Sunday –Sunday,
August 24-31 Williton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom
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| British flag welcomed us to UK! |
Our Aer Lingus flight arrived in Bristol, England around 11:15am (just
an hour and 15 minutes from Dublin) where we met our friends, Mike and Heather
Bennett .
GB.....Great Britain
It took about an hour for us
to drive to our new home for the week.
Mike loves to garden and it shows in all the plants blooming on the deck!
Mike and Heather were so kind to point
out some great walks and sights for us to visit while in the area. We spent the rest of Sunday just settling into
our two bedroom, two bath “lodge”(What Mike and Heather call it.)
The
summer home is situated on a hillside, overlooking the Bristol Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. The lodge has a marvelous water view! It is so relaxing to just sit back and enjoy the view!
Monday was a total washout…It rained the whole day. No
worries. Since this was the first totally rainy day on our trip, we enjoyed
just reading and watching movies. It was fun to watch the fog and clouds move in and out of the Channel.
On Tuesday we headed down route A39 to Dunster Castle, home of the Luttrell family for 600 years.
On Tuesday we headed down route A39 to Dunster Castle, home of the Luttrell family for 600 years.
We passed this beautiful fairytale looking church on the way to Dunster Castle.
The castle was originally built in 1070 by
the Normans and has gone through several renovations evolving it through the
centuries into a sumptuous Victorian home.
The Luttrell family left the home to the National Trust in the 70’s for
all to enjoy.
Dunster Castle
Larry and I enjoyed walking through the dungeon, the drawing
room, extravagant formal dining area, 1960s modern kitchen, and the many
bedrooms upstairs as well as the morning room.
What an elegant dining room!
The Library contained volumes of really old books.
Solarium
Larry and I enjoyed the views out the windows and walking through the gorgeous flower gardens.
My king answering the door!
Extravagant ceilings and carved staircases were just a few of the marvels of this grand home.
Larry and I enjoyed the views out the windows and walking through the gorgeous flower gardens.
We enjoyed wondering through this quaint medieval town with
narrow cobblestone sidewalks and the old English looking buildings.
Dunster is such a quaint little village.
The old stone walls are striking.
The distinctive eight sided Yarn Market stands
in the main street and dates from the time when the town was an important wool
market and weaving center.
Yarn and Wool Market
Dunster’s fine church was originally built in the 12th
century and was once used both as a parish church and by the monks of a nearby
priory.
The flowers growing around the shops were beautiful. The scenery
surrounding the town was delightful
with rolling hills and hedged fence rows. What a wonderful
way to spend the day exploring this merry old village and castle!
Tuesday evening we had a marvelous sunset from our deck!
Wednesday morning we jumped into the car with the
destination of Stonehenge typed into our Garmin. Stonehenge was the reason that
we had decided to visit the Somerset area.
My man driving on the British side (left) of the road!
We followed the two lane curvy road through lots of quaint villages…Crowcombe, Flaxpool, Seven Ash, Bishop’s Lydeard , Taunton, Newport, Curry Rivel, Langport, Huish Episcopi, Pibsbury, Catsgore, Podimore, Sparkford, Chicklade, Wylye, and Winterbourne Stoke spotting cattle, sheep, llamas, and also numerous ostriches in a field.
Isn't it smiling sweetly?
The roads were lined with tall green hedges. Hedges are the fencing in England.
Unfortunately they block a lot of the scenery as you are driving down the road, but occasionally you get to sneak a peak where the hedge is cut away. We passed endless brick row houses and individual homes…lots and lots of brick structures in each of the little villages. Each little town had a 30mph speed limit with a speed camera going in and going out…In other words it was pretty slow going. It took us close to three hours to go about 70 miles….but we finally made it. Seeing the massive stones at Stonehenge made it all worthwhile.
We followed the two lane curvy road through lots of quaint villages…Crowcombe, Flaxpool, Seven Ash, Bishop’s Lydeard , Taunton, Newport, Curry Rivel, Langport, Huish Episcopi, Pibsbury, Catsgore, Podimore, Sparkford, Chicklade, Wylye, and Winterbourne Stoke spotting cattle, sheep, llamas, and also numerous ostriches in a field.
The roads were lined with tall green hedges. Hedges are the fencing in England.
