love the sea. One woman was swimming from shore. Turns out this is fairly common.

After leaving Bull Bay we drove West to St. Patricks Church. As the legend goes, St Patrick was shipwrecked on a small island “The Middle Mouse” in 440 AD. After swimming to shore he had a church built near the cave and well where he survived his ordeal.

Above is the arched entry to the church grounds. Again most graves are made of slate and all facing East.

This is the oldest church in Wales. After surviving being shipwrecked in 440 AD the Celtic Bishop, St. Patrick, built a church out of timber on this site. In the 12th century it was rebuilt out of stone. It was later transformed in the 14 th Century into the present building.

The church is right along the cliffs. The Anglesey coastal trail follows the shoreline and passes just below the stone wall.

The stone walls would sometimes have built in steps protruding out the edge on both sides. Neil crossed over here and went in search of St. Patrick’s cave and the nearby well. He is used to seeing the cave from the water while fishing here.

This is an internet photo of the cave entrance. Neil was able to find the cave.

Next stop on the tour was a boat ramp Neil uses to launch his fishing boat.

This is a typical gate into and out of a pasture. Too small for farm animals to pass through. Note the rock weight near the hinged part, with a line running through the rock. This was designed to close the gate automatically. They call these a “kissing gate.” We would watch the Gadsby family kiss a family member while they were stuck in the gate. Then that person would kiss the next family member coming through. Note the Coastal trail marker on the gate post.

Neil’s daughter Catrin texted that she was at a nearby beach so we went and found them. Here we are all having a picnic. Beverley had made us Tomato and cheese sandwiches, Scottish eggs, and tea. Nancy and I did some beach combing. Finding small pieces of “Sea glass” which Neil said was probably from a nearby wreck.

Nancy figured out how to sneak up on a Limpet and strike it on the side with a rock to dislodge it from a rock before it sucked down hard on the rock. Enough meat to eat but the locals only use them as bait.

[husheduphistory]

Mis(sing) Fortune: The Money and Tragedy of the Dancing Marquess

When Henry Cyril Paget was born on June 16th 1875 he became the newest member of an illustrious family. His father, Henry, was the 4th Marquess of Anglesey, 5th Earl of Uxbridge, served as Vice-Admiral of the Coast, and was an Honorable Colonel of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of Royal Welsh Fusiliers. His grandfather, 2nd Marquess of Anglesey, was a prominent politician and a senior officer in the United Kingdom. The 1st Marquess earned the title from his days in Waterloo, becoming known for his contributions to the battle and the loss of his leg in the conflict. From day one he may have been expected to follow in the family footsteps of politics, military, and prestige but as a young man it became very clear where Paget’s priorities lay.

When Paget was only two years old his mother died and he was sent to live in Paris. There is some confusion as to who took in the child with some reports saying he was raised by one of his aunts who later went on to marry French actor Benoît-Constant Coquelin. When he was eight years old the boy was returned back to his father and his new wife who were living in Plas Newydd, the luxurious Paget family home located on the island of Anglesey of Wales. Much of the young Paget’s early life is surrounded in mystery. It is known that his childhood was very isolated and in an account written upon his death a friend wrote that when he arrived back at Plas Newydd he had a very “delicate appearance.” He went on to adhere to the roles expected of him, attending Eton College and joining the military, earning the rank of Lieutenant in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. On January 20th 1898 he married his cousin Lilian Florence Maud Chetwynd but only nine months later a loss would send his life in an entirely new direction.

Henry Cyril Paget in his military days. Image via Public Domain.

When Paget’s father died on October 13th 1898 the then twenty-three year old inherited all of his family’s wealth. It was a massive fortune of approximately 30,000 acres in family estates valued at 81 million dollars in today’s money and an annual income of £110,000, an amount that today would be equal to 17.5 million dollars every year.

Being granted access to seemingly unlimited assets, Henry Paget 5th Marquess of Anglesey saw freedom and he quickly decided he was going to use this money to make himself happy, regardless of how contradictory it was to all expectations of him. Paget had a passion for the finer things and soon he was spending massive amounts of money on extravagant clothes, furs, jewels, cars, boats, perfumes, toys, chocolate, parrots, dogs, horses, and funding one of his great loves, theater. When his father died Paget renamed the family home of Plas Newydd, dubbing it Anglesey Castle, and proceeded to convert the family chapel into a 150-seat theater that he named the Gaiety Theatre.

The converted Gaiety Theatre. Image via Wikipedia.

The productions at the Gaiety were just as extravagant as Paget. The programs given to attendees were designed in the shape of characters in the production and sometimes made from silk. The shows varied wildly and ranged from variety acts to Shakespeare with Paget often taking a lead role in the entertainment, sometimes performing dance numbers that earned him the nickname “The Dancing Marquess.” Eventually he hired a formal company of actors and for three years Paget took them on tour throughout Europe and Britain. While Paget may have felt he was living his true and best life, his wife completely disagreed with his lifestyle and by 1900 she filed for divorce.

If the separation from his wife affected him the Marquess did not let it on and he continued to spend his fortune like water. His collection of cars grew and he customized them as much as his clothing, fitting them so that the exhaust fumes would smell like rose perfume and the seats were revolving armchairs. He amassed a herd of thirty dogs and when he wanted an item of clothing to be a certain color he would cover it in jewels of that hue. One item in is wardrobe, a ping-pong jacket, was green in color because it was completely covered in emeralds.

Henry Cyril Paget. Image via Wikipedia.

Despite presenting himself as an otherworldly figure, Paget was well known to the local community, often getting involved in events, charity work, and inviting them to his theater productions. Those who worked for him in Anglesey Castle enjoyed his company. But, the good will of those around him could not pay his bills and unbelievably, within six years, all of Paget’s money was gone.

With astronomical debts totaling tens of millions of dollars, the only thing that could be done was to sell the belongings that absorbed his fortune. Trustees of the estate began forty days of sales of his items. In one day alone they sold 900 lots of silk suits and fur coats.

Henry Cyril Paget circa 1900. Image via Wikipedia.

