Interesting non-theme park travel reports

[Matt N]

Hi guys. We may visit a lot of theme parks on here, but I’m sure many of us visit some interesting non-theme park places as well. With this in mind, I thought it might be fun to have a thread on interesting non-theme park travel reports, to show off some of those interesting places that don’t have creds in them!

I’ll get the ball rolling, as I’ve been on a little adventure of my own today!

Today, I ventured on my first ever trip to Scotland with my family. We’re staying for a week in a rural village within the Trossachs National Park in central Scotland, but on our way up, we stopped in to see The Kelpies in Falkirk.

In essence, they’re two massive metal horse statues. You might have seen them in the intro to BBC News, and they’re a similar sort of thing to the Angel of the North (as I understand it… I’ll admit I haven’t actually been there). They’re really impressive structures, and they’re set in a lovely park called Helix Park! You can pay to have a tour and climb The Kelpies themselves; we didn’t on this occasion, but it did look like you could have a fairly comprehensive tour! There’s also a visitor centre at the side with a cafe and gift shop, and to get back to your car, you can also walk alongside a nice canal.

It’s not exactly a full day visit, but for a stop of 45 minutes or so on our long drive up to the Trossachs, it was a nice stop and I’m glad we went to see these impressive structures. Here are a few photos I took from various different angles:

I also took a few other picture highlights from the drive up. Firstly, I took a picture of the Scottish flag as we passed the Scottish border for the first time on the M6 (I apologise for the blurriness… it was hammering down with rain when we drove into Scotland):

I also took another angle of The Kelpies from the M9 motorway, as well as a very blurry picture of Stirling Castle that can just about be seen in the background. This was apparently where Mary Queen of Scots grew up, and from a distance, it actually looked like a very nice castle:

I also photographed our first seen loch of the trip, Loch Lubraig. For what my mum referred to as a “small loch”, it was surprisingly long!:

Scotland may lack major theme parks, but on first impressions, it looks like a beautiful country! As a comparison, the area we’re staying in looks a bit like the Lake District, but more wooded compared to the rocky landscapes of Cumbria. It should be a nice week, and I’m interested to see what the slice of the UK above Hadrian’s Wall is like for the first time!

I’m not sure I’ll be visiting M&D’s while I’m up here, though…

 

[East Coast Mariner]

Great idea for a thread, @Matt N . I do like the Kelpies.

I hope I’m allowed to do a TR from April this year. There’s not much I enjoy more than a village-to-village walk, and I had wanted to do one from Newport for some time (Newport in Essex, near Bishop's Stortford), to the village of Wendens Ambo.

The only trouble is, I knew it was going to be a long one. I like to keep my walks between 5 and 6 miles, which is the normal length of a circular walk between villages. The problem here was that there is a huge estate in between - Shortgrove Park - and so this was going to be longer. Over 7 miles, which is not an enormous trek, but there were absolutely no shortcuts available.

Nonetheless, I decided to do it. Newport Village Hall was kind enough to allow me to park there, and so I set off down the extremely historic High Street. West Essex is an amazing part of the country, full of stunning villages. It’s a disgrace that Stansted Airport was allowed to be built there, in my opinion.

https://flic.kr/p/2rdviTc

After a look in St Mary’s Church, it was time to truly begin my adventure. There is something I love about churches - all that history and culture, combined with a great sense of peace. They are often the biggest building in a village, like a mini castle. On walks, they are a sanctuary where I can shelter from the weather and eat my snacks in the porch.

But I had a long walk ahead of me, so it was time to press on to Wendens Ambo. I walked north along Whiteditch Lane, then along the Saffron Trail through farmland. And before long, I was on Rookery Lane.

Here, I had to join a footpath. The trouble is, it’s not all that clear on Ordnance Survey maps exactly where you join this path. To the untrained eye, it looks like a long, unimpeded lane. However, about 10m of it is private land (no fences, gates or signs though), and you technically have to go round it on a very short east-north-west route. I didn’t know this, and just walked down the lane, prompting the woman who owned the house to come out and berate me. I quickly dashed to the public bit so she couldn’t turn me back!

https://flic.kr/p/2rdwkVz

Through some fields, I joined Duck Street and walked along the lane. There is a building called Frenchman’s Hole, which I thought was a bit strange. I then joined Church Street, which is really quite a stunning array of cottages.

