Thank God for ensuring our safety on the roads (and wherever we went really) on our trip. We are grateful for this opportunity to do a final round up of UK via a road trip around the northern part of UK, before we pack up. It was a beautiful and very enjoyable trip.
Here's a pic of the route we travelled...
View Larger Map
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
On our way back
After the adrenalin rush of completing the round at St Andrews, we sat ourselves down for lunch, picked up a latte and started our way back down to Harrowgate for the night. About a 4 hr drive (where we took turns to have a snooze) and we were soon at our B&B. Good thing it was also a pub, so we managed to get some dinner conveniently and hopped into bed straight after. What a crazy day.
Home of Golf
St Andrews - where it all started. We hurried to bed early by 945pm when we heard the hotel receptionist telling us that she had news that the queues to get on for a round started at something like 430am! The alarm rang at 2am and when we got up to snooze it, my logical mind said this is ridiculous, should we really get up and go? Snuggled back into bed and then after some thinking, dave just said, let's do it! So we jumped quickly out of bed, got a shower, and set off at 247am, arriving at the Starters tee box at about 3am.
Lo and Behold, Dave was 4th in the queue! We were quite shocked to find other fellow enthusiasts earlier than us! First guy arrived 245am! We took out our portable chairs, wrapped up... and we sat out in the cold... gosh it was windy (being by the sea). This had better be worth it we thought to ourselves.
Slowly more and more ple rocked up in the dark... think it went up to number 27. It was absolutely madness but fun. I was the only non player sitting out there in the cold, they said I was dedicated, haaaa..... Thinking about it now, I prob was the most crazy person. Am sure the Americans and Aussies would remember me as part of their golfing tour 2011!
One of the guys plays off scratch and ended up playing to -3. He was very talented. Dave had a good round too and played below his handicap, so he was beaming. Good on him. Like usual, I was taking pics and videos.
Even walking the course, it was just as enjoyable...had a great time. The queue was worth it and it was certainly an experience for us.
Off he goes....1st tee
One of the most scary tee shots in golf, the 17th Road Hole - Lots of wind, but Dave cuts across the hotel and hits the fairway! Phew!
Lo and Behold, Dave was 4th in the queue! We were quite shocked to find other fellow enthusiasts earlier than us! First guy arrived 245am! We took out our portable chairs, wrapped up... and we sat out in the cold... gosh it was windy (being by the sea). This had better be worth it we thought to ourselves.
Slowly more and more ple rocked up in the dark... think it went up to number 27. It was absolutely madness but fun. I was the only non player sitting out there in the cold, they said I was dedicated, haaaa..... Thinking about it now, I prob was the most crazy person. Am sure the Americans and Aussies would remember me as part of their golfing tour 2011!
One of the guys plays off scratch and ended up playing to -3. He was very talented. Dave had a good round too and played below his handicap, so he was beaming. Good on him. Like usual, I was taking pics and videos.
Even walking the course, it was just as enjoyable...had a great time. The queue was worth it and it was certainly an experience for us.
Off he goes....1st tee
One of the most scary tee shots in golf, the 17th Road Hole - Lots of wind, but Dave cuts across the hotel and hits the fairway! Phew!
Monday, 29 August 2011
Inverness & Lochness
After a sumptous brekky of porridge + fruit, bacon, free range eggs, her home made sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, we set off from Culbokie to Inverness and then down to Lochness (hope it will not be a no show with the Lochness Monster).
Heard the hype about these 2 spots.... let's see what lies ahead...
Inverness town centre was much about shopping. Lochness visitor centre was not worth a visit. Quite silly really inside. They could have done a better job!
Heard the hype about these 2 spots.... let's see what lies ahead...
Inverness town centre was much about shopping. Lochness visitor centre was not worth a visit. Quite silly really inside. They could have done a better job!
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Culbokie
Most relaxing part of our trip where we stayed on the Netherton Farm in Culbokie, about 10mins north of Inverness. A very cosy home, room with a view of a wheat farm, chickens running about and 4 wild boars. It was so quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of city living. Romy, our host made excellent porridge and great bacon and eggs just the way I like it. Eggs were from the chickens running about too ...haa.. She was also very hospitable and easy going. There was something about her I just liked.
Dinner was just up the road at the Culbokie Inn. The food was absolutely delicious such that after Romy's recommendation for the first night, we went back the second night! it was so fresh, delightfully presented and most important of all tasty!
