The Real Britain Company » Areas of Britain

Yorkshire Moors

Kate — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 18:01:58 +0000

Heather is associated, of course, with Scotland, and rightly so. The Highlands are a wonderful sea of purple in late Summer/early Autumn. But did you know that the Yorkshire moors has the highest concentration of heather in Britain? (Or so I was told by a reliable Yorkshire lady!) We certainly found it a particularly beautiful place when we visited in late August a few years ago. Here also is a quote from a recent customer.

‘I just want to share my favorite image from the trip. We were driving through the Yorkshire moors, when we got the only rain shower of our trip. it only lasted about ten minutes, and when it stopped we were treated to the most beautiful rainbow I have ever seen. It arched over the heather-covered moors, and was so stunning it brought me to tears.’

Coasteering in Wales

Kate — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:08:25 +0000

There are plenty of sporty things to do in Britain. The British invented so many sports (soccer, tennis, rugby…) but most of them you can do in other places in the World. There is a new sport here which was invented in South Wales. It’s place of origin is not coincidental. The Pembrokeshire coastline is a spectacularly beautiful part of Britain, with cliffs, rocks, caves and beaches.

Coasteering is not for the faint hearted! You work your way around the coast scrambling, climbing, swimming and jumping off cliffs. Walking along the coastal path is exhilarating enough for us!

Hardy Country

Kate — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:51:16 +0000

The lovely rural county of Dorset is where the victorian novelist and poet Thomas Hardy lived and set his novels. A much neglected county by visitors to Britain as it is quite remote from the main motorways….and all the more attractive for it! Many of these places have changed little since Hardy’s time. Here are some examples:

Dorchester, the county town of Dorset, is Casterbridge most notably the location for the Major of Casterbridge

Bere Regis is Kingsbere. The town features in Tess and Far From the Madding Crowd. Tess set up her family’s bed under the Turberville window in the south wall of the church, and inside the church are the tombs of the Turbervilles.

Puddletown is Weatherbury. In Far From the Madding Crowd, Troy spent the night in the church porch.

Cerne Abbas is Abbot’s Cernel. This village featured in The Woodlanders and Tess of the d’Urbervilles. The tithe barn in Cerne Abbas may also be the model for the great barn in Far From the Madding Crowd.

Weymouth is Budmouth Regis . Weymouth features in Under the Greenwood Tree.

Woolbridge Manor in Wool was Hardy’s Wellbridge Manor, where Angel Clare and Tess spent their honeymoon.

Bournemouth is Sandborne. Tess lived here with Alec d’Urberville, and the town also features in The Well-Beloved and Jude the Obscure.

Poole is Havenpool. In The Mayor of Casterbridge, Newson landed here on his return from Newfoundland. The town features in two poems, The Chapel Organist and The Mongrel.

Salisbury is Melchester. In Jude the Obscure, Jude worked at Salisbury Cathedral, and Sue and Phillotson were married in St. Thomas Church. Sue attended the Teacher Training College as did Hardy’s two sisters in real life. It was at nearby Stonehenge that Tess was arrested in Tess of the d’Urbervilles.

Shaftesbury is Shaston. In Jude the Obscure, Philotson was schoolmaster here

Sherborne is Sherton Abbas. Giles Winterborne sold his apple trees in the Market Place here in The Woodlanders, and Sherborne Abbey also features in the novel

Melbury Osmond is Great Hintock . The Woodlanders final scene takes place in the churchyard.

Beaminster is Emminster In Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Angel Clare’s father was vicar here.

Bridport is Port Bredy. Bridport is the setting for the story Fellow-Townsmen, and the nearby secluded harbour of West Bay is mentioned in The Woodlanders.

Portland is the Isle of Slingers. The Isle of Portland, joined to the mainland by the narrow strand of Chesil Beach, is the setting for The Well-Beloved.

With thanks to Britain Express. www.britainexpress.com