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Nantwich and Anderson Boat Lift

By jenn on May 16, 2013 11:46 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

A few weeks ago, I visited Cheshire and found myself in a charming village of Nantwich. The village has many timber-framed buildings, pubs, and quaint shops. (In fact, there was a music festival happening in the village when I visited, and a lot of the local people were out and enjoying the festivities.)

A church and timber-framed buildings in Nantwich

Old buildings and the millennium clock in Nantwich's Cocoa Yard, including the surviving chimney of a blacksmith's shop

Church in Nantwich

A nuclear bunker museum is located outside the village in the middle of open country. This museum looked interesting.

The secret nuclear bunker in Nantwich

Before exploring Nantwich, we visited the Anderton boat lift. The boat lift uses hydraulics to raise and lower canal boats from a canal on a higher level of land to the river fifty feet below. The boat lift was built in the late 1800s and left to 'rust away' for many years before it was restored and opened to the public once again.

Visitors to the boat lift can enjoy a river boat ride in a canal boat and get a chance to see local wildlife, if they are lucky, and listen to commentary about the area and the history of the boat lift.

The Anderton Boat lift with a canal boat leaving the lift.

A view of the river from the canal boat after a ride on the Anderton Boat lift.

Days Out: Frodsham, Cheshire

By jenn on May 7, 2013 9:38 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Frodsham is a market village (dating from medieval times) east of Chester. The village is rich in history and has many historic buildings, such as a row of thatched cottages. An attractive clock is located in the village's market square. I visited over Easter and took a few photographs of the village before continuing on my travels.

The attractive clock in Frodsham.

Chocolate Ducks made from marzipan and Cadbury Creme Egg in the bakery

Doorways, windows, and brickwork

Thatched cottages in Frodsham

A window in a thatched cottage

At Last - Spring!

By jenn on April 19, 2013 10:39 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

This winter was a long and cold one, and in the last week, the temperature has started to feel a little more normal for this time of the year. I took a walk around St. James' and Green Park last weekend. The daffodils were starting to bloom in Green Park, but they were in full bloom in St. James park, and a corner of St. James' park was a yellow carpet.

Bright yellow daffodil

A white and orange daffodil

It was nice to see the daffodils. Daffodils are one of my favourite flowers, and I was disappointed a couple of weeks ago when I missed seeing them due to the cold weather; I had gone on a daffodil charity walk.

Daffodils begin to bloom in Green Park.

I walked past Buckingham Palace, which is between the parks. I took a few photographs here. My favourite photograph location for the palace is next to the fountain and the Queen Victoria statue. The palace was not too busy with tourists.

Buckingham Palace

After visiting the palace, I took a walk a few hundred yards down the Mall, and I was greeted with this fantastic display of yellow daffodils in St. James' park. The photograph does not really do it justice. Also, imagine if the sun had been out.

A yellow carpet of daffodils.

Close-up of a daffodil.

St. James' Park daffodils

My stroll through the park brought me closer to more spring bloossoms. I snapped some photographs of trees in full bloom, such as the one below. I'm not quite sure what type of tree this is; I should have looked at the signage. (In the London parks, there's normally signage to name the types of species in the park.)

Pink spring blossoms

Many birds were also out on the lake in the park. I noted about twelve different species of bird and snapped a few photographs of them. I liked this old fellow, and I've seen him here before.

Bird in St. James' Park

If you are looking for something to do in London at the weekend, then head over to the parks and admire the daffodils and the spring flowers.

Bethnal Green Railway Arches

By jenn on April 14, 2013 6:55 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

A walk away from the bustling City of London is Bethnal Green, and I took a walk through the area one morning. The walk followed the railway, and underneath the archways of these railways are businesses. Many of the businesses are car servicing, and many of these cater to London's taxis. I noticed black London taxis everywhere.

A cafe under the railway arches is between several car servicing companies.

Archways with black taxis.

As I walked further down, following the railway, I noticed several tunnels going underneath the railway. Many of these had taxis parked up in them. I think some of the taxis had been parked there for some time.

Parked taxis under the railway archway

Motorbike and archway near Bethnal Green station.

In some areas, there were graveyards of London taxis near the railway. I guess that they use these taxis as parts and just keep them there.

London taxi in Bethnal Green

The railway continues past Warren Green, with the tall skyscrapers of the City in the distance.

