Travel: Roadtrip to Scottish Highlands

Last July, while in London for few days this quick 1500+ miles road trip did happen... and what an amazing trip it was as most of the time was spent in driving. Nothing is pleasure but being on road. Beautiful lake district, open highways, historical cities, drive thru forests, some beautiful lakes, ferries, Scottish highlands, view of Glenfinnan Viaduct (Harry Potter Bridge), staying in some beautiful 'Bread & Breakfast' and 'Bunk Houses'... And many other stuff. Did I forget to mention about the food! And many stunning images... Stay tuned :)

Travel: Land's End, UK

Since I was a kid, travel was somehow always was on cards and mostly by road. Probably that made me a wanderer who always loved to travel with a set of wheels, it never mattered whether I crawled in between traffic for 2 hours to cross 20 kilometers to reach office or converted a 2 hour flight to a 2 day drive for a meeting..... Anyways.
Among many memorable road-trips across United Kingdom the Cornwall trip was exceptional and memorable, a 750 mile road-trip in winter for 3 days with white motorways, which also included an insane non-stop night ride of 250 miles. Absolute Fun and the best ever place I personally experienced in UK, somehow I could not manage to see Scotland or else the opinion might be different ;)
The extreme western point on mainland of England is well known as Land's End... Pretty close to Penzance.

Architecture: Eden Project, Cornwall, UK

Worlds largest 'Green House' and one of the brilliant piece of Architecture that I have seen personally is an absolute pleasant experience, especially to appreciate Architect Nicholas Grimshaw.

Inside two artificial biomes there are plants collected from all over the world are consist of hundreds of hexagonal inflated plastic cells (ETFE: Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene) with a superb structural system. The whole project is built inside a reclaimed Kaolinite pit, kaolinite is basically a clay mineral.

Isle of Wight, United Kingdom

Britain's biggest Island 'Isle of Wight' is famous as a very popular tourist destination since ages. Located on the South coast and in English Channel, this island was home to Queen Victoria. The place is famous for its 60 mile long stunning coast line and many award winning beaches. It also has many historic sites and a variety of tourist attractions for all ages.

The island is well connected with the mainland from various points by regular vehicle ferry and hi-speed passenger ferry service. Portsmouth to Fishbourne is around 8 miles on Sea, so you need to avail the ferry service for the same. There are regular vehicle ferries and hi-speed passenger ferries available from different operators (like Red Funnel, Weight Link etc.). 

Ferry distance from Southampton to Cowes is about 14 miles and it roughly takes 50 minutes.

The Eastern-most point of this island is Bembridge and the Western-most point is Alum Bay or The Needles. This distance is less than 25 miles, so according to me staying in the center of the island in a scenic country side should be fantastic as you can hit any edge of the island in 15-20 minutes.

Places not to be missed: 

1. Beaches (This island has many award winning beaches)

2. The Needles (Old Battery & New Battery)
3. Isle of Weight Zoo for Kids (to see Tiger)
4. Walzing Waters (a musical fountain of its kind)
5. A walk along the cliffs (it is a must but be extremely careful)

Lovely Sandown beach...




Ventnor beach...


The Needles, Alum Bay.


Alum Bay...


Vibrant and interesting cliffs of the island...

Personal Experience:

I personally was traveling from Slough, so choose Southampton to East Cowes just to spend time on ferry a bit longer. It takes 50 minutes+loading and unloading time on a vehicle ferry, if 'm not wrong, it takes some 20 minutes on a hi-speed passenger ferry. The advantage of traveling from Southampton in evening is the beautiful blinking shoreline on both sides for almost 2/3 of the whole route, I personally enjoyed it a lot sitting on the ferry deck with a hot glass of Coffee for the whole 14 miles on Sea. Let me tell you, it was highly windy at that time. Most of the time I was hiding behind the clear glass wind protectors as it was even difficult to walk properly. We choose Red Funnel and booked it online. There are vehicle ferries available in every hour and last ferry is at 12.00 o'clock, the first ferry is also from early morning. You need to check the ferry time online. Another important thing I forgot to add, you can reschedule the ferry timing 30 minutes prior to departure if booked online and the rescheduling charge is nominal (We paid 3 pounds once and we preponed one time for free).

On the way to Southampton ferry terminal...

