Photos of the UK: Castles, Mazes, Henges (Posted by: Johnny Monsarrat) http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/ Photos of hiking and other adventures in the United Kingdom en-us Copyright 2010 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:30:35 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification England, Scotland, & Ireland: Photos My girlfriend Amy and I went off to England, Scotland and Ireland for three weeks during the summer. It was my first real vacation in a while! Relaxing and idyllic, the UK trip was a good combination of cultural experience and pure leisure.

Johnny Monsarrat: Stone circles
Stone circles 		Johnny Monsarrat: Hiking in Scotland
Hiking in Scotland

Then we drove up through York and past Hadrian's Wall to eastern Scotland. Full to the brim with castles, we decided to explore some of the the dozens of small stone circles in the area. We ended up hiking in the Scottish highlands. This was the high point for me, literally and figuratively. We also spent time in southwest Ireland, where the natural beauty was unfortunately obscured by mobs of tourists. Click the right arrow to begin. Click on any photo for an enlargement.

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/england-scotland-ireland-photo.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/england-scotland-ireland-photo.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:30:35 -0500 London We started in London and did our best to comprehend the British Museum and National Gallery. We saw Les Miserables, which apparently has been playing in the same theater for over 10 years. London is cool, but we felt the real England was outside the city.

Then we rented a car and went touring castles. My favorite was Leeds Castle. At Leeds Castle, the center of the hedge maze is a turret so you can see where you've been and watch anyone coming in behind you. Then you go down into "the grotto" which is a manmade tunnel with a running stream and statues made of stones and seashells... including one huge looming face spouting water into a fountain.

Johnny Monsarrat: Jet-lagged, sleep-deprived peo
Jet-lagged, sleep-deprived people should not try to tackle the Britism Museum as their first stop in London. I fell asleep in the cafeteria. 		Johnny Monsarrat: The Egyptian exhibit at the Br
The Egyptian exhibit at the British Muesum
Johnny Monsarrat: Leeds Castle was very cool. It
Leeds Castle was very cool. It had a moat, and a hedge maze with an underground grotto! 		Johnny Monsarrat: Amy at Leeds Castle
Amy at Leeds Castle
Johnny Monsarrat: Les Miserables has been playin
Les Miserables has been playing for 12 years in the same theater. 		Johnny Monsarrat: Trafalgar Square. There was so
Trafalgar Square. There was some kind of Islamic rally going on.
Johnny Monsarrat: Trafalgar Square. It was reall
Trafalgar Square. It was really hard to climb up here! 		Johnny Monsarrat: We were lucky enough to hear B
We were lucky enough to hear Big Ben chime noon.
Johnny Monsarrat: Westminster Abbey. It
Westminster Abbey. It 		Johnny Monsarrat: Ightham Mote: an old house sti
Ightham Mote: an old house still being repaired

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/london.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/london.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:39:39 -0500 Our B&B and Hever Castle England has some great Bed & Breakfasts. We tried to stay in B&Bs rather than hotels, and it was a terrific experience.

Royalty and nobility have left behind numerous castles and mansions in England. Most were magnificent. Many had wonderful gardens as well.

Johnny Monsarrat: Perhaps the best B&B we stayed
Perhaps the best B&B we stayed in. 		Johnny Monsarrat: Every B&B served us eggs, baco
Every B&B served us eggs, bacon, and sausage.
Grease: one of the national foods of Britain?
Johnny Monsarrat: We got our first rain at Hever
We got our first rain at Hever Castle. They had
a hedge maze too which was not quite as
interesting, and a 		Johnny Monsarrat: I had to hold the umbrella so
I had to hold the umbrella so Amy could take this one!

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/our-bb-and-hever-castle.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/our-bb-and-hever-castle.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:43:07 -0500 Penshurst Place Penshurst Place had a great castle & gardens. It was the most impressive of the gardens we saw.

Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: This is supposed to look like
This is supposed to look like the British flag
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Johnny Monsarrat:
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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/penshurst-place.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/penshurst-place.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:44:07 -0500 Sissinghurst Castle & Gardens Wonderful gardens, but we liked Penshurst just a little better. They make it look easy, but we saw a few gardens that hadn't been kept up well, and you can really tell the difference. I like the gardens that are broken up by hedges into little clearings you can discover. Amy took most of our trip pictures; she particularly liked shooting gardens.

Johnny Monsarrat: Sissinghurst Castle & Gardens
Sissinghurst Castle & Gardens 		Johnny Monsarrat:
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Johnny Monsarrat: A tower at Sissinghurst gave a
A tower at Sissinghurst gave a birds-eye view.
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Johnny Monsarrat:
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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/sissinghurst-castle-gardens.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/sissinghurst-castle-gardens.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:44:55 -0500 Salisbury Cathedral Salisbury (sawlz'-bree) Cathedral, where they keep the Magna Carta.

Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: Salisbury had some modern art
Salisbury had some modern art on display.
These little clay creatures filled an entire hall. 		Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/salisbury-cathedral.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/salisbury-cathedral.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:45:40 -0500 Longleat House Longleat House is an old mansion which is still privately owned. To earn enough money to keep up the house, the owners have turned the grounds into an amusement park!

Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: Me at the TARDIS at Longleat
Me at the TARDIS at Longleat
Johnny Monsarrat: The world
The world 		Johnny Monsarrat:

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/longleat-house.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/longleat-house.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:46:20 -0500 Stonehenge Stonehenge was very impressive and definitely worth the trip. Unfortunately vandalism has taken its toll and tourists are not allowed to walk among the stones.

They plan to divert the ugly roads and tourist tunnel and restore a natural look by 2009. Wish we'd gone to Woodhenge, too!

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Johnny Monsarrat: Amy at Stonehenge.
Amy at Stonehenge. 		Johnny Monsarrat: Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Johnny Monsarrat: A tourist horde, including us,
A tourist horde, including us, prevented quiet reflection on the ancient people who built Stonehenge 		Johnny Monsarrat:

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/stonehenge.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/stonehenge.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:46:55 -0500 Hidcote Manor Gardens Amy and I passed through Stratford-Upon-Avon. Seeing Othello & a Midsummer Night's Dream was great. Otherwise, the town was too touristy for us. Fortunately, there were plenty of attractions in the area, including Hidcote Manor Gardens.

Hidcote was good but didn't compete with the splendor we'd seen elsewhere. I think Penshurst and Sissinghurst were so perfect that they made it look easy. Now we're getting a deeper appreciation for the effort that goes into these gardens.

Johnny Monsarrat: My Aunt Jill
My Aunt Jill 		Johnny Monsarrat:
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Johnny Monsarrat:
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Johnny Monsarrat: Look at this shrub! That
Look at this shrub! That

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/hidcote-manor-gardens.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/hidcote-manor-gardens.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:30:38 -0500 Castle Howard Castle Howard was one of the nicest castles. A fantastic site!

Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: Amy had to chase this peacock
Amy had to chase this peacock to get it in the camera

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/castle-howard.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/castle-howard.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:48:06 -0500 Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall is an old Roman wall built to keep out the marauding Scottish. The Romans never did conquer the Scots. To make the most of our time, we've had a pretty packed schedule, rushed from one place to another. Today, we finally take some time just to sit and appreciate nature. It's serene, and there are plenty of sheep.

Johnny Monsarrat: Hadrian
Hadrian 		Johnny Monsarrat: I sit and reflect on the Unive
I sit and reflect on the Universe.
Johnny Monsarrat: One of the Roman forts at Hadr
One of the Roman forts at Hadrian 		Johnny Monsarrat:
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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/hadrians-wall.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/hadrians-wall.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:48:45 -0500 Scotland We continued north through York and into Scotland, visiting just one more castle. It's beautiful, but small and we're starting to get a little tired of castles.

We kept running into cows and sheep roaming the countryside! They tend to look at you as though both curious and dumbstruck. It's very cute. We even had a herd of reindeer cross the road in front of our car!

Johnny Monsarrat: Durham Castle, which houses an
Durham Castle, which houses an active college 		Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: Scottish castle and gardens.
Scottish castle and gardens. 		Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: The cows are even more curious
The cows are even more curious and stupefied than the sheep. These were near a small stone circle. 		Johnny Monsarrat: Investigating us up close
Investigating us up close

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/scotland.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/scotland.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:49:18 -0500 Stone Circles in Scotland We crossed off the other castles on our trip and decided to go exploring some of the nearby stone circles. Stonehenge is not alone: there are hundreds of stone circles, barrows, and mounds dating from ancient Britain. Amy and I found a guide and went to see some of the small ones. Many were oddly juxtaposed to houses, farms, or pasture land.

Johnny Monsarrat: Amy and I punted the castles a
Amy and I punted the castles and went to see several minor stone circles. There are hundreds just around Aberdeen! 		Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: Seeking ancient wisdom.
Seeking ancient wisdom. 		Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: A sheep with a stone circle in
A sheep with a stone circle in the background.
Not a great shot, but darn it, I had to sneak
into a meadow to get this one so I
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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/stone-circles-in-scotland.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/stone-circles-in-scotland.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:49:47 -0500 Hiking in Scotland We ended up in the Cairngorm mountains of Scotland. This area is less popular with tourists and we had several lovely hiking days where we hardly saw anyone else at all. The Cairngorm Mountains have 3 of the 4 highest peaks in Britain. We hiked them and one lower route.

This is Hiking Day 1: Cairn Lochan, at 3990 ft., the #4 highest peak in the UK.

Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: It
It
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat: You need to get an early start
You need to get an early start so you have time to pause and enjoy the peacefulness.
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Johnny Monsarrat: Mountain ice becomes a stream
Mountain ice becomes a stream which runs down
to a lake in this high mountain valley at 3,000 ft.
It looks like snow but it
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/hiking-in-scotland.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/hiking-in-scotland.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:50:33 -0500 Hiking Day 2 Eag a' Chait and Loch Morlich. Peak 1860 ft. Much warmer down here.

Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:
Johnny Monsarrat:

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]]> http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/hiking-day-2.html http://monsarrat.org/johnny_monsarrat/2009/11/hiking-day-2.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:51:08 -0500