After the sale of his belongings Paget “retired” to France, traveling with a servant, a nurse, and a baby who was eventually returned to their biological parents. Despite burning through an unimaginable fortune, he was not totally financially cut off and he was allotted an allowance of £2,000 a year, an amount equal to just under $300,000 a year today. Even though he officially moved on from his home and underwent a bankruptcy, people did not forget about Paget and he remained in the public eye, giving interviews to newspapers and telling them “In six years, I have run through that fortune, just how - I could not tell you." In time Paget moved on to Monte Carlo where it was reported that he claimed to have invented a new type of gambling system. But, he never had the opportunity to see his plan come to fruition. Somewhere along his many journeys the Marquess contracted tuberculosis and on March 14th 1905 he succumbed to pneumonia. Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey, passed away at twenty-nine years old. His ex-wife was at his side when he died.

Henry Cyril Paget. Image via bizarrevictorian.livejournal.com. 

The reaction to Paget’s death ranged from mild sadness to utter disrespect at his squandering of his fortune and the tarnish he brought to his family name. Obituaries described a weak and bizarre man who was a waste of life. Stated one obituary: “From boyhood to death no one had ever loved him…[he was] a strange and repellent spirit opaquely incomprehensible and pathetically alone.” His remains were sent to St Edwen's Church on his Anglesey estate for burial.

Upon Paget’s death the title of Marquess passed to his cousin Charles Henry Alexander Paget who put a great deal of effort in erasing any memory of the man before him. He destroyed all records pertaining to his predecessor and converted the Gaiety Theatre back into a chapel. Desperate to put the honor back into their name, the family did what they could to move on and forget the seven-year reign of Henry Cyril Paget.

Plas Newydd remained in the possession of the Paget family until 1976, when it was donated to the National Trust. The house and gardens are now open to the public who are welcome to view the massive art collection housed inside. Despite the Paget family’s reluctance about their descendant, he is not completely omitted from the home he once dubbed his castle. Included in the display are a handful of black and white photographs of the 5th Marquess, dressed in all his bejeweled and extravagant glory.

Plas Newydd today. Image via Wikipedia. 

[whatson-northwales]

Things to do on Anglesey

Things to do on Anglesey...looking for pocket friendly ideas for the family on your stay here?. Look no further. I've listed ten things you can do on Anglesey, pretty much for free..

Anglesey is the jewel in the Welsh crown when it comes to beauty and natural landscape. Anglesey or Ynys Mon in Welsh, is a island just off the coast of north Wales. It sits proudly off the north western coast of the UK, with the mainland Wales to it’s east and Holy Island to its west. It has a spectacular coastline that surrounds its 138 mile circumference. Home to the mythical druids and…

[anonymoushouseplantfan]

What has been accomplished with these ridiculous staged tour stops. Im at a lost. Do you think harry honestly thought masses of people would show up? No one cares at all. She is barely making the covers. Its clear she does not sell papers. Even social media mentions of her go nowhere. She must be distraught. I think she really is struggling, she looks it. She looked a hot mess at that outing. Man!!!

Good question.

Kate’s pre-wedding outings were a way to introduce Will and Kate to the Brits. They went to Anglesey (their soon-to-be marital home) to christen a boat, to and St. Andrews (where they met) to celebrate the school’s anniversary and to have William give a speech. They raised funds for cancer in Northern Ireland and opened a school in Lancashire.

These were all normal royal engagements with a purpose, many were ribbon-cutting type stuff. THEY DID ROYAL STUFF. Two of the outings had to do with their own story as a couple (Anglesey and St. Andrews), three were ribbon-cuttings and one was a fund-raiser. Kate’s style evolved from tweedy brown Sloanwear into colorful, sophisticated suits. William wore suits. They looked like two young trying to get a handle on the job and learning the ropes. It felt official. It felt professional. It felt like they were having fun (pancake-flipping!), but they were also taking this stuff seriously (Welsh anthem singing, speeches).

More important, it felt like they actually DID stuff. I can point at Kate’s pre-wedding months and say she christened a boat and attended St. Andrew’s anniversary and raised funds for cancer and opened a school. She actually has a pre-wedding resume.

I’m starting to plan my post on Harry and Meghan’s pre-wedding tour and I’m trying to find a theme for it and I cannot find it. I have no clue what they were trying to do with this. They looked dark and sloppy, and their events were random charity visits where they held hands, promoted hashtags, and hugged people. I guess the point is that Meghan knows what a Welsh scone and a Shetland pony are now? She saw the UK and the UK (the few people who showed up) saw her? They did some performative caring about homelessness so people won’t bitch about the rough sleepers getting kicked out of Windsor?

As far as I can tell, it was all sound and fury signifying nothing. Maybe there will be some awesome stuff happening with the Commonwealth activities that are coming up, but so far, I’m looking at this wondering what did they actually do during this extremely expensive regional tour. Even the pricey forum was a complete nothingburger.

I remember rolling my eyes at the fact that Kate was taking forever to pick a charity or figure out what she wanted to do. But, you know what? She actually did crap. She didn’t know what she wanted to do, so she did normal royal stuff that benefits the UK like opening schools and launching boats.

Meghan is going around organizing “culture fairs” and “charity forums” for herself, and flitting around England so people can line up to tell her that her UN speech was inspirational, and that they want to be actresses just like her. She’s supposed to be learning about and promoting the UK, particularly the charity sector. Instead she name-checked Hollywood hashtags #MeToo and #TimesUp, and promoted her own acting background and Worldvision and UN projects. They celebrated #WorldAidsDay and #InternationalWomen’sDay, which are great events but are not British. Even the play she watched during her supposed “I want to get to know the UK” was an American celeb darling (Hamilton), It’s a master class in Hollywood egotism.

Kate and Will used their pre-wedding engagements to show the Brits what they could do for the country. By the time the wedding came around, the country had a pretty good idea of what they were getting--a young, attractive couple doing traditional engagements (with a fun twist) in sharp colorful suits. They had reason to be excited for the wedding.

