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Arbour Low (Peak District)
by catsholiday Arbor Low In Derbyshire we have our own version of Stonehenge which is virtually unheard of around this country never mind further afield in other countries. In fact I had lived in Derbyshire all my teenage years and never heard of it until a few years ago someone mentioned it to me and of course I had to go and investigate it ... further. Arbor Low is just off the A515 Buxton- Ashbourne road and is easily accessed by a minor road which goes from from Parsley Hey to Youlgrave. It is about 7 miles south of Buxton. The site is on private property in a farmer's field and they have kindly provided a small car park just beyond the main farm buildings. Although he site is on private property it is managed by the Peak District National Park Authority. If you are heading there by public transport there is only a bus option as the railway was closed years ago. You can get a train as far as Buxton then change to another form of transport. The 181 bus from Hartington to Sheffield passes along the road below Arbor Low. The 202 bus between Ashbourne and Buxton connects with this at Hartington and also goes through Parsley Hey but then sadly you will have to walk 2km to reach Arbor Low. Arbor Low is open all year around and there are no fancy guided tours you just put the suggested pound donation in an honesty box hnear the farmn gate and then walk to the site which is a good fresh walk up the mound and it catches the winds from all directions so in winter be prepared for a refreshing walk. You can bring your dogs but they must be on leads while on the site as it is on a farm property. The name Arbor Low is apparently derived from 'Eorthburg Hlaw', which means 'earthwork mound'. This is the most important prehistoric site of the East Midlands and is a Neolithic henge monument but very much less obvious than the famous one in Wiltshire for the average visitor. It is set high on a mound in the Derbyshire high peak moorland. What you see when visiting is a circle of limestone slabs in various stages of having fallen and become partially buried. The stones surround a central stone 'cove' and are all within an earthen bank and ditch which is apparently a feature only found in major sacred sites. Not far from here is a large burial mound called Gib Hill which may be connected but not sure about if they are and if so how. Gib Hill is only about 100 feet to south-west of the Arbor Low henge and is known as a barrow . Gib Hill, according to the historical experts is thought to be a Neolithic oval barrow with an Early Bronze Age round barrow on top of it. There were some excavations of the barrow by a Derbyshire archeologist, Thomas Bateman in the 19th century and during those excavations there were some human remains found and also a pottery vessel, flint and other stone tools which are thought could be grave relics. There have been no excavations on either site for over a hundred years so there could be all sorts of treasures hidden beneath to be found. On our visit it was an early summer's day and friends of mine were staying with us from Australia so despite the brisk wind and persistent rain we headed for the site with gritted teeth and wrapped up in coats. We put our voluntary donation in the pot and headed through the farm gates up quite a distance in the windy weather. I am sure it would not have seemed nearly so far had we not been battling the wind and rain. British summer weather cannot be counted on for warmth! When we arrived at the mound we had the most amazing view across the peak district and were able to walk all around the stones and up and down the mounds with no restrictions at all. Obviously you are expected to behave responsibly and not remove anything from the site but you are on trust. I think they can do this as the interest for many would be limited and so they wouldn't be getting hundreds of visitors per day. I would say this site would appeal to those with an interest in historical sites, those who enjoy finding somewhere unusual and like exploring places outside with great views. It would have limited appeal to young children but having said that they would enjoy running around the site and up and down the mound. I am not sure how well it would go down to take a picnic onto the site but there was nothing there to say you couldn't provided of course you take you rubbish away with you. This is a working farm and so you are walking through fields and animals have left their usual animal poos so again if you are walking there with children tell them to be aware of sheep poo and even cow pats which of course are more easily seen but far messier if you do walk in one by accident! Thanks for reading. This review may be posted on other sites under my same username. ©catsholiday Read the complete review |
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Isle of Wight Steam Railway (Isle of Wight)
by AbsintheFairy I was excited about my trip to the Isle of Wight and spent some time looking at things I could do there. I am interested in history and heritage and liked the sound of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway. I do like steam trains and thought it would be fun to travel on one - the last time I did this was as a child on holiday. The ... Isle of Wight Steam Railway is what remains of the original railway on the Isle of Wight: the rest of it either no longer runs or, in the case of the Island Line which runs down the east coast, has been electrified. The steam railway runs from Smallbrook Junction in the east (where it meets the Island Line) to Wootton Station in the west, passing through the village of Havenstreet. Along the way it passes through 5½ miles of countryside. *A Brief History* The first railway on the Isle of Wight opened in 1862, over 150 years ago. By 1890 an extensive network of railways served the island, but from the fifties the lines were gradually closed. The Isle of Wight