Finally, I had reached Wendens Ambo and the Church of St Mary. I came here once before, and it really meant a lot to me to return. Sitting on a bench by a tree, eating my snacks, I prepared for the rest of the walk. A friendly lady approached and told me the history of the place. It used to be two separate villages - Wenden Magna (Great Wenden) and Wenden Parva (Little Wenden), with “Ambo” meaning “both”. She kept trying to get me to go to the pub, but I’m afraid I’m not one for having a beer when I’m walking! (And certainly not driving, it goes without saying.)

https://flic.kr/p/2rdviTh

Trying to keep the walk as short as possible, I went along the Royston Road and London Road, rather than use the footpath (which really would have extended my journey). Thankfully they both had pavement. Joining the Wenden Road, I walked along and the terrain became less built-up again. Hearing the toot of a steam train in the distance, I knew I was near Audley End.

It was finally time to begin the return journey - a very long straight section of well over 2 miles with no real branching paths (or at least none that would be useful to me). I turned south and headed down Beechy Lane. This pleasant track lived up its name, with plenty of small/medium Beech trees. I wonder if it was planted as a horse “ride” between Audley End and Shortgrove Hall? With the latter to the west, and no public access to it, it would have to remain a mystery.

I continued south through Brakey Ley Wood and onto Harcamlow Way. I was enjoying my walk, but there was only one problem - it was becoming very hot. Struggling up the hill and very much exposed to the heat, I headed for the shade of Rosy Grove. Here it was indeed cooler. I also ducked under a large Ash tree that had fallen across the path.

Finally back into familiar territory, I crossed Debden Water and made my way through a wooded valley. Soon, I was back in Newport. It had been a great walk, but the heat had almost caught me out at the end there. Back at the Village Hall, I was treated to the spectacle of a huge Red Kite flying by. Looking at the car thermometer, it said 27-degrees, which was a lot warmer than forecast. So, in the unlikely event it’s ever disputed, I am willing to testify in court that (at least in some places) it was 27-degrees in April this year!

I got some more snacks out of the car and sat in the park eating them. It had been a great adventure. There’s something I love about the scale of Old England. You can easily plan a circular walk between two, or even three, villages. This, though, had been one of the better ones, and I hope to be able to do many more like it.

 

[Matt N]

Half way through the week, we’ve really been getting around central Scotland! I don’t think I’m going to do a full park day-style trip report of any of our days, but I’ll provide a few highlights, if anyone is interested in hearing about my first Scottish trip.

On Saturday, we headed for a 10km(ish) walk around the village where we’re staying (Killin), taking in Moirlanich Longhouse, the ruins of Finlarig Castle and the southern bank of Loch Tay as well as the Falls of Dochart. There is something I find strangely peaceful about water, particularly waterfalls, and this was a nice walk that took in lots of different sights. The area we’re staying in is lovely, and there are some beautiful landscapes! It was also a reasonably flat walk, which is good if you’re concerned about inclines when walking:

On Sunday, we headed west to see Loch Lomond. We firstly stopped at the Loch Lomond Shores complex in Balloch, which I’ll admit wasn’t anything to write home about. There was a historic steamboat undergoing restoration, which was pretty cool, but other than that, it was a pretty generic shopping centre. I must admit, though, that I didn’t know that Merlin operated a SeaLife centre in Loch Lomond, so that was an interesting surprise to see while walking around (I didn’t go in, seeing as we went to what feels like tons of SeaLife centres when we owned Merlin passes)!:

After that, though, we headed to the village of Luss, which was much nicer. With the almost fairytale-style houses and the views of Loch Lomond, it was an absolutely beautiful village that was well worth a stop at; it almost looked like something out of a postcard! As we were walking down the main street, we could even hear a bagpipe player in the background; we only needed somebody wearing a kilt and it would have felt like the most stereotypically Scottish experience we could have had:

On our way back home, we stopped in at the Falls of Falloch, a waterfall in Inverarnan. This was a lovely detour, and it was quite an impressive waterfall as waterfalls go!:

On Monday, we headed north into the Cairngorms to visit Blair Castle, near Pitlochry. Now I’ll admit that I don’t go overly nuts for castles, stately homes and the like, so this wasn’t a day of the trip I was most enthused by, but this was nice enough as castles go and it was an enjoyable visit. The former occupants of this castle definitely enjoyed hunting, as there was an almost perturbing amount of deer antlers and guns displayed around the castle! We also saw some nice gardens and an interesting wooded area with some ruins and some of Europe’s tallest trees, standing at up to 46m tall. That’s the sort of tree Alton Towers needs to plant! As with Luss the previous day, there was also a bagpipe player out in the main courtyard; walking towards the castle with the bagpipes playing and seeing the Scottish flag flying on top really did enhance the feeling of Scottishness! On a side note, the gift shop also sold some children’s books written in colloquial Scottish, and I’ll admit that trying to read through the likes of The Gruffalo’s Wean was interesting, to say the least:

