So I'm going to the UK(!!!)...

[Peaches LaTour]

Drooling with envy while reading about your adventure!

 

[Lara]

I’m on the train coming back from Edinburgh. I was ridiculously lucky with the weather - stunning is the only word to describe the scenery on the way and from the castle, I’ll never forget it. I love this country and feel like someone up there is actively making up for my not traveling much before.

 

[KatieC]

I'm enjoying your trip reports @Lara
I'm reliving a trip I took with the family when we went to Glasgow, Edinburgh, York, Torquay and then London. Some very nice memories from that trip. I hope yours is just as memorable.

 

[Lara]

Overdue report but at least it’s still less than a month ago! It was the weekend after London and I was still recovering, but by Sunday (April 8) I was ready for a local trip and my first excursion into Yorkshire country - specifically Haworth where the Bronte sisters lived. First step was to take a train from Leeds to a town called Keighley, where I connected to the Keighley and Worth Valley railway (http://kwvr.co.uk) on an old steam train...pretty awesome! My mother had always loved The Railway Children by E. Nesbit so I grew up with the book, and turns out this train line is where the movie adaptation was filmed. As soon as I reached Haworth I saw there really was an overpass where one could wave to the train passing below, loved it!

There was a big hill to climb before reaching the village, past a park. As I went up I started to see some of the rolling countryside, even that bit was already beautiful scenery. Once I crossed the park, there was more to ascend through the main street of the village which was just as quaint and lovely as I’d hoped with small shops, cafes and pubs called the Black Bull and the King’s Arms.

I finally reached the church, where there was an ongoing service (you could hear the hymns). I went to the adjacent graveyard with tombs dating to the 1800’s, small but so easy to get absorbed just reading all the inscriptions. There was a little footpath beyond the graveyard, I followed it and to my delight saw my first English sheep! (I may have squealed.) There were roosters crowing too.

I then went back to find the entrance to the Bronte Parsonage Museum – basically the original house converted for visitors. The very first room was the dining room with a large old mahogany table, sofa (on which Emily was believed to have died) and fireplace with a portrait of Charlotte Bronte above. This was where Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey was written so definitely the neatest to see. There was also a kitchen and some studies downstairs, and a pretty stairwell leading to more bedrooms. One bedroom was specially staged, so there are some differences depending on when you visit. The last room was an exhibition area, including some original letters from Charlotte and Anne. The whole museum was obviously well-kept and a pleasure to go through.

Afterward I picked up a copy of Jane Eyre that the museum stamped for me, some magnets and a tea towel illustrating Haworth at the shop. Then it was back down the village to the train station to go back. I didn’t get to catch a steam train on my return, but it was an old-style diesel train that you could actually stick your head out the window. At one point a steam train did come in the opposite direction and everyone waved at each other. Unfortunately it was a pretty short ride, I would’ve liked it to be longer!

Overall it was a great day trip, not too taxing (even with the hill) and easy to do from Leeds. I still can’t get over how many options there are from here, it’s truly awesome. So far I’ve done:

London
Cambridge (3 weekends ago)
Edinburgh (2 weekends ago)
York (last Saturday)
Leeds-Settle-Carlisle train through the Yorkshire Dales and edge of Lake District (last Sunday)

I just passed the halfway point of my stay here but hopefully I’ll have just as wonderful experiences to come! To balance my raving a bit, I’ll say that I could have done without needing to connect at Doncaster when coming back from Edinburgh (traveling after 9pm on a Saturday is not the most pleasant experience). Or having my doorbell rung at 4:30am last weekend by someone trying to get their drunk friend home. And the school wifi kinda sucks, as does the traffic in Leeds (I saw my bus go by, walked - not ran - about 3 minutes in its direction and caught up with it). But that’s pretty small considering.

More on Cambridge next!

 

[Twilight1]

If you can, get to the Moors in Yorkshire when the heather is in bloom. It would be stunning to see!!

I went about this time last year and I think it blooms July to November so I missed out.

Definitely try to make it to Derbyshire... tons of sheep there!!

 

[Lara]

If it starts July I'll miss it unfortunately. But I do plan to go to Whitby (a Yorkshire coastal town) which I think should take me through the Moors.

And I might see Derbyshire as soon as this weekend if I go to Bath! I checked and it's on the route (I'd pass Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby and Birmingham). But if not then when I go to Oxford on the 21st. I wish I had more time to stop on the way and see Pemberley - er, Chatsworth House lol.

ETA - But thanks for pointing out Castle Howard earlier, it's on my list of places I can go to and be back before the evening (also Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Fountains Abbey, Ilkley...the list goes on.)

 

[Twilight1]

I did a day trip through Derbyshire and saw Chatsworth. It was beyond opulent inside but the grounds themselves are stunning. Tons of sheep grazing around. It really is pretty country and I would love to see more of it.

