LAND's END CORNWALL UK

Land's End is mainland Britain’s most south-westerly point and one of the country’s most famous landmarks. From the 61 m (200 ft) high granite cliffs that rise out of the Atlantic Ocean you can gaze across to the Longships Lighthouse, the Isles of Scilly 45 km (28 miles) away and beyond that, America. For that you have to have eagle eyes !

The closest village is Sennen, a parish in Penzance district. The village stands 118 m (387 ft) above sea-level, 1.6 km (1 mile)of Lands-End, and has an inn, called the First and Last inn in England. Salt-works were here, but have been discontinued but fishing is largely carried on. Even the Romans who preceded me wherever I go were here, because Roman coins were found in 1807.

Land's End itself is not a town or village but rather a former small holding which now has a hotel, exhibition halls featuring the area’s role in air sea rescue, a 4D cinema, play areas for the kids, Greeb Farm with its collection of small animals, speciality shops and working craftsmen which made me think of a kind of Disney World.

Fortunately there is a coastal footpath for visitors wishing to just enjoy the stunning natural landscape.



The entrance to the Tourist area







I didn't stay there very long, just walked around and then had enough. I prefer nature !



From this point people could have taken pictures with their home town written on the photo and the km or miles distance. I thought I can google the distance from Waterloo to Land's End.



Just before the entrance, there were stones standing around a little bit like a small Stonehenge.





Between the stones stood little historical house replicas



The land around looked beautiful !



From far I saw the island with the lighthouse



and then came pure nature !









I found a stone to sit on and remained there for a while just enjoying this gorgeous landscape.









People were walking around the end ! Unfortunately it was a little cool and very windy.

DARTMOUTH, STEAM RAILWAY, AND CRUISE

 July 15, 2014

Visiting Dartmouth with our group of Great Rail Journeys, we travelled first by rail to Paignton.



Then we we cruised up the scenic River Dart and admired the beautiful landscape. In the first picture the yellow house, was Agatha Christie's home.

We also took the Dartmouth Steam Railway



It was quite a strange feeling to travel in this old train with its special noises and whistles and I felt taken back to my early childhood.

When we arrived in Dartmouth we had a couple of hours to walk through this beautiful town.



The houses are painted in pastel colors which looked so cheerful !









There was ebb tide and the boats sat on the ground











a beautiful architecture and cute little streets,





a park



We had lunch in a nice pub



and just before we left, we could listen to the last Dartmouth news, and were centuries taken back !

TORQUAY/DEVON UK

July 8, 2014

End of June 2014 I did a tour together with 3 friends with the Greatrail Tours.. Our tour started in Torquay where we stayed for 4 days.



Torquay is set at the north end of Tor Bay and forms part of the English Riviera.

The town's economy, was initially based upon fishing and agriculture, but in the early 19th century the town began to develop into a fashionable seaside resort, initially frequented by members of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars while the Royal Navy anchored in the bay. Later, as the town's fame spread, it was popular with the crème de la crème of Victorian society. Renowned for its healthful climate, the town earned the nickname of the English Riviera. You can read more about it here.

Unfortunately when we were there, the weather was a rather typical English weather and not a Riviera weather at all. For that reason I couldn't take many pictures because it rained too much. 

Torquay was the home of the writer Agatha Christie, who was born in this town and lived there during her early years. Therefore the town organized an  "Agatha Christie Mile", a tour with plaques dedicated to her life and work. She is the most important attraction of the city.

We got the chance to stay in the Grand'Hotel where Agatha spent her honeymoon night with Archie Christie on Christmas Eve 1914. The hotel still retains an Agatha Christie Suite, but as I am not yet an important writer, my room was on another floor.




The hotel had a commemorative plaque of her at the entrance.

On the program of the first day was the "Agatha Christie walk". An rather old gentlemen who must have known her as a child, tried to walk us around on her traces, but the whole excursion literally dropped into the water and even the most courageous once from our group had to give up !



The tour started in the Torre Abbey Garden – Home of the Agatha Christie’s Potent Plants collection inspired by the poisons and potions in her books. Unfortunately we only had a glance on this garden and I coudn't get any recepes for poisoning naughty people and commit the perfect murder. There was also the church where Agatha married.




Our tour !



The cricket club where her husband used to play is still there and brave people played.

The next day we took a taxi to visit Torquay on our own. We had a free day.







Between showers we managed to see at least a bit of Torquay which seems to be a beautiful town.



There also were a big choice of pubs and different restaurants and we choose a very cozy one for a nice salad and dry our clothes !





The habour









and the city center







From the "Princess Garden" with a A bronze bust created to commemorate the Agatha Christie Centenary Year in 1990 by Dutch sculptor Carol Van Den Boom-Cairns, we also saw the "Torquay's eye" !



Just opposite of our hotel, was the station where some years ago the city had invited the most famous actors who were Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. It was the first time both heros were seen together.

Despite the lousy weather we enjoyed Torquay very much !