Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Welcome to 700 travel blogs, to access a full index on your mobile please scroll to the bottom & choose from 700 locations. Email is [email protected]

Beckington Trowbridge West England

June 4, 2017 by David Herd

Church of St George, Beckington

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Beckington Trowbridge West England 2009, how did I find myself there you may well ask. Quite simple really, since 2007 I have been travelling to England to visit my friend Alan who is a guest of Her Majesty. His brother Bill Austin and I have become good friends as well, so I stay with him and his partner Joan Baptiste, and between visiting Alan Bill and I tour around the country.

So to answer the question, Bill lives in Beckington and works for the council in Trowbridge. Beckington village is 5.8 miles from Trowbridge town centre and 10 miles from the historical city of Bath.

Church of St George

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The church is just across the road from Bill and Joan’s home and dates back to the 14th century.

Warminster Road

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The church is on the right just up the road and Bill’s home is on the left.

Bill and Joan’s Beckington home.

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Here is their delightful home, I feel a little sorry for Bill because no sooner has he got the place perfect Joan decides she wants to move elsewhere. 🙂

My friends Joan Baptiste and Bill Austin

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Bill works for the local Trowbridge council.

Woolpack Inn Warminster Road

Beckington Trowbridge South West England

For local news bookmark this link for the Wiltshire times.

Typical Beckington home

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Typical local stone houses.

Trowbridge

Beckington Trowbridge West England

 There is evidence that the land on which Trowbridge is built was being farmed more than 3,000 years ago. In the 10th century written records and architectural ruins begin marking Trowbridge’s existence as a village.

The Trowbridge fair

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The annual fair attracts lots to locals.

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Beckington Trowbridge West England

A peaceful area around a pond in the park.

Trowbridge Fair

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The locals are patiently waiting for the music to begin.

The rocket man

Beckington Trowbridge West England

A beautiful at the Trowbridge Fair, perhaps I’ll blast off.

Arrested for stealing a spacesuit

Beckington Trowbridge West England

The long arm of the law.

Out on bail

Beckington Trowbridge West England

I know what you are thinking, here are two dinosaurs. 🙂 🙂 🙂

 The White Hart Ford, Chippenham

Beckington Trowbridge West England

One of the great pleasures of touring around the UK is the thousands of wonderful pubs. In the last week or so we have visited many on our road trip that took us through Bath, Plymouth, Penzance, Lands End and St Ives.

Road trip

Beckington Trowbridge West England

This is a wonderful part of England, a very interesting coastline. 

The White Hart

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Many of the pubs are quite ancient.

Location, White Hart to the Woolpack Inn

Beckington Trowbridge West England

Thanks for visiting my Beckington Trowbridge South West England photo blog.

 More posts for you to see

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 1 photo.

Discovering South West England

June 3, 2017 by David Herd

Shaftesbury in Dorset

Discovering South West England is a total pleasure.

Discovering South West England

Discovering South West England, I have taken thousands of photos there and this one is my favorite. It is Gold Hill, Shaftesbury which is in Dorset. There is a nice tea room at the top of the hill where you can enjoy scones with jam & cream while enjoying the view. I will try to give you some useful travel tips towards the end of this post.

Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Discovering South West England

 Lyme Regis in Dorset is a special place, the coastline in either direction is magnificent. The cliffs over the  boarder are grey and crumbling, those eastwards, towards Charmouth are also unstable – especially after heavy rain, and those at Black Ven are capped with a layer of Gold. The town is noted for the fossils found in the cliffs and beaches, which are part of the Heritage Coast—known commercially as the Jurassic Coast—a World Heritage Site. For information please click here.

Lyme Regis South west England

Discovering South West England

 A beautiful part of the English coastline.

Weymouth Travelling South West England

Discovering South West England

Weymouth is a seaside town in Dorset,  situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey on the English Channel coast. The town is 13 kilometres (8 mi) south of Dorchester and 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of the Isle of Portland. The town’s population is 52,323 (2011). The town is the largest settlement in Dorset following the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole   The history of the borough stretches back to the 12th century; including involvement in the spread of the Black Death, the settlement of the Americas, the development of Georgian architecture, and preparations for World War II. Fishing and trading employ fewer people in the area since their peak in earlier centuries, but tourism has continuously increased its presence in the town since the 18th century and is now the primary industry.

