Tintagel Castle and Merlin's Cave

Tintagel, the legendary home of the equally legendary King Arthur, rises above the Celtic Sea like a lone sentinel of a bygone age.  Little remains of the early stronghold that once stood here.  Even the more recent castle has fallen into ruin and decay.  But for the Arthurian legend hunter or the romantic there is plenty to wet one’s imagination and start it churning.

Beneath the castle lies Merlin’s Cave where supposedly Merlin lived and taught Arthur when he was a boy.  It would have been one wet lesson though.  The cave is open to the sea and would be flooded at high tide.  However, the cave does have the feeling of a natural cathedral as the ceiling arches overhead and the walls are streaked with a white rock that gives it a “black with white” marble feel.

Tintagel is one of my favorite spots to visit in southwest England and is in every one of my plans to visit whenever I go over.  But there is one hitch in the visit that should be noted. 

If you have any issue with climbing lots of steps, many of which are uneven, or scooting over rocks, Tintagel Castle and Merlin’s Cave may not be the place for you unless you view it from a distance.  Tintagel Castle sits on a peninsula separated from the mainland by a deep cut in the rock.  The only way across is a footbridge and lots of stairs (over 100) up the cliff side.  As for Merlin’s Cave, the steps down aren’t too bad, but at the bottom you have to scoot over and around large boulders to get to the beach and cave.

If, however, these things do not worry you too much then Tintagel and Merlin’s Cave is well worth the visit.  Enjoy the romance and legends of the place and also the amazing views from the cliff side.  Take time to stop in at the visitor center and learn a little bit more about the island fortress and the legend.  And just have fun.

Oh, and one more thing…After all that climbing take advantage of the jeep service to take you back to the top where Tintagel Village (and your car) is.  You will find the couple pounds well spent.

For more information: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/tintagel-castle/

 Tintagel Castle and Ruins

 

Merlin's Cave

The Views

 

 

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“Mr. Holmes will see you now…”

If you are a Sherlock Holmes fan in any way, 221B Baker Street is the place for you.  Half museum, half living-quarters, the flat on Baker Street gives you both a glimpse of how Holmes and Watson would have lived in Victorian England as well as some of their many adventures.

After paying for your tickets next door and passing the “bobbie” outside 221B’s door, you’ll climb the stairs and enter Holmes’ sitting room.  Library, lab, and case room all mixed into one, this room is where Holmes and Watson would have heard all those chilling and troubling tales from their clients.  Have a look around.  The pipe, Persian slipper, and violin are all there.  See what other items from the stories you can find.

The second room is a bedroom, apparently Sherlock’s.  Makeup and items of disguise along with the other strange items that only seem to belong to a person like Holmes “litter” the room.

Up another level, you come to two more rooms.  These have a feel of private quarters, a second sitting room and office perhaps.  But these rooms house other artifacts of the times and adventures of Sherlock and Watson, including the wicker chair that Holmes sits in in the painting of him talking to Watson.  Not as exciting as the sitting room downstairs, but definitely interesting.

Finally, comes the “Name that Case” room.  Over a dozen of Sherlock’s more popular cases are portrayed in vignettes all around the large chamber, including “The Red-Headed League” and “The Hound of Baskerville.”  If you are an avid reader of Holmes’ cases or just like the challenge, try to guess which case you’re looking at before you read the plaque.  It can be a fun game with your travel companion(s) as well.

So do I recommend this place?  Definitely.  Would I go there again?  Yes, and probably anytime I was in London and could squeeze it into my schedule.  The visit isn’t long, but it is fun.

For more information visit: http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/

Sitting Room






 

Bedroom

 




Other Rooms

Bathroom(left), memorabilia(top), chamberpot and wicker chair (right)

 Guess the Case: Man with the Twisted Lip(left), Hound of Baskerville(bottom), Red-Headed League(right).

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Glastonbury Tor, The Isle of Avalon

One of the most famous and sacred landmarks in England’s West Country is Glastonbury Tor.  Its origins are firstly natural, but historically it was known amongst ancient Britons as the Isle of Avalon.  The name has inspired theories and speculations as to its connection to the legendary King Arthur as well as the Holy Grail.  But no matter its legendary connections, Glastonbury Tor is well worth a visit.

Rising over five hundred feet above the Somerset plains, visitors to the summit of the Tor can get amazing views of the land below.  On a clear day, the view expands to reach not only Somerset, but also the adjoining counties of Dorset, Wiltshire.

The climb to the top is difficult, but there are plenty of places for the weary climber to rest, including the St. Michael’s Tower.  Resting on the pinnacle of the Tor, the tower can be seen for miles welcoming all pilgrims and is all that remains of a church that once stood on the Tor until the Dissolution in the early 1500s.

If you like spectacular views, this is the place to visit, but give yourself time in planning this stop.  The road to the Tor is marked, but not clearly and the road both in town and to the entrance is very narrow.  The ascent can also take some time, particularly if you are not use to steep climbs.  That said, take time and enjoy your visit to Glastonbury Tor as well.

The Climb

With the Eagles

 

The View (above)

From St. Michael's Tower (right)

St Michael's Tower

from the assent (above)

looking up inside (right)

entrance (below)

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Chatsworth House

Do you like gardens or historic houses, museums or art galleries?  If you do, Chatsworth House is the place for you.  Chatsworth has all these things and more wrapped up in one tidy bundle.

Beauty and luxury can be found everywhere you look.  From the crimson dining room with its silver and crystal to the mahogany and gold library, Chatsworth lives up to it noble residency.

The first time I walked into Chatsworth, I stared agog at the massive and varied beauty around me.  Magnificent paintings soar overhead and wrap around the upper walls.  Where there isn’t a mural painting, there are statues and stone work or smaller works of art.  Sometimes you can find a piece or two of history in a hall or hanging on a wall, like an Egyptian plaque or a Greco-Roman fountain.

There are dozens of statues throughout Chatsworth House and more in the gardens.  Some of my favorites include “Achilles” and the Chatsworth lions.  But my all-time favorite is the “Veiled Vestal.”  The skill of the sculptor makes the veil over her face seem almost real.

The gardens are beautiful and extensive.  You could easily spend a whole day just exploring them.  And of course you must visit the Emperor’s Fountain.  Though it normally runs at only half of its potential power (originally shooting nearly 300ft high) the fountain and its lake are still impressive.

Chatsworth is full of things to see and places to explore.  Give yourself time and enjoy the beauty.

The Dining Room

The Library

One of the Ceiling Murals

The Main Stairs

The Chatsworth Lions

The Chatsworth Lions

The Veiled Vestal

Stable Courtyard

A Stall in a Stall?

The Cascade

A Statue

The Emperor's Fountain

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