Started the day by driving over the Clyde Bridge and up to Loch Lomond for a cruise where we checked out Rob Roy's cave (his hideout when he was on the run). We then drove up into the Highlands and saw some fantastic scenery, stopping at a lovely viewpoint called Glencoe (the sight of the Glencoe Massacre where the Campbells killed all the McDonalds in the clan wars; the saying now goes never trust a Campbell!). All the lochs are connected with man-made canals to...

Another wet day today so visibility a bit impaired as we toured the Lakes district of Northern England. Caught the steam train to Lakeside and then jumped on a boat to cruise Lake Windemere before heading up to Scotland, crossing the border at Gretna Green. Arrived in Glasgow just in time for dinner so haven't seen much of the city yet and no sign of any of the Games venues. Dinner at the Corinthian Club which seems to be the place to go! Looks like a lot of beau...

Straight to Manchester this morning and had a photo stop at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. Saw their memorial to those lost in the Munich air disaster. Our lunch was at Quarry Bank Mill which is a museum to the cotton industry and the industrial revolution. We got stuck in the Friday afternoon traffic on the motorway and it was pretty wet so our afternoon tour got cancelled. We stayed at Castle Green hotel in Kendal.

On the fast cat across the Irish Sea this morning and landed on the island of Anglesey in Wales. Crossed Manai Strait to mainland Wales and continued north. Our lunch stop was Chester, just over the border in England, a beautiful walled city which goes back to Roman times. We then went Merseyside and toured Liverpool, including going to the Cavern Club, where the Beatles often played. The Anglican and catholic cathedrals in Liverpool are amazing and totally the o...

Morning tour of the city and then free time to shop! Our last day in Ireland so need to get our souvenirs, but all the shops are owned by the same company! A relaxing day which we finished at a pub down the road from our hotel!