The Summer so far….
I have had some great trips with interesting people! I have had great comments like:
- “Thank you again for your part in a WONDERFUL trip to the UK” and…
- “We had a fabulous time and you could not have been more accommodating and fun to be with” and…
- “The entire tour was incredible and was very well planned. You was the perfect driver/guide, and we loved your sense of humor! We would recommend you to anyone going to England” !!
Modesty prevents me from adding any more !!
So far this summer I have taken many people around my local area – the Cotswolds – but we have been much further afield too! In fact I have toured with people in England, Wales and Ireland – only briefly in Scotland.
As well as going to the “usual places” like Stonehenge and Bath, I have also taken people to Cornwall with its gorgeous coastline and fishing villages.
I also took some people to the spectacular Minack Theatre – an amazing open air “amphitheatre” set on a cliff side near Lands End!
We travelled back through some of the lush Devonshire countryside and visited some WW2 locations where US forces prepared for D-Day.
One group
wanted to visit Welsh Castles and we had a fantastic week in beautiful weather travelling through the wonderful Welsh countryside. We even managed a trip up the mountain railway up Mount Snowdon. In terms of the best Castles, Carnarvon is absolutely awesome !
Another group went up through the middle of England visiting Warwick Castle (England’s best preserved castle), Blenheim Palace and Chatsworth House while on route to the roman city of York. We then continued north to Castle Howard and the North York Moors and on to another roman site – Hadrian’s Wall, built to keep out the marauding Scots!
Close by is the enchanting Holy Island of Lindisfarne – reached by crossing a causeway road that is completely covered by the sea at high tide – be careful !
That trip ended up at Edinburgh – I had a very long drive home that night!
The west coast of Ireland is incredible. 
I am often asked by Americans “is this road (a lane just wide enough for the van to squeeze through) two-way?” to which the answer (to huge amusement) is invariably “Yes” ! Well in Ireland the roads have the added ingredient of grass growing in the middle! We visited the Cliffs of Moher and stopped in a delightful B&B literally on the shores of Galway Bay.
Then we travelled north to the “mountainous” region of Connemara and stayed in a hotel on the banks of Ireland’s only fjord! By day, our visits to headlands and tiny villages along the coast was just incredible. 
By night, the music took over – impromptu Irish music in a pub someone playing fiddle, squeeze-box and pipes accompanied by the landlord playing the spoons!
Well now we have a slight lull allowing me to focus on other things – such as this blog which I am not really completing too conscientiously. Lets see if I can upload a few pics to go along with it !
