Ira's Visit to the UK and France
Oct 11th, 2013, 05:37 PM
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Hi Ira -- I'm so glad I found this report! As usual, your storytelling is both entertaining and educational. Guess what? I'm finally convinced I should rent a car on my next trip. No more schlepping bags on and off trains!!
My next trip was originally going to be UK and Ireland, but just today (before reading this), I was thinking of returning to the Dordogne/ Lot (was just there, for too short a visit), and then England with cars at both locations.
Thanks for the detailed post with links to accommodations.
Susan
My next trip was originally going to be UK and Ireland, but just today (before reading this), I was thinking of returning to the Dordogne/ Lot (was just there, for too short a visit), and then England with cars at both locations.
Thanks for the detailed post with links to accommodations.
Susan
Oct 12th, 2013, 05:13 AM
#63
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Hi S,
> just today (before reading this), I was thinking of returning to the Dordogne/ Lot
You might find this useful:
Ira Does France (Bordeaux, Dordogne, Paris) 2005
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34676645
The hotel in Beynac is no longer there, though.
> just today (before reading this), I was thinking of returning to the Dordogne/ Lot
You might find this useful:
Ira Does France (Bordeaux, Dordogne, Paris) 2005
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34676645
The hotel in Beynac is no longer there, though.
Oct 12th, 2013, 11:40 AM
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Hi Ira,
I've read your Dordogne report before, and will peruse it again. Beynac was one of my favorite stops, but I loved Autoire and Lubressac (in the Lot) even more -- to the point of wanting to stay a week in either one.
Thanks for the link.
I've read your Dordogne report before, and will peruse it again. Beynac was one of my favorite stops, but I loved Autoire and Lubressac (in the Lot) even more -- to the point of wanting to stay a week in either one.
Thanks for the link.
Oct 17th, 2013, 10:49 AM
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Hi all,
RL interfered for a while.
It was a very pleasant drive along Lochs Ness, Lochy and Linnhe.
Oban, has a very nice waterfront.
The scenery along the A816 was very nice.
We made an overnight stop at the Ben Vane room of the beach house at The Inn at Inverberg (http://www.inverbeghotel.co.uk/ ). It’s a large room with very nice views of the Loch and Ben Lomond.
Dinner was at Mr C’s at the main lodge. Starters were Cullen Skink and Cheese and Onion Tart, mains were Beef and Ale Pie and Sea Bass. We shared 2 scoops of iced cream for dessert.
IIRC we each had several different beers (but I might not be recalling correctly).
After the usual sort of hotel buffet breakfast, we headed off for the day’s drive to Bowness on Windermere.
Except that we had to replace a burned out bulb with one from another fixture, we have no complaints about the room, the service, the food, the view or the price (89 GBP). This is a pleasant place for a stopover.
About 5 hr after leaving Inverbeg, we arrived at Fair Rigg (http://www.fairrigg.co.uk/ ) in Bowness-on-Windermere
The TomTom GPS, probably deciding that traffic was light, took us through Glasgow. It was a not unpleasant experience and, considering the length of the trip, probably a good idea.
Ms Christine gave us a warm welcome and showed us to our room (no. 2) which was very pleasantly furnished.
After a short tour of the area and pleasant “wee dram” (did I mention having purchased a bit of Scotch?) we went to dinner at Fat Olives (http://www.fatolives.com/ )
Openers of Tapas Plate for 2, Seafood Risotto for me, Roasted Squash and Goat Cheese Cannelloni for Roberta, a very nice Verdejo, and Cheese plate and ice cream for dessert. Recommended.
Next day we went on a drive through the area with visits to Aira Force Waterfall (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/aira...and-ullswater/ ) and Castlerigg Stone Circle
(http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...g-stone-circle )
Dinner was at Porto (http://www.porto-restaurant.co.uk ). A very nice room, with good service. We did not find it at all stuffy.
The fish is highly recommended. Even more so is the ‘Egg and Soldiers’ dessert. The house wines were pleasant. Highly Recommended.