Today, we headed on another walk around another waterfall, visiting the Burks of Aberfeldy. This is a waterfall in a forest, probably best known as the inspiration for the Robert Burns poem of the same name. It’s a nice enough waterfall and I thought the walk was nice enough, but the walk is quite steep with quite a lot of steps, so maybe not one for if you don’t like steep inclines and steps when walking (my mum struggled a bit). On a side note, there’s apparently a statue of Robert Burns, but we couldn’t find it anywhere…:

On the way back, we also stopped to take in the views at the northernmost bank of Loch Tay, in the village of Kenmore:

So far, then, it’s been a nice week. I have enjoyed seeing Scotland for the first time; this means I’ve now visited all 3 countries in Great Britain and am only missing Northern Ireland within the wider United Kingdom!

Don’t get me wrong, I definitely wouldn’t visit for the creds. Our nearest is a go-gator at Blair Drummond Safari Park in Stirling. I thought adults couldn’t ride those, but 42 people on Coaster Count have apparently ridden it… can any Scots or kiddie cred seekers from elsewhere in the UK enlighten me?

But if you’re a fan of walking and pretty landscapes, Scotland is an undeniably beautiful country! I’ll admit I have been surprised by how much we’ve had to drive (it’s almost been like one of our trips to Florida in that most days are punctuated by a drive of 30 minutes minimum each way to do our activity of choice), but looking at the map, we have covered a surprising amount of central Scotland within one week! We’ve been to Loch Tay, we’ve been to Loch Lomond in the west, we’ve been to Falkirk further south, and we’ve even briefly been up into the Cairngorms!

We’re off to the Scottish Crannog Centre tomorrow before taking a boat safari on Loch Tay, which should be interesting…

 

[#BringBackWindstorm]

A few days ago, I decided to make the trip to the Austin area to see the 4DX showing of the F1 movie. This trip also originally included a visit to Loro, a famous Asian steakhouse, and D'Lites Ice Cream. Along with these destinations, I also went to see the current progress of the COTALAND amusement park, which is coming along nicely.

I left the area around 3 PM when the traffic was quite rough for a while until it started to clear out as I was heading towards a fuel stop at Buc-ees. The station was a zoo with lines around the pumps, and the parking lot was nearly full. I didn't get any merch or food due to time constraints, which was a wise decision, as the store had medium lines for the cashiers. As I headed towards COTALAND, the traffic began to open up as the quick way to get to the park consists of a Toll Road. The alternative consists of smaller roads that have been known to bottleneck traffic during the venue's large events.

The next stop after seeing the progress, I would set my course to the Loro restaurant, where I also found a rare sight: a COTALAND advert. Apart from a photo I saw on Twitter X, that was the only known photo of a billboard featuring the park. Right next to the billboard was indeed the Loro steakhouse, which had amazing food, but with time ticking down and 5 peeps in line, I had to quickly devise a plan to have dinner. This plan would take me instead to P. Terry's, which has some amazing fries similar to In N Out/Five Guys (favorites) and a decent burger. As I was driving towards the next destination, I spotted two Jaguar Waymo vehicles, which are fully self-driving.

Post P. Terry's, the second to last stop, was D'Lites Ice Cream, which is based on low-calorie flavors and an amazing variety that changes every week, something that I love to see for Ice Cream parlors. I ordered a combination of Cookies and Cream with Chocolate, which tasted nearly exactly like standard soft serve. The toppings consisted of peanut butter chips and M&M's. This meal was eaten rather quickly as my 7PM showing was drawing close.

I arrived at the theater at 6:52, one of the three theaters in Austin to feature the 4DX system for movies. There were many people hyped up for the film, both on social media and in person, were peeps were wearing uniforms based on their favorite teams. I was somewhat late but that did not matter much due to the previews and trailers. Some did stand out, such as seeing some of the sponsors that were featured with APX GP ie Expensify. Another ad that I saw that sparked some conversation was the collab commericial with KFC, where a person nearby me spoke about the McDonald's collab, which features exclusive 1/43 die-cast vehicles, but were only sold in South America. There were also 4 Goodyear ads that played before the film started too.