Days Out: Snowy Peak District, Part 3

By jenn on March 18, 2013 5:34 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

I recently posted two entries (Peak District and Peak District Part 2) about visiting the Peak District in a snowstorm. This is the last entry with some more photographs, most of which are from driving around in the snow. I hope you appreciate these photographs. I am hoping to make a visit to the Peak District in the summer or autumn so that I can see what it looks like without the snow.

A snowy road in the Peak District.

A snow-covered village is quiet and the cars and piled with snow.

On our first day, we visited the cavern at Castleton, known Peak Cavern. It was also known as the Devil's Arse, probably because of the sound of the water escaping the cavern when the water level in the caverns changed. We were in a small group with five others and learned how to make rope and toured the caves. This cave was one of the wonders of the Peak District.

The entrance to Peak Cavern in the snow.

To get to the cavern, we walked down a narrow path following a river. We would have loved to see the castle, but it was closed due to the weather. We will have to go back a different day. The castle is located on top of the hill above the entrance of the caverns.

A nice riverside walk in the snow in Castleton.

Pathway up to the caverns in Castleton.

Castleton covered in the snow.

The next day, we visited Speedwell Cavern, which is just up the road. The entrance to the caves is near Winnat's Pass. This cavern is formed of water-filled tunnels, which were created during mining. The tunnels can be navigated via boat, and at the end of the tour, we visited "The Bottomless Pit", and we could see it from looking onto a platform.

Winnats Pass in the snow.

After visiting that cavern, we walked up a snowy-covered path to Treak Cliff Caverns, and there was luckily someone around to give us a tour. This was my favourite cavern in the Peak District because it has a lot of nice features, fossils, and some very nice Blue John Stone. Blue John Stone can only be found in the Peak District, and it is a purple-blue colour laced with white, yellow, or reddish-coloured stone.

Treak Cliff Cavern stone, fossils

In a previous post, I showed photographs of the lovely cottage below.

Lovely cottage in the snow

I hope you enjoyed these photographs of the Peak District in the snow.

Afternoon Tea and Cocktails at Park Lane, London

By jenn on March 10, 2013 8:54 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

A few Sundays ago, we headed over to 140 Park Lane to have afternoon tea and cocktails. This restaurant is located in the Marriott Hotel on Park Lane, opposite Marble Arch and Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park. Our seat was beside the window where we had views over Marble Arch and the busy roundabout. We were grateful for the nice weather and to see the sun for the first time in what seemed like many weeks.

The afternoon tea and cocktails included a choice of tea, cocktail, and a selection of sandwiches and pastries. The cocktails were vodka-based with the Absolut vodka brand. We chose 'Mikitini', a fruity cocktail made with lemon juice, berry syrup, Absolut vodka, and cranberry juice. We were provided with a selection of sandwiches, pastries, two scones each, and a crumpet each.

Our plate of pastries on the top tier of the tea stand

The plate of pastries included two of each item: lemon drizzle cake, pistachio-chocolate layer dessert with edible gold foil on top, a lemony-custard pot topped with dried raspberry, mini cupcakes with strawberry icing, and mini fruit tarts with creme and a hint of chocolate. My favourite was the mini fruit tart because they had a nice blend of sweet and sour flavour.

A close-up of the mini fruit tarts

I find scones to be too filling, so one went home with me. We were given a fruit scone and a plain scone each. This included a small pot of strawberry jam and clotted cream. Oh, and we had a crumpet each as well.

A fruit scone

The mini cupcakes with strawberry icing

The amount of cocktail that we received was poured into these fishbowl glasses. We had a little more left over in the teapot for half a glass each.

The vodka, cranberry, and berry cocktail

A chocolate cake layered with sponge and cream and chocolate. The flavour was a hint of pistachio.

Days Out: Snowy Peak District, Part 2

By jenn on March 6, 2013 10:34 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

A few weeks ago, I visited the Peak District during a large snowfall. On the final day of my visit, the snow stopped and the sun came out. I managed to get some nice photographs that day. One particular place that I enjoyed visiting was Ashfor-in-the-Water. This village is not far from Bakewell and is picturesque with its old bridge (Sheepwash Bridge) on the riverside and a church.

In old times, the sheep were brought to this village and washed at the bridge before they were sheared.

Picturesque snow field and cottage by the river.

Red berries.

Snowy river

Picturesque snow field and river.

Picturesque snow field and cottage by the river.

Church in Ashford-on-the-Water.

