Nigel's Photo Blog

        Cork Waterfront This evening, I am focusing on Cork in the south-west of Ireland . Cork is a good base from which to embark on tours taking in the likes of Tralee, Lakes of Killarney, Ring of Kerry , Bantry Bay and Blarney Castle . Image above shows the south channel of the River Lee looking towards Parliament Bridge. Places and sights of interest in and around Cork include: St Ann’s Shandon, a landmark which dates from 1722. Crawford Municipal Art Gallery. Cork Butter Museum. St Finbarr’s Cathedral Cork city Goal The Quays, once a busy waterway. Paul Street with ethnic restaurants. Shandon Quarter St. Finbarr’s Quarter Barryscourt Castle, a 15th Century Tower House. Desmond Castle and the International Museum of Wine. Inside Cork Pub    Cork Waterfront

 Introduction The island of Ireland offers the visitor a rich tapestry of history, culture and places to visit with one of our custom tours.There is something to be found in Ireland for everyone!   Cliffs of Moher An overview of Irish history Human occupation dates back to 7000 BC. The Celts arrived about 700 BC. A monarchy was established around the 1st/2nd centuries AD which produced the legendary Finn Mac Cool. St. Patrick introduced Christianity in the 5th century AD which led to building of monasteries in the 6th century and ultimately to illuminated manuscripts such as the 9th Century Book of Kells. The violent Viking incursions occurred during the 8th-10th centuries but, on the plus side, the Norsemen did found Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Wexford and Waterford. The Norman-English arrived 1170 which proved a precursor to a long period of English influence and entanglement in English upheavals such the 15th century Wars of the Roses and the 17th century Civil War when O

  Departing Cairnryan, Scotland This evening, I am reprising a sea crossing from Scotland to Ireland.Ultimate start and finish points were Glasgow and Belfast respectively. First, we travelled down the Ayrshire Coast to the ferry port of Cairnryan passing through Ayr , views of Ailsa Craig , Girvan and the golfing mecca of Turnberry.This section of the trip covered a distance of 108 miles. Next we connected with the Stena Super-Fast ferry to Belfast, a crossing across the Irish Sea which took about 2 hrs 15 minutes which was on time and smooth. Crossing Irish Sea to Belfast, Ireland. Spotlight on Belfast Lough, Ireland Arriving Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland. We arrived Belfast City Centre about 6.45 pm, checked into our hotel and then went for a pleasant fish and chip meal at a local pub, an outing which proved a good value experience and provided and opportunity to connect with an interesting local. Brennan’s Pub, Belfast Fish & Chips at Brennan’s Pub, Belfast

  Landscape view of Long Compton This evening I am reprising a day tour using Moreton-in-Marsh (England) as a base, I visited a wide range of Cotswold villages, medieval churches and other sites all with a ten-mile radius of my hotel. Many of the village churches date from around the 12th century AD and doubled as refuges and community centres.. At the time the only religion was Roman Catholic which was replaced by Protestantism and the Anglican Church after around AD 1540. First was a landscape view of Long Compton followed by a visit to a Bronze Age (1800-1500 BC) standing stone at Rollrigh t. Brionze Age standing stone at Rollright. Deformed shape is due to persons in days past removing small pieces for memento purposes. Then to the village of Long Compton and its lychgate and church. Long Compton Lychgate Long Compton Parish Church Next to the even smaller village of Barton on the Heath and its church which may have origins in the first millennium. Barton on the He

   View of the village of Upper Slaughter  Information on Upper Slaughter Location is just one mile from Lower Slaughter and is positioned on a gentle, grassy slope above the stream that connects the two villages. A Norman castle once dominated the village but all that is visible today are the remains of the motte and bailey. The village is dominated by an ancient, gabled manor house parts of which date from the 15th century. This building is now operated as a hotel. Upper Slaughter is known as a double thankful village due to all the then members of the armed forces surviving both World War 1 and World War 2. In 2011 a national magazine named the village's Eyford House as England's favourite.It is a classical, late 17th century Cotswolds home which was designed by Guy Dawber. Visitors can avail of local walking routes and/or visit other popular Cotswolds destinations such as Bourton-on- the-Water , Stow-on-the-Wold , Moreton-in-the-Marsh and Broadway.

Welcome to the Cotswolds, a very popular area within easy reach of London . Here can be found classic English villages, castles, palaces, gardens, dreaming spires of Oxford, Shakespeare Country, connections with the Roman period and much more.  Charlecote House Planning a tour of the Cotswolds To assist visiitors with itinerary planning a listing of key visitor sites and background information is provided below. The Cotswold Hills dominate the English counties of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire in what may be called ‘middle England’.The name  ‘Cotswolds’ could be derived from ‘Cod’s Wold’, after an early Anglo-Saxon farmer. The Cotswolds comprise a limestone dominated belt of upland which separate South East England from the English Midlands. This wealthy landscape has been occupied by man for thousands of years the legacy of which is manifested in Long Barrows, Stone Circles, Roman Villas, richly endowed ‘Wool Churches’, mansions, quaint cottages and stone-walled fields.

  Glenariff, Northern Ireland This evening, I am reprising a tour of Northern Ireland's Antrim coast. First, we departed our lodgings in Belfast and drove north to Carrickfergus where we spent an enjoyable hour or so visiting the medieval castle, which has a long history of occupation. A team of archaeologists was at work there, uncovering the history of the castle. Carrickfergus Castle, Northern Ireland Next, we continued north along the stunning coastal route which afforded views of the Scottish Coast and Ailsa Craig . Our next stop was the delightful small town of Waterfoot where a very helpful pub owner provided hints and tips. We visited the adjacent Red Bay and viewed the remains of Red Bay Castle on the coast. Red Bay Castle, Waterfoot, Northern Ireland Video clip of Red Bay.     Waterfoot, Northern Ireland Next we turned west along the stunning Glenariff, the Queen of Glens. This afforded superb photo opportunities. After about 3 miles we found a wonderful h

First,we departed our Bath lodgings and then drove east to Avebury . Here we found a vast prehistoric site containing a stunning collection of ancient stones of excessive size coupled with a huge earthwork enclosure with four entrances.  This is the largest stone circle in W. Europe which surrounds the remains of the 5th and 7th such circles. Here, the inner north and south circles date from around 2800 BC, the outer circles and earthwork from around 2600 BC and the two avenues from around 2400 BC. Avebury Prehistoric Site   Avebury Prehistoric Site, Salisbury Plain Avebury Prehistoric Site, Salisbury Plain After Avebury, we moved on to nearby Stonehenge which is the world’s most famous circle comprising a combination of engineering, astronomy and symbolism. At Stonehenge the sequence of construction was as follows: 3200 BC- a spacious earthen ring or ‘henge’ with a central timber setting and an outlying stone. Site briefly abandoned around 2400 BC. 2200 BC-two unfinis