Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
W Playing Robin Hood (Nottingham): The bow-carrying outlaw comes alive at the
medieval-themed Robin Hood Festival (Aug) with its jugglers and jesters, at Not-
tingham Castle's Robin Hood Pageant (Oct), and simply from running around
ancient Sherwood Forest. See p. 544.
W Staying at Portmerion (North Wales): This Italianate holiday village (where
1960s' TV series The Prisoner was set) makes children want their friends to come
and live here with them. They love the fairytale surroundings, with beach and
woodland. And no one tells them to stop splashing in the fountains. See p. 727.
THE best HISTORIC
EXPERIENCES
W Seeing the world's first indoor tennis court (Surrey): No, it's not at Wimbledon,
it's at Hampton Court Palace, the Thames-side home of Henry VIII. The court
dates from 1625, and is still used today although it's rather different from the ones
Roger Federer plays on. See p. 285.
W Walking in King Harold's footsteps (East Sussex): There's something quite eerie
but exciting about walking on the grassy spot where English history changed for-
ever. The site of the Battle of Hastings, and the Norman Conquest, is quietly
impressive, with an excellent visitor center. See p. 262.
W Standing on Hadrian's Wall (Northumberland): It leaves you speechless, the
breathtaking scale of this Roman monument, which weaves off in either direction,
across hill and dale, coast to coast. Walking all 73 miles is the ultimate achieve-
ment, but pop into the remains of its forts if you can't. See p. 669.
W Watching the donkeys work (Devon): The coastal town of Clovelly's precipitous
cobblestone streets make driving all but impossible. Supplies for the village stores
are carried on sleds, pulled by donkeys as they have been for centuries. No rides,
though: You have to walk. See p. 370.
W Marveling at Stonehenge (Wiltshire): Okay, it might be hemmed in by roads, but
this monolithic stone circle will still be here when the traffic is history. With stones
weighing 50 tons and more than 2 millennia old, it really does give you a creepy
feeling in this windswept spot. See p. 328.
W Exploring Welsh castles: There's a whole hatful here, and they're all different.
Don't miss Conwy (p. 736) with its eight towers; rugged Harlech (p. 724); Caer-
narfon (p. 729), overlooking the Isle of Anglesey; and Pembroke (p. 707), with its
huge town walls. And the wild fantasy of Cardiff Castle (p. 680) is a must.
THE best OUTDOOR
EXPERIENCES
W Wandering along the Thames (Surrey): No sooner do you get out of London
proper than you're in a leafy, countryside idyll, little craft put-putting past and grass
under foot as you tread the Thames Path. There are riverside pubs, historic sites,
and the disbelief that the city is just a 20-minute train ride away. See p. 286.
W Taking the Ullswater Steamer (Cumbria): There's nothing like being huddled up
against the mist as the little Victorian boat sails the length of the Lake District's
pristine showpiece. Stand on deck, taking photos as the scenery changes around
every bend, and hop off halfway back for a hike. See p. 627.
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