It was rainy the second day, nonetheless we drove out to The Falls of Shin, in hope to catch some salmon swimming and jumping up stream. To our surprise, we sighted a few! Here's a video, watch carefully and be patient....
Dinner was just up the road at the Culbokie Inn. The food was absolutely delicious such that after Romy's recommendation for the first night, we went back the second night! it was so fresh, delightfully presented and most important of all tasty!
It was rainy the second day, nonetheless we drove out to The Falls of Shin, in hope to catch some salmon swimming and jumping up stream. To our surprise, we sighted a few! Here's a video, watch carefully and be patient....
Isle of Skye
Have you been? It's undoubtedly a place you might consider visiting or driving through because the scenery is breath taking. The pics below speak for themselves..
Friday, 26 August 2011
Glasgow
We arrived at the Mint Hotel about 10pm, had our ever ready (and ever yummy) Korean instant noodles and a cuppa hot chocolate. Caught up on some sleep and took off about 11am the next day towards Isle of Skye.
Stopped by an outdoor sports shop in the city and slipped into the King Tuts for a quick bite. We had the last seats at the bar. So popular it was such that it was totally booked out on a friday for lunch. Food must be good, and it turned out that it was! Would have been nice to have some gigs on during lunch time.
Stopped by an outdoor sports shop in the city and slipped into the King Tuts for a quick bite. We had the last seats at the bar. So popular it was such that it was totally booked out on a friday for lunch. Food must be good, and it turned out that it was! Would have been nice to have some gigs on during lunch time.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Port Belfast back to Port Stranear
Boarded Stenaline ferry departing 5pm, arriving at 720pm at Stranear. Dave was flat out as you can see after an early start to the day with the golf game, he is taking a cat nap on board the rather comfortable ferry. Even took his travel pillow with him!
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Alarm set for an unfriendly time of 6ish... so that we could get down for brekky at 645am and zip off by 725am as we make our way to Royal Port Rush Golf Club for a tee off time at 930am. Fancy bumping into Darren Clark (his home club here)! He was having some practice sessions on the putting greens with hmmm his coach? caddy?
The views on Royal Port Rush Golf Club were truly amazing, the course has been maintained to a very high standard (with the green fees reflecting this as well) and the course design made it exciting for play.
Someone joined up with Dave, and they exchanged emails and promised to exchange photos. I was paparrazi again, snapping away....
The views on Royal Port Rush Golf Club were truly amazing, the course has been maintained to a very high standard (with the green fees reflecting this as well) and the course design made it exciting for play.
Someone joined up with Dave, and they exchanged emails and promised to exchange photos. I was paparrazi again, snapping away....
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Causeway coastal route...to Carrick-a-rede...to Giant's Causeway
Similar to the Great Ocean Road in Melbourne..... this is an excellent scenic drive. Fresh sea breeze, few cars, small village towns, just simple and unassuming.
World Heritage site of unusual Basalt rock formations at the Giant's Causeway....
(pic to follow)
And watch this video of our walk on this bridge fisherman made to catch the salmon as they swam past....
World Heritage site of unusual Basalt rock formations at the Giant's Causeway....
(pic to follow)
And watch this video of our walk on this bridge fisherman made to catch the salmon as they swam past....
Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Royal County Down Golf Club
Rated as 4th best golf course in the world and Dave thought he would give it ago as we do not know when we will be returning to London and if so would we go all the way to Northern Ireland to play this course. So it will be done on this road trip!
2:36pm Tee off time.
Very pretty. Mountain back drop view, no wonder it is so highly rated.
Dave lines up for a eagle putt on the par 5 first, but misses it!
Famous par 4 9th with magnificent mountain backdrop and sea views
2:36pm Tee off time.
Very pretty. Mountain back drop view, no wonder it is so highly rated.
Dave lines up for a eagle putt on the par 5 first, but misses it!
Famous par 4 9th with magnificent mountain backdrop and sea views
Monday, 22 August 2011
Stranrear (aka Stra-de-mere-mere)
We gave this spot our own nickname of "Stra-de-mere-mere".
Had a 4 hour drive from Lake District. Along the way, we stopped off at Carlisle to pick up some fruits from Iceland and then to Boots to get a sunscreen as we had forgotten to pack this along with us on our trip. Walked into Cotswold outdoor shop and managed to get a Gortex jacket which we kinda suspected would come in handy on the trip (Which it did, esp with the wind whilst walking the links golf courses, rain..etc). Good buy.