Harry and Meghan showed that they are more interested in what the UK can do for them. What is the UK getting in exchange for their enormous monetary investment in this couple? A hand-holding pair in dark neutrals going around tourists sites hugging people and eating cheese?

I understood that the purpose of this tour was to show the Brits that Meghan was eager to learn about the UK and to provide a service to the country. I think the visuals (clothes and tourists sites mostly), photo-ops and events they picked accomplished exactly the opposite. Instead of a foreign princess eager to learn about and serve their country, the Brits got an Angelina Jolie wannabe eager to use UK money, prestige and resources to project herself on the international celebrity stage. That’s what this “regional tour” has amounted to so far.

[kmmaresearchintopracticeunit]

RIPU - Research, RIPU Session Week 1 (26/09/19):

I have decided that my MA projects will have East Anglia as my area of research and creative practice. I have been on holiday to East Anglia many times, and I find the region an interesting place, as the environment, historical architecture, and landmarks are distinctly different in areas.

This week, I started my RIPU project. We had our first RIPU session, which was an introductory session to talk about our MA project ideas, as well as present our personal or work-based manifestos.When presenting mine, I was still unsure about what I wanted to focus my MA on, though I knew that I wanted to create a project around East Anglia. I was suggested some research starting points, such as looking at news articles and information about East Anglia, which I have started to research (see RIPU- Research below).

My concern is that the area may be too varied to create one project about, so I could either reduce the area to a county or smaller region, or base each project on a different area. I will think more about this as I begin to plan my research starting points.

During my session this week, we have been informed that we are going on a research trip to Great Yarmouth, so this visit may help me to determine what area to pursue for my projects.

I have also been thinking about what I could discuss in my research report, as I want my research project to overlap into my creative practices in ASU1. I think that my report should focus on the environment, as this is an important topic in the world at the moment, and it is at risk in many locations, so discussing the current East Anglian environment would be an appropriate area for my report. As I want my projects to be relevant to the process and development of my Master’s Project, I will need to ensure that these benefit both myself and my research towards the final project.

I have written some ideas and notes about what I could base my report on, as well as additional notes about how I could link my report to other projects that I will complete on my MA. I used three ideas to create mindmaps from, to help me further develop my idea for my report. I have decided to relate my report to the real world, focusing on a topic that already exists, so I have chosen the themes ‘countryside’, ‘landscape’ and ‘coast’ to create my mindmaps around. I like many of the ideas I have thought of, such as ‘places of interest’, ‘inheritance’, and ‘tourist influence’. These topics are interesting to me, as I believe that I would be able to use these as a theme for my MA projects, not just my RIPU report. The topics that have interested me the most are: ‘preservation’, ‘erosion’, and ‘man-made and natural destruction of landscape’. Whilst these three topics are all relative to each other, I would like to combine these into one topic, as I think that this would be an interesting alternative way to discuss particular environmental issues. Researching areas of East Anglia will help me to decide what direction I can take this topic for my report. 

RIPU - Research:

For my starting point, I have looked at various websites that are targeted as tourist spots and places of natural beauty, so that I can start to condense my idea to a key focal point.

1. I researched a website about locations on the Suffolk coast, as I wanted to see what was well-promoted in this area. Many of the activities listed are for  places to stay, or activities for families, in particular, children, to participate in. This suggests to me that the environment is a key area that is promoted for tourism. On this article, I did not find promotion or tourism aimed at buildings or historical landmarks (man-made), which suggests that the Suffolk coast promotes environment/landscape-based tourism over building/man-made architecture. This could be an interesting topic for me to research in my RIPU report, as I could compare the affects of tourism on a coastal town, and the affects of tourism of a town/village inland.

2. This website focuses on attractions and places of interest on the Norfolk coast, in particular North Norfolk. The area is popular for its coastal towns, such as Cromer, and also many nature reserves and parks, such as Sheringham Park, and Thrigby Hall. I searched though the ‘attractions’ area of the ‘things to do’ page, as I felt that this would have the most variety in the activities and places to see in this area of Norfolk. This website advertises more natural attractions than man-made ones, such as parks and nature walks/reserves, which suggests that North Norfolk also promotes nature as its main area for tourism. There are also popular seaside locations, such as Great Yarmouth and Cromer that will likely be popular with tourists, which could be interesting to discover more about for my project, if this is an area that I choose to base my report on.

3. I also researched the county of Norfolk as a region to gain more information about the attractions there, as I wanted to research more about the other areas of Norfolk. This website promotes many places of heritage in Norfolk, such as the man-made Holkham Hall and Oxburgh Hall, as well as various estates, churches and gardens. There are also venue attractions such as Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome, and Norwich theatre listed as interesting venues to visit. There are also a range of museums, mostly exhibiting the history of the town the museum is based in. Other noteworthy museums are the wind energy museum, the Dad’s Army museum and Model Soldier Museum at Houghton Hall & Gardens. There are also many wildlife-themed attractions, such as various nature reserves like Pensthorpe, and Cley Marshes; zoos, and sea-life sanctuaries. This website suggests that Norfolk’s tourism is aimed at natural or heritage-based attractions, as there are various estates that are accessible to the public, as well as wildlife sanctuaries for local and exotic wildlife to habituate in. My research also suggests there is a contrast between areas of Norfolk that are mostly countryside, and areas which are more rural. I would be interested in looking at the contrasts between the environment and rural areas, however I would need to ensure that it is linked appropriately to my report and future MA work, as I want my topic to overlap in all my MA projects. This will allow me to research extensively within my subject area, but would also allow me to explore outside it (when appropriate) as well.

