We catch the train from Waterloo Station to Alton in Hampshire and walk the Jane Austen trail through to Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton.
Jane lived in this house from 1809 until shortly before her death in 1817 at the age of 41. Most of her writing occurred in this house.
A pleasant morning walking Hamstead Heath and visit the summer fair in Hamstead.
John catches the train out to Bletchley, the site of Bletchley Park and the home of the code breakers during the Second World War and the worlds first computer – Colossus. Kept secret during and after the war, the park has been restored and opened to the public with many of the huts restored to original condition.
Sets and and costumes from the film ‘The Imitation Game’ based on the life of Alan Turing were also on display.
Off to see Kinky Boots, at the Adelphi Theatre on The Strand. A great show!
Back in London we stay in a AirBnB bedsit in Belsize Park. We are just two stops away on the Northern line from Camden Town so take a quick trip to check out the markets.
The photos can speak for themselves. We’re just glad we went on a weekday, not the weekend, very crowded!
We leave Scotland and travel south to York, stopping in the medieval market town of Alnwick. We visit Barter Books, supposedly the biggest second hand book store in Europe, set in the old train station, complete with model trains circulating over the bookcases.
Lunch was in Thirsk, the home of James Wight, known for his writing under the pseudonym of James Herriot (of All Creatures Great and Small fame). John has the biggest authentic Yorkshire pudding ever to be seen. They offer 40% off the price and a spot on the wall of fame if it is finished. We paid full price!
Then on to York and a walking visit to the Minster, the Shambles and then off to a group farewell dinner to Westow Croft, an impressive private residence in the small village of Westow.
Today we travel further south to Stratford-Upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s home. We visit Anne Hathaway’s cottage, Shakespeare’s birthplace in Henley Street and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre on the banks of the River Avon.
We stay overnight in the village of Pitlochry, visit Blair Castle, St Andrews (the home of the ancient game of golf) and then cross the Forth River to Edinburgh.
A Scottish Show and Dinner in the evening and then we tour Edinburgh Castle and surrounds. We walk the Royal Mile, visit the Greyfriars Bobby statue and grave site and the Writers Museum.
As we leave Scotland I’m Gonna Be (500 miles) by The Proclaimers becomes our default (and often riotous) Scottish National Anthem.
We leave Loch Lomond and travel north through the Highlands to the Isle of Skye. We pass Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain and many more Lochs. We visit Fort William and pass the site of the 1692 massacre at Glencoe. Listen to the ‘Massacre at Glencoe’ folk song by The Corries here
On Skye we stay at Broadford and gain key insights on island life with a local.
We visit Eilean Donan Castle, the most photographed in Scotland and then drive along the banks of Loch Ness. No monster, but do check our photos closely for something we may have missed! Lunch at Inverness and then a visit to the site of the Battle of Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s army was defeated in 1746.
We head north into Scotland stopping for lunch at the famous Gretna Green – famous for eloping couples marrying in its blacksmith shop.
Then onto Glasgow for an afternoon of free time. We visit the People’s Palace, a redeveloped glasshouse museum complex set in parkland. We also walk the city centre, stopping for a scrumptious birthday (John’s) afternoon tea at ‘Deeserts’. Dinner tonight was in the opulently decorated Corinthian Club.
Next day on to Loch Lomond and a delightful cruise on its tranquil waters.
We leave Dublin by fast ferry and pass through northern Wales to Chester, home of the Tudor Rows, town crier and Queen Victoria clock.
Then to Liverpool for the night. We tour the city, seeing Penny Lane, the Cavern Club, the docks and the famous Liver Birds. Leaving Liverpool we stop at Quarry Bank Mills, a National Trust property giving an insight into the Industrial Revolution.
Finally the Lakes District. A tranquil train ride then boat trip along Lake Windermere and a visit to Wordsworth’s grave.
Linforth Family 