Originally posted on Slow Travel: The Chilterns and Thames Valley:
Hildreth’s in Prestwood isn’t quite as old as the dinosaurs, even though a model tyrannosaurus rex used to adorn the entrance to the garden centre. These days it’s reproductions of… Continue reading Old business, new cafe: bear with us
Unlike the Moon landing, there was never going to be one giant leap back to normality. A series of small steps will be the way out of lockdown. Yesterday we took three, in and around our home village, supporting local businesses. Step one: a trip to The Framing Gallery in nearby Cryers Hill, to select […] Local returns: three small steps — Slow Travel: The Chilterns and Thames Valley Continue reading Local returns: three small steps — Slow Travel: The Chilterns and Thames Valley
‘This is Independence Square – where we have our revolutions’ Vladimir pointed out the landmarks as we drove past the tanks on display for Independence Day. Kiev has had a troubled past and many of the buildings, including the golden-domed … Continue reading Through the Wardrobe
“This sparrow flies swiftly in through one door of the hall, and out through another. While he is inside, he is safe from the winter storms; but after an few moments of comfort, he vanishes from sight into the wintry … Continue reading Birds, Flowers and Bellagio
Near Melksham in Wiltshire in the parish of Great Chalfield, is a fifteenth century manor house built by a remarkable gentleman and Member of Parliament, Thomas Tropnell. Like many other upwardly-mobile gentlemen of the period, he was a lawyer. He … Continue reading Legal Title
Originally posted on Slow Travel: The Chilterns and Thames Valley:
How many local businesses and visitor attractions will survive the current crisis? As the UK goes through multiple phases in relaxing its lockdown, opportunities are slowly opening up to re-visit… Continue reading A slow escape: Stonor out of lockdown
There are most definitely two sides to Eltham Palace. In medieval times it was an important royal palace. Anthony Bek, the powerful Bishop of Durham acquired the manor of Eltham from William de Vescy in 1295 as part of the … Continue reading Medieval and Modern
I had always been a bit wary about visiting Australia. One hears stories about deadly spiders and snakes. Not to mention the heat and the forest fires. And then there are all those bronzed, athletic Aussies putting pasty northerners like … Continue reading Exploring Adelaide
Who could resist a visit to the ancestral home of John Buchan’s hero of The Thirty-Nine Steps, Richard Hannay? Not us, anyway. Sorbie Tower, near Wigtown is another sixteenth-century tower house, like the Castle of Park where we were staying. … Continue reading Another Castle in Scotland
We almost didn’t make it to Apollonia. The road was closed and we had to find another route, slaloming between rocks on a partially surfaced road. But when we finally arrived, we had the entire site to ourselves, apart from … Continue reading Albanian Road Trip: Apollonia
Travels with me aren't 