Unfortunately they block a lot of the scenery as you are driving down the road, but occasionally you get to sneak a peak where the hedge is cut away. We passed endless brick row houses and individual homes…lots and lots of brick structures in each of the little villages. Each little town had a 30mph speed limit with a speed camera going in and going out…In other words it was pretty slow going. It took us close to three hours to go about 70 miles….but we finally made it. Seeing the massive stones at Stonehenge made it all worthwhile.
The Stonehenge exhibit was outstanding with panoramic
surrounding views as well as a timeline of historic structures of the
world (Egyptian pyramids, Roman coliseum, and the Greek Parthanon all date around 0-100 AD) ….Stonehenge being one of the oldest with its beginning starting at
3000BC…NOW THAT IS WAY BACK THERE! Skeletons,
pottery, and old manmade tools were on display. Outside the museum examples of
Neolithic houses of the people who built Stonehenge were easy to enter. How did they know these existed?
Archaeological excavations provided evidence as well as pottery and other
remains.
The builders of Stonehenge were a sophisticated group having had to organize the hundreds of workers who cut the timbers, rolled the stones for placement, carved the stones, as well as those who hunted and cooked meals for the workers.
The builders of Stonehenge were a sophisticated group having had to organize the hundreds of workers who cut the timbers, rolled the stones for placement, carved the stones, as well as those who hunted and cooked meals for the workers.
This is one of the uncarved stones that sat apart from the original structure in a field. It had not been carved into the rectangular shape as the ones in Stonehenge. You can image the work that it took to not only get the stone here but to carve it into the needed shape.
That is one big rock!
Stonehenge is an ancient temple aligned with the movements
of the sun.
We experienced the movement of the sun and the coming of the seasons in a panorama theater. It was amazing!
The stones traveled by placing them on rolling logs some 4500 years ago by sophisticated prehistoric people. Stonehenge has been thought to be built for different reasons.
One theory was that Stonehenge is a vast prehistoric observatory whose alignment of stones provides precise sightlines for the rising and setting of the sun and moon on key dates such as the summer and winter solstices.
Some believe that the blue stones in the center which came from Wales over 200 miles away had healing powers; therefore, explaining the many mounds of burial grounds that surround Stonehenge…perhaps the sick or diseased made a pilgrimage to the area in hopes of overcoming their illness.
Dr. Gerald Hawkins believes that the stone alignments are a sophisticated means of observing the universe. No one knows for sure Stonehenge’s true function. However, the builders who constructed Stonehenge were not primitive people, but rather a remarkable group with much knowledge and skill.
My man, the historian, was thrilled with todays adventure!
It was an incredible day for Larry and me; we enjoyed our walk around this unbelievable structure that we had only read about. It was truly an amazing sight!
The stones traveled by placing them on rolling logs some 4500 years ago by sophisticated prehistoric people. Stonehenge has been thought to be built for different reasons.
One theory was that Stonehenge is a vast prehistoric observatory whose alignment of stones provides precise sightlines for the rising and setting of the sun and moon on key dates such as the summer and winter solstices.
Some believe that the blue stones in the center which came from Wales over 200 miles away had healing powers; therefore, explaining the many mounds of burial grounds that surround Stonehenge…perhaps the sick or diseased made a pilgrimage to the area in hopes of overcoming their illness.
Dr. Gerald Hawkins believes that the stone alignments are a sophisticated means of observing the universe. No one knows for sure Stonehenge’s true function. However, the builders who constructed Stonehenge were not primitive people, but rather a remarkable group with much knowledge and skill.
It was an incredible day for Larry and me; we enjoyed our walk around this unbelievable structure that we had only read about. It was truly an amazing sight!
On our journey back we drove to the little village of
Glastonbury, another English Heritage sight. Rising above the flat plains of
Somerset, we spotted an old church tower called Glastonbury Tor high on the hilltop. In 705 AD a monastery was founded here,
making it one of England’s oldest Christian grounds. It is believed that King Author and his wife,
Guinevere lie buried in the abbey.
Glastonbury Tor
The day ended with a lovely sunset.
Thursday was the most sunny day of our visit to England.
With the sun shining high in the sky we had decided to ride the West Somerset
Steam Engine Train.
One of those Great Britain rain showers hit right before the train arrived...a sunny day turning to a quick shower is the norm here. The sun returned in the wink of an eye.
