Real Britain Company News…

Charles Dickens was born 200 years ago today. He was born in Portsmouth and, to mark the occasion, the Charles Dickens Birthplace museum has been opened earlier in the year. There is also a special exhibition at the City Museum called ‘A Tale of One City’ which will show what life was like in Portsmouth during 1812 – 1870. This exhibition will run until Sunday 4th November 2012. On Sunday 5th and Tuesday 7th February there will be free admission to the museum. Both days will have a range of activities plus celebrations in the street including street performers, musicians, food, craft activities, readings.

Last Sunday I awoke to a beautiful cold frosty morning. The sun was glistening off the white grass and the trees were showing off their network of bare branches against the clear pale blue sky. So Ian and and I wrapped up warm and headed for the northern Cotswolds. It was just delightful climbing up a gentle hill, looking out over the valleys, walking along ploughed fields with the first green shoots just above the ground, then descending through sheltered woods where the white frost hung like snow. There is nothing like a good walk in countryside to restore the spirits and make me glad, yet again, to live in Englands’ ‘green and pleasant land’.

This got me thinking about the best places to walk to Britain and at which time of year. In truth you can find a nice walk almost anywhere as you are never far from the open countryside. However different areas have their advantages.

Scotland has Munros. These are mountains (big hills really by global standards) which are more than 3000ft high named after the man who first catalogued them, Sir Hugh Munro. Of course in Scotland mountains have the nomenclature ‘Ben’ (as lakes are called lochs). A popular sport is Munro bagging, with the aim to climb everyone of the 283. Some are easier to climb than others but none are for the faint hearted. Even in the Summer the weather can turn very quickly and you must be at least reasonably fit and well prepared. Some of the best serious walking or climbing is in the Cuillins on the Isle of Skye. The Black Cuillin are the most spectacular and challenging mountains in Britain. Skye is called the Misty Isle for good reason. One minute you can be in bright sunshine the next coveered in mist, at any level let alone on a peak! It can also roll out just as quickly so if you visit Skye on your UK tour don’t be despondent if you wake up to grey skies; it doesn’t necessarily mean it will stay that way!

The Lake District in Cumbria north west England is another great area for serious walkers. It contains England’s highest peak Scafell Pike at 3209ft. (There are only 7 hills which would qualify as Munros if they were in Scotland and they are all in the Lake District). However there are also many easier peaks to climb which give rise to spectacular views. Although the peaks are not as high as in Scotland they are closer together which makes the scenery dramatic and extremely beautiful. The weather also, although you must be well prepared for sudden changes, is more predictable. Unfortunately the area also attracts many walkers in the Summer months and the hills can be quite crowded. But then again there is safety in numbers!

A favourite area of ours is Northumbria, the most northern of the English counties, which is often overlooked as people head for Scotland. The Cheviot Hills in the Northumberland National Park offer great walks at all levels. A popular walk with added interest is along the path of Hadrians’ Wall which cuts across the country between Newcastle and Carlisle.

If like me you prefer gentler countryside (I frequently tell friends and family that I don’t do hills but I am generally ignored) as I said you can find good walks everywhere but the Cotswolds has to be one of my favourite areas not least for the lovely villages. The coast also is a reach source of not-too-strenuous walks with wonderful views. The Pembrokeshire coast in south west Wales is Britain’s only coastal National Park. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is one of Britain’s National Trails. It takes you along the top of steep limestone cliffs and along lovely sandy bays. Look out for dolphins! Likewise the South West coast path runs all the way round the south west peninsular containing Devon, Cornwall and some of Somerset. You can dip in and out as you please.

I haven’t mentioned every place in Britain for a good walk, and not Ireland at all, otherwise I could be here all day! If you have a favourite walk please do share it with us.

The UK is a great place to visit for New Year celerations. January also has some interesting celebrations and festivals. Many go back centuries and have their origins in the celebration of the passing of the shortest day and hope for the coming Spring.

January is perhaps not the most obvious time to take a trip to the far north of Scotland. However, it’s not all gloom! To brighten up the long dark days of January the Shetland islanders organise Europe’s largest fire festival, Up Hella Aa, on the last Tuesday of the month. It started back in 1880. People dress up as Vikings, the chief being Guizer Jarl, and they march through the town with flaming torches which they use to set ablaze a replica Viking ship. Strange folk these Shetlanders but then you might be stir crazy after so many months of darkness!

