STONEHENGE TOUR
STONEHENGE
One of the most interesting places to visit in England is Stonehenge. It is located approximately 9 miles outside of Salisbury, Wiltshire. Whether you are an overseas visitor or a local, a Stonehenge tour is a must on your holiday itinerary.
Wiltshire itself is a lovely county and in and around Salisbury there are many delightful old Inns, Hotels, Guest Houses and B&B’s. There is sure to be something to suit your budget and taste.
The easiest way to get to Stonehenge is by car or by bus. At peak times parking can be a problem so it is best to get there fairly early.
If you are driving you might also like to visit the ancient stones at Avebury, Wiltshire. Salisbury too is worth a visit, with its beautiful cathedral, the oldest clock in Europe, the Magna Carta, lovely old streets and a great market.
My first visit to Stonehenge was in the late 60’s at around midnight one August night. In those days there was no security and it just sat there in a field. We parked at the side of the road and walked across to it in the moonlight. It was a magnificent and memorable sight and somehow to see it first at night seemed perfect. It added to its already great mystery.
Now however it is a World Heritage Site and as such you have to enter from the car park and pay of course. It is still a thrilling sight and there is the added benefit of tour guides and brochures.
Most of you will have seen pictures of Stonehenge but you may not know much about its history:
It is probably the most important historic site in Britain. What we see today was completed about 3,500 years ago. However building started some 5,000 years ago.Initially it was a large earthwork or Henge. Inside the earthworks were Aubrey Holes cut into the chalk floor. These formed a circle about 284 feet in diameter. Cremated remains have been found in them but it is believed the holes were not graves but meant to be part of a religious ceremony. After this stage of building the Henge appears to have been unused for about 1,000 years.
Then, around 2150 BC. 82 bluestones from the Preseli mountains, in south-west Wales were transported to the site.
The third stage of Stonehenge, was about 2000 BC, which saw the arrival of the Sarsen stones. These stones were probably brought from the Marlborough Downs near Avebury, in north Wiltshire, about 25 miles north of Stonehenge. The largest of the Sarsen stones transported to Stonehenge weighed 50 tonnes and transportation by water would have been impossible, the stones could only have been moved using sledges and ropes.
These were arranged in an outer circle with a continuous run of lintels. Inside the circle, five trilithons were placed in a horseshoe arrangement, whose remains we can still see today.
The final stage took place soon after 1500 BC when the bluestones were rearranged in the horseshoe and circle which still stands today. The original number of stones in the bluestone circle was probably around 60, these have long since been removed or broken up. Some remain only as stumps below ground level.
Whether you are interested in a Stonehenge tour to see an ancient monument, as a place where Druids hold their ceremonies, a place of supernatural interest or one of historical interest and importance it is sure to thrill and excite you and your imagination.
SUMMER AND AUTUMN FESTIVALS - 2008
The months of September and October see the arrival of many interesting and fun festivals worldwide. In this first article on the subject Travel Advice Pages offers one possibility for your consideration.
LUDLOW, ENGLAND. THE MARCHES FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL
The Marches is the border region between England and Wales and here on the 12th to 13th of September, 2008 the small town of Ludlow, in the county of Shropshire, hosts a Feast of a Festival.
Ludlow Castle, dating from around 1138 is a fine medieval castle set in glorious Shropshire countryside at the heart of the bustling market town of Ludlow. The castle forms a perfect backdrop and site for the annual festival and is one of a line of Norman forts built along the Marches to hold back the unconquered Welsh. Extended over the years it became a fortified Royal Palace until it fell into decay in 1689.
The small town has acquired a reputation for being the centre for some of the best food and drink in Britain. The area has an amazing number of small, independent food and drink producers. It contains an impressive number of specialist food shops - butchers, bakers, cheese shops, delis, organic food shops, all of wihich are sourced from local products. Michelin and other food guides also confirm that Ludlow has more top quality restaurants than anywhere else in Britain, except for London.
The Festival is based in and around the Castle. Within the walls a tented area hosts more than 130 independent food and drink producers. One can taste wonderful food that you did not know existed. After sampling you can vote for your favourite bread, pickles, cheese or ale and engage in some serious pudding tasting. You can picnic on the Castle Green or buy food from a range of food stalls.
