England – Page 2 – Travels with Ali

The Best of Bath, England

Arriving at the “Hampton by Hilton” around 5pm, we searched vainly for a parking spot just to unload the luggage. I knew there wasn’t a carpark but I thought at least there would be a bay to unload, alas no! So after checking in, leaving the car in an unauthorised spot, we were told where the nearest carpark was. Not too far but far enough in the rain. Of course it was one of those carparks that you have to download an app, one which wasn’t available to us with our Google Play registered in Australia! Also these machines didn’t take credit cards, so poor dear husband came trundling back to the hotel looking for coins. Even the hotel reception didn’t have any. So off to the shop across the road he went to find some coins. I tell you what a palaver. As nice as this hotel was, some serious errors have been made in regards to the parking.

We were staying in Bath just for the night to catch up with a very dear friend, one who we hadn’t seen in 12 years. We had a wonderful evening at The Ivy with so much to chat about. The Ivy restaurants are an upmarket chain across the UK and are all beautifully decorated.

After a fantastic night’s sleep in the most comfortable bed we have ever slept in we were ready for a day’s sightseeing.

Some of the books I read last year featured Bath, mostly Georgian romances! Bath was the place to visit for the summer season. As we wandered around Bath I could imagine all the assemblies, tea parties and dinners that took place in the grand old homes that we saw.

I couldn’t say that Bath is a pretty place as most of the buildings are in need of a good wash and then perhaps the beauty of the architecture would show through.

The imposing gothic Bath Abbey, founded in the 7th Century and rebuilt in the 12th and 16th Centuries.

After walking around the town itself we strolled down to the Pulteney Bridge built in 1774. It is a beautiful stone bridge with shops on either side and is a Grade l listed building. The River Avon was in full flow after two major storms and plenty of rain.

Next up on my list of places to see were The Circus and The Royal Crescent, where I imagine all those Georgian heroines were seen swanning about in their frilly gowns and bonnets awaiting their various beaus. If you wanted to see a certain lady you had to leave a calling card at the desired residence, there was no swiping to the left in those days. If a lady was seen stepping out with a man unchaperoned that would be her blacklisted as being loose and immoral. You had one chance and you had better not waste it.

This still looks impressive to this day, imagine how it looked hundreds of years ago with fancy horse and carts and not cars, how much more genteel. A row of 30 houses and one of the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the UK today.

No 1 Royal Crescent is now a museum, sadly closed the day we were there. From the photos I have seen it would have been nice to see inside.

It was now time to head back to car and continue our journey home to Essex. We saw so much in our four days away, it’s surprising how much you can pack into a few hours here and there! We definitely clocked up thousands of steps which I suppose went someway to reducing the calories from all the good food and wine we had consumed.

~ Passing through Plymouth, UK ~

After checking out of our cute B and B in Hope Cove,Devon and saying goodbye to our dear friends and also Storm Eunice we headed off to Plymouth. Not before walking straight into Storm Franklin though! Below is a little video selfie on the seashore trying to get to the car.

The drive is just under an hour to Plymouth and we had planned to spend the morning there before driving onto Bath for the night. I can’t say I ever remember going to Plymouth so didn’t have any expectations. We were both pleasantly surprised by this wonderful little town so full of history and quaint cobblestoned lanes brimming with pubs and shops.

There is a dramatic looking Royal Citadel in Plymouth where we would loved to have had a wander, but we didn’t have the time to take in all the glorious detail of this gothic piece of architecture. Built in the late 1660’s to defend the coastline against marauding ships and pirates.

Above are photos of the streets and alleyways that we walked through.

Old and quirky buildings

This mural fascinated me as I could see it would have been quite stunning when first painted. It is located where the The House that Jack Built is and it is over the entrance to a wonderful selection of shops and cafes. I did some research on this mural and apparently there was one underneath this one that caused quite an outcry, showing 88 naked bodies. The mural today depicts “The Last Judgment” and “Dante’s Inferno” by an artist called Robert Lenkiewicz who has since passed away.

G and T anyone?
The Book Cupboard
Artistic Street names

I really enjoyed walking up and down these streets that didn’t seem to have changed for hundreds of years. The brickwork of the houses were so unusual.

As it was another dreary day we headed back to the car and drove out to look at the lighthouse and Drake’s Island.

Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse, originally built on the Eddystone reef in 1759, but was taken down in early 1880’s due to erosion. Most of the structure was moved stone by stone to where it stands today. It stands 72 feet high and is open to the public on weekends.