Selecting the accommodation was quite challenging. This is not there are limited options but every part is so scenic, you would love to see such a site every morning. Much later we realized that, staying at the center of the island in a country side would be great and in 15 minutes one can reach any of the shore. We stayed in a country side almost in the center of the island, some 6-7 miles from Shanklin.

I think the best way to explore this island is by bike, I mean bicycle. To explore the island on bike 7 full days should be fun. And if you are driving then 3-4 days should be enough.

West Cowes, Isle of Weight, UK

How does it feel when your backyard opens to sea with a proper blue shade and your private 'Yatch' or a boat or a water scooter is there to show you places!!! Should I mention the Sea Gulls adding some more beauty to the whole scenario?

This lovely scene was framed in 'West Cowes', Isle of Weight, Britain's biggest island and a very popular tourist destination in the European sub-continent for it's unmatchable beauty. Though the island is connected with the main-land at various places with proper vehicle and passenger ferry service, 'East Cowes' and 'West Cowes' are two major points when it comes to accessibility.

Nottingham Contemporaty

Perhaps this is the BEST place in the town if you do not enjoy a mug of beer in a city pub or to break the dance floor over the weekends and you enjoy the peace in a piece of abstract art. To be precise, 'Nottingham Contemporary' is a contemporary art center in the oldest part of the city, in Lace Market, just beside the 'Pitcher & Piano' pub. It is also pretty close to Broadmarsh Bus Station and Nottingham Train Station.

Though I do not understand much about the contemporary form of art, but ya, I do enjoy gazing at them. More than it actually, I always enjoyed the place where it has been exhibited, at times open or even semi-closed and sometimes large closed shell. For me 'Nottingham Contemporary' is a brilliant piece of architecture with proper definition of dedicated space. Initially I was flattered by its unique facade which has a pattern of the traditional LACE, for which Nottingham is all famous about. Later, I loved the interior and some of the simplest detailings around. And also the difference of level throughout the building.

As shown in above photographs, the outer shell of the building are pre-cast concrete blocks with the infamous detailed LACE patterns on it, and this thing makes the whole cladding elegant. The pre-cast blocks in light shade of green along with the contrasting golden metallic bands, match to the rugged old surrounding perfectly.

The interior is also a perfect delight, with 4 vast naturally lit exhibition spaces on the ground entry level. This also is the top most level in the whole building, as the site sits on the edge if a sharp slope, there are 2 levels below this and the bottom  one houses the cafeteria, linking the parking lot from the low road. It is a fantastic feeling to enter the exhibition space at one level and coming out from cafeteria, two levels below to it.

Address:
Nottingham Contemporary
Weekday Cross
Nottingham
NG1 2GB

Gallery Opening Times:
Tue - Fri: 10:00 - 19:00
Sat:  10:00 - 18:00
Sun: 11:00 - 17:00

Robin Hood statue in Nottingham

Nottingham is also quite famous for the legends of Robin Hood. According to the English folk tales and legendary beliefs he used to stay in Sherwood forest in Nottinghamshire with his followers, known as 'Merry Men'. He also is the most famous and loved hero of British history. This 13th century legend is celebrated as the triumph of good over evil with his attitude of robbing the rich and giving it to poor, at the same time he also was a highly skilled archer and sword man.

Many historians also do question about the existence of Robin Hood and believe it as a fiction.

The Robin Hood statue in Nottingham City was established in 1949 outside the Nottingham Castle. This landscaped plaza has the main statue of Robin Hood at the center and some of his legends inscribed in the Castle walls, showing his glory over the years.





This is one of the top attractions in the Nottingham city and is not at all far from the city center, with hardly a walk of 5-7 minutes. The public plaza id on Castle Street and anyone from city center can guide you to reach the place, or else the nearest popular hub is the oldest pub in England 'Ye Olde Trip to Jeruselum'. To drive you can use the postcode NG1 6EL for the same.
It feels good to spend some time on the plaza or a pint of beer in the pub in front or even a small walk around the castle on the classic paved roads. Don't miss the 'Ye Olde Trip to Jeruselm' also which is just a stone throw away.

Travel Time

The weather is unexpectedly behaving well here in this part of the world and 'm actually surprised for the same even after staying for one LONG year... It is the start of October, in particular, since last 4-5 days the para is preferring to be seated high. The scenario outside ended with topless white people around and me with lots of sweating and even little bit of tanning... lolz. In a serious note, it was too hot, almost made me feeling like Summer is back. This unpredictable thing turned all my ideas and planning on travel, up side down. Last to last week it was raining like anything, and it forced me to start using a pool-over on a regular basis, even one day I used the thick one. Though I cancelled all my travel plans earlier, now seeing the weather and it's forecast, I'll be travelling around the country a bit just to fill the little memory left in my laptop.