Railway Co. Ltd was formed in 1971 to buy the stretch of track between Wootton and Havenstreet, later extending to Smallbrook Junction enabling an interchange with the Island Line. From the earliest days of the railway, it was rarely possible to afford the newest trains and therefore the equipment used on the line was already old by the time it reached the Isle of Wight. Therefore, many of the steam trains used today were used on the island in the early twentieth century, but actually date from the mid to late nineteenth century. The oldest train dates from 1876 and some of the carriages date back to 1864. *My Experience* I bought a day ticket which combined unlimited travel for both the Island Line and the Steam Railway, costing me £14. I spent part of the day before and after my steam journey using the Island Line and exploring the towns along the line, taking a break in the middle to explore the Steam Railway. I used the timetable to plan my day: this is really important as some of the times appear slightly random, and if you want to match up steam train times with Island Line times you will need to inspect the timetable closely. I managed to work out the best time to arrive at Smallbrook Junction and transferred across to the other platform, which was easily visible as I exited the electric train. I had to display my ticket to get on the platform. Though it was a bright, warm day in August, there weren't many people there - only three or four on the platform with me - and all day the railway didn't strike me as particularly busy. The train soon arrived, steam pumping out of the chimney, and the carriages waited on the track while the engine rumbled along to the other end of the train. I climbed into a carriage by myself; I'd paid for a third class ticket, but the carriage seemed luxurious enough to me! It was very comfortably padded with wooden panelling and shelves and old-fashioned advertising. The carriage was clean and a lot of care had clearly gone into restoring it. I was able to open a window slightly, which let in a lovely breeze when the train began to move (might be slightly less pleasant in the rain!). I l really enjoy train travel anyway but there's something about steam trains that is especially nice. I loved looking out the window and seeing the woods and the countryside rush past. After about twenty minutes, the train reached Havenstreet station. Havenstreet is the central point of the Steam Railway and there is plenty to keep you occupied here, including a woodland walk, children's play area and even a falconry experience (although this does cost extra). I spent about an hour and a half here: I had a look at some of the engines on display and browsed the small museum. The museum was dark and slightly shabby, but there was some interesting information about the history of the railway as well as photographs and artefacts. I also had a look around the shop: there were many model trains and toys, and other souvenirs of the kind you get in all touristy places: pens, keyrings, fridge magnets etc. I had lunch in the station café. It wasn't the most amazing café in the world but it was pleasant enough, clean with decent food. There were quite a few families there, with children happily enjoying the play area. I got on the train again when it turned up, travelling all the way to the end of the line at Wootton and back again to Smallbrook Junction, which took about forty minutes, I think. I enjoyed my time on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, although it was rather a shame I was by myself and I think it is best suited for families. I am sure families would enjoy it, although it is a little pricey unless you go for one of the deals. Personally, I feel that the price I paid for both Steam Railway and Island Line travel - £14 - was very reasonable. *Accessibility* Full disabled access is available at Havenstreet Station, and most trains have an adapted carriage in use for wheelchair users. It is best to contact the Railway for further details. *Facilities* Toilets: Havenstreet, Wootton and Smallbrook stations have toilet facilities. Food: There is a café at Havenstreet, and there are pleasant picnic areas at Havenstreet and Wootton. History: There is a museum, displaying artefacts from the Isle of Wight's railway history, and a Carriage and Wagon Workshop, home to heritage stock undergoing restoration, at Havenstreet Station. Shopping: There is a gift shop and a small second hand book shop at Havenstreet. Outdoor entertainment: A children's play area and rambling Woodland Walk can be found at Havenstreet. There is also a falconry centre, offering hands-on experience with falconry, though there is an extra charge for this. *Special Days Out* Special days are organised throughout the year, including 'A Day Out with Thomas' and 'Santa Specials' for children, wine and real ale festivals for adults, and historic theme days out. I also noticed that on 1 January this year there was a 'hangover special' trip! Prices for the days out may vary from those quoted below. *Getting There* By car - There are free car parks at Havenstreet and Wootton stations. By train - The Island Line stops at Smallbrook so you can change onto the Steam Railway from here. By bus - Services 29 and 33 (Wightbus) stop at Havenstreet Station and Service 9 (Southern Vectis) stops at Wootton. *Opening Times* The railway operates daily from June to October, frequently in March, April and May, and on several days in October, November and December. Full details and timetables can be found on the website. *Ticket Prices* Includes an entire day's travel Adult £9.50 Child (5-15 years) £5 (Kids go free in August) Infant (0-4 years) free (maximum of two infants per fare paying adult) Family (2 adults and 2 children) £24 Dog £3 These prices are for third class travel; first class tickets are available but are more expensive. Access to Havenstreet station without travelling is £3. A ticket combining travel on the Steam Railway with travel on the Island Line is £14 for adults and £7 for children. Isle of Wight Steam Day Rovers can be purchased from most staffed railway stations in London and the South East. They cover: return rail travel to Portsmouth Harbour, catamaran return travel to Ryde, a day's travel on the Island Line and a day's travel on the Steam Railway. They cost: Adults £23.40 Children £11.80 *Contact Details* The Railway Station Havenstreet Isle of Wight PO33 4DS United Kingdom Tel: 01983 882204 Fax: 01983 884515 Talking Timetable Service: 01983 884343 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Isle-of-Wight-Steam-Railway/128859617189527 Website: http://www.iwsteamrailway.co.uk/ Read the complete review |