Looking over the wall down below stands the Tinside Lido. An art-deco style structure built in 1935. Apparently voted in the top ten of Europe’s outdoor pools. Only open during the summer months and is fully accessible to people of all needs. I have to say I was surprised about this little nugget of information as to me it looks quite derelict and in need of major renovation!

Drake’s Island currently uninhabited and has been since 1989. It was to open again in 2020 as a luxury holiday resort but due to Covid this has been put on hold. There is a wealth of knowledge about this island available at Drake’s Island. I would love to visit one day and soak up hundreds of years of history.

Plymouth is definitely a place I would come back to and maybe spend a night or two, have a walk around the Citadel and enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants we passed by.

Off to Bath next!

~ Hope Cove and Salcombe, South Devon ~

The day didn’t bode well for exploring South Devon as Storm Eunice raged outside our bedroom window. We had arrived the afternoon before to our Bed and Breakfast in Hope Cove for two nights. Barely able to open the car door I tried to walk to the seafront to take a photo of the enormous waves pounding the sea shore and was nearly swept off my feet. The next two days didn’t seem like they were going to be much fun at all.

Hope Cove

Hope Cove is a small sheltered bay in the South of Devon. It seems to have retained its relaxed lifestyle and is ideal for families with its sheltered sandy beaches. Although with the storm raging not quite so calm that day!

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Salcombe

Anyway not to be deterred we set out to Salcombe with friends who were also staying with us. Salcombe is known for its outstanding beauty and is a popular holiday resort in the summer. By the time we reached there the rain had stopped and there were glimpses of sun and blue sky. It was fairly easy to find parking, so off we set to explore.

**“Take Notice, Whoever is found cleaning fish, or creating any other nuisance at this watering place will be prosecuted according to the law”**

Alleys and Sidewalks in Salcombe

Cafes, Pubs and Restaurants line the narrow streets of Salcombe, making it very difficult to chose a place for lunch! Dear Husband inspecting the menu, sadly not to his liking.

**The four of us reunited after many years**

We all voted Salcombe a great success and so happy that Storm Eunice seemed to have passed. After a very delicious lunch we headed off to Kingsbridge for more exploring.

Arriving back at Hope Cove around 5pm for a quick rest before dinner that night and to catch a glorious sunset.

Sunset at Hope Cove

One thing to note about this part of England is the narrow and windy roads. Usually only one car width wide and you never know who might be coming around the corner! There are small alcoves built into the hedge lined roads for you to reverse or pull into. The locals must get very frustrated with slow drivers as they are constantly “tail-gating” to make you go faster. Quite nerve wracking for the driver. We did have a few encounters and it’s especially hard at night as it is pitch black. In the summer months the traffic must be horrendous.

I hope you enjoyed our trip to South Devon and I will be posting more about our return journey back to Essex.

🚲 Where did I leave my Bike 🚲

An odd one for Becky’s SquareOdds

Low Light at Dusk

~ Everything is really about lighting ~ Robert Denning

This week’s Lens-Artist challenge is all about low level lighting. When I first read this I was intrigued and have looked at a few examples from fellow bloggers and of course Sofia’s to find out the general idea. I realised I had quite a few from my archives and some recent ones. They are only taken on my S10 phone camera but I really liked the general effect of the light at that time of day.

“For those searching for the light, never stop” – A. Meredith Waters

**The Bell Tower in Perth, WA with the streets in shadow**

**Lights above South Molton Street**, **London**

I enjoy a challenging challenge that intrigues me enough to research it further!

~ Enjoying Essex – Canvey Island Esplanade ~

The last time I visited Canvey Island was around 40 years ago, and then that was only at night to a nightclub or disco as it was called then, The Goldmine! It was a regular haunt for many years, such fun nights were had.

I have recently downloaded an app called Go Jauntly, which gives you different walks in whatever location you are in.

The walk I am taking you along in this post is along the Esplanade on Canvey Island to take a look at the murals on the sea wall. The Esplanade is lined with benches and each one is dedicated to a loved one with an engraved plaque. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and maybe you will have a favourite.

The three murals below depict the changes on Canvey Island over the decades. The sun was out therefore so was my shadow!

The murals are all about the things in life for whom the mural was painted for.

**A beautiful carefree life shown in the above mural.**

My favourite

All of these murals are so intricately drawn and beautifully painted, and have stood the test of time. Unlike many murals I have seen there is no graffiti anywhere to be seen.

My favourite is the ship with the elegant dancers in the foreground, did you have one?

It was a lovely sunny day and I also took the opportunity to snap some photos of the views from the Esplanade. They are interesting more than picturesque! Mud flats and rocks as far as the eye can see with an oil tanker in the far distance.

