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Post by cally on Apr 30, 2013 1:29:30 GMT 1
We're going to do it! Phil just sat down and said we'll get the $ from the bank and all go over to the UK this year or the next!!! We have a lot to organise- it'll have to be partly during school holidays- and we probably can't afford to go during peak times such as Summer and Christmas. Then there's the animals- cats, dog and chooks-so a house sitter may be the best option. We can probably only manage 3-4 weeks and we've got accommodation in Cork and Nottingham. I want to visit a few equine rescue centres- Redwings and Bransby for certain- and go for a ride somewhere. I'm a history nut and Phil's into gardens so Kew is on the list as is the Natural History Museum, Tom's into technology and Peter....dunno what really. He's thinking of doing evolutionary biology this week so he'll like the museum as well. There's a few obvious things you 'have' to see in London, but we'll probably avoid the larger cities for the most part. We might look into hiring a van/camper thing to drive and sleep in. So, anyway, any input from you guys would be great. I'll put up a list of places I'd like to go to and you can tell me whether they're great or rubbish! First dilemma is what time of the year to come: I was thinking your late Winter-early Spring or your Autumn-early Winter. Autumn is my favourite time of year and getting out of the hot weather here would be a bonus. Second question I'd like your advice on is where do you think the most gorgeous place in the UK is, keeping in mind we're country rather than city lovers and want to see the 'quintessential' England etc, however twee that may sound. THANKS!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2013 7:33:43 GMT 1
Gosh how exiting Cally! I could recommend tons of places! Any of the moors is a must, Exmoor, Dartmoor, Yorkshire, New Forest. Cornwall is beautiful, plenty of wonderful gardens to visit in that area. Autumn is a lovely time to visit I think.
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Post by garej on May 3, 2013 19:37:37 GMT 1
I recommend Wales (which is a seperate country not part of England), though. People often neglect it and there's some stunning places.
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Post by Claire on May 3, 2013 19:55:39 GMT 1
I'll just copy and paste what I posted in the other thread in case you missed it there:
May and September are nice months to visit. Some of the tourist hot spots are very busy in the summer months. When I go to the Lake Distict I always go in September as its quieter but usually has pretty good weather.
The north west coast of Scotland is a must, most beautiful part of the UK. Inverness, Arisaig are lovely and the isle of Iona and Fingals Cave and the Isle of Skye are amazing. Also Fort William and Ben Nevis are not to be missed if you can help it! Yorkshire, Northumberland and the Lake District have got the best scenery in England, although Cornwall with its little coves and rocky coastline is also gorgeous, but its very touristy and busy in the South West.
I'll also add - agree with Garej, Wales is lovely especially Snowdonia.
I would advise against coming in the winter months, even at the beginning and of it. Not only is the weather pretty awful, lots of things, especially museums and historic buildings close down. Also you would not find our summers, especially in Northern England or Scotland, particularly hot and debilitating!
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2013 20:16:27 GMT 1
I recommend Wales (which is a seperate country not part of England), though. People often neglect it and there's some stunning places. I've been on holiday to Wales quite a few times, there's some stunning scenery! Pembrokeshire is gorgeous, especially around St David's head.
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Post by cally on May 4, 2013 9:12:44 GMT 1
Wales does look beautiful and I wouldn't miss going there. There's a trekking centre we might stay at for a night and have a ride, of course! It's going to be hard to miss stuff out- there are so many things I want to see. Want to see Hadrian's Wall and have a walk on Ermine Street....it's going to be non stop so I hope none of us gets sick!
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Post by Claire on May 4, 2013 11:11:46 GMT 1
I've always wanted to visit Pembrokeshire, one of the few places in the UK I haven't seen yet. Never got round to it yet but my parents visited a few years ago and loved it. Hadrian's Wall is part of my old stamping ground - often visited it. There's a great Roman Museum there and remains of some of the forts as well as the wall itself. Plus stunning wild scenery.
Edinburgh is another fantastic place and has a great children's bookshop with a pony section!
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Post by haffyfan on May 4, 2013 16:28:57 GMT 1
Sounds amazing cally, lucky you!
