Trip to Scotland

Last week, we enjoyed a visit to Scotland, with trips to St Andrews, Muirfield and Forfar sandwiched between two days in Edinburgh visiting Dad.  The weather was warm and sunny almost all the time - notice the blue skies!

Thursday 18th July

We visited our friends, Malcolm & Jean Bain, in St Andrews for lunch - they are old friends from our Leicester days when Malcolm and myself began work at the same time at the Leicester University Computer Centre.  Before driving home, we had a round of putting at the Himalayas, a challenging course bordering the Old Course.  This is Trish putting at the 18th.

Friday 19th July

Today I had a trip to Muirfield to watch day 2 of The Open.  The course was very dry after the prolonged hot spell.  No cameras were allowed, so these pictures were taken with my iPhone.

Here Tiger Woods prepares to play his second shot at the long 17th hole.







Below, Tom Watson and Fred Couples are on the 3rd green.

Phil Mickleson (centre), with Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama, wait on the 4th tee for the green to clear.  Mickleson went on to win the tournament.

 Saturday 20th July

Today we had a trip to Forfar, visiting our friends Alister and Mary Patullo.  On our way we visited Glamis Castle, home of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.  A special feature is the Italian Gardens, shown here with the castle in the background.

A Day at Castle Howard

Friday 5th July 2013

We enjoyed a day trip to Castle Howard, one of Yorkshire's finest stately homes, still in private ownership by the Howard family.
 

A fire in 1940 destroyed a significant part of the house, and its central feature, the dome, collapsed.  The house is steadily being renovated and in 1960 the dome was re-built, and the 18th century painting The Fall of Phaeton by Antonio Pellegrini was re-created on the underside of the dome.












A centre-piece of the grounds is the Atlas fountain, created in 1850.

The house and grounds were used as a setting for television and film productions of Brideshead Revisited.  While we were there, filming of Death comes to Pemberley, the sequel to Pride and Prejudice by crime novelist PD James was taking place - to be shown Christmas 2013.

Three Days in the Lake District

Tuesday 18th June 2013

One of the classic short walks in the Lake District is the circuit of Grasmere.  At the far end of the lake from the village, you can climb to a vantage point on White Moss Moor that allows splendid views of Rydal Water.

On the return to Grasmere we pass Dove Cottage, home of the poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy from 1799 to 1808.

Wednesday 19th June

Ullswater is sometimes regarded as England's most beautiful lake.  After taking the steamer from Glenridding to Howtown, there is an enjoyable 7-mile walk back along the shore of the lake.  the view here is shortly after starting the walk, looking towards the far end of the lake at Pooley Bridge.

In the later part of the walk, as Patterdale is approached, we see views of Helvellyn and surrounding hills.

Driving back to Grasmere via 'The Struggle' there are excellent views of Lake Windermere.

We stayed at Lake View Country House in Grasmere.  Its garden is home to some badgers and they can be viewed from a bedroom window in the twilight.

Thursday 20th June

Another classic short walk in the Lake District is the path around Rydal Water.  This view is from the higher path on the south side of the lake.