4. Like Norfolk, I researched the Suffolk county as a whole to study more about the location, rather than just the coastline. Suffolk is an area with a variation of attractions, activities, and places of interest. It is home to the Latitude music festival, as well as theatres and art galleries. Famous painters, poets and musicians have created work inspired by Suffolk, where many of them lived. Museums such as Gainsbrough Hall, Moyses’ Hall and Christchurch Museum exhibit artefacts from historical figures, and also history of the surrounding landscape. Areas of heritage such as Framlingham Castle, Landguard fort and Lavenham are preserved to replicate their original architecture. Sutton Hoo is also an area of historical interest due to the Anglo-Saxon burial grounds there. There is also a wide range of estates in Suffolk, such as The Red House, Kentwell Hall and Glemham Hall, as well as landmarks such as Orfordness Lighthouse. There are also a range of seaside towns in Suffolk, such as Aldeburgh, Orfordness, Lowestoft and Southwold. Natural areas are well-promoted, such as RSPB Minsmere, as well as natural reserves and areas like Dunwich Heath, Bradfield Woods, and Thetford Forest. There is also a theme park, as well as many other family attractions and events. My research suggests that Suffolk is a hub for arts and media, as well as an area of natural beauty that is well-preserved by the many nature reserves in the county. In addition to this, Suffolk has the most range of natural and man-made landmarks and places of interest, as well as variation. This would make it an interesting area to continue researching for my project, as I would like to focus on the environment as the topic for my MA project.

5a. Cambridge is the last area of East Anglia that I researched for information about the attractions and places of interest there. Again, I researched the whole county’s attractions to have a variety of research about the types of interesting places to visit and things to do. The county has a range of museums ranging from the Fitzwilliam museum to The Polar Museum, with most of the museums focusing on the discoveries in science, architecture and computing. Interestingly, you can organise sightseeing tours of Cambridge, including some of the University’s campuses, most famously, King’s College. Other tours include city tours of Cambridge, as well as museum tours, like the Fitzwilliam museum, and heritage tours of famous buildings and architecture. In addition to walking tours, there are also punting (water/boating) tours, bus, and biking tours of the county. There are also natural areas of greenery, such as Parker’s Piece and Midsummer Common, as well as other park areas where you can see the river Cam. There are 12 nature reserve areas in Cambridge, such as Nine Wells, Barnwell West and Logan’s Meadow (5b.) In addition to this, there are also National Trust attractions around Cambridge, such as Anglesey Abbey, Wicken Fen, and the Winpole Estate (5c).

My research on Cambridge shows that for tourism, the area promotes its heritage and historic buildings predominantly. Whilst it does promote its eco-friendly image, such as through its parks and nature reserves, these are promoted less in comparison to Norfolk and Suffolk’s natural attractions. With this in mind, I do not think that I will focus on Cambridge for my MA project as, whilst it is an interesting area with many tourist-attracting areas, it focuses too much on its architecture, and I want to focus my project on the environment.

1. The Suffolk Coast (2019) Articles [Online] Available from: https://www.thesuffolkcoast.co.uk/articles [Accessed: 27/9/19]

2. Visit North Norfolk (2019) Things To See & Do In North Norfolk [Online] Available from: https://www.visitnorthnorfolk.com/see-and-do/thedms.aspx?dms=11&groupid=2&catid=28%2c13%2c67%2c47&msg=North+Norfolk+Attractions [Accessed: 27/9/19]

3. Visit Norfolk (2019) Attractions [Online] Available from: https://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/things-to-do/Attractions.aspx [Accessed: 2/10/19]

4.Visit Suffolk (2019) Discover Great Things to Do in Suffolk [Online] Available from: https://www.visitsuffolk.com/see-and-do/ [Accessed: 2/10/19]

5a. Visit Cambridge (2019) Things To Do In Cambridge [Online] Available from: https://www.visitcambridge.org/things-to-do [Accessed: 2/10/19]

5b. Cambridge City Local Nature Reserves (2019) Nature reserved in Cambridge [Online] Available from: https://lnr.cambridge.gov.uk/visit-the-cambridge-nature-reserves/ [Accessed: 2/10/19]

5c. The National Trust (2019) Cambridgeshire [Online] Available from: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out/regioneastofengland/in-and-around-cambridgeshire [Accessed: 2/10/19]

My research shows that East Anglia is well-promoted and advertises for both man-made and environmental/landscape tourism. I found that areas on or around the coast are scarcer in man-made landmarks, and rely heavily on their natural beauty to promote and attract tourists, whilst more rural areas of East Anglia, such as busy cities, like Cambridge, focus more on their man-made, historical beauty for tourism. My research suggests that East Anglia has a range of varied areas for both historical and natural beauty. This has made me think about my report, and how I can effectively communicate the question I choose into my 2,000-word report. I think that I need to reduce the area of my topic, as I think that there is too much I can research, which could weaken my report if I choose to write a report about the entirety of East Anglia. After looking at different counties for the research above, I think that I will condense my area of research to one or two counties, so that I can focus my research and creative practices for my MA, which will strengthen my work.

I have also included a text version of my manifesto, as I think that it will be interesting to reflect back to this when evaluating my Master’s Project. My manifesto focused on a list of ‘rules’ that I want to obey by when creating my projects, as it will be beneficial to me when creating my work, and when researching as well. I will also be able to look at this in the future and see whether my manifesto benefited my work process.

I am an animator that specialises in character animation (CGI and 2D).

Animation is a very long process but I persevere to create work that tells the world a story.

I experiment and fail but I try again from a different angle.

I create characters that express emotion to make the audience feel something.

When I need to convey subtlety, I use colour and expression to show what a character is feeling.

I visualise an idea after I have created a story for it.

If I struggle to visualise a scene, I write it out first.

This is my creative philosophy.

[dsandrvk]

May 10 Cemaes Bay to Chester

Awoke to sunshine, and because we weren't leaving our guest house until 10:40, we all took a short walk after breakfast, and everything looked so different. The town has a little geology display, explaining the different rock layers and ages found on Anglesey, with samples of the various rocks glued to the displays. Quite a variety for the "Cambrian" Coast ( which also includes Precambriam, Devonian, etc.)

Our train ride to Chester was a little over 2 hours, and we went through this town with the longest name (we're not sure if it is longest in the world, the UK, or whatever, but I wouldn't want to have it as my return address). We left Wales behind a few miles outside of Chester.

