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Plymouth South Coast Devon

December 19, 2013 by David Herd

Driving into the city

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon is a nice city and a unitary authority area on the south coast of Devon, England, about 190 miles south-west of London. It is situated between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound.

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

The cities history goes back to the Bronze Age, when its first settlement grew at Mount Batten. This settlement continued to grow as a trading post for the Roman Empire, until the more prosperous village of Sutton, the current Plymouth, surpassed it.

Plymouth Hoe

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth is Devon’s largest city and a famous old port that played a key part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 thanks to ex-slaver Francis Drake and the bad weather, waved goodbye to the Mayflower’s ‘Pilgrim’ passengers on their way to America in 1620, shipped out both Captain Cook and Charles Darwin and was bombed flat by the Luftwaffe in the 1940’s. Some of the old city survived but much of the rebuild was lacking in both style and sensitivity so the city is hardly packed with attractions and traffic can be terrible. However, the Hoe is calm, pretty and encompasses varied memorials and an outdoor pool (Tinside Lido), naval-gazing is popular with the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Citadel at the fore and Crownhill Fort at the rear, while a handful of stately homes offer sumptuous treats such as Saltram, Mount Edgcumbe, Elizabethan House and the Merchant’s House Museum.

Old building

Plymouth South Coast Devon

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Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Two days in Plymouth was quite enough for me, I think there are many more nicer places along the South coast.

SMEATON’S TOWER.

Plymouth South Coast Devon

 

Rated as one of the top attractions in the whole of Devon, a visit to Smeaton’s Tower is not to be missed. This eye-catching red and white lighthouse is easy to spot and is located in the Plymouth Hoe area. Dating back to the 18th century, Smeaton’s Tower was actually originally located some 14 miles / 23 km away, in nearby Eddystone Rocks and was painstakingly moved piece by piece to its current location in 1882. It is possible to climb the steep stone stairs to the very top and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views on offer.

Diving into the freezing  water.

 Plymouth South Coast Devon

You would have to be crazy, that water would be freezing.

Near the waterfront

Plymouth South Coast Devon

 That’s my friend Bill Austin from Trowbridge.

The Mission restaurant

Plymouth South Coast Devon

The Mission was an excellent restaurant with good food and a great atmosphere.

Cougers at the Mission bar

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Girls night out.

Sir Francis Drake at Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

We stayed at the Travelodge in Plymouth, good price & location, book through AGODA for a great deal.

Thanks for visiting my Plymouth South Coast Devon photo blog.                       

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That’s all folks

1g Duck

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

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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.

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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. 

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 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

 

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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. 

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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 


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