Day 17 - Sex in Tintagel Castle! - on Monday, May 20th, 2013

Sex is one of the reasons why Tintagel Castle is popular!  According to Geoffrey of Monmouth in his book Historia Regum Britanniae, King Arthur was conceived after a man enlisted the help of the wizard Merlin to appear as King Uther Pendragon.  Uther snuck into the bedroom of his wife, Ygerna.  That night, they conceived King Arthur.  What fun!

Seriously though, Tintagel Castle is a popular tourist destination in part because of its connection to King Arthur, but also because it is a rugged castle perched on the coast of Cornwall.  It consists of ruins now, but it is worth a visit.

The ruins are divided into two parts, the ruins on the island, and mainland ruins.  Both are accessible from the English Heritage gatehouse.

Stairs climbing toward the Mainland Keep.

The Iron Gate protected the castle from the sea.

The Island Keep was where the main hall and kitchens were located.

The sea cave on the left is Merlin's Cave.

Lots of trails to explore!

Tintagel Castle is a popular with families as well.

You can view the entire set in high resolution by clicking here!.

Day 16 - Mevagissey - On The Road To Mevagissey on Sunday, May 16th, 2013

After our visit to the Lost Gardens Of Heligan, we drove to the tiny fishing village of Mevagissey, Cornwall and to the scenic village of Panare.  The drive required traveling on several single-track roads like this one. We often heard the hedges scraping both sides of our car!

Day 16 - St.Austell - The Lost Gardens Of Heligan on Sunday, May 19th, 2013

The Lost Gardens Of Heligan were created in the mid 1700's.  They were neglected after World War I. It was not until the 1990's that the gardens were rediscovered and restored.  We truly enjoyed our visit. It has been a long time since we have seen gardens do large and so diverse.

Day 15 - Bodmin Moor - Really Old Stones on Saturday, May 18th, 2013

We visited three more interesting monuments: Cheesewring, The Longstone Cross and Trethevy Quoit. The earliest written accounts mentioned the stones in the 1580's. The stones are much older than that. They are either Neolithic or Bronze Age monuments.

The Cheesewring is in the background on to of the hill. The moor was fun to explore. Soft to walk on. Lots of pools of water that reflect the sky. 

The Longstone Cross

Trethevy Quoit 

Day 15 - Bodmin - Bodmin Moor: The Hurlers on Saturday, May 18th, 2013

Bodmin Moor, in Cornwall, is relatively high ground that appears desolate and wind blown. However, it has been farmed for over 4,000 years starting in the Bronze Age.

Much of the moor is protected. It is dotted with hundreds of Neolithic stone circles and monuments. 

The Hurlers are three adjacent stone circles, each with a center stone.  We visited them on our first day in the Bodmin, Cornwall area.

The center stone of one of the three circles.

Day 13 - Warminster - Fish and Chips on Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Fish and Chips are quintessential British fare. One must be careful tho and ask for a recommendation for the best "chippy". Some fish and chips joints are not very good. They might fry up the food ahead of time. The best do it per order. The fish is usually Cod or Haddock.  The chips are our fries. Their crisps are our chips. Confused? No worries, they will gladly translate for us Yanks!

Day 13 - Salisbury - Salisbury Cathedral on Thursday, May 16th, 2013

One of the most beautiful cathedrals in England, Salisbury Cathedral was spectacular. Pam and I wondered through the huge cathedral for a long time, taking in the beauty of the stone, glass and woodwork. Truly a masterpiece.

In addition, we also saw an original of the Magna Carta. Awesome!

Day 13 - Amesbury - Stonehenge on May 16th, 2013

Since we had a 6:45 am appointment at Stonehenge for access within the stone circle, we were up at the crack of dawn. Our B&B proprietor Tricia made sure we were well fed before we left at 6:15. Our car windshield was covered in ice! 2C or about 34F. The fog was so thick we could barely see 10 ft ahead of our car. But as we drove, the fog began to lift. We were greeted by a beautiful sunrise at Stonehenge!