Hope to update you soon and to show you a chunk of United Kingdom. Stay Tuned :)

The oldest 'PUB' in United Kingdom

'Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem' in Nottingham claims to be the oldest pub or drinking establishment in England. Being set under the foot of Nottingham Castle and having caves as drinking rooms carved from the soft rock is an interesting place to visit and spend some time. I personally have not visited inside the pub but will do it soon as one need to take an appointment to make a tour to know the place better. Of-course this is not the requirement if you are going there for food and drink but a tour will explain me the place in true sense, so another detailed post on the same will follow soon.

I was trying to find out the history and stories behind this oldest Inn and got to know some real interesting facts about the place, so bit excited to experience it.... Soon :)







ADDRESS:
Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem
Brewhouse Yard
Nottingham England
NG1 6AD
0115 947 3171

Nottingham City I

After completing one full year here in this city, I explored the place to some extent.
And a photo feature of the same to show you the place... And these images show the first phase of exploration.


An essence of Nottingham, the 'Tram' with the back drop of 'Nottingham Contempory' and 'Pitcher & Piano'


The old part of the city and one of my favorite 'City Square'


Castle Road, some traditional paved roads.


Nottingham Playhouse


'Sky Mirror' An installation by Anish Kapoor at 'Nottingham Playhouse'


One of the BEST place in the city, 'Nottingham Contemporary'


Nottingham Canal Side


And people do go CRAZY over weekends...

Stonehenge, United Kingdom

What the heck... Few stones and rocks lying just like that in an irregular manner and almost ruined, people call it Stonehenge and is one of the most sought historic sites in United Kingdom attracting millions around the World. So strange!!!

This might be the thought inside a normal people's mind who absolutely has no idea about STONEHENGE.

Stonehenge, this 5000 year old megalithic structure can be named as 'Mystery'. In Sailsbury plains, in South-West part of England, this monument is probably the most important prehistoric structure in United Kingdom. It is believed the construction period continued for more than 1000 years and the final form we see today was built some 3500 years ago and was built in 3 phases, whose usage and purpose is still mysterious as well as inspiring. 

It is believed by some to be used as an astronomical observatory as it is oriented and stones are positioned according to the movement of Sun and Moon. Some believe, it was used as a religious site for worship, even some say it as a place of sacrifice.

Another mystery is the transportation and erection of such BIG stones, weighing between 6 to 60 tonnes. The Sailsbury plain has no signs of any rock and the stones here were carried from far, some even from Wales, 250 miles away. Researchers say, the stones were carried by dragging with the help of rollers and also were carried by water. The journey of such huge stones by the rivers and coastal Wales is really astonishing.

Though the structure looks like miniature from far, one can compare the scale with the human figures in the surrounding and the stones can be seen are only 2/3rd of the whole stone while 1/3rd of it is buried in the ground.

In the first stage, around during 3000 BC, there were no stones on site but a earth-work with an outer circular bank measuring 284 feet in diameter. Inside the ditch, there are 56 pits and are named as 'Aubery Holes'.

In the second stage, around in 2100 BC, there arrived the 'Blue Stones' from Preseli Mountains in South-Wales. These were 82 in number, weighing 4 tonnes each and were placed in the center creating an incomplete circle.

In the third stage, in 2000 BC, the 'Sarsen Stones' were erected with an continuous lintel as an outer circle. These stones weigh between 50-60 tonnes each. Five Sarsen trilithons were also placed around the center in a horseshoe shape.

In the final stage, around in 1500 BC,the blue stones were rearranged in a circle next to outer 'Sarsen stone circle' and also in a horse shoe shape around the center.

An artist's impression of Stonehenge some 3500 years ago...

Stonehenge PostCode (SAT NAV) - SP4 7DE
Entry Fee: Adult - 7.50 GBP
                Concession - 6.80 GBP
                Family - 19.50 GBP
Opening Times: Summer - 9.30 am to 6.00 pm
                         Winter - 9.30 am to 4.00 pm
What NOT to miss: You will be provided with a free audio guide, it will give you some interesting information. And do not miss to notice the 'Blue Stones'.