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Tuesday, 15 September 2020

The Lake District: Day Three

On the morning of our second (and last) full day in the Lake District, we got a taxi down to Bowness-on-Windermere, a town that's popular with tourists. It's a very busy but picturesque place with lots of wildlife!




We were there to catch a boat and go on a cruise across to Lakeside, a village at the south end of Lake Windermere, where the lake flows into the River Leven. 

It was very cold on the boat, but I really enjoyed the trip. Windermere is actually the largest lake in England, at a length of 10 miles and a width of 1 mile, and is surrounded by hills and mountains. Therefore it offers many beautiful views.




I particularly liked this building which looks like a castle, but is actually a viewing station called Claife Heights.



When we arrived at Lakeside, we boarded an old steam train and went on a trip down to the village of Haverthwaite and back again. The views of the river and the surrounding countryside were great, and the train and railway station were like a snapshot from the past, reminiscent of when train travel was enjoyable!










Afterwards we got on the boat again to go back to Bowness. This time, we travelled quite closely past Belle Isle, the biggest island in the lake, at 1 km in length. There is just one house on the island, called the Round House. Its design was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, and it was possible to see the top of it from the boat. We could also see an adorable little poodle waiting at the end of a jetty on the island! Unfortunately, it's very hard to see him/her in my picture!




Once we were back in Bowness, we went to the Belsfield Hotel for a very special afternoon tea. The hotel is an incredible place, that looks almost like a palace both inside and out.





The best thing is that they offer afternoon teas for all dietary requirements, including a vegan one, which was obviously the one I chose. It was really delicious and so big that I could save some for supper and the next day's lunch!



From where we were sitting, we had great views over the lake and the gardens of the hotel. There were little rabbits happily frolicking about just outside the window!



The views from outside the hotel were also amazing.



We got a taxi back to Windermere to relax in the hotel for a couple of hours. Then my dad and I went for a walk through the town. Like I'd done the previous day, we walked up Queen Adelaide's Hill. However this time, the views were clearer as the weather was nicer.



Afterwards we walked through another public footpath. There was a beautiful waterfall there that we hadn't been expecting to find!



The footpath eventually leads to the shore of the lake. It was very peaceful to watch the sun setting over the water.




Then we walked back up the footpath and carried on along the main road. We came across a viewpoint where you can see across to various mountains including Scafell Pike, the tallest mountain in England. If I ever go back to the Lake District, I'd like to have a go at climbing it!



Finally, as we were walking back towards the hotel, we saw three beautiful deer in a field! It was hard to get good photos of them on my phone camera, but it was amazing to watch them.




This was our last bit of sightseeing in the area, as we drove back down to Wiltshire the next day. Overall, I enjoyed our visit to the Lake District a lot and I found it more interesting than I expected to.

My favourite places were the two waterfalls we saw: Stock Ghyll Force and the waterfall in Windermere. I really liked the nature of the area as a whole, because it was surprisingly reminiscent of my trip to the south of Chile in 2018. My boyfriend (who's from Chile) said the same thing when he saw the photos! Okay, so there aren't any snow-capped volcanoes and imposing Andes mountains in the English Lake District like there are in the Chilean Lake District, but there are still (smaller) mountains, lakes (obviously), rivers, forests and waterfalls. And very cold weather!

I was expecting the nature to be more like my local "Lake District", the Cotswold Water Park. However, the two areas are actually very different. The Cotswold Water Park has around 150 small lakes spread across a small area, whereas the Lake District has 16 much larger lakes spaced further apart. I would definitely recommend both as great places to visit.

This trip was the first proper holiday I've had since the start of the pandemic and it was a bit of a different experience. We wore masks inside the communal areas of the hotel and in all public places except for remote outdoor spaces, and we also had to order breakfast at the hotel the evening before, as buffets aren't Covid compliant. But these things weren't really a big deal for me, and they made me feel more safe. The only issue I had regarding Covid safety was with the crowds of people that were in Ambleside and Bowness, because at times social distancing wasn't possible, and not everyone was wearing a mask or making an effort to keep as much distance as they could.

All things considered, I feel mostly okay about travelling again, and I found that this trip was good preparation for when I go abroad with my boyfriend in a month or two's time. I don't think I would go abroad at this time if the circumstances of my life and relationship were different, but it's going to be my boyfriend's first trip to Europe, so we need to make the most of it! Besides, I do believe that we all need to try to live our lives with some sort of normality, given that we don't know how long this situation will continue for. If we take the necessary precautions (like mask-wearing and social distancing), then we can safely enjoy both domestic and international travel.

