Holidays
2001 Herefordshire (Near Hay on Wye)
2002 Bradford-on-Avon
2003 Shropshire
2005 Embleton
2007 Africa
2007 Addingham -Yorkshire
2008 New Forest
2009 Cringles - Yorkshire
2010 Porto, Portugal
2010 Herefordshire (Docklow Pools)
2011 Cringles
These galleries record our holidays since 2001, as distinct from short breaks.
Herefordshire
The foot and mouth outbreak kept us away from the land but we enjoyed Hay on Wye and other market towns in the area.
A visit to the Brecon Beacons was a success as they had opened the area the day before and it was almost deserted.
We stayed in a converted water mill miles from anywhere - most relaxing.
Bradford-on-Avon
Near Bath, this small town was very welcoming, with a fine tea shop and farmers' market. There was fishing in abundance with the River Avon and the canal passing through the town and a small but very interesting Saxon chapel.
While staying at Bradford-on-Avon we spent some time in Bath. A very interesting town but parking can be challenging.
Shropshire
We stayed in a cottage on an estate near Market Drayton. The really good news was that the estate had a private lake with tench and carp.
Market Drayton was a bit downbeat, but Shrewsbury and the Wedgwood Factory were worth a visit. We also found a rocking horse shop where they made really top quality horses; and an old-fashioned sweet shop with lots of sweet jars.
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Embleton (Honeymoon)
Helen and I have been together since 1989 but it wasn’t until 2005 that we married. We stayed in a bungalow at Embleton for a week in June 2005 for our honeymoon. It is a small town on the NE coast of Northumberland and we enjoyed walking the coastal trails, where for the most part we were alone. Quiet and stunningly beautiful, this is a much overlooked part of Britain.
Africa
For years Helen had wanted to visit a place called Giraffe Manor in Kenya. Well, in November 2006 she decided we would, and as a result we spent an unforgettable week in Kenya in February 2007.
We stayed at Ngong House for four days, where our accommodation was a tree-house, and at Giraffe Manor for three days, which is basically an English country estate transplanted in Kenya.
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Addingham
The wettest summer since records began and we went to Yorkshire. Our cottage was near Addingham, next to the River Wharfe, which for most of the time was high and coloured. So much for two weeks of fishing; but I did manage a few evenings.
Despite the weather we had a pretty good time, and there was some sun, just not much of it.
New Forest
Helen bought us a Western Style riding day in the New Forest. We made a few days of it. I did a bit of fishing and we visited the coast, where we did some beach strolling, and the New Forest near Brockenhurst, where I camped as a very young boy on a school trip. We also fitted in a boat trip to the Isle of Wight, although didn’t have time to land.
Cringles
We went back to Yorkshire after the wet fortnight we had in 2007. This time we stayed in a farmhouse at Cringles, on the high ground between Addingham and Silsden. We only had a week but the weather was much better and we avoided the rain that was around.
A week wasn't really long enough, and we are likely to return again.
Portugal
A work friend, who is Portuguese, invited us to his wedding in Porto. We made a week of it, staying in a five-star hotel for which he had negotiated a very favourable rate. It was more than a holiday as we were invited to a barbecue at his parent’s house and, afterwards, witnessed the São João Festival, where everybody migrates to the riverside and playfully taps others on the head with plastic hammers. Having little hair I seemed to be a preferred target! And, of course, we attended the wedding and the reception, where we mingled with not only local people, but also with others from Britain, his future wife’s family and friends from New Zealand (her birthplace) and Australia, and relatives from France. I actually managed to practise a bit of French.
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Herefordshire 2010
A rather unusual holiday in that we stayed at Docklow Pools, a fishing complex. However, there was a pitch and putt golf course there so Helen could use this facility while I fished. In fact, I only fished in the late afternoons and evenings and we generally went out during the day. We visited three National Trust properties: Berrington Hall, Brockhampton Estate and Croft Castle. Helen actually fainted during a talk at Croft Castle so we returned during the second week to complete our tour. We also visited old friends in Luston, near Leominster, and went for the day to Ludlow with them.
Cringles 2011
We like Ilkley and returned again to Cringles Farm, where this time we stayed in Croft Cottage. The cottage was comfortable, well furnished and very homely. We stayed for two weeks and on this occasion managed to try out a number of the eating establishments in Ilkley, where you are spoilt for choice. On the first Sunday we went to the Box Tree restaurant, which is Michelin starred. We also visited a lovely French restaurant called Martha and Vincent, as well as Betty's Tea Shop and another tea shop. We did quite a lot of walking and only really used the car to go to Grassington and Fountains Abbey.
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