Broadway, jewel of the Cotswolds

26 May 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, Living, Working, Building Reading Time:  6 minutes

Row houses of Cotswold stone © Peter K Burian/cc-by-4.0

Row houses of Cotswold stone © Peter K Burian/cc-by-4.0

Broadway is a large village and civil parish in the Cotswolds, England, with a population of 2,540 at the 2011 census. It is in the far southeast of Worcestershire, close to the Gloucestershire border, midway between Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh. It is sometimes referred to as the “Jewel of the Cotswolds”. The village is overlooked by Broadway Hill, the highest point in the northern Cotswolds at 1,024 ft (312 m) above sea level, which is popular with hill walkers.   read more…

Dumfries in Scotland

5 May 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

High Street © panoramio.com - cisko66/cc-by-3.0

High Street © panoramio.com – cisko66/cc-by-3.0

Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is located near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth about 25 miles (40 km) by road from the Anglo-Scottish border and just 15 miles (24 km) away from Cumbria by air. Dumfries is the county town of the historic county of Dumfriesshire.   read more…

Castle Stalker in Scotland

14 April 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  6 minutes

© flickr.com - Markus Trienke/cc-by-sa-2.0

© flickr.com – Markus Trienke/cc-by-sa-2.0

Castle Stalker (Scottish Gaelic: Caisteal an Stalcaire) is a four-storey tower house or keep. It is set on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe. It is about 2 miles (2.5 kilometres) north-east of Port Appin, Argyll, Scotland, and is visible from the A828 road about midway between Oban and Glen Coe. The islet is accessible with difficulty from the shore at low tide. The name “Stalker” comes from the Gaelic Stalcaire, meaning “hunter” or “falconer”. The island castle is one of the best preserved medieval tower houses to survive in western Scotland and is a Category A listed building. It stands in the Lynn of Lorn National Scenic Area, one of forty such areas in Scotland.   read more…

The Jacobite

11 April 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

The Jacobite crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct © Daniel Kraft/cc-by-sa-3.0

The Jacobite crossing Glenfinnan Viaduct © Daniel Kraft/cc-by-sa-3.0

The Jacobite is a steam locomotive-hauled tourist train service that operates over part of the West Highland Line in Scotland. It has been operating under various names and with different operators every summer since 1984. It has played an important role in sustaining a scenic route.   read more…

Bond Street in London

30 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General, London Reading Time:  8 minutes

Rolls-Royce on New Bond Street © flickr.com - 35mmMan/cc-by-2.0

Rolls-Royce on New Bond Street © flickr.com – 35mmMan/cc-by-2.0

Bond Street in the West End of London links Piccadilly in the south to Oxford Street in the north. Since the 18th century the street has housed many prestigious and upmarket fashion retailers. The southern section is Old Bond Street and the longer northern section New Bond Street—a distinction not generally made in everyday usage.   read more…

Theme Week Berkshire – Lambourn

25 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  11 minutes

Ashdown House in Upper Lambourn © geograph.org.uk - David McManamon/cc-by-sa-2.0

Ashdown House in Upper Lambourn © geograph.org.uk – David McManamon/cc-by-sa-2.0

Lambourn is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. It lies just north of the M4 Motorway between Swindon and Newbury, and borders Wiltshire to the west and Oxfordshire to the north. After Newmarket it is the largest centre of racehorse training in England, and is home to a rehabilitation centre for injured jockeys, an equine hospital, and several leading jockeys and trainers. To the north of the village are the prehistoric Seven Barrows and the nearby long barrow. In 2004 the Crow Down Hoard was found close to the village.   read more…

Theme Week Berkshire – Slough

24 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  4 minutes

© alwye/cc-by-sa-4.0

© alwye/cc-by-sa-4.0

Slough is a town in the unitary authority of the same name in Berkshire, England, bordering Greater London. It lies in the Thames Valley, 20 miles (32 km) west of central London and 19 miles (31 km) north-east of Reading, at the intersection of the M4, M40 and M25 motorways. It is part of the historic county of Buckinghamshire. In 2020, the built-up area subdivision had an estimated population of 164,793. In 2011, the district had a population of 140,713.   read more…

Theme Week Berkshire – Newbury

23 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Clock tower © TudorTulok/cc-by-sa-4.0

Clock tower © TudorTulok/cc-by-sa-4.0

Newbury is a market town in the county of Berkshire, England, and is home to the administrative headquarters of West Berkshire Council. The town centre around its large market square retains a rare medieval Cloth Hall, an adjoining half timbered granary, and the 15th-century St Nicolas Church, along with 17th- and 18th-century listed buildings. As well as being home to Newbury Racecourse, it is the headquarters of Vodafone and software company Micro Focus International. In the valley of the River Kennet, 26 mi (42 km) south of Oxford, 25 mi (40 km) north of Winchester, 27 mi (43 km) southeast of Swindon and 20 mi (32 km) west of Reading.   read more…

Theme Week Berkshire – Hungerford

22 March 2023 | Author/Destination: | Rubric: General Reading Time:  7 minutes

Cottages at Leverton © geograph.org.uk - AJD/cc-by-sa-2.0

Cottages at Leverton © geograph.org.uk – AJD/cc-by-sa-2.0

Hungerford is a historic market town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, 8 miles (13 km) west of Newbury, 9 miles (14 km) east of Marlborough, 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Salisbury and 60 miles (97 km) west of London. The Kennet and Avon Canal passes through the town alongside the River Dun, a major tributary of the River Kennet. The confluence with the Kennet is to the north of the centre whence canal and river both continue east. Amenities include schools, shops, cafés, restaurants, and facilities for the main national sports. Hungerford railway station is a minor stop on the Reading to Taunton Line.   read more…

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