I will avoid spoilers of the film, but in 4DX form... Oh man, it was an experience. There were smooth transitions when there was an areal shot to being in the vehicle felt like being on a wooden coaster. There were light blasts of air that existed in the seats as well to give realism. Scents were also used as well where I would smell grass during the peaceful sequences to oil during the race scenes. For anyone who is interested in this, do not hesitate. I highly recommend!

Considering the hot weather that exists in Austin, I would love to see a location of the D'Lites Ice Cream at COTA during their largest events. As for a COTALAND suggestion, a 4DX theater showing films where a vehicle takes center stage would be amazing to see, as many films I have experienced in 4DX have all but been vaulted.

Likely, the next time I head over to a city that feels just like my old home, it will be the time COTALAND opens, which is getting closer by the day.

 

[East Coast Mariner]

The Tolpuddle Martyrs are, understandably, mostly associated with Dorset, but I recently found out they also had a link to Essex. Six labourers - George Loveless, James Loveless, Thomas Standfield, John Standfield, James Brine and James Hammett - were arrested in 1834 for their efforts in securing workers’ rights. Although forming a union was technically legal, the Establishment of the day conspired against them, charging them on the loophole of swearing an “unlawful oath”. The men were then tried, convicted and transported to Australia.

After mass protest, the “Martyrs” were pardoned in 1836, and within the next few years, the Lovelesses, the Standfields and James Brine returned to Chipping Ongar, Essex. Being not too far from Ongar myself, I decided it was time for a visit.

Parking near the Cock Tavern, I began my trek west along the Essex Way. After a short trip through farmland, I found myself passing through the lush meadows by Greensted Hall. And here was one of the main things I wanted to see - St Andrew’s Church. Supposedly the oldest wooden church in the world, this building dates back to either 845 AD or 1053, depending on which analysis is taken as the most accurate. The church has a link to the Tolpuddle Martyrs, as this is where James Brine got married.

https://flic.kr/p/2reYFoH

Pressing on further west, past Greensted Wood, I soon found myself at Greensted Green - a quiet little settlement about 2 miles from Ongar. This place also has a strong connection to the Tolpuddle Martyrs, as it’s where George Loveless, James Loveless and James Brine came to live.

It was time for me to start heading back, so I walked down Penson’s Lane and through some more farmland. On the way, I had a treat, as the Epping Ongar Railway passed by. I continued east alongside Cripsey Brook, and soon found myself back in Ongar.

https://flic.kr/p/2rf5iTC

There were one or two more things I wanted to see, however, and so I stayed just a little bit longer. There is an historical monument east of the car park, simply labelled on maps as “Motte & Baileys”. I walked all around it, but unfortunately it seems to be on private land, and I couldn’t see anything. I also had a look at St Martin’s Church, but I’d clearly picked the wrong time, as a group of ramblers were having a guided tour! The nearby cottages look like a theme park “crooked house”.

https://flic.kr/p/2reYFoC

I’d had a great little visit to Chipping Ongar, taking in some history on the way. It is a busy, affluent town, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many Porsches in one place! We can learn much from the tale of the Tolpuddle Martyrs, and if I had to sum up my thoughts in one sentence, it's this - Rights are hard won, and we must be ever-vigilant to keep them.

 

[HeartlineCoaster]

I thought adults couldn’t ride those, but 42 people on Coaster Count have apparently ridden it… can any Scots or kiddie cred seekers from elsewhere in the UK enlighten me?

As with a number of the questionably small creds it's often less of a physical issue than the perception of the operator as to should I let this idiot ride it.

Pay per ride greatly increases your odds (which appears to be the case at Blair), because the answer to that is yes, i'll take their dirty 3 quid in tokens.

If you're on a day ticket (Flamingo) and could be riding 10 (8... wait, Flamingo's is gone?! RIP) other, larger rollercoasters though, then there's no harm in just being told no.

 

[East Coast Mariner]

I say that sometimes a walk can take in three different villages, and there is probably no better example than the “Groton Triangle”. Based on a walk I originally saw online, from Boxford to Groton, I extended it to include the nearby Edwardstone as well.

Starting in Boxford, Suffolk, I headed west until I arrived at Sherbourne Street, which I consider the true start of the walk. Here, leafy gardens peek out from behind high walls. I passed Sherbourne House and Edwardstone House, before joining a footpath by Edwardstone Lodge.