Unbeknownst to us, today was a racing day in Chester. It's quite an event, with all the 20 somethings and older wearing fancy dresses, impossible shoes, and having a great party. We were walking around on the city walls (more on that later) and passed the racecourse just as they were getting the horses into the gates for a race. The favorite did win in this case! Having read many Dick Francis novels, it was fun to see the British racing in person.

The weather was definitely a mixed bag. It had been sunny when we started out, but within 15 minutes of arriving in Chester, it was pouring, and we did wonder about all the race goers' finery. Most seemed ill-prepared for rain. It stopped for a few minutes, we stepped into the King's Head pub for lunch and s pint, and it was pouring again halfway through our meal and for about an hour afterwards.

Chester is an ancient city, and still has mostly intact city walls enclosing the center, dating originally from Roman times. There is a former Roman ampitheater, and the racecourse is where the Roman harbor was. There are many Tudor buildings and faux-Tudor buildings from the Victorian era, jumbled together. There's also a beautiful old cathedral, and the river Dee partially surrounds the city, along with a canal system and the expected river tours (the Mark Twain paddle boat was just one of many.

The racecourse is the oldest racecourse in the world still in operation. And this is the city that pretty much guaranteed that Charles I would lose his head when he watched his troops decimated on the battlefield during the British Civil War (he watched from either the cathedral tower or the northeast watchtower - there are conflicting claims.

Our little hotel is very nice and modern inside, and is very convenient to the train station, but is across from a tattoo parlor and a " Naughty and Nice" store, which has "what's your fetish?" painted on their window. The hotel has great security, so we didn't really mind.

We had a couple of bottles of wine and some cheeses and crackers left, so had a little bon voyage party in our lobby, since Shelley and Dave are off to Switzerland tomorrow, while we head north. The weather forecast for the next few days is considerably better than the last few. We're ready for some sun.

[exoticlifestyles-blog1]

THINGS TO DO IN MELBOURNE

Wondering what to do in Melbourne? There are ample of things to explore in the most liveable city of the world. Take a look at our bucket list to know what fun things Melbourne has in store for you. If you still need to know more, simply visit Exotic Lifestyles Yarra River A Melbourne symbol, the stream is the concentration for various terrific occasions including the celebrated Moomba celebration, paddling regattas, the Melbourne Festival and Dragon Boat Festivals. The Yarra River offers a large number of pleasant settings. The banks of the stream have various grill and cookout offices, angling stages and jetties. Moreover, there are trails and ways which are meant for cyclists, walkers and joggers. The numerous waterways make at Southgate or at Princes Walk. You can travel along the Yarra River in your own motor boat or vessel to visit attractions like Melbourne Park for the Australian Tennis Open, the Royal Botanical Gardens and Herring Island Park. The Yarra River is currently the undisputed social heart of wonderful Melbourne. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Melbourne's Royal Botanical Gardens are essentially radiant. From the air, the 94-section of land spread summons a mammoth green lung amidst the city. Drawing over 1.5 million guests yearly, the patio nurseries are viewed as one of the best instances of Victorian-time arranging on the planet. This garden island was carved by the persons of the first fleet which arrived here in the year 1788. One of them was James Russ who demonstrated that it was possible to live self-sufficiently in this land as per European traditions & fashions with least assistance. One can locate a worldwide determination of plantings and endemic Australian verdure. Smaller than expected biological communities, for example, a desert plants and succulents zone, a herb plant and an indigenous rainforest are set in the midst of tremendous gardens. In summer the patio nurseries play host to Moonlight Cinema and theatre exhibitions. There are historic buildings like Richmond, Windsor and Campbell which should be visited. Eureka Tower Aha Tower is a 297.3-meter high rise situated in the Southbank region of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Development started in August 2002 and the outside finished on 1 June 2006. The court was done in June 2006 and the building was authoritatively opened on 11 October 2006. Eureka Stockade is the renaissance of Australian history where citizens of many nations stood up to defend themselves from the tyranny and contributed to democratic reforms. You can take a tour and read inscriptions on Eureka Centre. Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium Ocean Life Melbourne Aquarium is a Southern Ocean and Antarctic aquarium in focal Melbourne, Australia. It is situated on the banks of the Yarra River next to and under the Flinders Street Viaduct and the King Street Bridge. The fascination is a Sea Life Centre possessed by Merlin Entertainments. It remains opened 7 days in a week (365 days in a year). Opening Hours 10;00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Last entry at 4:30 p.m.) Entry is thru tickets and tickets can be bought on line to avoid standing in queue. Rates vary from season to season. Ticket for adult $33.60 and for child $22.40. The rates are prevalent now but may change later. You can have photo sessions with live sea world creatures roaming/swimming in water in separate well-guarded chambers. You pass thru galleries & cave type enclosures having strong thick toughened glass/acrylic walls at both sides and you can see colourful species of Fish, Seals, Penguins, Crocodiles, Ocean Turtles and other fascinating creatures. These views entertain children and grownups who can know from details inscribed on special boards fixed at each enclosure regarding origin, sea regions, life spans and anatomy of all these creatures. Sea Life Melbourne is one of the most fascinating events which can be watched for entertainment and historical knowledge about sea life creatures of many continents. There is a restaurant and a bar where a group can have parties or arrange get together for product launching or to conduct meetings. The place can be suitable for dinner and wedding engagements. Port Phillip Port Phillip is the passage to Australia's busiest port and is one of Victoria's most prominent recreational goals. Albeit Port Phillip is ordinarily alluded to as 'the Bay' or 'Port Phillip Bay', Port Phillip is not a sound by any stretch of the imagination. It's a neighbourhood port territory that is really comprised of more than 16 straights. Consistently many individuals make the most of its huge coastline, world-class swimming shorelines and seaside parks. An altogether alternate point of view anyway is accessible to the individuals who investigate Port Phillip by vessel. Island, wrecks and marine stores. Scuba plunging and angling uncover the beautiful decent variety of Port Phillip's marine life. Port Phillip is a vast region of water that is shockingly shallow in numerous spots. Great Ocean Road The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage recorded 243-kilometer stretch of road along the south-eastern shoreline of Australia between the Victorian urban networks of Torquay and Allansford. Curving through moving scene along the float and offering access to a couple of prominent achievements, including the Twelve Apostles limestone stack courses of action, the road is a fundamental excursion spot in the locale. The Great Ocean Road starts at Torquay and voyages 244 kilometres westward to finish at Allansford close Warrnambool, the greatest city along the street. The road is two way and is anchored by a speed limit changing between 50 kilometres for every hour and 100 kilometres for subsequent hour. The road is seen as an excursion spot in the territory, in which an extraordinary piece of the road holds onto coastline carefully known as the Surf Coast among Torquay and Cape Otway and the Shipwreck Coast further west of Cape Otway, giving detectable quality of Bass Strait and the Southern Ocean. The road crosses rainforests and shorelines. The road adventures pass thru Anglesey, Lorne, Apollo Bay and Port Campbell. Port Campbell strikes for its normal limestone and sandstone shake advancements including Loch Ard Gorge, The Grotto, London Arch and The Twelve Apostles. At the stretch of the Great Ocean Road closer to Geelong, the road meanders along the float with tall, about vertical feigns on its contrary side. Road signs set up along the road alert drivers of possible rock falls, which have happened already. The city of Geelong is closer to Torquay. The visitors to the road; with Geelong Otway enjoy steadily as they move further. Melbourne Zoo Built up in 1861, this conservative zoo is the most established in Australia and the third most seasoned on the planet. It stays one of the city's most prevalent attractions and it keeps on enhancing, as of late turning into the world's first carbon-impartial zoo. Set in agreeably finished greenhouses, the zoo's walled in areas mean to reproduce the creatures' regular natural surroundings and give them the choice to cover up if they need to (the gorillas and the tigers are especially great at playing hard to get). There's a huge accumulation of local creatures in regular shrubbery settings, a platypus aquarium, hide seals, a lot of reptiles, and a whole faux - South East Asian wilderness town worked around the elephant walled in areas. Now and again walkways go through the walled in areas: you can walk around a portion of the aviaries and enter a tropical nursery brimming with beautiful butterflies. Check whether you can go through Lemur Island without an inward soundtrack of 'I like to move it, move it' turning over in your psyche. Tragically, the lion nook stays outside the field of play. To book an amazing Day out in Melbourne, call Exotic Lifestyles on 1300 20 88 55.