For our second daytrip, we took the little ferry across the lake and drove into the mountains and along the coast. Even though the flowers were past their prime, it was a very interesting drive. We saw where Mrs Potter lived and Wordsworth’s home. Returning from the ramble, we relaxed with a wee dram and headed off to the Postilion (http://www.postilionrestaurant.co.uk/ )
We each had the 3-course set menu:
Beef Carpacio and Gravalax of Salmon Mille Feuille,
Lamb Shoulder and Pan Roasted Salmon Steak,
Icky Sticky Wicky Licky Picky Toffee Pudding and Crème Brulee
They have a nice selection of Spanish wines, as well.
Highly recommended.
Tomorrow we visit Wales.
RL interfered for a while.
It was a very pleasant drive along Lochs Ness, Lochy and Linnhe.
Oban, has a very nice waterfront.
The scenery along the A816 was very nice.
We made an overnight stop at the Ben Vane room of the beach house at The Inn at Inverberg (http://www.inverbeghotel.co.uk/ ). It’s a large room with very nice views of the Loch and Ben Lomond.
Dinner was at Mr C’s at the main lodge. Starters were Cullen Skink and Cheese and Onion Tart, mains were Beef and Ale Pie and Sea Bass. We shared 2 scoops of iced cream for dessert.
IIRC we each had several different beers (but I might not be recalling correctly).
After the usual sort of hotel buffet breakfast, we headed off for the day’s drive to Bowness on Windermere.
Except that we had to replace a burned out bulb with one from another fixture, we have no complaints about the room, the service, the food, the view or the price (89 GBP). This is a pleasant place for a stopover.
About 5 hr after leaving Inverbeg, we arrived at Fair Rigg (http://www.fairrigg.co.uk/ ) in Bowness-on-Windermere
The TomTom GPS, probably deciding that traffic was light, took us through Glasgow. It was a not unpleasant experience and, considering the length of the trip, probably a good idea.
Ms Christine gave us a warm welcome and showed us to our room (no. 2) which was very pleasantly furnished.
After a short tour of the area and pleasant “wee dram” (did I mention having purchased a bit of Scotch?) we went to dinner at Fat Olives (http://www.fatolives.com/ )
Openers of Tapas Plate for 2, Seafood Risotto for me, Roasted Squash and Goat Cheese Cannelloni for Roberta, a very nice Verdejo, and Cheese plate and ice cream for dessert. Recommended.
Next day we went on a drive through the area with visits to Aira Force Waterfall (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/aira...and-ullswater/ ) and Castlerigg Stone Circle
(http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...g-stone-circle )
Dinner was at Porto (http://www.porto-restaurant.co.uk ). A very nice room, with good service. We did not find it at all stuffy.
The fish is highly recommended. Even more so is the ‘Egg and Soldiers’ dessert. The house wines were pleasant. Highly Recommended.
For our second daytrip, we took the little ferry across the lake and drove into the mountains and along the coast. Even though the flowers were past their prime, it was a very interesting drive. We saw where Mrs Potter lived and Wordsworth’s home. Returning from the ramble, we relaxed with a wee dram and headed off to the Postilion (http://www.postilionrestaurant.co.uk/ )
We each had the 3-course set menu:
Beef Carpacio and Gravalax of Salmon Mille Feuille,
Lamb Shoulder and Pan Roasted Salmon Steak,
Icky Sticky Wicky Licky Picky Toffee Pudding and Crème Brulee
They have a nice selection of Spanish wines, as well.
Highly recommended.
Tomorrow we visit Wales.
Oct 17th, 2013, 06:53 PM
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ira, loving the report! Can't wait to read more!
PS Wouldn't all our trips be so boring if we didn't have the occasional "oops" moments? I'm still giggling about you setting off the alarms at Highgrove. It is most certainly something I would have done, being that I live the life of Ziggy. hahah
More! (Hope your upper resp issue is better.)
PS Wouldn't all our trips be so boring if we didn't have the occasional "oops" moments? I'm still giggling about you setting off the alarms at Highgrove. It is most certainly something I would have done, being that I live the life of Ziggy. hahah
More! (Hope your upper resp issue is better.)
Oct 17th, 2013, 10:36 PM
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Continuing to enjoy your report, Ira. Your b & b Fair Rigg looks quite nice. I love the Lake District; have been to the Wordsworth places but not Mrs. Potter's. I hope you had better weather than I did in France.
