We all met up in London and spent a few days with family in the South and then worked our way up the West side of the country. We returned South down the East side of the country.
The images below are a slide show of our trip – click on the first image to begin.
We hope you enjoy the pictures.
MAY 31 – Saturday
JUNE 1 – Sunday
Derek, Brian and Martin took Bob to East Perivale Park for a walk. Meanwhile the family started arriving – Pamela and Nick, Chris, Pat and Daisy – for a total gathering of 11. We had a salmon lunch.
In the evening, after the visitors had left, Bob took us for a walk around Perivale Golf Course, and we returned home for a spaghetti supper. Weather still beautiful.
June 2 – Monday
Another nice day. We drove to Highcliffe to see Mum & Dad Shirley, and took them to lunch at the Roeshot Carvery. Alan and his Hazel joined us for the afternoon, and provided salad for tea.
We drove to Colin’s in Swindon for the night.
June 3 – Tuesday
Went shopping for hardware for jobs in Highcliffe, and then drove to Mum & Dad’s. Had lunch at the Avonmouth Hotel – first class cuisine and service!
After lunch we did a few odd jobs and returned to Swindon. We went out to the Trout Inn at Lechlade with Colin, Marie and Jo, and walked along the river before dinner. The weather started to cloud over by evening, but stayed dry.
June 4 – Wednesday
Drove to Highbridge to Dad Cook’s. He was recovering from a cold, and catching laryngitis. He supplied a light lunch, then we went into Burnham to book our hotel (Dunstan House Inn). Good weather all day.
We then drove out to Brean Down and walked on the beach and rocks while Dad watched and Derek and Hazel climbed the headland. After ice cream we drove round the countryside and stopped (pot luck) at the King William Pub in Catcott. Again super food.
June 5 – Thursday
Picked up Dad and drove to Glastonbury Tor, which four of us climbed. We then went on to Wells and looked at St. Mary’s Church, the Market, and the Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace. We had pasties for lunch in the churchyard.
We then went on to Clevedon and Portishead, returning to Clevedon to meet Susie and Nick for Dinner at the Little Harp Pub, on the sea-front, as it tried to rain.
June 6 – Friday
Stopped at Dad’s to say good-bye and then drove over the new Severn Bridge to Abergavenny and on to Tretower Castle. We continued to Builth Wells for lunch – Fish and Chips in the Stone Circle (Modern).
Drove on to Llandrindod Wells, looked in at the glass factory, and continued to Chester. It was wet and the traffic was very heavy. Frances and Hazel jumped out at the Visitor Center, and it took Brian and Derek an hour to find a map and then get back to the Center to pick them up!
We went across the Dee and stayed at a B & B in an old Victorian suburb – Queen’s Park. Walked back into town for dinner at Burger King! We had a drink and watched rugby on TV in a pub by the river – drizzling died out by the end of dinner.
June 7 – Saturday
Drove M53 – M56 – M6 to Carlisle. We then took the B-road to Ruth well Cross (Celtic Cross with a Chapel built round it) and on to Dumfries where we found a B & B for the night.
After lunch (Chinese – sort of) we went to Caerlaverock Castle and Nature preserve. We then went back almost through Dumfries and on to Sweetheart Abbey and New Abbey Corn Mill. We stopped at Sandy Hills Bay and Rockcliffe, where Derek and Hazel climbed to a “Mote” while Brian and Frances wandered on the rocky beach.
We then went through Dalbeattie and viewed Drumcoltran Tower. Dinner was in a small cafe in Dumfries – Frances had a “Rally Special Breakfast” – couldn’t find a smoke-free pub. The weather was generally cloudy, with a few rain showers.
June 8, Sunday
We drove through Kilmarnock to Saltcoats and then followed the coast up to Largs. It rained off and on all day, sometimes heavily. We had lunch in a pub – good food – and then went into the Viking Center.
We drove to Cornalees Bridge Visitor Center and down the hill into Greenock and Port Glasgow. We returned to Largs via Kilmacolm, Bridge of Weir and Kilbirnie. We bought pastries and cake etc. from a bakery/cafe and ate them in the B & B.
The weather improved and we went for a walk along the beach – lots of gulls, oyster catchers and eider ducks, and good rock pools with star fish, eels, crabs etc.