In 2007 in July, we have
made a tour in England. We always stayed two days at an hotel.
The route was: _ Salisbury (Wiltshire) - Sherborne (Dorset) - Tavistock (Devon)
- Tintagel (Cornwall) - Bath (Somerset)
We had National
trust pass. It costs a lot, but than you have free entry to many beautiful
places. And England is not cheap.
I will describe a number
of beautiful areas and gardens.
Near
Salisbury lies Stonehenge. We have already visited it 15 years ago. It was
still fascinating to see this ancientmonument (3250 and 1500 v. Chr ) in this grand landscape. You also can walk through the meadows to the manybarrows
(burial mounds were built in the early Bronze Age) There is not much
to see, but the sight is
beautiful and there are growing many plants near the barrows (for the
lover of nature).
There are several stone circles in Great Britain. But this is the best
known. It is amazing that the stones have beentransported over a large distance.
There is also a relationship between Stonehenge and the sun.
The midsummer's morning the sun rises directly over the Heel Stone and the
first rays shone into the centre of the monument between the open arms of
the horseshoe arrangement. The midsummer sun always rises exactly opposite
the setting of the midwinter sun. (Trilithons, the pairs of standing
stones that form a horseshoe shape in the centre of the Sarsen circle) Then the weather
changed and we got a beautiful sky for the photos,(further information: http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/)
At
Sherborne lies the New Sherborne Castle andalso the old castle (ruïne), which is already visiblefrom the entrance of the park. You can walk around the lake. The
garden with flowers isnot so
large. There was held a wedding reception
in the orangery.
Information:
http://www.sherbornecastle.com/
After
Sherborne we went direction Tavistock. We have driven through the Dartmoor
National park.
As you see, it was rather foggy. The area is 945 km2.
Outside the area it was rainy, but not foggy. It seems however normal in
this area. It was very fairy-like.
Now and then sheep and pony's loomed up in the fog. They may walk on the
road. It is an area of peat-moor, heath, ferns, steams and granite rocks.
The next day we have taken another road. How the foggy part really looks I
can’t tell.
To the north of Dartmoor lies
Castle Drogo. This is the last castle, which has been built in
England. The castle was built between 1910 and 1930.
It was designed by the English architect
Edwin Lutyens (from Dutch origin, I’ve read)
for Julius Drewe, the founder of the Home and Colonial Stores. It
has granite walls. There’s also a garden. The
centrepiece is the sunken Rose Garden. On either side are the stunning herbaceous borders. Nearer
to the castle is the rhododendron garden which will be beautiful in
spring.
From
Tavistock to Tintagel we have gone first to Eden Project in Cornwall.
There are two giant, multi-domed greenhouses.
Some years ago I had seen a reportage on television, when they were
building the project. It lies 5 km from Saint Austell and is
located in a reclaimed china clay pit.
It is opened in 2001.
We had to make
choice between this and the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Both on a day
is to much, because you can stay there for some hours.
The
aim of the project is to show the dependence of people on nature. You get
information and simple practical ideas on how to care for the plants and
their habitats, that provide for us. Working for a better future.
The most impressive section, is the multi-domed greenhouse that recreates
the natural environment of a tropical rainforest. The second
“greenhouse” has plant life from Southern Africa, the Mediterranean an
California. Outside are also many plants to admire.
Arts is also important. They try to use art to illustrate the link
between plants and people.
Legends told of how Arthur was born and even lived at Tintagel
Castle. Coastal
erosion has resulted in the castle being part the mainland and part on a
90 meters high peninsula. You can over a bridge to the peninsula.
From the ruins you have a fantastic view over the Atlantic Ocean.
Below the bridge and the castle is the Merlin'sCave. These continue under the castle.
We met many walkers. There’s a path along the coast.
Bath
This was a rainy day. Therefore we staye the whole day in Bath.
The Romans builttemple and bathing complex that still flows with natural hot water.
Thesemineral springs were already used before the Roman.At least 10.000 years ago.
We found the city
with the many broad streets not very beautiful. But perhaps it was because
of the bad weather.
Nederlands /
Dutch