Weymouth is a tourist resort, and its economy depends on its harbor and visitor attractions; the town is a gateway situated halfway along the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site on the Dorset and east Devon coast, important for its geology and landforms. Weymouth Harbour is home to cross-channel ferries, pleasure boats and private yachts, and nearby Portland Harbour is home to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, where the sailing events of the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games were held.

Discovering South West England to Dorchester 

Discovering South West England

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset. A historic market town, Dorchester lies on the banks of the River Frome, in the Frome Valley, just south of the Dorset Downs and north of the South Dorset Ridgeway, that separates the area from Weymouth, 8 miles (13 km) south. Dorchester is noted as being home and inspiration to the author Thomas Hardy, whose novel The Mayor of Casterbridge was based on the town. In the 2001 Census the official population of Dorchester was 16,171, although by 2010 this was estimated to have risen to 18,280.

St Ives in Cornwall

Discovering South West England

St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. Wikipedia

Discovering South West England to St Ives

Discovering South West England

Lots of narrow winding lanes some too narrow for vehicles.

Lands End, Cornwall.

Wandering around South West England

 Here we are at Lands End in Cornwall, England’s most westerly point. Wind levels in winter reach around 20-25 knots, which is windier than most of England. The highest temperature recorded is 28.9 °C, and the lowest temperature recorded is -3.4 °C.

For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Most westerly point in England.

Discovering South West England

Such a wild rugged coastline.

The famous Roman Baths in Bath.

Discovering South West England

I’m sure these baths have not changed in centuries.

Beautiful city of Bath

 

Discovering South West England

This is certainly one of my favourite English cities Discovering South West England.

So many pubs & such little time.

Discovering South West England

English pubs have got to be the best in the world, then again I have never been to Ireland. 🙂

Please click on Google + to help my ranking. 

Bradford on Avon

Discovering South West England

We have traveled north now to Bradford on Avon in west Wiltshire, one of my favourite English villages with some excellent pubs & restaurants.

My niece Laura love the scones at The Bridge Tea rooms.

Discovering South West England

Can afternoon tea get any better than this?

Tithe Barn Bradford on Avon

Discovering South West England

A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing tithes—one tenth of a farm’s produce which was given to the Church. Tithe barns were usually associated with the village church or rectory and independent farmers took their tithes there.

Tithe Barn

Discovering South West England

The village priests wouldn’t have to pay tithes—the purpose of the tithe being their support—and some had their own farms anyway, which are now village greens in some villages.

Houseboats on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Discovering South West England

The ducks or drakes deciding whether to go for a swim or a walk. 🙂

Two Dinosaurs at the Trowbridge show in Wiltshire.

Discovering South West England

Oh well, it is better to be a “has been” than a “never was”. 🙂
 
For a great discount on your room rate just book through THIS LINK.
 
 

Super travel tips. Great Britain has an excellent rail service, save up to 80% by booking your ticket before you arrive, just click here. London Underground’s Piccadilly Line provides the most cost-effective rail route between Heathrow Airport and the capital, so look for accommodation around Earl’s Court, Gloucester Rd or Knightsbridge. For more information click here.

Here is an excellent hotel close to Gloucester Rd underground.

For lots of things to do in Bath please click here.

For information on beautiful Bradford on Avon just click here.

Wandering around South West England is certainly one of my favorite parts of this wonderful country.                     

                        Here are some more posts to check out
 

           

Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Good English restaurants exist

July 27, 2013 by David Herd

The Westbeach in Bournemouth.

Good English restaurants exist

Good English restaurants exist

 Good English restaurants exist, many people think they are few and far between, but here are a couple to consider. The Westbeach restaurant in Bournemouth is certainly worth a visit, great location on the beach, with a good menu offering a nice selection. I first visited Westbeach December 2007 then returned in 2009 so things may have changed. 

Please click on Google + to help my ranking.

The Priory hotel in Bath

Good English restaurants exist

 The Priory in Bath is very good, receiving a Michelin star in 2012. Sam Moody is the chef.