Moving west across farmland, I spied Cowper’s Wood in the distance. Skirting the edge of this wood, I turned north towards another patch of woodland, this time with a footpath through it. A lone Oak stood in a clearing. Soon, I was in the grounds surrounding the former Edwardstone Hall. After a visit to St Mary’s Church, I walked eastward along the approach road, with its avenue of Horse Chestnuts. A gatehouse guards the eastern edge of the estate, hinting at the hall’s past grandeur.

https://flic.kr/p/2rgZBw5

Continuing east through some more farmland, I soon found myself walking down Mill Green. This is a quiet little settlement that always seems like an important part of the walk, somehow, with its many old cottages. Using the footpath south towards Borehouse Manor Farm, I turned east again and made my way towards Groton Place.

https://flic.kr/p/2rh674s

Although not part of this walk, it is worth mentioning a mound called Pitches Mount, just to the north-east of here. It is the remnant of a Norman motte & bailey. I never include it on this circuit, but have climbed over it on another walk.

There is a common here named “The Croft”, with an ancient Mulberry tree planted in 1550 by Adam Winthrop. His grandson, John Winthrop, was one of the Puritan founders of New England. In 1630 he led the Winthrop Fleet to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was instrumental in the creation of the City of Boston.

https://flic.kr/p/2rh64qW

Heading south through a small patch of woodland, I approached St Bartholomew’s Church. This is actually somewhere I used to come on drives before I started these footpath walks. A grand Horse Chestnut tree stands in the churchyard, and the church itself houses a brass dedicated to Adam Winthrop.

Passing some large barns, I continued south through some farmland, just as two enormous cargo planes flew overhead. Before long I was back in Boxford, and having a look at St Mary’s Church - a wide, peaceful building with an ornate wooden porch to the south.

https://flic.kr/p/2rgZBvP

And there it is, the Groton Triangle. History, heritage and scenery all mingle to create something quite memorable. It stands, in my opinion, as one of the best ways to complete a “three village” walk, as well as one of the richest forays into our past.

 

[East Coast Mariner]

We all know about the Wiltshire White Horses, and the justifiably proud Cerne Abbas Giant, but did you know there is also a Suffolk Dragon? I found out about it a few years ago and have been paying a visit ever since. It is a summer-evening tradition for me, and with the year cracking on, I thought it was time to return once more.

Arriving at the tight car park of Bures Community Centre, I emerged into a humid July night. I have been visiting since 2020 and have memories of music festivals being on, and a large group of youngsters taking their canoes and kayaks to the River Stour. But not tonight - it was quieter than usual, with a moodier sky. The town is on the Essex/Suffolk border, with the river as the dividing line. Although I have explored a fair bit of it in the past, tonight my adventures would be confined to the eastern, Suffolk side.

Starting off past Claypits Avenue and Tawneys Ride, I joined a permissive path north-west through a meadow. Whilst I wouldn’t normally base a walk around permissive paths, there are clear signs you’re allowed to use it, and the alternative here would be a busy road. Turning north-east, I climbed Cuckoo Hill, watching a Red Kite fly over the meadow as I did so.

Emerging onto the Assington Road, I joined another path through a wheat field. One summer, there were many flying insects in this field. The best way I can describe them is that they were similar to moths. One landed on my finger and bit me - it was a heck of a bite that drew blood. Perhaps it was just a horsefly that I misidentified, but I’ve always wondered what that was.

Crossing the road, I walked through the meadows of Fysh House. There seemed to be fewer horses than usual, but a lone tree still stands in the middle of the field. Continuing east down a track, I passed Moat Farm, with its Willow trees, and came to a junction. You can continue north-east to Arger Fen, if you like, but for me this was an evening stroll rather than a hike.

Turning south, I made my way through another wheat field, and then turned west through a gate. There is a little “nature reserve” to view here. Once, I observed two very large Red Kites flying over it. They weren’t here today, but not to worry - I was in search of a very different winged beast…

I forgot how steep the next hill was, as I climbed west, sweating in the humid July heat. At the top is a bench, dedicated to a number of walkers past. I turned back and viewed the impressive rolling hills they had also enjoyed.

https://flic.kr/p/2rhC7vk

At the top of the hill is a permissive path through private land that leads you into a feature-filled area. The first thing you see is St Stephen’s Chapel, which was consecrated in 1218 by Cardinal Stephen Langton. Just behind it is a stone dedicated to St Edmund, who according to tradition, was crowned King of East Anglia here on Christmas Day in 855 AD.

https://flic.kr/p/2rhC7vL

Walking to the edge of this clearing, I saw the object of my quest - the Bures Dragon. This is based on a local legend chronicled in 1405, of a creature that bothered the local landowner, Sir Richard Waldegrave. The outline of this beast sits on a distant hill, and was created by Geoffrey Probert in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It is said to be 90 x 70m, and acts as an impressive presence on the landscape.

https://flic.kr/p/2rhHxq6

Dragon slain, I had a quick look in the chapel, then passed through Fysh House Farm and began the last portion of my walk. Here, I joined the St Edmund Way along an avenue of approximately 64 Lime trees, sloping down the hill back to Bures. How I would love to see these trees 100s of years in the future when they are fully grown!