In the coming weeks, I plan to do a couple more local trips with my family. Then, at last, my boyfriend will arrive in England and we'll have two weeks of self-isolation at home. Afterwards (barring any further lockdowns -  I pray this doesn't happen) we'll be free to explore the UK and beyond. It's a strange time at the moment, and therefore travelling is a bit different than it used to be. But I'm excited to go on some slightly more adventurous travel adventures over the coming months!

Read about The Lake District: Days One and Two here!

Sunday, 13 September 2020

The Lake District: Days One and Two

This week I went on my first proper trip away since March! My parents and I spent a few days in the Lake District National Park in North West England, not far from the border with Scotland. Even though we didn't leave the country, it almost felt like going abroad, as it was a long way to go from our home in Wiltshire. In fact, it is actually further away from us than France is in terms of distance!

The reason we went there is because my parents won a competition to stay at a hotel in Windermere. They were originally meant to go back in May, but obviously the pandemic put paid to that plan. So they re-booked the stay for September, and as I'm still here rather than teaching in Chile like I planned, I came along too!

Cedar Manor Hotel, where we stayed, is a beautiful 5 star hotel that's definitely a cut above many of the places I've stayed since I started travel blogging! It was very cool to stay in a huge room with a four-poster bed, a dressing table, and a bath the size of a hot tub!







On the evening we arrived, we went to the Lamplighter Dining Rooms in the centre of the town for supper, where I had a very tasty (and very big!) veggie curry. 




On the way there and back, we walked past St Mary's Church, an interesting building to look at.




The next morning, we went to the town of Ambleside, to the north of Lake Windermere. It was a nice place, but extremely busy and with narrow streets, so it wasn't easy to socially distance. The most famous sight is the town is the Bridge House, a little house built on a bridge. People lived in it in the past, but now it's owned by the National Trust.





A short hike outside of the town brings you to another famous sight: the Stock Ghyll Force waterfalls. This is the attraction I'd most wanted to visit before coming to the Lake District, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. The main waterfall is 70 feet high and is really impressive to see. It brought back memories of some of the amazing waterfalls I saw in the south of Chile. It just goes to show that you don't need to leave the UK to see some incredible nature.








Afterwards we set off in the car towards our next destination. However, the roads in the area are not well signposted, so we ended up taking a longer route than expected! But at least during the journey we saw some memorable sights, like Beltie cows, a heron, and the Coniston Water lake. We stopped at the side of the road to get a proper look at it.




A little while later, we finally arrived at our destination: Wray Castle. This was another one of my picks, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. It looks like a magnificent medieval castle, but was actually built during the Victorian era, so it's still in peak condition. It's also surrounded by beautiful nature, with views of Lake Windermere in the distance.







Later in the day, after we got back to the hotel, I felt like getting some fresh air. Even though it was raining (there's a surprisingly big difference in weather between Cumbria and Wiltshire!), I still enjoyed the walk. I went down a little footpath through a forest and then crossed the main road to get to Queen Adelaide's Hill. It's only a small hill to climb, but you get great views of the lake from up there.







I really enjoyed our first two days in the Lake District, and the third day was great too. That was when we went on a cruise across Lake Windermere, took a trip on a steam train, and had an amazing afternoon tea. I'll be writing about it all very soon!

Read about The Lake District: Day Three here!

Thursday, 3 September 2020

Travel Tips: My Ten Favourite Castles and Palaces!

I'm in the middle of an unexpectedly quiet week at work, so I've decided to use some of my extra time to write a new Travel Tips article. It seems like an especially good idea given that it will be a little while before my next blog post, because I'm actually going to be away for most of next week, travelling for the first time since March! 

Okay, so I have done plenty of travelling around my local area over the last few months, but nothing longer than day trips. I'm quite excited to get to finally start packing a bag again, which is something I'd never thought I'd say during my years at university and the Year Abroad!

Today I've chosen to write about my favourite castles and palaces, a subject I am slightly obsessed with. My interest in them is perhaps a bit odd, given that I'm actually very strongly anti-monarchy and anti-aristocracy. However, I love everything to do with Disney and fairytales, and I find that visiting castles and palaces is one of the best forms of escapism, making you feel like you've stepped into a book or movie.

I've been lucky enough to visit many castles over the years, and some have really stuck in my mind. Others not so much! (I think many British kids have been through the disappointment of being taken to a "castle" by their parents, only to find a small pile of stones on a hill!) But I've managed to make a list of just ten of the ones that are most memorable for me. In no particular order, here they are...


Castillo Wullf, Viña del Mar, Chile



















In general, Europe is the continent best known for castles, whereas South America doesn't have very many at all. However, the city of Viña del Mar in the Valparaíso region of central Chile is an exception to this rule. Several of the buildings there have been inspired by European architecture. Castillo Brunet, which was built in a French style using stone imported from France, is a very impressive castle to look at. However, Castillo Wullf, a German-style castle overlooking the Pacific Ocean, has to be my favourite.

