Out n About

Trellech Beacon

The circular route on Trellech Beacon has stunning views to the Wye Valley, Forest of Dean, Malverns and the Cotswolds in the distance. It is also a great place to view carpets of bluebells at this time of year.

 

Trellech village was, in the middle ages, one of the largest settlement in Wales. Part of the route is stone lined and is reputed to be the way William Wordsworth came when he walked in the Wye Valley in 1793 and was later inspired to write his famous poem ‘Lines written a few miles above Tintern Abbey’. En route you also pass Cleddon Falls and Cleddon Hall the birthplace of William Russell.

 

 

Tintern Station

The Old Station nestles beside the River Wye in the heart of the Wye Valley in Tintern.

There are three railway carriages on site. Two carriages contain a souvenir and gift shop, a Destination Wye Valley exhibition area with information about the heritage of the Wye Valley. Tintern railway station served the village of Tintern on the Wye Valley Railway. It was opened in 1876 and closed for passengers in 1959 and freight in 1964, when the line was closed completely. Now Monmouth’s nearest railway station is Chepstow.

Historic figures from Monmouthshire's ancient past have been depicted in wooden sculptures at the Old Station picnic area.

Lower Hope Garden

 

There are 7 acres of landscaped gardens surrounding the house in addition to large areas of parkland and a wildlife pond. The gardens are open to the public approximately five times a year, throughout the spring and summer, as part of the National Gardens Scheme.

The gardens are facing South and West consisting of herbaceous borders, rose walks, laburnum tunnel, Mediterranean, bog and Italian Gardens and the recent addition of a Japanese Garden.

Conservatories and large glasshouses contain exotic species orchids, colourful butterflies and bougainvilleas. Visitors can also take a botanical stroll through the lime tree walk to the wildlife pond and landscaped with wild flowers.

Around the gardens can be found sculptured statues by Sydney Harpley, Brian Alabaster, Lloyd Le Blanc and Angela Munslow.

Then it was time for the traditional tea n cake to the dulcit tones of a local junior steel band.

Credenhill Park Wood

Finishing off at the site of a busy Iron Age tribal capital, Credenhill Park Wood has also been a Roman army depot and a medieval deer park. Today, the wood is a peaceful place for a walk and to enjoy amazing views.

It is a strenuous walk uphill and slightly disappointing as one paper listed it as one of Britains top ten bluebell woods but we found less than a handful hidden on the downhill trail.

Still, all in all, great to be back in the sunny great outdoors. Long may this good weather last. 

Eastcombe, Bussage and Brownshill Gardens

Our first NGS gardens of the 2018 season and what a weekend for it :) The hottest May Bank Holiday on record. The gardens range from the small and manicured through the meandering interesting to the large and impressive. 

 

We have watched these gardens develop and mature over the years and had our share of exercise in this hilly terrain. The villages are situated atop of the Stroud valleys allowing impressive views over the surrounding countryside.

  

Sunny Feurte Days

A few years back Marilyn and I had a great break in the north of Fuerteventura at Corralejo. This year, as part of Sis’s birthday trip to visit the south of the Island.

Happy Birthday Jean xxx

The Villas Monte Solana in Morro Jables did not disappoint. We had a ground floor apartment set on 3 floors with two fully equipped sun terraces and nest to the pool and spa area. The views across the expansive golden beach to the azure sea was spectacular.

 

Our cleaner had a way with origami’d towels :)

What was once a small fishing village with only 200 inhabitants, Morro Jable is now one of the biggest holiday resorts on the island, though at this time of year it did not feel overcrowded.

Morro Jable has miles of golden beaches and clear blue seas, shops, bars, restaurants and a whale skeleton :) Just beyond the old town there is a quaint harbour which is used by local fishermen and yachtsmen and has a sanctuary for stonehead turtles.

On the walk back from the old town these lovely critters can be seen scampering the vertical walls:

A short free bus ride from the shopping centre takes you to Oasis wildlife park and botanic gardens. You can easily while away a whole day meandering. They are heavily into rescue and breeding progs and have a wide range of animals and flora.

Bit of fun on the way back. First time we flew with Thompson. On the way back the co pilot announced that after 27 years flying this was our pilots last flight before retirement (round of applause) and the co pilot on this trip was his daughter (collective ahhh). He made a great landing (more applause) and as, apparently, is the custom in these circumstances the airport fire engines line up either side of the plane as it taxied in and fired their water canon in an arc over the plane :))

Easter in Brum

 

Dropped into Stratford on the way and walked the riverside which now has it’s own Stratford Eye.

On Saturday we took the short, frequent, metro from the local Chester Street station to New Street. Took a walk along the canal to Gas Street - they really have done a fine job with this.

Wonder who lives here??

Went on to visit the amazing Birmingham Library. Creative architecture both inside and out. A Cathedral to study – wish it had been like this when I was at Aston. Unbelievable to think there were no desk/lap tops then and now the building is bristling with tech. There are rooftop garden walks providing panorama views over the City.

Followed this up with a wander round the Museum and Art Gallery housing, amongst other things, the Staffordshire Hoard, Renaissance Art and a Coming Out exhibition including Grayson Perry's dress. 

Sunday we intended to revisit the Botanical Gardens but forgot the Great British Easter Egg Hunt! There were hundreds of mini Brummies stretching round the bloc and beyond. Carried on walking and eventually came to Winterbourne next to the Uni. What a find. Originally built for the Nettlefolds, a well known Birmingham industrial family, Now open to the public among it’s many uses is botanical research c/o the University of Birmingham. It also houses a rare exhibition of book illustrations.

Originally designed as a small country estate with rustic outbuildings and large gardens, Winterbourne followed the style of the Arts and Crafts movement. After a period of restoration, the garden was Grade II listed by English Heritage in 2008.