You must visit the Highlands, Caithness and Sutherland are stunning, Fort William is well worth a visit and take the cable car up the nevis range, i would recommend you spend at least a week 'doing' Scotland during your visit. Likewise John O'Groats is in my opinion much more a worthwhile a visit than Lands End. I guess i've maybe never been to correct part of wales as it isn't a patch on Scotland! Not somewhere i'd be in a hurry to vist again if i'm honest. The lake district is somewhere else i'd highly recommend you visit an Whitby/North yorkshire moors in general. If your stopping in notts, i can take you for a ride on my boys!
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Post by kunuma on May 6, 2013 21:50:04 GMT 1
LOL Don't underestimate how long it takes to get anywhere despite this being a tiny island! You will still have seen more of it than me though Callie - I've never even seen Yorkshire! I did see a bit of Scotland a long long time ago, and have always wanted to see some more, I'd also have loved to go to the Lake District and see Ransome country (Swallows and Amazons) The West Country would be the best place of all, IF you had a time machine and could go back 20 years!!!!
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Post by cally on May 9, 2013 13:43:43 GMT 1
Definitely going to Scotland and planning to see some of the Hebrides Islands too. Family on both sides goes back to the 17th century there- lots of shepherds! And we will be staying in Nottingham for a while as we have a friend with a big house there so we'll hire a car and do lots of trips using Nottingham as a base. Started estimating the cost- minimum of $20,000- we have to borrow from the bank. Phil is keen to go this September but May has the Windsor horse show and I would LOVE to see H.M in person again.
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Post by cally on May 10, 2013 10:07:54 GMT 1
OK- we've decided to come over May next year. I've got too many health issues to sort out, we need to find a house sitter...etc etc. So may make it to Royal Windsor! Looked up the trekking centre in Wales but they don't take riders under 17 years and the trail rides are 5 hours a day! Dunno if any of us will be riding ready to that standard, even by next May! Star moping again this evening- might have to get the vet over Tuesday after trying 'bute on Saturday/Sunday.
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Post by Claire on May 10, 2013 10:43:33 GMT 1
It would be great if you and haffy could meet up in Nottingham. Maybe we could even organise a Pumble meet up there!
If you come to the Yorkshire dales you could have an hour's ride in some stunning moorland scenery at the stables I've been to a couple of times.
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2013 15:04:22 GMT 1
Sounds like fun!
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Post by cally on May 11, 2013 5:04:33 GMT 1
IF I come to Yorkshire?!? My dad was born in Halifax where his father was a textile salesman until the War, then he became a beat copper as he had flat feet and was rejected by the armed forces. I will probably spend a fair bit of time there: I drool over the photos of Y'shire farm land surrounded in snow! Definitely interested in going for a ride anywhere, anytime-on a sensible horse i.e.: not like Star. Bring on next May!!!!
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2013 11:24:43 GMT 1
I love the Yorkshire moors. I've done the Railway children thing and the Bronte sisters thing Both gorgeous places.
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Post by cally on May 13, 2013 1:27:20 GMT 1
IT'S FINALLY RAINING HERE!!!!! Sorry- it's just been such a long time I'm excited. RAIN!!!
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Post by kunuma on May 13, 2013 18:58:53 GMT 1
IT'S FINALLY RAINING HERE!!!!! Sorry- it's just been such a long time I'm excited. RAIN!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D You are SOOOOOO going to love the UK!!
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Post by cally on May 14, 2013 8:02:10 GMT 1
Watched 'Swallows and Amazons' today. Must go to the Lake District! I was NOT so keen on the rain when we went out to drug 'n rug Star last night: it was dark and sleeting and Star was not keen on taking his pergolide- he even started to rear up, the sod. Have to find my rain coat: you can literally go a year without using one so no doubt it will be smelly when I find it. There'll probably be some gnarly old carrots in the pocket....