And with that, the “Bures Dragon” trip was completed for another year. More than just a walk, it is a marker of passing time. As well as the historical features of this walk, the Dragon itself pleases me, as it is in the grand tradition of follies - a decorative piece simply to make the world a bit more interesting. And it does that with great flair.

 

[East Coast Mariner]

There’s not much I enjoy more than a summer-evening walk in Coggeshall. I have been doing it since 2021, and it’s provided a great bit of escapism ever since. The only trouble is, I had left it a bit late this year. And so, with the daylight hours becoming shorter, and the evening light fading, I set off to this Essex town whilst I still had the chance.

Using the car park for the village hall and library, I set off west and began my journey. Walking down a lane, I crossed a stream known as Robin’s Brook, and then emerged into a field. There used to be a little Horse Chestnut grove here, but it is now fenced off, with just a lone tree standing by the path. After viewing the tree, I went through Highfields Farm and emerged at West Street.

Crossing the road, I walked through Coggeshall Town Football Club, and descended some steps to the riverside walk. Here, the River Blackwater snakes along, surrounded by rows of newly-planted Willow. Passing a particularly tight bend in the river known as Horseshoe Hole, I carried on west to Nunn’s Bridge. This is a very convenient bridge, built by local blacksmith Henry Nunn, that crosses the river in just the right place.

https://flic.kr/p/2rpwjMr

Once over the bridge, I found myself on the southern side of the Blackwater. Looking into the distance, I could see what appeared to be a large deer. Joining the Essex Way, I headed east and kept my eye out for more deer. There was indeed a herd of them, and they skipped away as they saw me.

https://flic.kr/p/2rpwZkE

Continuing east, I noticed a hot air balloon was following the Blackwater in the same direction I was going. Passing a veteran Oak tree, one of the oldest in the town, I soon arrived at Grange Farm. Here, a biplane flew overhead, which was surely on its way to the Clacton Airshow. I had a quick look at Grange Barn and then crossed the B1024.

https://flic.kr/p/2rpwZku

Entering Abbey Lane, the dirt track crunched under my boots as I headed towards the Mill. On the way, there is St Nicholas’ Chapel, which was once part of the entranceway to Coggeshall Abbey. And continuing down an avenue, I soon found myself at Abbey Farm itself. The hot air balloon had caught up with me, and soared over the Abbey roof.

https://flic.kr/p/2rpwjKx

Crossing a stone bridge over the Blackwater, there is a fine view of Abbey Mill, with the building and water lilies reflecting on the surface. Once over the bridge, I had one last meeting with the hot air balloon, which then flew further east and we parted ways. As for me, I turned north and made my way past many horses.

Emerging into East Street, I crossed the road and set foot on the Recreation Ground, with its avenue of tall Lime trees. Heading north, I entered a narrow passageway. There are some very large Horse Chestnut trees alongside here that make the one I mentioned earlier look small. Once through the passageway, I crossed another street.

https://flic.kr/p/2rpqSon

Finally, I had arrived at St Peter’s Church. There is very often some sort of music or singing emanating from this church, which always makes it feel particularly welcoming. Not so tonight, but there was still a gazebo up from an event. It is a lovely churchyard to look round, regardless, with a very chunky Cedar of Lebanon.

On my way back to the village hall, there was just one more thing to see. There is a grand building along Queen Street, perhaps once some sort of community building, that has a model railway in the front garden. Although it looks like it has seen better days, I do like seeing the fruits of someone’s vision.

Returning to the car park, that was it for another year - the Coggeshall Summer Evening Walk. Like some of the others I do, it is not just a walk, but also a marker of time. I feel several different emotions when doing it, but mainly just gratitude to be able to do it again. Above all, though, it is one of the most feature-packed walks I know, truly with something different at every turn.