Multi coloured rowing boats

Click to enlarge above photos

Canvey Island

It is separated from the mainland of south Essex by a network of creeks. Lying only just above sea level, it is prone to flooding at exceptional tides and has been inhabited since the Roman conquest of Britain. A flood in 1953 from the North Sea devastated the island, killing 58 islanders and leading to the temporary evacuation of the 13,000 residents. It is now protected by modern sea defences comprising 2 miles (3.2 km) of concrete sea walls. Between 1911 and 1951 it was a popular seaside resort.

As much as it is residential here there are large oil tanks on the island and it is noted for the relationship with the petrochemical industry. Source – Wikipedia

As is our habit on these outings we always end up at a pub, and today was no exception! My dear husband stopped a lady walking her dog and asked her for a recommendation. She suggested The Lobster Smack.

Such a wonderfully old pub to end our walk with lunch, a pint and a cold white wine.

It is said that there has been a pub on this site since the 1580’s and was believed to have been a model for Dickens’ Sluice Farm in Great Expectations. I found a very interesting history of this pub in this link – The Lobster Smack.

I hope you enjoyed this walk along the Esplanade with me. I’ve been very cheeky and linked it to a few challenges below.

Marsha’s Photographing Public Art
Xingfu Mama’s Pull-Up-A-Seat
Jez’s Water-Water-Everywhere
Hammad’s Weekend Sky

~ Enjoying Essex – Finchingfield ~

Time for a look at another picturesque Essex village. Finchingfield is situated in the North West of Essex. The name Finchingfield dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086. The village is picture postcard perfect and the village green is surrounded by Georgian and medieval cottages.

**Thatched roofs and colourful cottages**

We visited on a Saturday and like most villages, there is not much parking to be found. As it was nearing lunchtime when we arrived we pulled into The Red Lion, a very quaint looking pub. On opening the door we were greeted by a crackling fire and a table right by the window, perfect. The bar was seven stools wide and fully occupied with thigh to thigh patrons. With no access available I had to ask one of the ladies to move her stool. I realised then that it was a very locally local! Everyone knew each other and I felt quite the interloper. Once I had ordered drinks I found out that they only served pizza. As my mum and I don’t eat pizza this called for a rethink. I was told there was another pub just two minutes walk away that served amazing food. So after guzzling back our drinks, we set out on our way again.

As there was so much to photograph two minutes turned out to be a tad longer for me.

The detailed wall of the Guildhall is called pargetting. This is the technique of moulding designs into the external plastering of a wall. It is very characteristic of the area. Source: Finchingfield.org.uk

**Looking at the Village Green from Church Hill**

We easily found The Fox on the Green and were told by a notice to knock on the door and someone would answer. After waiting a polite few minutes freezing by now and no answer, I opened the door and was greeted by a waiter who took us to a table right by the fire! It was just too perfect. The smells were delicious and I saw delectable plates of food go by.

My Dad enjoying a homemade Steak and Ale Pie and my Haddock and Chunky Chips. All so scrumptious. This was just the perfect country pub that seem to be very difficult to find in England nowadays. So many seem to be chains, Greene King or Wetherspoons, I was beginning to despair of finding one that served good homemade meals.

I also find it strange that each pub differs as to the rules of where to stand. Some pubs no-one is allowed to stand at the bar and others you can’t even find a space to ease in! They seem to make up the rules day to day.

I had a quick wander around whilst everyone else waited in the car as it was getting extremely cold by this time.

The Old Schoolhouse, left and above. The Village pond and 200 year old bridge, bottom left. Houses surrounding The Village Green, right.

I wanted to make one more stop before we drove home and that was to look at the Finchingfield Windmill.

This is a Grade ll listed building, dating back to approximately 1756. The largest windmill in Essex and the last one of seven in this area.

A village well worth visiting if you are in the area and I saw that it had not gone down the tourist route as so many of these villages have been seen to do.

For more information about this village click here

Finchingfield

Thanks for joining me on these village visits. Until the next one – Cheerio!

~ Road Tripping through the English Countryside ~

Travelling back from our night away in Shrewsbury to visit friends we decided to break the journey with a trip to Stratford-upon-Avon. I think most people know this is the birthplace of Shakespeare and who didn’t study at least one of his plays at school! Mine was MacBeth and to this day I still don’t understand it, and it put me off Shakespeare for life. However Stratford is well worth a visit as it is steeped in history and culture. It’s amazing that people still live in the 16th century terrace houses.