Biggar is a small Scottish town in South Lanarkshire. Every year they hold a torchlight parade and bonfire in the center of town on New Years eve. Some say the bonfire dates back to ancient purification rituals, using fire to ward off evil spirits. At any rate, the festival has been going on for hundreds of years. It all begins with a torchlight parade, accompanied, of course, by kilted pipers and drummers. Then the town’s oldest resident lights the bonfire and partying, in true Scottish fashion, ensues.

In Greenock (south East of Glasgow) there is the Inverclyde Music Festival

We would like to hear of any other unusual festivals or celebrations to brighten up this rather dreary time of year!

We have just passed Hogmanay, which is associated with Scotland and Auld Lang Syne, which got me thinking about nationalistic songs. How many of us actually know the words or ever really consider their meaning? Last year I took part in a concert (me and my 200 backing singers) which featured, amongst others, Scotland the Brave. So here are the full words for your edification.

Hark when the night is falling. Hear! Hear the pipes are calling,
Loudly and proudly calling down through the glen.
There where the hills are sleeping, now feel the blood leaping,
High as the spirits of the old Highland men.

Far off in sunlit places, sad are the Scottish faces
Yearning to feel the kiss of sweet Scottish rain.
Where tropic skies are beaming, love sets the heart a-dreaming,
Longing and dreaming for the home land again.

I got shivers just writing that! Doesn’t it just make you want to take a tour around the Highlands and Islands of Scotland?

It is easy to be castled out when you visit Britain. We have so many, dating back to all periods of history! To help I have started to talk about a few we particularly like tp help you decide which to include in your itinerary and the areas of Britain you might like to visit.
Hever castle, Anne Boleyns’ childhood home in Kent, is one of my favourite castles. Smaller than many other famous castles, William Waldorf Astor bought the castle in 1903 and restored it as a Tudor manor house much as it would have been in the days of its’ most famous inhabitant. The result is a cozy and intimidate home. He also turned the surrounding marshland into the most beautiful gardens, including my favourite, the Italian Gardens.
Windsor castle is still a primary residence of the Queen. It was one of the first castles to be built by the Normans and is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the World.
Bamburgh Castle sits on a rocky headland looking over the Northumberland coast in a most beautiful setting. To get the best view cross the dunes south of the town to the golden flat sandy beach. Bamburgh was chosen as the Royal Seat of the Kings of Northumbria during the 6th century when Northumbria, or Bernicia as it was called then was the largest and most powerful of the seven Anglo Saxon Kingdoms.

Do you have a favourite?

In response to my call to Customers to share their favourite places:

There were so many places its hard to chose a favourite. However I have attached two photos. The first is Stokesey Manor, a fortified manor house. It was the the most magical place, with history oozing from every part of it. Would be easy to overlook, as it is off the beaten track, so thanks for suggesting it on my itinerary.

The other was taken from Symonds Yat, looking down over the Wye Valley, and it shows perfectly what a beautiful country the UK is. I can’t wait to come back

Merry Christmas

Clare Maich

Most people visit the UK in the Summer but the Winter does have some advantages. There is the magic of the Christmas lights and decorations in the town centres and especially the Christmas markets. For instance, the Dickens Christmas market in Rochester, Kent.
Charles Dickens spent much of his life in Rochester. The town and the imposing castle is mentioned in his books. Every year this connection is celebrated in the Dickens Christmas Market and Festival held within the walls of the castle. The atmosphere is very festive with entertainers of various sorts and people dressed up as Dickens characters.
In the heart of the Midlands, Birmingham has the largest Christmas market in the UK. The Frankfurt Christmas Market has been going now for 10 years. As the name suggests vendors come from Germany to sell their traditional wares. As you may suspect Birmingham is twinned with Frankfurt.

Do you have a favourite?

First of all Seasons Greetings to all our customers. A big ‘Thank You’ for your custom and for the fantastic feedback you give us.
We hope to see you all again in the UK soon. Meanwhile, do you have a favourite place you found on your UK trip? We would love to hear about it. If you have a photo, even better!

Regards

Kate and Ian

In August we had a lovely few days away in the Outer Hebrides or the Western Isles. Eriskay is one of our favourite spots. This tiny island with about 150 inhabitants is where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed from France. The beach where he came ashore, Princes Cockle Strand, is extraordinarily beautiful, with golden sand and turquoise blue sea. It’s other claim to fame came in 1941 when the SS Politician sank off it’s shores. The liberation of its cargo of whisky by the islanders became the subject of a book and the 1948 film Whisky Galore.