It isn`t the most beautiful, but it’s the most frequently visited lake in Scotland, due to successfully supporting legend about it. Thus, there is the end of this mystery from this day on. It’s the 18-meter long common water snake, which is living in a lake and I saw it with my own eyes. But it was moving too fast and I didn’t manage to take its photo from the going car (the route is built along the lake). If you have a chance to visit this place and you decide to drop in museum of Loch Ness miracle, don’t do it any way! You’ll lose half an hour and 11 pounds for two. We also have legends about Zmey Gorynich, but I haven’t seen any of his museums yet.

Skye Island

It is the only one from the Hebrides, connected with Britain with the car bridge. It is not only Skye, which is interesting,  but the road to it as well. It’s running through severe, but marvelous landscapes and sleeping villages. I should say, it’s one of the most beautiful roads I’ve ever traveled along.

Kinloch Lodge

Though it’s nothing but a restaurant, I dedicate this post to it. Could you imagine a really posh restaurant, which is situated in 100 km from such cities as, for example Ufa or Saratov? But it’s possible in Scotland. And one of the descendants of the famous MacDonalds , Sara MacDonald, works there as a chef. And she is reputed by the Scots as a guru in the field of cooking.

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]]> http://top-european-routes.com/2008/11/day-7-loch-ness-island-skye-kinloch-lodge/feed/ http://top-european-routes.com/2008/10/day-6-car-trip-edinbourgh-saint-andrews-interness/ http://top-european-routes.com/2008/10/day-6-car-trip-edinbourgh-saint-andrews-interness/#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:56:37 +0000 admin http://top-european-routes.com/?p=89 Edinburgh

I am delighted by this city! It was one of Scots, who said that Paris could become such a city, if it hadn’t been spoiled. This is one of the most romantic and inspiring cities in the world. When you walk along the streets (especially in the early dusk), there is a feeling that you are in a fantastic city. One of its shrouds is the Edinburgh Castle which is very beautiful outside, and extremely interesting and intricate inside.
As I wrote before, I traveled with my beloved wife, and so, a beautiful conclusion of the day was going to Edinburgh Witchery restaurant situated 100 meters away from the castle. Attention! The restaurant must be booked two weeks in advance. In our case delicious food, romantic atmosphere, and two bottles of good wine played their role.
It is better to stay in one of two hotels: Balmoral 5 * or Hilton Caledonian 5 *; in both of them you should book a room overlooking the castle. In addition to the view they are bigger and better. We chose a budget option: Hilton Caledonian.

Saint Andrews

Instead of going straight to Inverness (240 km) we decided to enjoy the beauty of the embankment road, to look at Edinburgh from the other shore, and to visit St. Andrews to see the cathedral and castle, which are really worth it. The pisture with an umbrella over the monument received its motto (name): «everyone can find a place under the sun».

Inverness

It is not a remarkable town on the edge of the land, except for its castle (Inverness Castle) but it is actually a starting point for travel to Highlands, Lohness and Hebrides Islands and we started the next day. And before the trip a sauna and a swimming pool at the Hotel Best Western Palace & Spa were really in time. And besides the windows of the hotel overlooked the Inverness Castle.

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The worst town during our travel, there is nothing to see nor to do here, it looks like Frankfurt  a business city. It was the only place where we came back to the hotel at 8 pm. Fortunately the hotel rooms in Hilton Grosvenor are large and beautiful. However for the 1st time here we saw the Scottish pounds released by private banks: Royal Bank of Scotland, Halifax bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank (they are accepted in Scotland equally with English pounds).

Loch Lomond, Loch Katrin

These are 2 lakes and if you visit Lomond you should also walk along Katrin (you can take an ATV for this puprose). We took one of the most beautiful pictures here and I had an impressive  road adventure at this place: walking in the forest I got into a masch and had to wash my shoes without taking them off.

Stirling Castle

Rate: 5. Required time: 2 hours

Unfortunately the House of Scottish Stewart dynasty  is  not of great interest today. Though  it is  fully preserved outside none of the interior details can be found here as there was a hospital in this building during  the Second World War. However there is a stunning view on  the surrounding valley from the castle.

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The choice of the hotel proved to be right: we stopped at Hilton York City hotel, the only 4* hotel in the centre and our windows overlooked the Tower.
The city which was founded by Vikings (York departed from Jorvik the name of the founder of the city) and it used to be the capital of England. It makes a great impression. You should visit York Cathedral (we were able to see it only from outside, as it was a graduation day), the museum of Vikings (or rather the amusement park, where they restored the way of life of those times and what is interesting they also managed to create the smell). And you can simply take a walk along the streets of this medieval town , some of them are still called by ancient Norwegian names.

Our room (Hilton York City)

Lake District.

The land known since king Arthur time, attracts attention by its views and the air which I would say has got not only smell but even taste. Everyone wants to have dinner with the best view and excellent cuisine. We solved this problem in a restaurant Miller Howe (millerhowe.com). But if you plan to stay here for 1-2 nights, I recommend you the Sharrow Bay Country House. We didnt stay here only because of the lack of time

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]]> http://top-european-routes.com/2008/10/day-4-car-trip-york-lake-district/feed/ http://top-european-routes.com/2008/10/day-3-car-trip-chester-chatsworth-house/ http://top-european-routes.com/2008/10/day-3-car-trip-chester-chatsworth-house/#comments Sat, 18 Oct 2008 10:40:27 +0000 admin http://top-european-routes.com/?p=36 Chester

The capital of Cheshire (the cat from Alices Adventures in Wonderland  by Lewis Carroll is right from here) is famous for its unique in the whole UK completely preserved (around the periphery) medieval city wall; for its cheese that looks like cats heads and for the most advanced for the 17th century decision in problems of selling space deficiency. Besides the shops which are situated in the streets fronts on the first floor, these smart people constructed Promenade from house to house, so the streets turned out to be on the second floor and even under the roof. Considering local weather in winter, Id prefer to walk on the second floor.