Glad to read you are having fun and seeing the sites!!

 

[antmanb]

If it starts July I'll miss it unfortunately. But I do plan to go to Whitby (a Yorkshire coastal town) which I think should take me through the Moors.

I finally went to Whitby last year for the first time and really thought it was stunning. All the Dracula/goth stuff is really interesting and it's rare to find a town full of independent shops and no chains (except in the train station).

I recommend the fish and chips at the Magpie Café

 

[Lara]

Just wanted to say that I had a wonderful spring bank holiday weekend! Saturday I went to Bath (incredible, thank you @Erin - it was probably the longest trip I'll make but so worth it). Sunday I had to rest but saw the Tour de Yorkshire finish at the Headrow (I think @Garden Kitty will appreciate this). Then Monday I saw the cherry blossoms on the Stray at Harrogate and went on to the small town of Knaresborough. This pic pretty much says it all: https://imgur.com/a/xCPq4Nu

Finished it off with a concert from a band called Blossoms who just released their second album. Not sure if they'll ever play Montreal, so this was a fortunate chance. Very hot but worth it and the band tweeted "genuinely one of the best" after.

Unfortunately I couldn't see Derbyshire properly from the train, but if the weather's decent enough I think I'll go to Chatsworth House via Sheffield this Saturday. Everyone's saying how rare it was to have a beautiful bank holiday weekend so I really got lucky already!

 

[skatefan]

And here's day 5:

Tuesday (April 3) was my last day so tried to cover some spots I hadn’t seen yet. I started by taking the tube to Maida Vale, and walked to Abbey Road crossing. This is a random thing to recall, but sometime after moving back to Montreal I was playing around with Google Street views of London one evening and I’m pretty sure this was one of the spots I looked up. It still feels surreal to have been to these places in person! I was probably lucky in that it was relatively quiet. The crossing itself was pretty normal (I expect it’ll get repainted soon), but it was neat to see all the messages left on the adjacent gate wall for at least half a block, many containing Beatles song lyrics. I wonder how often it has to get repainted to allow for new ones?

Abbey Road live webcam https://www.abbeyroad.com/crossing?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 I hope you waved!!! It's funny to watch during the day as there's a constant stream of people walking across, taking photos of each other in Beatle poses. I guess the local traffic is well used to it by now

I’m on the train coming back from Edinburgh. I was ridiculously lucky with the weather - stunning is the only word to describe the scenery on the way and from the castle, I’ll never forget it. I love this country and feel like someone up there is actively making up for my not traveling much before.

I am so happy you love being here The weather is certainly showing everything at its best!

I'm pleased you enjoyed your Haworth trip - wish I'd known, I'd have met up with you

You are certainly making the most of your time over here, good for you!

 

[Peaches LaTour]

I am wondering if people in the U.K., are having a difficult time understanding your accent?

I believe you are an English speaking Canadian (?) and if so, you & I would have a similar accent as I am from the northern area of the U.S.

 

[Lara]

I am wondering if people in the U.K., are having a difficult time understanding your accent?

I believe you are an English speaking Canadian (?) and if so, you & I would have a similar accent as I am from the northern area of the U.S.

Hasn't been an issue, no (any difficulty could be easily due to my mumbling/lipsing anyway). And the vast majority of the time I've understood others fine fortunately.

Update - went to Chatsworth House last Saturday. Spectacular grounds, the places just keep being amazing. This weekend is the Royal wedding (will see what I do in the afternoon) and Oxford Sunday.

Only a month left.

 

[Lara]

After Sunday, the only answer I can give to "Oxford or Cambridge" is both. The Bodleian (including the Divinity school, Duke Humphrey's library , upper reading room and inside Radcliffe Camera) was incredible. I could also spend the whole day at Blackwell's. The colleges mostly all had pretty spots imo, and the dining halls of New College and Christ Church were .

And Bakewell puddings (not tarts) are to die for. Thank goodness they had some at Chatsworth but I'm tempted to go all the way back to the town now.

 

[Vagabond]

After Sunday, the only answer I can give to "Oxford or Cambridge" is both. .

Answer adjudged correct.

 

[Lara]

And so it ends. Waiting at the airport for my flight home.

Work got too busy at the end, but I managed to make it back to London over the late Spring bank holiday to see Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House. So beautiful!!! Then I met with @mella and @morqet for drinks which was very cool.

The weekend later I made it to Manchester, where I saw the cathedral, town hall, John Rylands library and the Science and Technology museum. I also celebrated my 40th bday , caught a couple concerts and went to Ilkley moor...

I genuinely wish I could stay longer. It’s been an incredible experience I’ll never forget, and am grateful to all those who made me feel welcome.

 

[BelleBway]

So happy for you, Lara! Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[Meredith]

Happy birthday, Lara! I'll bet this is one birthday you'll never forget.
Thank you for taking us along on your journey.