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Wales... 10 Reasons to

A short-hop across the Irish Sea, Wales offers a wide range of holiday opportunities, whether white water rafting in an adrenalin packed adventure trip, family fun throughout the mystical valleys of castles and dragons or enjoying a city break in the capital Cardiff. Here are ten great reasons to visit our nearest neighbour: Wales is the only country in the world to have a formal trail the whole way around its coast. The Coast Path (which is 870 miles long) winds its way through towns and villages, across cliff tops and sandy beaches, sometimes darting inland before emerging once again at a sheltered cove or tiny hamlet that you would definitely miss when travelling by car, bus or train. It will take you from the mouth of the River Dee, along the north Wales coast with its seaside towns, over the Menai Strait onto the Isle of Anglesey, from the Llyn Peninsula down the majestic sweep of Cardigan Bay, through Britain’s only coastal National Park in Pembrokeshire, along miles of golden sand, via Gower with its stunning scenery, along the waterfront of Cardiff Bay and Cardiff to the market town of Chepstow.The capital city of Wales makes for a great City Break destination such is its proximity to Ireland combined with Cardiff’s compact city centre and abundance of attractions and activities on offer. The Millennium Stadium is one of the best sports arenas in Europe and to experience a full house when the Wales rugby team are in action is as good as it gets from a sporting perspective. The city’s historic past can be explored at Cardiff Castle, while music and cultural events run throughout the summer months. Cardiff’s cuisine is enjoying a growing reputation with many excellent restaurants around the city centre, while the nightlife is legendary with around 150 pubs, bars and nightclubs to choose from. Wales is a land steeped in history and legend and what better way to explore both than to take a tour of some of the many castles dotted throughout its hills and valleys. The 3rd Marquess of Bute, once the richest man in the world, indulged himself by building Castell Coch, a late 19th century project built on the remains of a 13th century castle and is one of Wales’ most romantic places. The castle is located just outside Cardiff and easily accessible from the city. Powis Castle is over 800 years old and is a mecca for garden lovers, with mature gardens and formal Italianate terraces with original lead statues, lush herbaceous borders and exotic plants cascading from the walls. And strange things happen at the spooky Bodelwyddan Castle. Recent sightings include an apparition in one gallery, a ghostly soldier in another and shadowy figures drifting down the corridors. Caerphilly Castle, Castell Dinas Bran (or Crow Castle) and Beaumaris Castle are others worth a visit. Enjoy the thrill and adrenaline rush of white water rafting at several venues throughout Wales. The river rafting at Tryweryn is top class and allows you to go down the steep and rocky mountain river. There are two venues in Cardiff to experience the thrill of white water rafting and at Black Mountain Activities on the upper River Wye, you can tackle white water, rapids and the infamous ‘hell hole’. Canoeing and kayaking centres are also dotted throughout Wales making it an ideal adventure holiday destination, while most venues are also family friendly. Wales has mile upon mile of stunning natural coastline, hidden coves, towering sea cliffs, sea caves and secret beaches, making it the perfect coasteering destination. Coasteering is an increasingly popular adventure activity that involves working your way round a coastline at sea level in whatever way is possible. This may involve swimming, diving, jumping, climbing, scrambling, traversing and rock hopping all designed to be challenging but enjoyable. The Pembrokeshire Coast, Isle of Anglesey, Gower Peninsular and Llyn Peninsular provide some of the best spots to go coasteering in Wales. Located in north Wales, there are 100 lakes, 90 mountain peaks and 37 miles of pristine coastline and beaches in Snowdonia National Park. So why not climb Snowdon, the tallest mountain in Wales, or follow the Dôl Goch trail through the beautiful woodland and onto the waterfalls. The climb up Glyder Fach takes you to the famous large flat Cantilever Stone, which appears to be precariously balanced and makes for unique photo opportunities. Also the Mawddach Trail, which is considered to be one of the best walking trails throughout Britain, is a spectacular traffic-free trail following the beautiful Mawddach Estuary in the southern end of the national park. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park covers approximately 240 square miles around the beautiful west coast of Wales. The national park has a varied landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and wild inland hills and the park also includes several offshore islands, some of which can be visited by boat. Oakwood Theme Park provides a great day’s entertainment with adrenalin rides and water slides, while whale and dolphin watching is possible with a voyage to Ramsey Island and Grassholm. Another great day out can be had by visiting St David’s Cathedral, officially Britain’s smallest city as the cathedral is built upon the site of a 6th century monastery. The Welsh coast is blessed with many blue flag beaches and quaint seaside towns, which make for an ideal weekend away or family holiday. Mumbles, Tenby and Llandudno are amongst the most popular and you really are spoilt for choice with the quality of the beaches on offer. The beaches near Tenby are safe and sheltered and are ideal for families, Saundersfoot beach is a small but very popular resort with some spectacular views from the top of the hill, while Newgale is another enormous beach where you can take kitesurfing lessons. One of the most popular surf spots in Wales is Whitesands, where the surf break can be found towards the northern end. Swansea bay boasts five blue flag beaches, while Rhossili bay is regularly regarded as the best beach in Wales. Wales has 331 miles of traffic-free tracks making it the ideal destination for a cycling holiday. The Snowdonia National Park boasts some of the best bike trails in the country. There are smooth trails for beginners like the Mawddach trail or you can try the long challenging climbs of the Gwydir Trail that weave through the forests. The north Wales Coastal Cycle route stretches for seven miles using the wide sea promenade that stretches from Rhos-on-Sea and Colwyn Bay to Pensarn, while the Elan Valley trail takes in some spectacular scenery along the nine-mile trail. The 2010 Ryder Cup revealed Wales as an ideal golf destination. And Newport’s Celtic Manor Resort is just one of around 200 tracks – including some of the world’s top links courses – all packed into a country that’s only 60 miles wide and 170 miles long. Royal Portcawl, Royal St David’s, Aberdovy, Pennard, Conwy and Tenby can all compare with the best courses in Ireland or Scotland, so throw the clubs in the back of the car, hop on the ferry and enjoy a few days golfing in ideal settings throughout Wales. Stena Line and Irish Ferries offer several ferry routes from Ireland to Wales. Aer Lingus have daily direct flights from Dublin to Cardiff.For more information on Wales, visit www.visitwales.co.ukEd Leahy We believe our capacity can give you an impressive experience by using white water.

