PokeyMindy
500+ Posts
My sister and I had a wonderful "Adventure Before Dementia Sister Trip" July 13-28th. Everything went well, although a bit too hot and humid for our tastes. But, we didn't let that get us down! We drank more refreshing Pimms with Blueberry and Elderflower!
We enjoyed Aer Lingus and would fly them again. Transfer in Dublin was easy and we were able to relax with a coffee and sweet treat.
We stayed in London for 2 nights at http://vancouverstudios.co.uk/en/home and HIGHLY recommend it there. Great location and wonderful staff. I do want to return to London and explore a bit more. "Panda" (Susan) from Slowtrav met us and she was our tour guide for a day. So much to see in London!
I'd bought our tickets for Moreton-in-Marsh from https://www.thetrainline.com/ beforehand and easily had them printed out for both our trip to the Cotswolds and then to Edinburgh. I asked at the information station in Paddington Station how to go about printing them and the nice young lady did it for me. Brilliant.
Our week in the Cotswolds (based in Chipping Campden) was AMAZING. We went on Kathy and Charley Wood's http://www.european-experiences.com/cotswolds-england/. We had the best time and our group (11 people) got along very well. Kathy and Charley do a wonderful job and took us to some very off the beaten path places which we all enjoyed. The gardens (Kiftsgate and Hidcote were jaw-dropping gorgeous)! Our accommodations at the Lygon Arms in Chipping Campden were fabulous. The NICEST STAFF ANYWHERE and the FOOD WAS SPECTACULAR....I'll dream of Sticky Toffee Pudding for years to come....and Pimms, my new favorite summer thirst quencher.
The day our tour ended my sister and I had a driver take us to the Birmingham train station where we caught our train to Edinburgh. We splurged for First Class (really though it wasn't that expensive because I bought the "super saver" (or whatever they're called) tickets in advance on Trainline. GREAT SAVINGS if you buy ahead.
WE loved Edinburgh and especially where we stayed; at http://www.thevictoriantownhouse.co.uk/ Aileen, the bubbly and hysterically funny owner, is the best. I know I've made a new friend for life. It's a small place (only 3 rooms). Small breakfast room and her breakfasts are so yummy!! I forget who recommended this place but THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. 5 stars and brava brava brava!
Before our trip we contacted http://www.eyes-on-scotland.com/ and were very lucky to have John Duthie as our driver/guide. We LOVED him...especially because he a wore a kilt! Haha. Through emails he knew in advance that we wanted to visit Cathcart and the Old Parish church where our maternal grandmother grew up and married. He went beforehand and did some research and arranged for us to get into the old grounds where the OLD Old Parish church remains are located. We walked around the graveyard where our sweet "Mamie" played with her girlfriends when she was a little wee lass. We then went across to the "New" Old Parish church and saw the Proclamations of Marriage entry with our Grandparents names from 1918. Pretty cool.
After we left Cathcart we spent time in Glasgow, https://peoplemakeglasgow.com/things-to-do/museums-galleries/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum, http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Tenement-House/ and the http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/scotland-street/pages/default.aspx.
We had a great Walking Tour in Edinburgh with http://www.localeyestours.co.uk/ Emma, our guide, was a delight. It was a great way to be introduced to such a wonderful city. We also went to Edinburgh Castle (buy tickets ahead of time to avoid long lines).
Another highlight was our visit (with friends who live in Edinburgh) to see The Kelpies! Magnificent! http://www.thehelix.co.uk/things-to-do/the-kelpies/
Also a visit to the glorious and interesting http://www.rosslynchapel.com/ Da Vinci Code anyone? LOL
and a visit..whew! to https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/linlithgow-palace/
I will definitely return to both London and Edinburgh...and the Cotwolds...yes. I think I left a little bit of my hear there.
Thanks so much for reading this long report!!
Mindy
(I'll try to post photos soon if I can figure it out). If not, I will post links to my photos on Flickr.)
We enjoyed Aer Lingus and would fly them again. Transfer in Dublin was easy and we were able to relax with a coffee and sweet treat.
We stayed in London for 2 nights at http://vancouverstudios.co.uk/en/home and HIGHLY recommend it there. Great location and wonderful staff. I do want to return to London and explore a bit more. "Panda" (Susan) from Slowtrav met us and she was our tour guide for a day. So much to see in London!
I'd bought our tickets for Moreton-in-Marsh from https://www.thetrainline.com/ beforehand and easily had them printed out for both our trip to the Cotswolds and then to Edinburgh. I asked at the information station in Paddington Station how to go about printing them and the nice young lady did it for me. Brilliant.
Our week in the Cotswolds (based in Chipping Campden) was AMAZING. We went on Kathy and Charley Wood's http://www.european-experiences.com/cotswolds-england/. We had the best time and our group (11 people) got along very well. Kathy and Charley do a wonderful job and took us to some very off the beaten path places which we all enjoyed. The gardens (Kiftsgate and Hidcote were jaw-dropping gorgeous)! Our accommodations at the Lygon Arms in Chipping Campden were fabulous. The NICEST STAFF ANYWHERE and the FOOD WAS SPECTACULAR....I'll dream of Sticky Toffee Pudding for years to come....and Pimms, my new favorite summer thirst quencher.
The day our tour ended my sister and I had a driver take us to the Birmingham train station where we caught our train to Edinburgh. We splurged for First Class (really though it wasn't that expensive because I bought the "super saver" (or whatever they're called) tickets in advance on Trainline. GREAT SAVINGS if you buy ahead.
WE loved Edinburgh and especially where we stayed; at http://www.thevictoriantownhouse.co.uk/ Aileen, the bubbly and hysterically funny owner, is the best. I know I've made a new friend for life. It's a small place (only 3 rooms). Small breakfast room and her breakfasts are so yummy!! I forget who recommended this place but THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. 5 stars and brava brava brava!
Before our trip we contacted http://www.eyes-on-scotland.com/ and were very lucky to have John Duthie as our driver/guide. We LOVED him...especially because he a wore a kilt! Haha. Through emails he knew in advance that we wanted to visit Cathcart and the Old Parish church where our maternal grandmother grew up and married. He went beforehand and did some research and arranged for us to get into the old grounds where the OLD Old Parish church remains are located. We walked around the graveyard where our sweet "Mamie" played with her girlfriends when she was a little wee lass. We then went across to the "New" Old Parish church and saw the Proclamations of Marriage entry with our Grandparents names from 1918. Pretty cool.
After we left Cathcart we spent time in Glasgow, https://peoplemakeglasgow.com/things-to-do/museums-galleries/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum, http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Tenement-House/ and the http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/scotland-street/pages/default.aspx.
We had a great Walking Tour in Edinburgh with http://www.localeyestours.co.uk/ Emma, our guide, was a delight. It was a great way to be introduced to such a wonderful city. We also went to Edinburgh Castle (buy tickets ahead of time to avoid long lines).
Another highlight was our visit (with friends who live in Edinburgh) to see The Kelpies! Magnificent! http://www.thehelix.co.uk/things-to-do/the-kelpies/
Also a visit to the glorious and interesting http://www.rosslynchapel.com/ Da Vinci Code anyone? LOL
and a visit..whew! to https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/linlithgow-palace/
I will definitely return to both London and Edinburgh...and the Cotwolds...yes. I think I left a little bit of my hear there.
Thanks so much for reading this long report!!
Mindy
(I'll try to post photos soon if I can figure it out). If not, I will post links to my photos on Flickr.)