Excellent food

PrioryhotelBath14

The Priory is old world charm at its best, for more information please click here.

 The Mission in Plymouth.

Good English restaurants exist

The Mission has great atmosphere and very good food.

 The Well at Buckington, Wiltshire.

Good English restaurants exist

Here are my nieces Laura & Elyssa hamming it up at the Well in Bulkington, a nice English pub with good food.

The Bridge Tea Room, Bradford on Avon

Good English restaurants exist

One of Britain’s Great Tea Rooms is in Bradford on Avon, the afternoon ritual of serving tea has been developed to a fine art here, and is so accomplished that the Bridge Tea Rooms has been recognized as excellent by the prestigious UK Tea Guild for many years. Delicate bone china, the finest leaf teas, and friendly staff in Victorian costumes serving home-made cakes, pastries and sandwiches. Housed in a former blacksmith’s cottage dating from 1502, the Bridge Tea Rooms positively oozes atmosphere, and the classical music playing gently in the background sets a tranquil tone.

One of Britain’s Great Tea Rooms

Beautiful Historic English Village

If you are ever in this delightful village make sure you visit this tea room.

MY LOVELY NIECE LOVED THE SCONES.

Good English restaurants exist

Laura really loved the scones.

My other lovely niece Elyssa preferred the sponge cake.

Good English restaurants exist

Either one would do me.

La Chateaux Du Vin in Brighton

Good English restaurants exist

  AgnesPaulo and Nikki at my favourite Brighton restaurantLa Chateaux Du Vin, open for lunch and dinner, if you go there please pass on my regards.  :-D Good English restaurants exist

Good English restaurants exist

Above is Smoked salon on Matzo which  is an unleavened bread traditionally eaten by Jews during the week-long Passover holiday.

The Bath Arms Hotel in Brighton 

Good English restaurants exist

 A terrific ham & salad sandwich.

The Par Inn, Cornwall

Good English restaurants exist

  This is definitely not one of the Good English restaurants, worst Cornish pasties I’ve ever tasted were here. The  reason I paid this town a visit was because it was the birth place of my grandfather Sam Tippett.

Thanks for visiting my Good English restaurants exist photo blog.

                       Here are some more posts to check out           
Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 

  

 

 

Click here to brighten up your day with a taste of Brazil.

 

A nice city in South West England

 

I now live in Pattaya in Thailand

 

Check out these great photo blogs.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos

Travelling Through South West England

July 23, 2013 by David Herd

Shaftesbury in Dorset

Travelling Through South West England

Wandering around South West England

Travelling Through South West England, I have taken thousands of photos there and this one is my favorite. It is Gold Hill, Shaftesbury which is in Dorset. There is a nice tea room at the top of the hill where you can enjoy scones with jam & cream while enjoying the view. I will try to give you some useful travel tips towards the end of this post.

Lyme Regis, Dorset.

Wandering around South West England

 Lyme Regis in Dorset is a special place, the coastline in either direction is magnificent. The cliffs over the  boarder are grey and crumbling, those eastwards, towards Charmouth are also unstable – especially after heavy rain, and those at Black Ven are capped with a layer of Gold. The town is noted for the fossils found in the cliffs and beaches, which are part of the Heritage Coast—known commercially as the Jurassic Coast—a World Heritage Site. For information please click here.

Lyme Regis South west England

Wandering around South West England

 A beautiful part of the English coastline.

Travelling Through South West England to Weymouth

Wandering around South West England

Weymouth is a seaside town in Dorset,  situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey on the English Channel coast. The town is 13 kilometres (8 mi) south of Dorchester and 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of the Isle of Portland. The town’s population is 52,323 (2011). The town is the largest settlement in Dorset following the unitary authorities of Bournemouth and Poole   The history of the borough stretches back to the 12th century; including involvement in the spread of the Black Death, the settlement of the Americas, the development of Georgian architecture, and preparations for World War II. Fishing and trading employ fewer people in the area since their peak in earlier centuries, but tourism has continuously increased its presence in the town since the 18th century and is now the primary industry. 