Alas, we arrived at our B&B at about 9ish. Hungry we were and attempted to look for some food nearby but no luck, as it was a pretty quiet village. We picked this place as it was just 2 mins drive to the Port of Stranrear where we were to board the 2hr 50mins ferry to Northern Ireland. We decided to take out our instant noodle back up rations and happily had it with fresh water cress. Yummmzz.
Woke up early at 630am for a very very wholesome and well presented brekky at 730am for our ferry which we had to be at the port for by 830am. Ferry departure time was 930am and off we went driving the car up into the ferry! Our first experience.
Had a 4 hour drive from Lake District. Along the way, we stopped off at Carlisle to pick up some fruits from Iceland and then to Boots to get a sunscreen as we had forgotten to pack this along with us on our trip. Walked into Cotswold outdoor shop and managed to get a Gortex jacket which we kinda suspected would come in handy on the trip (Which it did, esp with the wind whilst walking the links golf courses, rain..etc). Good buy.
Alas, we arrived at our B&B at about 9ish. Hungry we were and attempted to look for some food nearby but no luck, as it was a pretty quiet village. We picked this place as it was just 2 mins drive to the Port of Stranrear where we were to board the 2hr 50mins ferry to Northern Ireland. We decided to take out our instant noodle back up rations and happily had it with fresh water cress. Yummmzz.
Woke up early at 630am for a very very wholesome and well presented brekky at 730am for our ferry which we had to be at the port for by 830am. Ferry departure time was 930am and off we went driving the car up into the ferry! Our first experience.
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Lake District
I was let in on this beautiful spot in the UK by a work colleague before we embarked on our UK adventure. It has been 4 years since wanting to make this visit to the Lake District. Truly amazing place. We based ourselves (for 2 nights) at a small village town called Ambleside which is at the northern most tip of Lake Windermere (UK largest 'mere').
We did a day's walk from Ambleside to Grasmere, passing by a few pretty lakes, and our legs were crying out as we needed to loop back to our starting point! We were initially going with some walking instructions but got side tracked and our walk seemed to be 50% longer! haa.. but it was fun... a way to keep fit and make up for the loss of exercise for us in 2010.
Foodwise, we also found a liking to a thai restaurant in the village and had it for 2 nights in a row. It was chilli padi type of spicy and was loving every bit of it. Quite surprised the English could handle this level of chilli-ness!
Many hiking shops were on sale as well and we couldnt help but pop our heads in... to have a wander.
Good call to be at this smaller scale village as the main tourist spot at Bowness on Windermere was much too crowded for my liking. Took a 45mins cruise into Lake Windermere and witnessed the picturisque mountain ranges in the background. Noticed lots of ple walking and cyling on the pathways alongside lake, making it a really nice holiday destination for a family with kids! Also picked up a few items in the Beatrice Potter shop! This place is so serene, no wonder she had so much inspiration for writing her ever so famous children books.
A really nice place to visit - The Lake District. Thumbs up.
We did a day's walk from Ambleside to Grasmere, passing by a few pretty lakes, and our legs were crying out as we needed to loop back to our starting point! We were initially going with some walking instructions but got side tracked and our walk seemed to be 50% longer! haa.. but it was fun... a way to keep fit and make up for the loss of exercise for us in 2010.
Foodwise, we also found a liking to a thai restaurant in the village and had it for 2 nights in a row. It was chilli padi type of spicy and was loving every bit of it. Quite surprised the English could handle this level of chilli-ness!
Many hiking shops were on sale as well and we couldnt help but pop our heads in... to have a wander.
Good call to be at this smaller scale village as the main tourist spot at Bowness on Windermere was much too crowded for my liking. Took a 45mins cruise into Lake Windermere and witnessed the picturisque mountain ranges in the background. Noticed lots of ple walking and cyling on the pathways alongside lake, making it a really nice holiday destination for a family with kids! Also picked up a few items in the Beatrice Potter shop! This place is so serene, no wonder she had so much inspiration for writing her ever so famous children books.
A really nice place to visit - The Lake District. Thumbs up.
Our first stop
Bicester Village - Factory outlet.
Well, not quite intentionally but since it was on the way, and we were on our hols... we thought might as well,... drop by to have a wander.... (excuses to do some shopping)
Well, not quite intentionally but since it was on the way, and we were on our hols... we thought might as well,... drop by to have a wander.... (excuses to do some shopping)
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