There are two unique Festival highlights outside the castle. Watch or take part in the Annual Waiter’s Race or join the exciting Ludlow Sausage Trail. For a small fee you can tour the six, small, independent butchers in the town whose own-made sausages are the subject of fierce local competition. After the visits you can vote for the winner. A similar event takes in the baker’s shops in the town
Whether you are a serious foodie or just appreciate good food and drink, there is more than enough for you and your family in the wonderful festival atmosphere in Ludlow.
YORK - FOR A HAUNTED HOLIDAY
Posted by Sunny
How about something completely different? A Haunted Holiday. While researching York I discovered it is the most haunted City in Europe.
There are supposedly 140 ghosts in the City itself. The most famous sighting which has been widely reported in England was in 1953 when Harry Martindale witnessed 20 Roman soldiers walking through a wall in the cellar of the Treasurer’s House.
York is a beautiful city too and a marvelous place to have a holiday. There is so much to see and do. It’s Gothic Cathedral is a splendid place well worth a visit. It is such a magnificent building, such superb architecture and some of the best medieval stained glass in the world is to be found here. There has been a religious building on the site since 627AD. Nearby there are haunted museums, galleries, churches, medieval homes and streets.
You can visit the Jorvik center. The early Viking heritage of York was found during building work and the area carefully researched and preserved. You now have a great place to see, feel and smell what York was like in Viking times 1,000 years ago.
A visit to Clifford’s Tower is a must. If anywhere is haunted this place must be.In 1190 during anti-Jewish riots in York, a group of 150 Jews took refuge in the Tower. They were given the choice of either being baptised or killed. But they took a third option and many of the Jews committed suicide rather then allow themselves to be captured by the bloodthirsty mob outside.The Tower was then set on fire and those who finally surrendered were massacred and murdered. The rest of it’s history was just as bloody with further murders and hangings.
York has a bloody and cruel history of torture, hangings and murder, no wonder the place is haunted. After reading a little of it’s past you would expect a ghost on every street corner.
The Shambles in York is known to be one of England’s if not Europe’s finest examples of a medieval street. It has many overhanging timber built shops and houses. It has been around for about 900 years and was named in the Domesday book. What is today a marvelous shopping street and tourist and photographers delight was once a place of violence and persecution.
You can of course stay at a wide variety of Hotels, guest houses and B&B’s. But there are also Haunted Hotels. If you don’t want to get a wink of sleep you might try one of them.
During the evening there is a wonderful Ghost Trail walk which recounts this city’s grisly history and takes you to the most haunted places. The spine tingling experience will probably haunt you and your dreams forever. There is also a Haunted Cruise so you can relax while you are being terrified by tales of murder and mayhem throughout the centuries.
A little research and you will find paranormal groups who have meetings in York and the surrounding area. You can join them at their meetings or go on the ghost hunting trail and explore with them the many haunted buildings and streets of York. Searching for the paranormal and a ghost sighting or two.
If you really want a holiday with a difference try York for a haunted holiday. If you want a little taste of York have a look at our live web cam.
A COUNTRY HOUSE CHRISTMAS
Posted by Sunny
With this series of articles on Christmas Holidays I am trying to give you a very wide choice of holidays and perhaps introduce you to some new ideas that you may not have thought of. As the last holiday choice was in Antarctica I thought my next suggestion should be something altogether cosier.
Now whether you live in N. America or Europe one of the all time favourite breaks is the country house weekend so why not take that a step further and have a country house Christmas.
Certainly in Britain you are going to find an abundance of country homes open for the Christmas Holidays. Beautiful old manor houses and mansions. Usually in a quiet country location but near to lovely old towns and villages which you can explore. They provide all the traditional Christmas food and activities that you would expect. From luscious cream teas to a delicious Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Log fires, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, party games, everything you need and want to make it a perfect Christmas.
You can relax and enjoy the Holiday without any of the stresses of preparation and cooking for your family. Just put your feet up and eat, drink and be Merry!