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10 sensational STAYCATION ISLANDS IN THE UK

From Shetland to Scilly, the UK coastline is a fabulous unfinished jigsaw puzzle of islands. Some are blessed with beaches to rival the world’s best and others are teeming with enough wildlife to overwhelm even the presenters of Springwatch. But they all have one thing in common: they’re all favourites for anyone seeking a staycation escape.

Forget palm trees and coconuts, it’s all about island staycations with less time spent travelling, and more time having fun!

#1 ISLE OF WIGHT

From the sailing boats of Cowes to the spectacular sunsets of Sandown, staycations on the Isle of Wight have been delighting families for generations. It continues to be the nation’s favourite island so far in 2017, with thousands of holidaymakers searching for holiday homes across the island.

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#2 ANGLESEY

While Anglesey is the UK’s seventh biggest island, it’s the second most popular of 2017 so far with Holiday Lettings users! If relaxing on the golden sands of beautiful Trearddur Bay doesn’t get your pulse racing, then watching the feathered residents of Puffin Island certainly will. Accessed via the iconic Menai Bridge, Anglesey brings the best bits of island living to a staycation.

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#3 ISLE OF SKYE

Medieval castles, quaint fishing villages, and rugged landscapes… with all that going for it (and more!) it’s not surprising that the Isle of Skye is the most popular island on our list in Scotland. If you can tear yourself away from exploring the island’s mountainous interior, lochs and picturesque peninsulas, head to the town of Portree where you’ll discover plenty of pubs and independent shops.

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#4 ISLE OF HARRIS

While technically sharing the island with its northern neighbour Lewis, the Isle of Harris offers up a gallery of signature Scottish attractions. From ruined castles standing on heathered moorland to glorious beaches that could be mistaken for somewhere in the southern hemisphere, you’ll soon see why it’s so high on the list of favourites for holidaymakers so far in 2017.

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#5 ISLE OF MAN

Nestled in the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man is sometimes missing from the mainstream holiday scene. But it seems that’s not the case, as it’s emerged as the 5th most popular UK island for people looking at holiday homes. With lush glens and miles of rugged coastline to explore, the holiday possibilities are endless. And let’s not forget the event that has put the island on the world stage – the annual TT motorcycle race!

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#6 ISLE OF ARRAN

The largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Arran has an array of attractions for the summer staycation seeker. There are beaches aplenty—Pirnmill Beach is perfect for playtime with the kids, Kilmory Beach is ideal for a sunset stroll, and Kildonan Beach’s soft silvery sand is possibly the most beautiful of all of them. But there’s more than beaches—you can wander through lush woodland to see the Glenashdale Falls cascade through the greenery, take a tour of a local whisky distillery, or explore the atmospheric Brodick Castle.

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#7 ISLE OF LEWIS

One of the Western Isles in the Outer Hebrides, Lewis is joined to its neighbour the Isle of Harris (fourth on our list). It’s a magical place where history comes alive, from the imposing Callanish standing stones and Bernera Iron Age buildings to the ruins of Carlow Broch. Norse, Viking and Celtic influences all combine here to create an intriguing escape from the everyday.

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#8 ISLE OF MULL

Atlantic grey seals, Eurasian otters, killer whales, eagles, and more bird species than Bill Oddie can handle… The Isle of Mull is pure joy for wildlife lovers and recognised as one of the UK’s finest destinations for wildlife tourism. Little ones will adore the Mull Aquarium in Tobermory, where they can get up close and personal with the resident marine life through touch pools and interactive games.