We stayed in a very nice hotel called Villares which was just a ten minute walk into the town itself. So after a “free” continental breakfast we checked out and left the car there and ventured into town.

The town is extremely picturesque and I was forever stopping to take photos, so it wasn’t exactly an energetic walk.

**Trying to work out how to get back to his flock**

A Fun Quiz – Who Said What

What do you remember from school?

Weep not, sweet queen; for trickling tears are vain.

2. Come you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here

3. Before, I loved thee as a brother, John, But now, I do respect thee as my soul

4. Get thee to a nunnery, go. Farewell.

Answers at the end

After finishing our walk we decided it was too early for lunch here and drove to another lovely place called Bourton-on-the-Water. This is a village in rural Cotswolds, south central England.

As pretty as this village is, it is mostly made up of tearooms and gift shops and the pub wasn’t serving food. We had a wonderful walk exploring around as we went.

Gallery of Bourton-on-the-Water

By this time hunger pains were setting in and we were getting a bit desperate. We didn’t want to end up at a service station as the last resort! So back to the car it was while I made enquiries of the trusty google maps. I plugged a place in and off we went. I did mention though that we may see some sign on the roadside advertising a place off the beaten track.

Well what do you know around ten minutes later we came upon such a sign for “The Feathered Nest” and turned off. The road took us down a very narrow windy lane and around a few corners until there was no more road! This place really was on the edge of beyond. Straight ahead of us there was a 2 star Michelin restaurant. Lunch was not going to be cheap!

Finally after a scrumptious lunch we were on the road again back to Essex. This restaurant was such a great find and really made our mini break away.

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Answers to above quotes

Falstaff
Lady Macbeth
Prince Henry
Hamlet

Enjoying Essex ~ Chappel Viaduct, Wakes Colne, Colchester ~

Continuing with my trips to towns and villages in Essex, we drove out to see the viaduct at Wakes Colne. I had seen the massive brick structure on other websites and google and decided to take a look myself.

It is the largest brick structure in the country and was completed in 1849. The River Colne runs under it and trains are still crossing over it today. The line links Marks Tey in Essex to Sudbury in Suffolk.

The view is amazing as you drive around the bend into Wakes Colne and the structure seems so out of place.

Seven million bricks were used in the construction of the viaduct. It consists of 32 30-foot semi-circular spans, with tapered piers; it is 1,060 feet long and rises to a maximum height of 75 feet. Source: Wikipedia

**Outside the arch, always there seemed another arch. And beyond the remotest echo, a silence** – **E.M. Forster**

There seemed no position to take a photo from above, unless I used a drone, which I don’t have!

**One of the WWll Pillboxes that are underneath the viaduct**

A short walk from the Viaduct is the East Anglia Railway Museum. We enquired about going to look around but decided not to as we only had around an hour of daylight left and it costs £8 per head. There is a great deal to see inside with many old trains and platforms still intact and it would be a great way to spend a morning or afternoon and worth entrance fee.

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Before we arrived at Wakes Colne we stopped for a bite at a very quaint tea room which was also licenced!

This place is well worth the drive out if you are interested in historical structures other than castles. It’s very picturesque and you pass through some lovely little villages along the way.

“Until the next village – Cheerio”

Enjoying Essex ~ Battlesbridge and Southend ~

Essex is my home county and where I spent the first 30 years of my life, apart from the first 2 which were in London. We will be based here for the next couple of months and I will be writing about some of the small towns and villages that make up this county.

Battlesbridge

This little villages straddles the River Crouch and is home to several antique centres. Over 80 dealers are located here. We visited one sunny day a couple of weeks ago and stopped at The Barge Inn for a quick drink. There’s nothing like a countryside pub in England for cosiness!

I was lucky enough to catch the setting sun over the river and this oast house.

Southend Pier

Southend is a fairly large town in Essex and boasts the longest pier in the World! It extends 2.16 kilometres into the Thames Estuary. Even though I lived in Essex for 30 years I have only ever been to then end once. So on a bitterly cold day two weeks ago we ventured out to Southend with the purpose of walking to the end. My friend had mentioned that she had seen a school of seals frolicking earlier that week so I wanted to see these as well. We almost changed our mind when we arrived because of the cold but saw it was fairly busy with a number of walkers promenading along, so not to be fainthearted, we paid our £1 each and off we went.

Not even half way along I looked enviously at the train as it trundled by with all the people well wrapped up inside. We had to stop at a shelter so I could arrange my scarf and hat to get the most from their warmth. We had the intention of walking back as well but my energy levels were completely depleted so we paid the extra to take the train. I definitely made my 10,000 steps that day!