England, Ireland and Scotland Tour - Part 1

with Scenictours in 2014

with stopover in Dubai on the way to England
Travel Europe 2014
Click England, Ireland and Scotland Tour Insert  

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Dubai, UAE (Stopover) - 22/25 May 2014
Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Dubai
A few days in Dubai to break the long trip to London.  Hot but enjoyable		 Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Dubai
Denis in the Dubai Shopping Mall - World's largest! Colleen in the Dubai shopping Mall - World's largest! Burj Khalifa - World's Tallest Tower View from level 124 of Burj Khalifa, World's Tallest Tower
Colleen and Denis, at the top of the world Gift Ship, Level 124, Burj Khalifa Old Dubai with its wind towers Denis and Colleen in a old Dubai street Colleen crossing the Creek on a Abra (Water Taxi) to the Gold Souk (Market)
Abra (Water Taxi) used for the Creek crossing to the Gold Souk The Gold Souk - Bits and bargains from all over the world Colleen outside a Gold Dealer at the Gold Souk View of Dubai from the Dubai Creek

Dubai looking over the water feature from the Shopping Mail
London, England - (Pre Tour, Day 1 and 2/Tour) - 25/28 May 2014
The Mayfair Hotel, London
Visited The Order of the British Empire (OBE) Chapel in St Paul's Cathedral and pick up the order tie and coat pin.  London was like viewing a monopoly board, all the bits were there!  Missed having tea with Liz, she was away on Holidays!		 The Mayfair Hotel, London
St Paul's Cathedral, London Colleen at St Paul's Cathedal, London Order of the British Empire Chapel, St Paul's Cathedral, London Steve our UK/Ireland Tour Director
Buckingham Palace Queen's Guard on sentry duty at Buckingham Palace Special Branch Police on guard at Buckingham Palace Cliff our UK/Ireland Coach Driver
Collleen and Denis outside Buckingham Palace Memorial to Bomber Command in Green Park, London Australian First and Second World War Memorial in Hyde Park Corner, London New Zealand First and Second World War Memorial in Hyde Park Corner, London
t this located which is now the New Zealand House One modern building spotted in London Colleen with London Bridge in the background Tower of London on the north bank of the River Thames in central London
Westminster Abbery Eye in the Sky, the Thames and in the background, UK Parliament plus Big Ben Colleen at the Ritz Australian First and Second Word War Memorial, London

London Bridge on the skyline
London - Bath (Day 3/Tour) - 28/29 May 2014
Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
Visted Stonehenge, the fascinating stone circle built in the late Neolithic period around 2,500 BC and also check out the Westbury White Chalk Horse on the edge of the Bratton Downs.  Toured Bath, including the 2000 year old Roman Baths and stopped at Britol to view SS Great Britian, the first steel hulled ship built.		 Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
Colleen and Denis at Stonehenge, England Poppies growing wild at Stonehenge Westbury White Chalk Horse on the edge of the Bratton Downs This bloke had been on his bike, for a while, in Bath!
Touring Bath on the topless Bus Denis going topless on the double decker bus in Bath Bath, England Colleen listening to the story on the 2000 year old Roman Baths in Bath.
The first steel hulled ship, SS Great Britain, in Bristol The first steel hulled ship, SS Great Britain, in Bristol Denis with the first steel hulled ship, SS Great Britain, in Bristol Colleen found John's missing laugage on SS Great Britian
Bath - Cardiff, Wales (Day 4/Tour) - 29/30 May 2014
Hilton Cardiff Hotel, Cardiff
Checked out the first of many Castles on the tour, in the CBD of Cardiff and then travelled to Fishguard to travel by Vehicle Ferry to Ireland.  Calm seas for the trip over the Irish Sea to Rossiare, Ireland.		 Hilton Cardiff Hotel, Cardiff, Wales
Cardiff Castle Colleen and Denis at the outer wall of the Cardiff Castle Narrow streets of Fishguard, Wales Vehicle ferry coming in to Port of Lower Fishguard, Wales to take us to Ireland
Cardiff - Waterford, Ireland (Day 5/Tour) - 30/31 May 2014
Granville Hotel, Waterford
Looked over Waterford and the old part built by the Romans. Denis kissed the Blarney stone at Blarney Castle and as instructed has sent forth with the "Gift of Eloquence".		 Granville Hotel, Waterford, Ireland
Denis in Waterford old Roman tower Blarney Caslte Colleen with Blarney Castle in the background Denis kissing the Blarney stone for the 'Gift of Eloquence" at the Castle top!
Waterford - Killarney, Ireland (Day 6 and 7/Tour) - 31/1 June 2014
Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney
Cold and wet day out exploring the Iveragh Peninsula AKA 'Ring of Kerry'.  Also checked out Muckross House, a mansion designed by the Scottish architect, William Burn.  The mansion was built in 1843 for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, the watercolourist Mary Balfour Herbert.		 Killarney Plaza Hotel, Killarney, Ireland
Irish Coffee morning tea stop  Colleen with the fox at the morning stop for Irish Coffee  Denis at the Charlie Chaplin stature at Waterville Village, Ring of Kerry Stop in Sneem Viillage for an ice cream
Caravan park in a cold windy spot, Ring of Kerry! Road junction high in the hills at Kenmare Village, Ring of Kerry! Muckross House  Ring of Kerry 