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Post by Claire on May 14, 2013 10:05:20 GMT 1
The Lake District is lovely. I go there just about every year. However it can get very touristy and busy so you have to pick your time well. No school holidays, and especially not bank holidays! Can't imagine a year without rain. Lucky if we get a day without it! Actually its the strong winds we seem to get all the time now that get me down more than the rain. Our showers often pass over quick and then its nice again, but strong cold winds completely spoil even the sunniest day. The climate has defo changed for the worst in the UK over the last few years. Mind you I bet when Cally comes its lovely and she'll think we've all been exaggerating about how grotty the weather is over here! ;D
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Post by darenc1 on May 14, 2013 12:48:59 GMT 1
Watched 'Swallows and Amazons' today. Must go to the Lake District! I was NOT so keen on the rain when we went out to drug 'n rug Star last night: it was dark and sleeting and Star was not keen on taking his pergolide- he even started to rear up, the sod. Have to find my rain coat: you can literally go a year without using one so no doubt it will be smelly when I find it. There'll probably be some gnarly old carrots in the pocket.... If you're going to hit the Lakes, you NEED to try Cumbrian Heavy Horses. Not that I'm biased or anything...
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2013 14:52:05 GMT 1
IT'S FINALLY RAINING HERE!!!!! Sorry- it's just been such a long time I'm excited. RAIN!!! It's raining here too You can have all ours too Cally ;D
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Post by kunuma on May 14, 2013 19:25:26 GMT 1
Sort of reminds me of a film I saw called the Holiday, an American City girl and an english country girl swop houses for a holiday - good idea for a film but it goes downhill from there as it becomes all about their stupid boyfriends - but I liked the first bit of the film when they arived in each other's houses!
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Post by Claire on May 15, 2013 17:32:43 GMT 1
Now cally are you SURE you want to come here, bearing in mind that today, well into spring and almost summer (and the time you are planning to come here!) it was down to 5 degrees C!!! Plus a freezing wind so with wind chill factor heaven knows what it was.
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Post by cally on May 16, 2013 1:49:45 GMT 1
That's near enough to the weather we're having down here at the moment and apart from the wind, I love it! I've been told to avoid August as it's school hols over there and tourists abound. We will have to fit the trip in around my eldest's school holidays- they get 2 weeks in April (?) because he's in year 11 next year so it's an important year. It'll be the youngest's first year in high school but he'll be glad to get away! It does get very cold where we live- minus 7c at night sometimes and single digits in the day, so we'll cope!
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Post by Claire on May 16, 2013 10:41:12 GMT 1
Well if thats your idea of ideal weather cally you'll love it here! I wouldn't mind those temps so much if it was winter, in fact it'd be quite mild for a winter day but in late spring definitely not! Usually we have nice springs, so its a good time of year to visit.
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Post by cally on May 16, 2013 13:54:19 GMT 1
My ideal weather is a calm Autumn day, with the sun out and the non indigenous leaves glowing yellow and gold and orange. I love a good gloaming!
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Post by cally on May 29, 2013 9:52:47 GMT 1
Back from the paddock just in time to watch 'Time Team'. They were in Bitterley (?) in Shropshire and I just have to ask- is the countryside really as green as it looks on TV and in books? It was Spring and the grass was a deep green with a yellow tint in the evenings. I actually tear up when I see such beautiful scenes and I either say to myself 'it can't really be that sublime', or/and 'why the hell am I living here instead of over there'. We're crossing our fingers for rain this weekend- it's been yet another lower than average month of rainfall, the garden's dried up as has the horses' feet.
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Post by Claire on May 29, 2013 11:18:50 GMT 1
Back from the paddock just in time to watch 'Time Team'. They were in Bitterley (?) in Shropshire and I just have to ask- is the countryside really as green as it looks on TV and in books? Yep it is VERY green here we get so much rain. I have family who live in South Africa which I think has a similar climate to your cally and when they come back over they are always amazed at how green it is. You can't beat our countryside for beauty, just wish it wasn't so bloody cold. Our 'heat wave' of 17-18C is over back to the jumpers and gloves again
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2013 12:30:51 GMT 1
It's very lush here at the moment. Spring has at last sprung!
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Post by kunuma on May 29, 2013 18:49:46 GMT 1
The valleys are greening up here at last, what is left of the hedgerows after the latest fashion for cutting them down to 2 feet high are coming out in flowers. Even heard a cuckoo. The moors are taking a long time to recover though, (of course being overgrazed doesn't help!!). All the same they are covered in lambs, calves and the usual multitude of foals. (Even though I can hardly bear to look at the foals! )
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