Chester was our second stop. The town is not a business centre, thats why there arent many hotels here. We stayed at a small but cozy hotel Best Western Westminster. We booked everything with the help of hoteleine.com again. This website is good because you can book there a hotel not only in a big city, but even in such back of beyond as Chester.

Chatsworth House

The most remarkable thing here is not the house itself (though its Christmas decorations deserve attention, too) but the Castle and the  park which belongs to Devonshire earls till the present day. Chatsworth site and links on other domains are accessible at http://www.chatsworth.org. Its a real miracle, when you come to backwoods (its impossible to arrive there with no GPS) and see such a thing. No money can help to do thing like that with 10 hectare in a moment. Indeed here you understand that it was necessary to work on this miracle for 400 years.

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We stopped for night at one of 2 best hotels of Bath - Hilton Bath City (the second one is Royal Crescent Hotel). I booked this hotel room (the same thing I did with all other hotels) on www.hoteleine.com. Bath is a small health-resort town famous for its thermal springs, discovered by the Romans. Besides you should visit the Abbey and the Circus (a round square). Pump Room restaurant is worth visiting. Then you can assume that your Bath program is completed.

Bath (our room)

We did stay here:) Hilton Bath City

City park

Round Square

Tintern Abbey

If you check weather forecast and it promises a sunny weather you should drop in here for sure. It`s on the border of the UK and Wales and  its history dates back to the 10th century, it used to be the centre of culture, science and religion on the island. Today it is a source of inspiration. It`s indescribable, I recommend you to see photos and video, but it would be better to arrive here especially if you are on your way to Wales.

Tintern Abbey

Tintern Abbey

Tintern Abbey

Brecon Beacons National Park

It looks like New Zealand, while you are driving, the landscape keeps changing. Only two things are the same: there are sheep around and everything is very beautiful.

Cribyn from Pen-y-fan

The Tommy Jones Obelisk looking towards Corn Du

Looking West, near summit Pen Y Fan

Pwllheli

One more important discovery was waiting for us here: restaurants serve dinner from 12 to 14, supper only from 7 pm. In fact we wanted to go to the Michelin restaurant Plas Bodegroes, the only one in the neighborhood and it is on the way to Caernavorn. I would describe this place in such a way: it`s the very edge of the Wales. That day we made the only one mistake in our route:  we should have stopped at Plas Bodegroes (there are rooms there to), and visited Snowdonia and several exciting castles the next day. And the day before we should have driven to Bristol where where a lot of hotels historically have similar names. I am sure, next trip we`ll correct all our mistakes =)

Restaurant Plas Bodegroes

Caernarvon Castle, North Wales

There is one place of interest in this small town which is worth visiting - Caernavorn Castle, one of the best fortified structures I`ve ever seen.  But we came late at night (because of our mistake) and didn`t get inside the castle.

Caernarfon Castle

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As Albion is situated in the north it is dark at 5 pm from November to March. So you manage to do less things during the daylight hours. That’s why I advise you to go there from April to October. September is even better as the days are still long and fall has already come (autumn in the most beautiful season here). I made the route on maps.google.com not to drive more than 300 km a day. We drove 1800 km during one week.

Sightseeing top:
(10 – max, 1- min)

• Windsor Castle
• Stonehenge
• Salisbury Cathedral

Day 1. Gatwick - Windsor Castle - Stonehenge - Salisbury - Bath

London Gatwick (London Gatwick)

Instead of booked Volkswagen Passat we were offered to rent Mercedes E class, we had to pay extra 3.5 pounds (7 dollars a day). Of course we agreed. We managed to launch GPS (we used “I Go” during out trip) without any problems and we started to drive.

Windsor Castle

Score: 6 Time for sightseeing 1.5 – 3 hrs

The Windsors is the dynasty that still reigns in Britain but as they say here – they do not rule for more than 300 years. So they own the the biggest (but as we found out , not the most beautiful one) castle in Britain. It has more than 1000 rooms. Elisabeth II (the present Queen) spent her childhood into the Castle and she was very worried when the fire took the interior of 100 rooms in 1992. Don’t worry! All the rooms were reconstructed in 1997. The most striking thing is the doll’s hose and the Cathedral (which is the official cathedral of the Garter and the Queen is its member).

Windsor Castle (car travel)

Stonehenge

Score: 4 Time for sightseeing 15-30 min

Though this stones pile is considered to be a world culture monument, it did not make a huge impression on me. However you should stop by for 15 minutes as it is situated on the way from Windsor (and London itself) to Salisbury. NOTE that the sightseeing tour finishes at 4pm but you can see everything from 15 m distance perfectly well.

Salisbury Cathedral

Score: 9 Time for sightseeing: 2-3 hrs

Salisbury Cathedral was the best thing of our 1st day. We arrived at the city in the evening, when all the places of interest were closed already so we went to the evening mess. I felt at once that I was in a sacred place. I felt that there is God, that the place is really sacred the the vibrations were so strong that I swung from side to side and I made no resistance. It is known that the Cathedral was started to built in 1220 and was finished around 30 years ago. That is why it is one of few cathedrals that has a stylistic unity. Most of them were built 100 years ago or so, and they took all the architectural elements of several epochs and generations.

Salisbury Cathedral

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