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Coombe Hill Monument (Buckinghamshire)
by askmeanything Welcome to the Chiltern Hills! If you are ever going to stand on top of one hill in the Chilterns then make it Coombe Hill. On top of the hill is a monument to the men who lost their lives in the Boar War, and on a personal note, is a place to remember my loved ones who used to give a little time at the top contemplating death and the ... beauty of life. This is a place where we really appreciate what we have. Once you've made your way to Coombe Hill, in Buckinghamshire, it's all free! You can spin around and around and whoop for joy. Breathe in the fresh air. Isn't it wonderful? Enjoy the highest part of the rural Chilterns at 843 feet and whilst there take a moment to pay your respects to the fallen soldiers of the Boar War. The monument to them just about marks the pinnacle of the hill. A circular walk is only about three and a half miles from Wendover. Last chance: This is a place designated officially as An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It is peaceful and unspoilt, yet it turns out, even having official status doesn't mean the countryside is protected. Go there now because that beautiful land you see below you will be scarred by the sight and sounds of the planned HS2 high speed rail link between London and Birmingham. The next few years may be your last chance to witness and appreciate the rolling fields and woods of the Chilterns in full and natural glory and this has to be one of the best viewpoints. How terrible to the memory of the generations of people that have lived and visited the Chilterns that it will be invaded by the merging of two cities. The children of the future will not be able to have the same kind of peace and appreciation that this hill top vista and monument brings us. Make your way from the city to the country: Trains run from Marylebone, in London, on the Chiltern Railways Aylesbury line. Disembark at WENDOVER. Journey time is approximately fifty minutes, and costs a full adult fare of £10.30 for a single ticket. Take a third off for national railcard holders. Book in advance with Chiltern Railways or other ticket providers and you might well find significantly cheaper tickets. Rail travel is expensive in the UK but Chiltern Railways are reliable, on time, and comfortable. The trains run about every thirty minutes to and from London and meets the Metropolitan line trains at some stations along the way. There are also buses, though very few and far between in Buckinghamshire. These buses go to High Wycombe and nearby Great Missenden too where there are alternative train stations. Trains run until around midnight so you won't have to run down the hill, in the dark, to catch the last train home. Wendover is a lovely market town complete with Anne Boleyn cottages and the end of the Grand Union Canal. Exiting Wendover railway station, turn left, and go toward the high street until you see a mini roundabout. Watch out because although the village is small and quaint it has heavy traffic passing through. This and the despicable London to Birmingham HS2 rail promise are the negatives to this area. HS2 will cause years of disruption, rip up the beautiful countryside, for a train that won't even stop here, and destroy the ancient woodlands. You are likely to see posters protesting against HS2 on your walk. There are plenty of shops with delicious refreshments to purchase for the upward climb. There are friendly people about to ask directions from. Warning the hill is very steep if approaching from the Wendover side and not for wheelchair access. However, car drivers are very lucky because there is a cheats way up! Trust me you won't believe you've made much of an ascent it's more like walking over a mole hill from the back end! The National Trust provides a free car park. You can do a flatter alternative walk through the woods which are one of my favourite places to see carpets of bluebells. However, for Coombe Hill you must turn your back on Low Scrub woods unless you feel like an additional walk. All routes eventually take you up to Coombe Hill if you aim upwards and in circles. Once parked up, walk through the gates, probably you'll spot the ice cream van beside the entrance, and follow the path. The monument will come into sight very soon. Before you know it you're already at the top. It's just been a gentle stroll. You can look at the people who walked up from the Wendover side, with smugness, as you lick your ice cream, and they wipe their brows from the exertion. Onwards and upwards: Turn right down Walnut Close and follow a public footpath diagonally over a field. Ultimately, the only way is up, and it becomes very clear that there are several ways to get to the top. They will all get you to the monument so don't worry about which one. I've never been lost up there as despite it being the highest point of the Chilterns it is fairly small and obvious where to go. Sometimes, you will catch a glimpse of the Boar War monument on the top of Coombe Hill. Mountain climbers will find this route easy peasy. I would recommend walking shoes as it can be slippery underfoot or muddy. Less hardened walkers might be a little breathless! Picnics and memories: The