As the Royal Navy's main base in the 19th century, Portsmouth was seen to need heavy defences when threatened by French aggression and advances in their ships designs in the mid-1850s. The Royal Commission instructed numerous defences be constructed to supplement the old, now ineffective, fortifications. Portsmouth was to be protected by a line of forts and gun batteries along the coast from Fort Gilkicker to…
We actually went here to see the Minack theatre, unfortunately, it was closed by the time we arrived but we still had a lovely evening on the beach. We parked in the National Trust car park (50°02'43.5"N 5°39'15.9"W), a small path leads directly from it to the beach.
A quick stopover on our way along the coast, the Merry Maidens are one of the few ‘true’ stone circles in Cornwall. Their name has inspired folk tales of dancing maidens turned to stone for merrymaking on the Sabbath. This could reflect long preserved memories of rituals carried out at the site, or more recent attempts by the church to impose a particular morality on the…
Corfe Castle stands at the gateway to the Isle of Purbeck, overlooking the village of the same name. The walk to it has been made into a nature trail. Just south-west are ‘the rings’, the earthwork remains of a ‘ring-and-bailey’ castle. To visit, park in the National Trust car park (50°38'31.2"N 2°03'32.1"W) and walk the nature trail to the castle or barrows:
We arrived late and wandered around in the light of the setting sun; a lovely end to the day. There’s even a 200-year-old farmstead to peek in at. There is (paid) parking on-site (50°03'56.0"N 5°42'42.7"W), or, if you arrive late like we did and the car park is closing, there's a tiny layby (50°03'57.8"N 5°42'02.8"W) a bit further up the A30. .
St Michael’s mount is small tidal island in Mount’s Bay. Originally the site of a Benedictine Chapel, the castle on the rock dates from the 14th Century. Access is on foot across the causeway at low tide. Gardens and pathways wind up from to the main entrance of the mount and feature many sub-tropical species. There is ample (paid) parking in the seafront car park (50°07'27.1"N…
Legend holds that it is the banks of this melancholic pool that Sir Bedivere is said to have brought the dying King Arthur, who instructed him to cast Excalibur into the sullen waters of Dozmary Pool.
The Cheddar Gorge Caves (aka Goughs Cave) are somehow smaller than I expected, making them great for those with kids or seeking a short wander. It was high-season when we went so there were a lot of people around, increasing the touristic feel, but it was still worth the visit. The town itself is very touristy, but in a cute way. The cafes are quaint, the…
A clapper bridge across the River Barle in Exmoor National Park. Legend has it that the devil built the bridge at Tarr Steps. Anyone who tried to cross the bridge, it was said, did so at the risk that they would be killed by the devil who swore an oath to crush anyone who passed from one side to the other. The terrified locals got the…
The Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve near Edwinstowe is the last remnant of Sherwood forest’s original ancient woodland. From the car park you can easily find the signposted path to ‘the major oak’, where according to local folklore, Robin Hood and his merry men sheltered. It weighs an estimated 23 tons, has a girth of 33 feet (10 metres), a canopy of 92 feet (28 metres), and…
Whitstable is a cute coastal town. I've been here a couple of times - in varying weather conditions - and always found it to be a relaxing atmosphere. Many a first oyster experience has been seen here! It's also worth noting is that this is the best beach I've come across for finding hag stones! The town is pretty cute too. We parked on Tower Hill,…
Coldrum Longbarrow is the least-damaged megalithic long-barrow in Kent. As with most of these structures, it’s lost its original form, but the entrance is plainly visible strutting out from the mound. Tree decorating is on the rise here, a practice stemming from pagans and druids which I happen to really enjoy. I have been lucky to spend a beautiful solstice here, where I met a group…