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#9 ORKNEY ISLANDS

For a spellbinding staycation, look no further than the Orkney Islands. The 70 islands making up the archipelago provide a remote and utterly unique experience. Orkney’s most popular attractions include the Ring of Brodgar, an ancient and haunting stone circle, as well as Scapa Flow, the famous natural harbour which was a key location in the naval battles of the First World War. One thing’s for sure: you’re guaranteed a warm welcome.

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#10 ISLES OF SCILLY

St Mary’s, Tresco, St Martin’s, Bryher and St Agnes are the five principal islands making up the Isles of Scilly off the Cornish coast, but there are plenty of uninhabited ones to explore, too. Fringed by golden beaches and blessed with a mild climate, the islands are a natural playground. The heritage of these isles is intertwined, naturally, with the sea. Plan a staycation here and you’ll have the chance to sample freshly caught local crab, lobster, and more mouthwatering fruits of the sea.

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The post 10 sensational STAYCATION ISLANDS IN THE UK appeared first on Holiday Lettings Blog.

from News And Tips For Traveling https://blog.holidaylettings.co.uk/10-popular-staycation-islands-uk/

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7 Reasons To Travel To Wales Next

By Sharon Adams

Wales is one of the most rewarding tourism destinations around the world. It provides the best connections from any city in the world. There are numerous options to connect to wonderful attractions including train, water, road and air. Tourism agents will help you develop an excellent package for you to travel to Wales. However, you can still avoid the agents by developing a DIY plan. Awaiting you when you land to any Welsh port is a 750 mile stretch of coastline. It has anything you can think about in terms of beach fun including public and private sea fronts, marine diversity, accommodation facilities and leisure lodges. Convenience in movement through roads and rail, alongside availability of speed boats make your travel ever more enjoyable. Travel agents still regard the coastline among the top beach destinations around the world. Do you want to experience untouched wild life? There are enough attractions spreading from the coast to native forests. Some of the animals you expect to encounter include falcons, red kites, whales, sharks and dolphins. There are experienced and extremely knowledgeable guides to walk you through these wildlife attractions. It is always fun to hike a ride on the railway. This is the most picturesque tour with magnificent locations to visit. Telegram travelers have a perfect serving of scenery. Among the railway attractions is the small gauge Efestiniog Railway line that covers over 13 miles through the forests and foothills of Snowdonia National Park. Sugar Loaf station is also another attraction with its 5 passenger monthly average fame. For mountaineers, Snowdon is your ideal location. It has the widest variety of mountain activities you can think of. The most common is the climb to the top where a picturesque view awaits. This mountain with a reputation of being lofty and holding position three among the highest peaks in UK is even welcoming to amateurs. If climbing is not your idea, you can use the railway to get to the top and enjoy the view. Wales also has an excellent proposition for water lovers. If you would love to surf on the most majestic waves, you need to book the next trip. The Conwy Valley on the Atlantic coast is your perfect destination. This area also has an artificial wave lagoon. It generates waves of different magnitudes that will help surfs horn their skills on the board. Cliff lovers have a share of fun too in Wales. One of the attractions is camping on a cliff at Anglesey. Yes! An opportunity to spend the night suspended on a rock. This is the first experience in UK and is run by professional in adventure. Besides camping, you can jump off one and enjoy the reception of the sea below. This is an adrenaline filled height experience. Do you just want to relax at an exclusive and comfortable place? Enjoy the world class hotels, lodges and cottages allover Wales. Some are on golf courses while others are on picturesque mountain tops. With a hospitable people who use English, you will never have an uncertain or dull moment. There are all amenities you would ever want when touring. The prices are friendly with convenient online booking.

About the Author:

Your one-stop source for information on how to book your travel to Wales is right here on the Web. Click on the following link to take you to our main home page http://ift.tt/2pINc3m.

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Top Spas in north Wales

Top Spas in north Wales

North Wales spas offer an excellent opportunity for you to get some rest and relaxation time, and to wind down from the hectic and modern world during your stay. Rest and relaxation in the western world is not taken as seriously as our eastern counterparts. Our health is the most important asset that we have along with time. Therefore It’s important to prioritise more breaks and periods of…

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Gotwood Festival Anglesey 2019

Gotwood Festival Anglesey 2019

In the month of  June a magical festival of music, art and culture unfolds quietly on the north side of the Island of Anglesey. The festival has been ongoing now for years and its popularity has soared, so much so that thousands of of visitors flock to the shores of Anglesey to dance the night away in the secluded forests at the Carreglwyd estate. Tickets are sold out within hours of being on…

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Museums of North Wales

Museums of North Wales

North Wales is known for its beautiful scenery, beaches and deep cultural roots. The outdoors is firmly where the main focus lies in north Wales, in my eyes. When the weather is good, you can spend days exploring our beautiful country in the warm summer weather. However, we do like any other sea bordering nation, have our fair share of weather down days, be it wind, rain or both in most cases.…

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Top walks in Snowdonia

Top walks in Snowdonia

Walking in Snowdonia with the family is a wonderful way to see north Wales. When you are immersed in our nature from a top down perspective, you’ll see north Wales from a different light. With all the greens, yellows, browns and contours standing proud of the map that lays before you, and vistas stretching out towards Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, you’ll agree that it’s an amazing way to…

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Top Beaches in North Wales

North Wales beaches are renowned for their long sweeping golden sands, glistening clear waters and empty shorelines. By many standards, our beaches are deserted compared to our European counterparts. On Anglesey there are beaches facing every compass direction, some of which are just out of this world. With little inlets and bays dotted all over the north Wales coastline, I am finding new beaches…

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Camping in north Wales

Camping in north Wales

With this recent blast of warm weather over easter, we have had a few friends up who will be camping this coming week and I thought we would prepare a blog for them to help them along their way to deciding which campsites in north Wales work for them.

If you haven’t already been camping in north Wales in these sunny conditions, its like being anywhere picturesque in Europe. With wall to wall…