Days Out: Land's End, St. Ives and Mevagissey

By jenn on March 4, 2013 11:33 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

I took some photographs on a recent visit to Cornwall. I stopped off at Land's End and Mevagissey and a few places on the way. Land's End marks the southwestern end of England, and John O'Groats in Scotland is on the opposite (northeast) edge. Land's End has touristy shops, a cinema, a hotel, restaurants, and walks. The famous sign at Land's End shows the number of miles to various other places.

Tea and scones at Land's End over-looking the sea; Land's End's famous sign; Land's End coast

A blue Letter-box

On the way from Land's End to St. Ives, I stopped off at the ancient post-Iron Age village of Carn Euny. (However, the village was inhabited in the Neolithic age. ) This is the most preserved ancient village in England, and stone bricks mark the foundations of the buildings. The buildings were round in shape, and visitors can walk into one and into a fogou (underground passage). I found this to be a fascinating place. After visiting, we continued toward St. Ives.

On the way to St. Ives (and in other areas), I noted several abandoned buildings with chimneys. These buildings were for the tin mining.

Carn Euny ancient village; ruins of a tin mine

I arrived at St. Ives at dusk, and I got photographs from the top of the hill. (I also visited Carnglave Caverns, near Liskeard. I've included the photograph below. Carnglave Caverns was created by slate mining, and a large lake formed where the water has come through the cave. The cave is used to host events and concerts in the summer. I saw a hibernating bat in the cave.)

A view over St. Ives; Carnglave Cavern

After St. Ives, I stopped off at Mevagissey. The town was quiet off-season and most of the shops were shut as they cater to the tourism industry. The village boasts a picturesque harbour with many fishing boats.

Details of boats at Mevagissey

Mevagissey boats

The harbour at Mevagissey

Fishing boats at the harbour at Mevagissey

Mevagissey and its picturesque harbour

Days Out: St. Michael's Mount, Cornwall

By jenn on March 1, 2013 4:06 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

I made a visit to Cornwall recently, and one of the places that I stopped off at was St. Michael's Mount. This small island mount, with a castle on top, lies a few hundred meters off the main land on the coast near Penzance in Cornwall. The mount is associated with Christianity's St. Michael. Apparently, someone saw the saint on the mount top. A monastery and church was built on the spot, and these have slowly converted into a castle/fortress. The castle is lived in, and visitors can visit the mount and the buildings.

When the tide is out, visitors can walk across the causeway to the rocky island. If the tide is in, a boat operates between St. Michael's Mount and Marazion, the village on the main land, opposite the mount. When I visited, the tide was in but receding, and a boat-vehicle took me and several other visitors across for a tour. I was able to walk back as the tide was out after the tour finished.

The stone path to St. Michael's Mount

A steep walk leads from the harbour on St. Michael's Mount to the castle on top. I discovered some snowdrops, blooming in early January, on the side of the mountain. In summer, the gardens are open for guests, and I imagine that they look beautiful. The guide told us about the legend of the giant on the mountain when we walked up, and he pointed out a heart-shaped stone that was apparently the giant's heart.

Snowdrops in bloom

We were then led to the top of the hill below the castle (near some old cannons) to admire the views. Stunning views can be seen from the top of the mount. We watched the causeway being repaired, and we could see the village of Marazion below. Many years ago, this area was wealthy and mined for its precious metals.

Marazion village from St. Michael's Mount

After seeing the various decorated and detailed rooms and items in the castle, we trekked back across the beach. I caught some nice views of the mount from below.

St. Michael's Mount

Days Out: Snowy Peak District, Part 1

By jenn on February 22, 2013 1:29 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

A few weeks ago, I planned a visit to the Peak District. Over those three days that I visited, there was heavy snow. Some of the roads were hardly passable. I've not been to the Peak District before, so it would be nice to see it when it's not covered in snow too. I got some good photographs of the snow and the picturesque villages in the snow.

Snow-covered roads in the Peak District

Red berries with snow on them in the Peak District

One of the villages I visited was Bakewell. This village is famous for its puddings and the tart named after it. Unfortunately, the bakery/cafe selling these puddings was shut (as were most other shops). This village has a picturesque church on top of the hill, and there's a pretty bridge crossing a river. Along the river, I watched Canadian geese and ducks swimming in the river.

One of the main streets in Bakewell

View of Bakewell and snow-covered roofs and spires

I also visited the town of Buxton and had a walk down from a car park at the top of a hill to large gardens. I also visited Poole's Cavern not far from here.