 

[East Coast Mariner]

New Forest 2025​

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Day 1 - Bournemouth​

Once again, I found myself in Lyndhurst, for my fourth trip to the New Forest. I have been visiting since 2017, and have found it to be a near-inexhaustible treasure trove of adventure. Stepping out of the car, I entered what has become a familiar friend of mine - the Heritage Centre. I didn’t bother with the exhibition this time, but bought myself some cards, a fridge magnet and a hoodie.

Next, I headed towards Beaulieu and past Buckler’s Hard, where wood from the forest was taken to build ships. I stopped at the North Gate car park because there was something I wanted to see here - the Beaulieu River Oak. Unfortunately, there was no clear path to it. Although I had a paper map, I really couldn’t find it, and every gap in the plant matter was boggy. Better not to risk getting stuck in a quagmire, so I’m afraid I just abandoned this one as a failure.

With some time spare, I headed to somewhere quite nearby that I’d always wanted to see - Bournemouth. I paid the extortionate parking charge, and made my way to the main hub. It was at least a sunny day, and I could get some nice pictures of the wheel and the oceanarium. In fact, the first day of this TR is rather on-topic, as there were two rides here! The wheel and a zip line from the pier to the beach.

https://flic.kr/p/2rtAPEC

I must admit, I found Bournemouth a little bit concentrated and exclusive for my tastes, a bit like Bath-by-the-Sea! Although there are indeed some interesting bits, such as the chines, the main hub is all cramped together, with very little competition seemingly allowed. There are no fish & chip shops on the promenade apart from Harry Ramsden’s, for instance. Still, it was nice to see, and a big place crossed off the list.

https://flic.kr/p/2rtGtvo

Day 2 - It’s a Fair Cross, Guv​

If there was one thing I was determined to do the next day, it was to find the Fair Cross Oak. It was one of the biggest trees in the forest I hadn’t yet seen. However, there was one problem - it was pouring down with rain. I sat waiting for a gap in the deluge, and finally managed to set out in the late afternoon.

My initial plan was to complete a circuit from Busketts Lawn, but there was no longer enough time. Instead, I found another car park and decided on an out & back walk. It is worth pointing out that there are not actually “footpaths” in the New Forest, and so you really do need to double-check things like where you can enter and exit the enclosures.

Regardless, I found a way to enter Furzy Lawn Inclosure and ventured south. After seeing a pony and foal, I crossed a bridge and soon found myself in an enormous clearing. I walked across the expanse and towards the golf club. And there it was - the Fair Cross Oak. Not hard to find at all, I was very impressed with this tree. Bulky and wide, it was easily one of the best I’ve seen in the forest.

https://flic.kr/p/2rtGtv8

Day 3 - Allum Green​

After the Fair Cross Oak, the next bit of the forest I wanted to see was the area around Allum Green. Unfortunately, the rain wasn’t being much kinder to me than the day before, and so I sat and bided my time. Eventually, though, the sky cleared enough and I set out again, this time to the James Hill car park.

The paths were much better today, and so I made my way south on a snaking path towards White Shoot. At a crossroads, I turned north-west towards the plain, which was being grazed by ponies. I followed what looked on the map like a very minor path around the western edge of the wood, but thankfully, it was easy to follow. About halfway round, I found a very impressive Beech - the best in this area.

https://flic.kr/p/2rtAPDR

Making my way south, I turned north-east and went up the hill towards the hamlet of Allum Green. This was once the home of Vera Brittain, writer and mother of the politician Shirley Williams, who moved into Allum Green Cottage in 1939. The site was bombed by the Luftwaffe in 1940, and there is a memorial bench nearby. Personally, I was here to see the Allum Green Oak, an ancient tree just outside the walls. As I approached it, several deer scattered. Although not truly huge, I thought it was a fine tree and worth seeing.

https://flic.kr/p/2rtF8sN

Making my way north-east along Cut Walk, I saw a group of ponies sheltering under the canopies. There was one more tree to find, although it was slightly off the path. Leaving Cut Walk, I searched around for it, only to instead be presented with a fine, white pony. After rooting about for a bit, I found the tree, which was indeed a bulky one.

https://flic.kr/p/2rtF8t4

Back at the car park, I encountered a group of foreign ladies (probably German), whom I had seen earlier and were now trying to find their way back to a different location. Understandably, they didn’t quite have their bearings, which just shows how careful you have to be in the forest. I showed them my map and pointed them in the right direction.