National Trust manages the hill well and it is clear that people work very hard to maintain it and make it accessible to the public. There are benches and logs for rest and picnic stops, of which I have wonderful memories, and many more to come, I hope, and there's nothing wrong with sitting on the grass. Many people sit on the steps leading up to the Boar War monument. In some countries this would be frowned upon yet there is something about the design of the steps that encourages people to climb up, read the names, contemplate the lives of people taken, and the losses on both sides, including the war crimes, and then sit and take rest in appreciation of their lives. Many a time I have seen children playing on the steps or people taking shelter on windy days, and it's a pleasing sight. The monument, not the prettiest of constructions, but meaningful, is not in a place of death but of life. It seems fitting that the soldiers are remembered forever in a place so free and happy and removed from the location of their actual demise. The monument is a sixty feet tall. In 1904 the war memorial was erected, in memory of the one hundred and forty eight men of Buckinghamshire, who died in the second Boar War 1899 - 1902. This was an original concept because it wasn't about a triumph in war, as was normal with monuments, but built specifically to record the names of the local men that died. The monument was struck by lightning back in the 1930's but rebuilt by the local council. Over time the structure became weak and people raised money to have the structure restored. It is now a Grade 2 listed monument. There are bronze flags and gold on the concrete structure. The names have been re-done as two men had been omitted on the originally and there were spelling errors which need to be rectified. I would love to know the story behind how these mistakes and omissions were made. There is an obvious and sadder omission as the history of the Boar War involved atrocities committed by the British and the use of concentration camps. If you are unaware of the history contemplation will be limited to only what is before your eyes. On a lighter note, because Coombe Hill is not to be just a scene of sadness and memorial, the monument comes complete with lightening conductors this time! There is a trig point beside the monument to give explanation to the panorama. The scenery is pretty and the meadows beautiful. The whole of the Aylsebury vale lies below. Houses and churches appear so tiny to the naked eye. With your back to the monument, and the valleys below, walk along a path to the right side of the hill. There are benches along here too. See that big house down there - that's Chequers - the prime minster's country residence. Once I saw Margret Thatcher being driven there which seems fitting to recall now, as she died today. So many people of fame, or infamy, have travelled to the house you look at now. I've been up here in all weathers but I don't like it when the wind is too strong. It is an exposed spot and often the weather drives people to the monument for some sort of shelter. It can feel like you'll be blown all the way down and across to the next county. I'd rather walk back down the hill, thanks! My favourite time is about April/May but a couple of years ago it was unseasonably boiling hot. We came up from Low Scrubs car park with ice creams and still had a sweat on us but it was so much fun. In June you can watch (possibly insane) folks running up and down the steep slope in a race. Legend has it this virgin experience turns a boy into a man. But that's nothing, when I was about two, my grandfather wheeled me all the way up from Wendover station, complete with picnic hamper, and down again in my pushchair. I wouldn't recommend doing this. My granddad, the superhero! There are many possibilities of walks that combine the Coombe Hill experience. You can walk for days, for example, on the way marked, eighty-five miles, Ridgeway Walk. Dogs are welcome if kept under control. Look out for the summer-only, chewing the cud, Belted Galloway, cows grazing on the land. They keep the grass low which is important on a chalk hill and as a result the butterflies thrive. They'll leave you alone if you don't bother them. There are no toilets or refreshments unless the ice cream van happens to be in the Low Scrubs car park. I never come to Coombe Hill without paying my respects at the memorial. Red kites have been reintroduced to the Chilterns and you can watch them hovering and listen to their distinctive calls. The view stretches out as far away as the Cotswolds on a clear day. Look out for Firecrests and Yellowhammer birds, rare orchids, other unusual plants, and the butterflies that flit amongst the rare chalk grasslands. Many people come here to fly their kites and that too makes a pretty picture. Coombe Hill is at the height of the Chilterns and is a place I come to in happiness, and a little sadness, as people I have shared it with are no longer with us but at the same time we celebrate life in this place that is so magnificent. Read the complete review |
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Address: Hill Barn Farm / Sightseeing National / Snowshill / Broadway / Worcestershire / WR12 7JY |
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Marine Road / Sightseeing National / Deal / Kent / CT14 7BA |
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2 reviews Sightseeing National / Penwinnick Road, , St Agnes, Cornwall, PL276RA. Tel: +44(0)1872 553007. Factory outlet set in beautiful countryside |
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3 reviews Sightseeing National / Lakeside, Newby Bridge, LA12 8AS. Tel: +44(0)1539 5344153. |
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1 review Sightseeing National / Address: Dovecote Farm, Newton, Geddington, Nr. Kettering, Northants, NN14 1BW - Restaurant, pick your own fruit, wedding Rvenue etc |
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