I've also been to Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond, but only really remember the negative experience of falling into a mud hole during a hike.
I much preferred Northern England -- the Lake District, Yorkshire, North Umberland.
I've also been to Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond, but only really remember the negative experience of falling into a mud hole during a hike.
I much preferred Northern England -- the Lake District, Yorkshire, North Umberland.
Oct 19th, 2013, 11:58 AM
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Just a quick drive-by.
Thanks for the kind words.
......................................
Hey Irish,
See http://www.porto-restaurant.co.uk
Thanks for the kind words.
......................................
Hey Irish,
See http://www.porto-restaurant.co.uk
Oct 28th, 2013, 05:36 AM
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Hi all,
Sorry to be so long getting back to y'all.
In our last episode, we had just left Bowness-on-Windermere.
Down the M6 we zoomed. Skirting Liverpool, we crossed the Mersey (no ferry needed) and hung a right onto the M56, which took us through the flatlands to Chester – where we made a short stop to visit the Cathedral (http://www.chestercathedral.com/ ), and proceeded on along the coast to Caernarfon (Carnarvon) where we stayed just inside the walls at the Black Boy Inn (http://www.black-boy-inn.com/) .
We were quite pleased with the Inn, both the room and the dinner (Highly recommended)
Next morning was a visit to the Castle (http://www.caernarfon.com/ ) a short walk from the Inn, after which we headed through Wales to Shrewsbury Abbey (http://www.shrewsburyabbey.com/ ) via Powis Castle (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle/ ).
The Castle Gardens were captivating, even late in the season. The tour through the Clive Museum and the castle was well worth the visit. (Recommended)
I made the pilgrimage to Shrewsbury because I am a fan of Ellis Peters’s “Brother Cadfael” series. I was not disappointed.
We stayed at Porterhouse SY71, formerly Mad Jack’s (http://www.madjacks.uk.com/ ). The accomodations, although they were on the 2nd floor, were quite nice. All of the mod cons and a pleasant view over the rooftops. Headed for dinner out of town, we found the highway blocked. The GPS couldn’t find an alternate route, it was very dark, and the headlights weren’t well aligned. Back we went to town.
Dinner the next night, after touring the town and countryside, was at a tapas bar, Casa Naranjo (http://www.casanaranjo.co.uk/ ). Unexpectedly good. Recommended.
Next stop – The Cotswolds.
Sorry to be so long getting back to y'all.
In our last episode, we had just left Bowness-on-Windermere.
Down the M6 we zoomed. Skirting Liverpool, we crossed the Mersey (no ferry needed) and hung a right onto the M56, which took us through the flatlands to Chester – where we made a short stop to visit the Cathedral (http://www.chestercathedral.com/ ), and proceeded on along the coast to Caernarfon (Carnarvon) where we stayed just inside the walls at the Black Boy Inn (http://www.black-boy-inn.com/) .
We were quite pleased with the Inn, both the room and the dinner (Highly recommended)
Next morning was a visit to the Castle (http://www.caernarfon.com/ ) a short walk from the Inn, after which we headed through Wales to Shrewsbury Abbey (http://www.shrewsburyabbey.com/ ) via Powis Castle (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle/ ).
The Castle Gardens were captivating, even late in the season. The tour through the Clive Museum and the castle was well worth the visit. (Recommended)
I made the pilgrimage to Shrewsbury because I am a fan of Ellis Peters’s “Brother Cadfael” series. I was not disappointed.
We stayed at Porterhouse SY71, formerly Mad Jack’s (http://www.madjacks.uk.com/ ). The accomodations, although they were on the 2nd floor, were quite nice. All of the mod cons and a pleasant view over the rooftops. Headed for dinner out of town, we found the highway blocked. The GPS couldn’t find an alternate route, it was very dark, and the headlights weren’t well aligned. Back we went to town.
Dinner the next night, after touring the town and countryside, was at a tapas bar, Casa Naranjo (http://www.casanaranjo.co.uk/ ). Unexpectedly good. Recommended.
Next stop – The Cotswolds.