Read more here and here!



Casa Rosada, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Casa Rosada, the Argentinian presidential palace, is an iconic building and symbol of the nation of Argentina. Located in the famous Plaza de Mayo, it is close to several other important buildings, such as Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral. The palace is just one of many incredible sights to see in BA, and I would LOVE to be back there now!

Read more here and here!



Bled Castle, Slovenia

Here is a castle I visited before my blogging days started and before I had a phone with a decent camera! But even from my photo it's still possible to see just how beautiful Lake Bled in Slovenia is. In the middle of the lake, there's a little island with a church, and on a precipice overlooking the water, you can see Bled Castle, a medieval building with a museum inside. The whole area is so picturesque - it's like a fairytale brought to life. Slovenia is not one of the best known countries in Europe, but I would highly recommend it as a travel destination for its amazing landscapes such as this one.


Bratislava Castle, Slovakia

Another underrated country in Eastern Europe is Slovakia (often confused with Slovenia!). I went on a day trip to Bratislava, the capital city, during my Year Abroad and really enjoyed exploring there. My favourite part had to be the castle, which overlooks the rest of the city and the Danube river from the top of a hill. But there are plenty of other castles to visit throughout the country, because in fact, Slovakia holds the title of the country with the most castles per capita in the world!

Read more here!



Belvedere Palace, Vienna, Austria

Just a short distance away from Bratislava, you can find the Austrian capital, Vienna. Vienna is famous for its beautiful architecture and features three famous palaces: Schönbrunn, Hofburg and Belvedere. My personal favourite was the Belvedere Palace. The exterior is magnificent, and inside there's an art gallery where you can view many famous paintings, including The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. Interestingly, I actually visited the Belvedere on the same day that I visited Bratislava Castle! Days like that were one of the things I really loved about doing a Year Abroad.

Read more here!



Vaduz Castle, Liechtenstein

Another amazing castle I saw on my Year Abroad was Vaduz Castle in the capital city of Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein is such a tiny country, but it's a great place to visit. Even though the castle itself isn't open to the public, there are plenty of interesting sights to see and museums to look around in Vaduz. 

On the bus ride in to Vaduz from Sargans in Switzerland, I saw another beautiful castle: Gutenberg Castle in the town of Balzers. That one is actually open to the public, so I would love to go back and visit it in the future.

Read more here!



Château de Dieppe, France

France is a country famous for its castles and palaces, and le Château de Dieppe in Normandy has to be my favourite out of the ones I've visited. Not only does it look like something out of a fairytale, it also has amazing views over the sea and the town of Dieppe, and there's a very interesting art gallery and museum inside. I think it's great how so many of the castles and palaces in France are open to the public rather than belonging to "royal" families or "lords". The country receives more tourists than anywhere else in the world, so clearly it's a strategy that works. Definitely something Britain could learn from!

Read more here!



Wawel Castle, Kraków, Poland

When I volunteered with the Angloville programme in Poland, I had the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Kraków. One of the most famous parts of the city is Wawel Hill, an architectural complex that includes a cathedral and an impressive castle. The castle was the royal residence of Poland, before the country moved with the times and became a republic. I would definitely recommend visiting the hill as well as the entire city. It's one of the most picturesque places I've ever been to.

Read more here!



Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is an incredible city to visit with many sights to see. But I would have to say that Castelo de São Jorge was the highlight of my trip there. The building dates back to the first century BC and is a fantastic place to explore. While I was there, I met two lovely cats and some peacocks! The castle is also the best place in Lisbon for amazing panoramic views across the entirety of the colourful city.

Read more here!



Cardiff Castle, Wales, UK

I'm finishing off the list with a castle that's a little closer to home. Cardiff Castle in the capital of Wales is a great place to visit, featuring brilliant panoramic views from the top of the keep, an interesting museum, and of course a Welsh dragon! While England is better known for its stately homes, Wales is famous for its many ancient castles. In fact, it's the country with the most castles per square mile!

Read more here and here!


These are just ten of the best castles and palaces I've been to, whittled down from a shortlist twice the size! Honourable mentions include Blenheim Palace, Cirencester Castle and the Dower House in the UK; Mirabell Palace, Hohensalzburg Castle, Schloss Velden, Burg Hochosterwitz and Burg Landskron in Austria; and Palais des Papes and Luxembourg Palace in France.

In the future, I would especially love to visit le Château de Chenonceau in France, the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City, Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the Winter Palace in Russia and the Taj Mahal in India!

Next week, I'll actually be visiting a castle when I'm up in the Lake District, which should be exciting. I look forward to blogging about it when I get back!


Check out the rest of my Travel Tips here!