Travelling Through South West England

Wandering around South West England

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset. A historic market town, Dorchester lies on the banks of the River Frome, in the Frome Valley, just south of the Dorset Downs and north of the South Dorset Ridgeway, that separates the area from Weymouth, 8 miles (13 km) south. Dorchester is noted as being home and inspiration to the author Thomas Hardy, whose novel The Mayor of Casterbridge was based on the town. In the 2001 Census the official population of Dorchester was 16,171, although by 2010 this was estimated to have risen to 18,280.

St Ives in Cornwall

Wandering around South West England

St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. Wikipedia

Wandering around South West England to St Ives

Wandering around South West England

Lots of narrow winding lanes some too narrow for vehicles.

Lands End, Cornwall.

Wandering around South West England

 Here we are at Lands End in Cornwall, England’s most westerly point. Wind levels in winter reach around 20-25 knots, which is windier than most of England. The highest temperature recorded is 28.9 °C, and the lowest temperature recorded is -3.4 °C.

For a great room rate just book through THIS LINK.

Most westerly point in England.

Wandering around South West England

Such a wild rugged coastline.

The famous Roman Baths in Bath.

Wandering around South West England

I’m sure these baths have not changed in centuries.

Beautiful city of Bath

 

Wandering around South West England

This is certainly one of my favourite English cities Wandering around South West England.

So many pubs & such little time.

Wandering around South West England

English pubs have got to be the best in the world, then again I have never been to Ireland. 🙂

Please click on Google + to help my ranking. 

Bradford on Avon

Wandering around South West England

We have traveled north now to Bradford on Avon in west Wiltshire, one of my favourite English villages with some excellent pubs & restaurants.

My niece Laura love the scones at The Bridge Tea rooms.

Wandering around South West England

Can afternoon tea get any better than this?

Tithe Barn Bradford on Avon

Wandering around South West England

A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing tithes—one tenth of a farm’s produce which was given to the Church. Tithe barns were usually associated with the village church or rectory and independent farmers took their tithes there.

Tithe Barn

Wandering around South West England

The village priests wouldn’t have to pay tithes—the purpose of the tithe being their support—and some had their own farms anyway, which are now village greens in some villages.

Houseboats on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Wandering around South West England

The ducks or drakes deciding whether to go for a swim or a walk. 🙂

Two Dinosaurs at the Trowbridge show in Wiltshire.

Wandering around South West England

Oh well, it is better to be a “has been” than a “never was”. 🙂
 
For a great discount on your room rate just book through THIS LINK.
 

Super travel tips. Great Britain has an excellent rail service, save up to 80% by booking your ticket before you arrive, just click here. London Underground’s Piccadilly Line provides the most cost-effective rail route between Heathrow Airport and the capital, so look for accommodation around Earl’s Court, Gloucester Rd or Knightsbridge. For more information click here.

Here is an excellent hotel close to Gloucester Rd underground.

For lots of things to do in Bath please click here.

For information on beautiful Bradford on Avon just click here.

Travelling Through South West England which is certainly one of my favorite parts of this wonderful country.                     

Here are some more posts to check out           
Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

 Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

 Soi Cowboy (5)           e1274c0c-cf4d-4406-b5dc-d9e8071e382e            8993ef02-ccf3-46a7-8b6d-fc11af9d93ad

 
  Please check out these fabulous posts
       Gold Coast                              Pattaya                          Cinque Terre
bd96516a-84df-4ca0-86e6-c757cc9053d1          01a75360-9573-473f-acba-3a187f779b7f          e18b6c87-5adc-4a80-92cf-6c643ad130c1
 
Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
f044491e-69aa-4082-b49b-1ff33557d7d4          60e7d26d-1039-4dde-863d-62b66656ccbf          1bea4a99-cb07-4161-83ba-75c0ef2b63cc
    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          f5e9441a-4154-44e0-a362-18b662d40b48          2a2b79ea-bc5f-46e3-8448-2e71658eff14 
               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
d0c59ff5-7f2b-41b5-9312-4556d4a62037          b1c99886-3940-4dda-b350-44c5e5c77e41
 
 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 


Counter only started February 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos