Category: Great Britain

  • Frome riverside walkway

    Frome riverside walkway

    The Frome valley riverside walkway forms a green corridor from the Bristol harbourside for about twenty miles to the source of the river Frome in Dodington Park near Chipping Sodbury on the edge of the Cotswolds. Last week our walking group covered the first five miles from the centre of the city  east through the…

  • 7 things to do with children near Bristol harbour

    7 things to do with children near Bristol harbour

    Bristol is my home city and I love it . The area around Bristol  harbour is particularly popular with tourists and I think it is a lovely place for families to spend a couple of days.  If you are planning to visit Bristol with children I have a few suggestions of activities you might enjoy. …

  • Bristol and the slave trade

    Bristol and the slave trade

    This week we tackled a more difficult subject for our walk in the past walk – the Bristol slave trade. It is an uncomfortable but undeniable fact that much of Bristol’s prosperity came from the slave trade. Slavery is thousands of years old. The Romans brought slaves to Britain and Celtic tribes traded slaves. However,…

  • Brunel and Bristol

    Brunel and Bristol

    Clifton suspension bridge which spans the river Avon has become the symbol of Bristol.   This post is about the bridge’s designer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Last Sunday our walk in the past walking group walked from Temple Meads railway station to Clifton Suspension bridge to see some of his legacy to the city.  Our route…

  • Combe Down and the story of Bath Stone

    Combe Down and the story of Bath Stone

    Last week Steve, the leader of our walk in the past walking group asked us to meet at the Museum of Bath Stone. in Combe Down to the east of Bath.  I have to admit my heart sank.  After all, quarries are not the most exciting subject. When I was growing up much of Bath…

  • Glastonbury more than just a music festival

    Glastonbury more than just a music festival

    In a few week’s time, thousands of music lovers will again descend on the small Somerset town of Glastonbury for the music festival. Local rumour has it that Paul McCartney might take to the pyramid stage this year. For a few days, a huge tented city will appear and ageing hippies and others will be…

  • Two CADW sites to visit near Chepstow

    Two CADW sites to visit near Chepstow

    Carleon Roman Fort Our first outing was to Caerleon. Carleon which is just outside Newport was known as Isca by the Romans and is on the banks of the river Usk. Founded in A.D.  75 as the headquarters of the second Augustan legion. it was one of only three permanent legionary sites in Britain and…