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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
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Rio de Janeiro                  Singapore                    Eastern Europe
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    Bangkok Bars                         Tokyo                      Cape Town Safari
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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. 
Bangkok Hotels                    Pattaya Hotels
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 3 photos

Big Buddha Koh Samui

June 24, 2016 by David Herd

Taxi around Koh Samui

Taxi around Koh Samui

 Taxi  around Koh Samui starting at the Big Buddha then circling clockwise around the island. It took about 4 hours and the taxi cost was B2000 or $57 usd. Our hotel was on Chaweng beach about 15 minutes drive from the big Buddha. Our very nice lady drivers name is Ying and her mobile is 09 1128 3867.

Beautiful bougainvillea

Taxi around Koh Samui

This beautiful flower reminds me of my home in Newport Beach Australia where I lived in the 80s, I had many beautiful bougainvilleas on the property.

Big Buddha & slightly smaller Buddha

Taxi around Koh Samui

My 115 kilos certainly puts me in the Buddha category. 🙂

One of two statues guarding the Big Buddha

Taxi around Koh Samui

Located as you enter the square below Big Buddha.

Here is a short video

Big Buddha Koh Samui

Looking back towards Chaweng

Taxi around Koh Samui

We stopped at a popular lookouts to take in the wonderful view.

Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks

Taxi around Koh Samui

The rocks, known as Grandpa (Ta) and Grandma (Yai), look, just like male and female genitalia.

A very popular tourist stop

Taxi around Koh Samui

Located two kilometres south of central Lamai Beach and about 11 kilometres away from Chaweng Beach.

Lamai Beach

Taxi around Koh Samui

The next beach around the coast from Chaweng.

Lamai beach bar & restaurant

Taxi around Koh Samui

Lamai is like a mini version of Chaweng, nice beach and lots of bars and restaurants.

 Next stop Guan Yu Chinese shrine.

Taxi around Koh Samui

It quite a shock when you first see this fantastic huge statue, there are about 12 or more Chinese restaurants in the square. The Guan Yu shrine is the centre of the Chinese community on Samui island.

He looks rather fierce

Taxi around Koh Samui

He does not look like a happy camper at all. 🙂

 Elephants on Koh Samui

Taxi around Koh Samui

What magnificent beasts they are.

Here is a little guy with Mum.

Taxi around Koh Samui

I must admit I have mixed feelings about these beautiful animals being held captive, however that’s an argument for another day.

Here is a video of a dancing elephant

Thailand's dancing elephant.

He certainly was a happy little jumbo.

Some banana for the little dancing jumbo

Taxi ride around Koh Samui

They really enjoy bananas, this is my friend John Martin aka Pothole feeding the little guy.

The popular waterfall was just a trickle.

Taxi around Koh Samui

Many people visit this location but sadly there was not much water flowing.

Please be careful

Taxi around Koh SamuiIn 2019 2 people have died here. Check out THIS LINK for details.

Time for a cool drink

Taxi around Koh Samui

A pleasant place to sit under the shade from the tall trees before continuing our journey.

Nathon pier

Taxi around Koh Samui

Here is where you catch a ferry to the mainland, take your car if you wish.

Bophut beach

Taxi around Koh Samui

 Bophut beach  was the last stop in our Taxi  around Koh Samui road trip. Very close to a large new shopping mall called Fisherman’s village.

 Beach bar

Taxi ride around Koh Samui

Bophut is is near the Big Buddha & less than 10 minutes from the airport. The Ibis is a nice hotel opposite the beach, for an excellent room rate just book through THIS LINK. 

More peaceful and quieter than Chaweng yet only 15 minutes away from the action.

 Bar Baguette

Taxi around Koh Samui

This was really a good little cafe for lunch, the avocado & bacon baguette was perfect and the staff were really friendly.

Taxi ride around Koh Samui

Taxi around Koh Samui

Our taxi around Koh Samui was a great way to explore the delights of this wonderful tropical island, we had a very nice lady driver, her name in Ying and her mobile is 09 1128 3867.     

       Soi Cowboy                  Nana Plaza                    Patpong

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


            Checkout some more of my terrific blogs on the links below.         

     Istanbul                                 Budapest                        London

Fascinating Istanbul Asia Meets Europe     Hungarian Parliament Building (2)       The Walkie Talkie (5)    

          Mostar                           Dubrobnik                            Split

43638e36-5da5-4162-98e3-635e2c149837        IMG_7425    Split Ancient Croatian Coastal city                     

                 Saigon                            Zagreb                          Vung tau

Ho Chi Minh City South Vietnam       Main Square (3)     Vung Tau statue (6)

Pattaya live webcam
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

Counter only started June 16 2020.

This gallery contains 2 photos