Collette British Landscapes Tour Archives

Lastly, we visited Stratford-upon-Avon and Wales on our Collette British Landscapes Tour. Two other posts, London and York, United Kingdom Summer Tour and Edinburgh, United Kingdom Summer Tour describe earlier parts of the tour.

While on the way to Wales, we rode by coach along the northeastern border of England through the beautiful Lakes District.

The Lakes District

The Lakes District is a very mountainous region that is very popular with hikers and campers. It was so nice to travel through that lovely part of England. It was very overcast as you can see in the photo below. The purple flower is heather and it was abundant in Scotland and northern England.

While in the Lakes District, we stopped for lunch at Grasmere. It is a village where the poet, Wordsworth, lived. He called it, “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found.” Grasmere is also known for its gingerbread, which is made using a hundred and fifty year-old recipe that is kept in a bank vault. It was quite different, but delicious.

Wales

Wales is a mountainous country in Great Britain with probably the most beautiful countryside of our trip. It has a distinctive Welsh language and a strong Celtic culture.

Ruthin Castle

We had one night in Wales at Ruthin Castle , a medieval fortress that was built in the thirteenth century. If those walls could talk! We have visited many ancient castles, but this was our first opportunity to sleep in one. Ruthin Castle is reputed to be haunted by the Grey Lady, who presumably murdered her husband’s lover with an axe and consequently, was sentenced to death. Ghost or not, it was an amazing castle.

Our room in the castle had modern conveniences and a great view. The bathroom was totally modern. We had a mysterious incident with a luggage lock that freaked me out just a bit, but we slept like babies.

The grounds at Ruthin were beautiful and there were multiple peacocks roaming around.

Dinner was in the castle with the entire group. Afterwards, a charming Welsh lady told us stories about the castle and the area. She sang to the men in our group in Gaelic, hugging each one. It was amusing to watch their reactions. The next morning we headed to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford was the home of William Shakespeare, considered the greatest writer of the English language. He is also the best-selling fiction author of all time. Consequently, Stratford plays homage to him in many ways. There is a large Shakespearean theatre, a monument, his birthplace, and his daughter’s home. Lastly, he is buried there at Trinity Church.

We had two nights in Stratford at the Doubletree. It was just a short walk from the City Centre. The tour devoted one day to sightseeing in Stratford. We toured Shakespeare’s birthplace in the morning and took a cruise on the Avon in the afternoon.

Writers from all over the world have etched their names in a window in the birthplace home because it has been a pilgrimage for many.

Window in Shakespeare’s Birthplace in Stratford — Window in Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Trinity Church in Stratford — Trinity Church

Our cruise on the Avon was so relaxing. As an added bonus, we went through a lock. This was a first for us. It was manually operated.

Lock on the Avon River at Stratford — Lock on the Avon River

The next morning, we headed to Stonehenge.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge is considered the world’s most famous prehistoric monument because parts of it are estimated to have been built approximately 5,000 years ago. The stone circle is thought to have been erected in about 2500 BC. Some think it was built to study the movements of the sun and moon. Others think it was a place of healing.

The Cotswolds

After Stonehenge, we drove to the Cotswolds. The government has designed the Cotswolds an Area of Outstanding Beauty because of its honey-colored towns built on rolling hills.

Lunch was in Burton-on-Water in Gloucestershire. I had Welsh Rarebit and it was quite good. We both had hot tea as we loved to do on the tour. While lunch was delicious, it did not leave much time for exploring.

Cotswold stone building — Cotswold Stone building

Back to Stratford-on-Avon

We returned to the Doubletree in Stratford for the last night of the tour. There was a farewell dinner at Hall’s Croft, the home of Shakespeare’s daughter and her physician husband. The house dates back to the early 1600s and consequently, has extensive artifacts from the time.

Hall’s Croft in Stratford — Hall’s Croft

While dining, two Shakespearean actors performed scenes from several plays. It was so wonderful!

The next morning, most of our group rode in the coach for the two-hour drive to the airport. Lastly, we said goodbye to our new friends and our fabulous Collette guide, April, and our excellent driver, Skippy. We highly recommend Collette Tours!

Getting to Scotland

Edinburgh is just across the English border in Scotland, which was the second leg of our Collette British Landscapes Tour. This post picks up after my first post, London and York, United Kingdom Summer Tour.

A large rock rock marks the border with England written on one side and Scotland on the other. We stopped and took some photos. It was very windy and cooler than our time in England had been. The countryside looked different too, with purple heather blooming everywhere and cows and sheep always in sight.