With time for one more tree, I headed to Acres Down Farm. Just a short walk from the public car park, by Acres Down House, is another veteran Oak. I thought this was an impressive tree, and one that wasn’t really on my radar until recently. I had very much enjoyed this hassle-free day, and overall, found it to be the best of the trip.

https://flic.kr/p/2rtAPCo

Day 4 - Withybed & I​

The weather had improved, and I could finally do the longest walk I’d planned. On the way there, I saw some deer, the closest I’ve ever seen them. At Bratley View car park, I crossed the road and made my way up Mogshade Hill. I used the underpass to go under the A31 and soon found one of the celebrity trees of the forest - the Spreading Oak.

https://flic.kr/p/2rtAPC8

Making my way back to the plain, I strolled downhill to the bottom of a valley. A dog walker approached, whom I said hello to, and reassured his slightly nervous pet. Here, I waded through a ford and began climbing a steep hill to Lucas Castle. In a small patch of woodland to the east is the other tree I wanted to see - the Withybed Oak. This one, unfortunately, has seen better days. Now missing the many branches of its youth, it is arguably no longer remarkable, and won’t be again until it is much older and bulkier. I, however, had more immediate concerns. As I was photographing the tree, I heard a thunderous “moo!” Seeing an angry cow at 10 o’ clock, I decided to get out of there! The cow pursued me, continuing to voice its displeasure, until I was well on my way.

https://flic.kr/p/2rtAPC3

Climbing the hill to Andrew’s Mare Lake, I took in the view until I was ready to move on. The path down to Withybed Bottom is known as Murray’s Passage, in honour of Admiral Murray, and there is a memorial stone to him at the base. I crossed Long Brook and climbed the hill on the other side. All that was left was an enjoyable walk west, with some of the pine enclosures on my left, and a buzzard flying over the valley to my right. On the way I passed an Oak that I thought was better than the two I had set out to find!

https://flic.kr/p/2rtGokp

And with that, I’d completed my fourth visit to the New Forest. Although there is still much to see, I do feel I have pretty much ticked off the central and southern forest, more or less. There is an element of wildness to forests that you don’t get elsewhere, and I definitely came away this time with a renewed respect for the risk involved in exploring them, whether terrain, weather or bovine! Nonetheless, I had enjoyed a cracking adventure, and I left this intriguing part of the country feeling a little bit stronger than when I’d arrived, wondering if and when I will get the chance to return.

 

[James F]

Belfast - 4th of April 2026

Last year for my birthday I received a £25 gift card for Ryanair, naturally it's taken me almost a year to actually use it despite flying to Copenhagen with Ryanair last year (forgot I had it )

Taking advantage of this I booked the cheapest flight I could find which was a £35 return to Belfast and with my gift card I managed to book for a cheerfully cheap (£10)

As almost always I was flying from Manchester and I struck gold with random seat allocation, scored a window seat with extra legroom at no extra cost.


After the flight I took the 300a Bus into the city centre, which is about 45 minutes as the Belfast International Airport is miles away. Arriving into the city centre I paid a visit to the cathedral which is a beauty.


I then went to grab something to eat. I stopped by Bunsen which is a burger diner. Would definitely recommend if you're in Belfast, great food and fantastic service.

Then it was time for the Titantic museum which was the reason I came. After visting the Vasa Museum in Stockholm I sparked a sudden and unexpected interest in shipwrecks and well Titanic is ... Titanic.



It seems that everyone else was also here for this museum as the place was packed to the rafters. I don't have great retention skills at the best of times, so as I'm being shuffled from exhibit to exhibit none of the information was going in.




Despite the crowds, my spirts were uplifted when it was time for the dark ride. After waiting 15 minutes I was on. It's was an impressive ride with a few heat effects and projection mapping, albeit short lived. It was about 3 scenes long and it felt like it was done before it got started. It didn't help that the thoosie side of my brain was so focused on working out how the ride worked that none of the history went in. Still an interesting experience for sure, especially given the strange vertical movement of the ride cars as they traverse the track.




An interesting fact I did learn was that Titantic was built intentionally narrow for speed, although the ship wasn't overall built for speed which seems a bit of a contradiction in design. The last few exhibits were the highlight as you can hear the stores from the survivors. It does a good job at creating a somber atmosphere, while remaining respectful.





Once leaving the museum the weather turned ugly. Storm Dave arrived and I got soaked to the bone. Luckily I didn't have to wait long for the bus back to the airport. While I would of preferred to spend more time in the city centre, I knew the weather would only get worse.

Arriving at the airport I did what every tourist has to do in the island of Ireland, have a Guinness. I swear its better over here.



As I type this in the airport, my flight has just been delayed by 45 minutes not surprising given the circumstances, let's hope the weather calms down and I get home tonight.