Ring of Kerry
Killarney - Athlone (Day 8/Tour) - 2/3 June 2014
 Sheraton Athlone Hotel, Athlone
Looked at another Castle "Bunratty Castle" which is a large 15th century tower house in  Bunratty Village, Country Clare, Ireland.  Also viewed the Cliffs of Moher, standing 214m at their highest point and stretch for 8 kilometres along the Atlantic coast of County Clare in the west of Ireland.		 Sheraton Athlone Hotel, Athlone
Colleen and Denis at Bunratty Castle in Ireland Master bedroom in Bunratty Castle Found a family member having a kip in Bunratty Castle Colleen outside a thatched roof house at Bunratty Castle
Cliffs of Moher along the Atlantic coast of Country Clare in the west of Ireland Cliffs of Moher along the Atlantic coast of Country Clare in the west of Ireland Colleen and Denis at the Cliffs of Moher Dry stone fences in Ireland
Athlone - Dublin (Day 9 and 10/Tour) - 3/5 June 2014
The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin
Before getting to Dublin we visited the Monastery of Clomacnoise in Country Offaly.  Great two day in Dublin, the capital and largest city in Ireland.  The Shelbourne was a very old classy hotel.  Great night in a Irish Pub and did a bit of Guineess trianing at the brewery.  We then did the vehicle ferry from Dublin to Holyhead on the Island of Anglesey, North Wales.  Carm seas again!		 The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
Monastery of Clomacnoise, Country Offaly, Ireland on the River Shannon. Founded in the year 546. Colleen and Denis at the Monastery of Clonmacnoise Monastery of Clonmacnoise Old building at the Monastery of Clonmacnoise has seem better days
Dublin, the capital and largest city in Ireland Dublin and horse buggies for hire Intersting transport for hire in Dublin On our way into Johnnie Fox's Pub for a great night of Irish dancing and drinking!
Inside Johnnie Fox's Pub - lots of pots hanging from the ceiling and other bits Denis and Colleen enjoying a night a Johnnie Fox's Pub and the Guinness Home of Guinness in Dublin Denis pulling a Guinness at the home of Guinness
Dublin War Memorial with a service under way for a visiting head of state Lunch at The Brazen Head Pub, Oldest Pub in Ireland - Est 1198 Back in England and the longest placename is located in the Isle of Anglesey Denis at Caernarfon Castle, a medieval fortress in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, north-west Wales
Dublin - Chester (Day 11 and 12/Tour) - 5/7 June 2014
The Chester Grosvenor and Spa Hotel, Chester
Another very old chassy hotel in the town that was founded by the Roman Empire in the year 79!   Old Chester still has the Roman fort wall running around it, with wall gates into the old fort area, crossing the cobblestone roads.  Walked the old town (old fort area) and visited another grand old Cathedal.  Great area the visit!		 The Chester Grosvenor and Spa Hotel, Chester
Old Roman wall and gate "The Eastgate" into the Old Roman Fort in Chester. The clock above commemorates the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897 Colleen outside Flight Centre in Chester, England Two Romans lads in Chester Old Roman bridge still being used in Chester
Old building and out houses in Chester Inside Chester Cathedal Glass windows in Chester Cathedal Houses and Units from the River Dee running thru Chester, England
Chester - Lake District (Day 13/Tour) - 7/8 June 2014
Lancaster House, Lancaster
Checked out Liverpool on the way to the Lake District, spenting time at the Beatle Story.  Also visited the Hillsborough Memorial at the Hillsborough Stadium.  During the FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest football clubs, a human crush resulted in the deaths of 96 people and injuries to 766 others on the 15 April 1989.   Steve our Tour Director, had a acting role in the soon to be released three part documentary and we got some good background info on the disaster.  Did a cruise around Lake Windermere, in the afternoon, which is the lagest lake in England. 		Lancaster House, Lancaster, England
Visited the Beaties Story in Liverpool, England  Colleen checking out the old Beatle Liverpool stage  Titanic, Yellow Submarnine and other house boats in Liverpool, England  Our Scenic Tour Group Photo, Lakes District, England
Royal Liver Building, Museum of Liverpool  Liverpool - Hillsborough Memorial for the fan losses on the 15 April 1983  Lake Windermere - The largest natural lake in England 18km long  One of the grand mansions or hotels on the shores of Lake Windermere, Lake District, England 
Lake District - Glasgow (Day 14/Tour) - 8/9 June 2014
Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow
We finally got to Scotland via the many lakes and stopped off a Gretna Green for lunch and a runaway wedding or two!  Visited the memorial to the Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am 103 in 1988 and on to Glasgow for another Cathedral visit!    Glasgow was in the final perparation for hosting the commonwealth games in 4 weeks after our visit.		 Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, Scotland
The roads are narrow in the UK and Ireland, with stone walls either side. Great skill required by the coach driver! Colleen at the grave of the acclaimed poet William Wordsworld in Grasmere, England Border of Enland and Scotland and the Old Toll Bar Denis and a scottish mate in Scotland
Colleen and Denis at Gretna Green which is famous for runaway weddings in the south of Scotland Memonial to the 270 victims of the bombing of Pam Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in Dec 1988. Now know as the Lockerbie bombing! Police phone box in Glasgow. One of the few surviving in the UK Glasgow city square almost ready for the commonweath games from 23 Jul-3Aug 2014. Just missed them by a month!
Glasgow - Inverness, Scottland (Day 15 and 16/Tour)
9/11 June 2014
Drumossie Hotel, Inverness
A most enjoyable day travelling thru the Scottish Highlands.  The visit to the Commando Memorial was very special.  The memorial  overlooks the WW2 training area, including the peaks of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor.  The area is still used to train Commandos, Royal Marines and Special Forces soldiers from other countries.  The Garden of Remembrance, at the memorial site, including tributes to love ones, from families and includes recent conflicts, such as the Falkland War and Afghanistan!   Loch Ness was also great with the old Urquhart Castle on its shores plus we both think we saw Nessie!		 Drumossie Hotel, Inverness, Scotland
Colleen and Denis near one of the Lakes in Scotland The Scottish Highlands Denis in the Scottish Highlands A scottish man in the highlands
Colleen in the Scottish Highlands Commando Memorial at Lochaber, Scottish Highlands overlooks the training area, including the peaks of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor Commando Memorial, Garden of Remembrane, including tributes to love ones from families and include recent conflicts such as the Falkland War and Afghanistan Colleen at Lock Ness in Scotland - Is that Nessie?
Denis at Lock Ness in Scotland - Is that Nessie? Urquhart Castle beside Lock Nes in Scotland - Present ruins date from the 13th to the 16th centuries! Commando Memorial at Lochaber, Scottish Highlands overlooks the training area, including the peaks of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mor