We stopped for lunch in Jedburgh, a small town just past the border. There was a big shopping facility with a restaurant. I bought a pair of earrings made from heather. We had a delicious and inexpensive lunch that was described as “Tea for Two”. It was wonderful. Small sandwiches of our choice, scones with clotted cream and jam, tea, and cupcakes for dessert beautifully presented.

It rained while we were inside, but cleared before we departed . We were very fortunate this way regarding the weather for our entire trip—it rained while we were inside or on the coach most of the time.

Edinburgh

Our hotel was the Apex Grassmarket, a modern hotel right in the center of Old Town. We had two nights there. During our stay, the world’s largest annual international arts festival, The Fringe, was taking place. It coincided with the Royal Military Tattoo, which was included on our tour. Consequently, Edinburgh was very, very crowded.

Dinner that night was with the group. We rode by coach to New Town, which began in the 1760s. It was where the rich moved to to get away from the overcrowding of Old Town.

We ate at Stac Polly, which was not our favorite. The food was average, but the room was very hot and stuffy and there was no air conditioning. The staff was not overly pleasant either. I wouldn’t want to return to that restaurant.

City Tour

A city tour was provided by Sandra, a local guide. We toured by coach through town and then stopped at the Palace of Holyrood, the official house of the British monarch in Scotland. It has been home to the King and Queen of Scots since the 16th century. The Palace is attached to the ruins of an abbey founded in 1128.

Sandra gave us an overview of the history of the castle and of the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, a major historical figure at the palace and the castle. We were able to tour the palace at our own pace with headsets to inform about each area. It was very interesting, particularly the history regarding Mary. One modern item was also there. Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was on display and it was simply beautiful.

Photos were only allowed outside the palace, so we took some shots of the gardens. The grounds were absolutely stunning.

Finally, the castle was on our tour. Our coach driver, Skippy, dropped us off a couple of blocks away. We walked up the hill to access the castle, which stands on volcanic rock. Archeologists have established that humans were present going back to the 2nd century and its history goes back 1100 years. Consequently, it was under seize 26 times. The castle is also the site of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The castle overlooks the city, so you can see all the way to the North Sea. The view is breathtaking!

View from the top of Edinburgh Castle — View from the top

We had afternoon tea at the Castle’s Tea Rooms. The tea was exotic to us, a lemon and elderberry. It was very good.

National Museum of Scotland

The afternoon was free time, so we walked to the National Museum of Scotland. It is a very eclectic museum, with modes of travel (old car, locomotive, and airplane), wildlife and natural history, Dolly the cloned sheep, and clothing throughout many periods. I particularly enjoyed looking at some of the clothing, can’t say why.

Dinner was on our own and we had the best fish and chips ever for both of us at a little restaurant near our hotel, Uncles Fish and Chips Cafe. They were also very helpful in identifying a Scotch Whiskey for me. It was Deanston Single Malt and I really enjoyed it. I believe it was also the best meal of our trip.

The Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo

This was the 69th annual Military Tatoo. Each one is different and the performance also occurs outside—rain or shine. Military bands come from all over the world. The performances are very creative. It exceeded all my expectations! They hold the Tattoo just outside Edinburgh Castle and it is certainly a spectacle. The music and precision marching of the bands was beautiful to watch. Fires were burning at the castle and lights were projected on it during the show.

Furthermore, they played four songs that I love. They were: “Amazing Grace”, Queen’s “The Show Must Go On”, and The Greatest Showman’s “The Greatest Show”, and “This is Me”. That sealed it for me; my favorite part of the entire tour was the Tattoo! So I really want to see it again sometime.

We left early the next morning in the coach and enjoyed the beautiful Scottish countryside.

Gretna Green

Gretna Green was such a delightful surprise! April, our tour guide, told us we would be stopping at a popular place for weddings related to a younger age requirement. However, I was unprepared for how wonderful it would be.

It became a place for weddings in 1754, when the Marriage Act in England required several rules for marriage including an age of twenty-one to avoid parental permission. Gretna Green, just over the Scottish border, did not have the age requirement, so it became a marriage destination. Since that time, it is known for romance and runaway lovers.

Gretna Green was a blacksmith’s shop so its priests were known as ‘anvil priests’. Thousands of couples from all over the world are married there each year.

At the blacksmith’s Anvil at Gretna Green — At the blacksmith’s anvil

Gretna Green Statue Te. If Dance — Gretna Green Statue, The Big Dance

We loved everything about our time in Scotland, but especially the Tattoo. Next, we headed to Wales and then Stratford-upon-Avon, which are in my last post for the tour. Stratford-upon-Avon and Wales, UK Summer Tour