Of course it was sunny this morning, but we had a bit of a trip to complete, so we headed for Penrith and Carlisle, before taking a detour to Culzean (pronounced Cullane) Castle, which we had never heard of but were so impressed by. Renovations in the 18th century by Robert Adam made it something special, right on the coast, with Ireland visible on occasion. Stunning. We eventually made our way around the bypasses of Glasgow and Paisley and out to Helensburgh. ...

The beautiful day we arrived at The Lakes transformed to rain on the one following. So we went to Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's farm house. They only let 8 people in the house at once, and as we waited in the garden, some fighter pilot on a training run decided to buzz the valley. Up and down, gone from sight before his ear cracking roar made us look to the skies. There was also an enclosed field well populated with rabbits just for atmosphere. The rain started in ...

Today we have finally left Wales. Not that we have any objection to Wales, it's just that we leave momentarily and then find something else to go and see there. We think we have wandered in and out of Wales about 10 times over the last couple of days as we negotiate our way around the border area. But finally we have said goodbye to Wales - and hello to The Lakes district. Before we left Wales, we went on a canal boat ride with a difference. This one crosses an ...

Long time between posts! It does depend very much on WI-fi access, and that has only just been achieved. This picture is of the Clifton Suspension bridge designed by Isambard Brunel and completed after his death. I wanted to go to Bristol because there are many family connections - Abbotts were born here and Bartons lived here. Found the place where Ambrose Abbott was born, and as Bartons lived in Clifton, I know where that is now too! Bristol was really intere...

Well, the Giro has been and gone, and the colour pink has been generally overdosed on to such an extent that no one in Northern Ireland will ever wear it again - well not for a long time! We moved on to the home of Ross' cousin Denise and her husband James on Saturday evening, and had a delicious dinner at a local restaurant and then a tour of the local hamlets and their Giro decorations. Despite the rain in Armagh, there was a crowd huddling under umbrellas to ...