It was a wonderful ride starting in Williton and stopping in Doniford Halt, Watchet, Blue Anchor, Dunster, and Minehead…the engine saying, “Chugga, chugga, chug!”
The trip followed the coast with gorgeous views of the bay to the north and the rolling hills of the Quantocks. We got off the train in Minehead, a delightful little town of tree lined avenues with shops and eateries.
After a stroll along the bay we had a lovely lunch.
The tide had gone out leaving the area boats high and dry.
We boarded a diesel engine train for the ride back to Williton.
It was a wonderful ride starting in Williton and stopping in Doniford Halt, Watchet, Blue Anchor, Dunster, and Minehead…the engine saying, “Chugga, chugga, chug!”
The trip followed the coast with gorgeous views of the bay to the north and the rolling hills of the Quantocks. We got off the train in Minehead, a delightful little town of tree lined avenues with shops and eateries.
After a stroll along the bay we had a lovely lunch.
We boarded a diesel engine train for the ride back to Williton.
This diesel engine looks a little different from the Steam Engine
Larry caught this English chap out for a stroll at one of the stops.
Napping on the way home? No way!
Beside the Williton Station, a lovely hedge garden
What a lovely way to spend the day!
Thursday evening we had dinner with our Somerset friends,
Mike and Heather. They invited us to their renovated “Workman’s home”….a 1830’s
stone structure that long ago was a place for the poor and indigent to come. The
Brits who came here were entering into a social program provided by the government. With housing being provided, the users were obligated to complete jobs that were given to them. Sometimes the task were menial. Mike and Heather actually lived in the long ago management office in a renovated
two bedroom, two bath home with a courtyard. The 13 inch walls of stone made
the home easy to heat. Long ago the complex had a chapel, hospital, an exercise
yard, and individual rooms for men and women…they weren’t allowed to mix. Mike and Heather have much to be proud of in
renovating this historic structure.
We had a lovely candle lit dinner of Shrimp Salad, Beef Strogannoff,
Irish Soda Bread, Rice, and Brocolii with cheese and fruit for dessert. It is
always fun to enjoy a meal with the locals. how fortunate we are to have Mike and Heather for friends.
We stopped to do some window shopping in the
Valley of the Rocks and have a little lunch before heading back.
The little village of Lynmouth had a gorgeous waterfall with boats that were left high and dry as the 33 foot tide reached the lowest point.
The buildings in these little towns are several hundred years old….all stone, rock, or brick, sometimes a combination of all. They looked like something out of a fairy tale.
On the way home we passed through a wooded area that reminded us of Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest with thick moss growing on the trees.
The whole day was full of stunning scenery and we could not have picked a better adventure for our last day in Somerset.
Sunday morning Mike and Heather took us to Harwich, a five hour drive north east of London. Here we meet Lindsey and Debi for our next adventure on board the Royal Caribbean ship, Brilliance of the Seas. Life is good!
On our last day we took a road trip to Lynmouth and the Valley
of Rocks. We had some of the most interestingl scenery looking out over the
mountainsides. Stunning views of the valley were captured as we passed through
Exmoor National Park.
Spectacular views of the Bristol Channel were to the north of us.
The heather was in full bloom casting a striking purple hue against the sky.
Spectacular views of the Bristol Channel were to the north of us.
The heather was in full bloom casting a striking purple hue against the sky.
Wild horses and sheep
grazed along the hillsides crossing the roads in front of our car.
We enjoyed
passing through the quaint villages (Porlock, Minehead, Blue Anchor, and
Washford) along the way.
Porlock was getting ready for their town festival the upcoming weekend!
What an amazing stone bridge!
The little village of Lynmouth had a gorgeous waterfall with boats that were left high and dry as the 33 foot tide reached the lowest point.
The buildings in these little towns are several hundred years old….all stone, rock, or brick, sometimes a combination of all. They looked like something out of a fairy tale.
On the way home we passed through a wooded area that reminded us of Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest with thick moss growing on the trees.
The whole day was full of stunning scenery and we could not have picked a better adventure for our last day in Somerset.
Sunday morning Mike and Heather took us to Harwich, a five hour drive north east of London. Here we meet Lindsey and Debi for our next adventure on board the Royal Caribbean ship, Brilliance of the Seas. Life is good!