Learn more about Stonehenge by visiting the English Heritage site or the Wiki.

Day 12 - Nunney - Nunney Castle on Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

Wrapped up the day with a visit to Nunney Castle. Nunney is a small but attractive castle built in the 1300's and heavily damaged in the English Civil Wat. We could walk around and inside the castle.  Most of the interior was gone. But it was still cool.

Learn more about Nunney Castle by visiting the English Heritage site or by visiting Wiki.

Day 10 - Boreham - End of a Long Day on Monday, May 13th, 2013

Loved staying at the Boreham Home Farm B&B in Warminster, Wiltshire. Here's a shot of it.  It was built in the 1830's.  We enjoyed a first floor room with it's own entrance. Loved it!

The Home Farm B&B in Boreham, Warminster, Wiltshire

http://www.homefarmboreham.com/index.shtml

Where we had dinner.  Pretty good!

http://www.snootyfoxrestaurant.co.uk/

Day 10 - Lacock Abbey on Monday, May13th, 2013

Lacock Abbey was founded in 1232 as a nunnery for nuns of the Augustinian order. Following the dissolution of the monasteries, it was sold to Sir Wiliam Sharrington who converted it to his living quarters. Later on. It was the home of William Henry Fox Talbot. In 1835, he made the first, still surviving photographic negative .

One of the entrances into Lacock, Abbey

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock/

There is some great stained glass at the Abbey.

Great Hall in the adjoining estate home.

Great Hall

The camera used by William Henry Fox Talbot to create the oldest surviving photographic negative .

Any one for dancing lessons?

Day 10 - Avebury - Silbury Hill on Monday, May 13th, 2013

Avebury offers several interesting places go visit including a huge stone circle many prefer over Stomrhenge. Unfortunately, I forgot to take some pics with my iPhone. But, I did take a pic of Silbury Hill. is a prehistoric chalk mound. It was huge!  No, we didn't wall to the top of this one!

Silbury Hill in Avebury

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silbury_Hill

Day 10 - Boreham, Warminster - Full English Breakfast on Monday, May 13th, 2013

You really haven't lived until you have enjoyed a Full English Breakfast! It was obviously created by a team of English Cardiologists.

Eggs usually fried. Be prepared to explain Over Easy if you like them that way. Bacon. Theirs is like our smoked ham or Canadian Bacon. Link sausages, usually locally sourced and seasoned differently than ours. Roasted tomatoes, pronounced differently - but just as good. Baked beans, usually Heinz. Yes, really! Finally, sautéed mushrooms.

In this version, there is no Black Pudding. While black in color, it is by no means a pudding! It is a blood sausage.  I like it, but many do not.

Cereal, cut fruit, and toast is usually served as well as fruit juice and tea or coffee. 

The photo below was taken at the Home Farm B&B in Warminster where we have stayed for several nights.

Full English Breakfast @ Home Farm B&B, Boreham, Warminster

http://www.homefarmboreham.com/index.shtml

Day 9 - Cheltenham - Rainy Lunch on Sunday, May 12th, 2013

Stopped in Cheltenham to walk the Promenade and to eat some lunch. Sampled some local wheat beer with some sandwiches at Red Pepper. Good! Walked in the rain. I'm glad I had our GPS with us!

The Red Pepper was a great place for lunch!

http://redpeppercheltenham.co.uk/

I thought this couple were cute together 8^)

Day 9 - Chedworth - Roman Villa on May 12th, 2013

Our first stop of the day was Chedworth Roman Villa.  It was quite remote, requiring travel on a "one track" road. They are narrow paved roads no wider than one vehicle with occasional places to pull off to let someone pass.

Chedworth was well worth the trouble. Lots of ruins to explore. Well preserved. Learn more at:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chedworth-roman-villa/

http://www.chedworthromanvilla.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chedworth_Roman_Villa

Pam photographing the foundations of one of the buildings.

Roman mosaic floor protected from the elements.

The sun hitting the mosaic floor of one of the buildings.

Mosaic floor

Well