lake in the Scottish Highlands		 Scottish Highlands

Urquhart Castle on the side of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands
Inverness - Edinburgh, England (Day 17 and 18/Tour)
11/13 June 2014
Apex Waterloo Place Hotel
Big two days.  Photogaphed a red deer hind while out walking, before leaving Innverness.  Visited Cawdor Castle, the Speyside Cooparage, the Glenfiddich Distillery, Dunkeld Park, Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle.		 Apex Waterloo Place Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland
Red Deer Hind photogaphed by Denis while out walking early morning in Inverness Visited the 600 year old Cawdor Castle near Nairn in Scotland Scottish highland cattle at Cawdor Castle Speyside Cooperage, Scotland - The only working cooperage in the UK
Colleen's interest level is low at Speyside Cooperage, Scotland Glenfiddich Distillery, River Fiddich, Scotland - Good visit but confirmed we are not into whisky! Passing back thru the Scottish Highlands Colleen and Denis having morning tea at Dunkeld Park Hotel, Perthshire, Scotland
Falconry demo at Dunkeld Park, Scotland Colleen at Scone Palace, Scotland Colleen at Holyrood Palace, the offical residence of the British monarch in Scotland The bell on the Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh, Scotland
Colleen checking out the Royal Yacht Britanna in Edinburgh, Scotland Denis in the PO's Mess on the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, Scotland Edinburgh Castle, Scotland Denis doing a guard duty at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
Edinburgh - York (Day 19/Tour) - 13/14 June 2014
Hilton Hotel, York
York is a historic walled city with a rich heritage.  The city was founded by the Romans in 71 AD.   The York Minster is the largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe - dominates the city.  As the sun goes down the Canada Geese and the locals, come out to party!		 Hilton Hotel, York, England
Tour Director giving an overview on the old Roman Hadrian's Wall begun in AD 122 in Northern England  Old building in York, England  Old buildings and roads in York, England  Old bridge over the River Ouse in York, England 
Not real but looks good in York, England  York Minster, the largest Gothic cathedral in Nothern Europe dominates the City of York  Clifford's Tower, which is part of York Castle  Canada geese using a pedestrian crossing in York, England 
York - Stratford  (Day 20/Tour) - 14/15 June 2014
Alveston Manor, Stratford
Had a look at where Shakespeare was born. The tour had its farewell dinner at an old pub in Stratford.  On the way back to London, we visited Chartsworth House/Estate and the famous university city of Oxford.  		Alveston Manor, Stratford, England
Denis at the house Shakespeare was born in Stratford, England  Town Crier in Oxford, England  Colleen at the University of Oxford Shop in Oxford, England  Denis at the Oxford Bridge of Sighs, Oxford, England 
Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, England Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, England Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, England Chatsworth House and Estate

Stratford, England
Stratford - Oxford - London (Day 21/Tour) - 15/16 June 2014
The Mayfair Hotel
Arrived back London in the afternoon - ending the tour.  The following morning we flew to Amsterdam in the Netherlands, to join our Jewels of the Europe River Cruise Ship "Scenic Diamond".         See Part 2.		 Rabbits on the move to Europe
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Click Jewels of Europe River Cruise and Prague Tour (Part 2)
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