Hi LaMina

I don't know which ferry firm you intend using but I travel to the Uk from Germany on a regular basis and find that the ferry from Boulogne to Dover
is the cheapest and fastest (though of course the chunnel is faster but much more expensive) http://WWW.Speedferries.com

You may want to head north this time, for instance York with museums, interesting old shops and the Minster(cathedral) with the added bonus of being in easy reach of beautiful countryside. There are lots of places in the midlands worth a visit including the Cotswolds, Warwick and of course Stratford-on-Avon(if you look beyond the tourist hype). Can't give you much help with B&B as I always stay with relatives but most towns have websites which I think will include accommodation addresses.

we did the head up north thing before, a car tour through scotland and we mostly end up doing a more southern route because we have some friends on the south coast we visit for some days ... and you have to consider the miles you drive and the time it takes and the time you still have for other things, and well we might visit my best friend in wales, too,
not too sure about that,
but thanks for the ferry link

Salisbury and Winchester are both ancient interesting towns with Cathedrals and packed with history. They are not far apart (20 miles) and the countryside in between has lots to offer including Danebury Ring, an Iron Age Fort near Stockbridge (which is itself is interesting too, with galleries, antique shops, good places to eat and stay and the River Test famous for Trout fishing).

There is an annual Literary Festival at Hay on Wye (Welsh borders) which is packed with second hand book shops but the Festival focuses on all sorts. Not sure when it is but it could be July. I expect if you did a search you would find a site for it!

We visited Salisbury already, will look for more info on the other things you mentioned ...
will try for more infos on Hay, too
Thanks
Someone else having some ideas of things that are really worth a visit?
We are interested in most historical things and all ancient monuments, castles ruins, and landscape

If you think you may visit Wales and you like castles, then North Wales has some great castles built in the reign of King Edward I. Beaumaris, Caernarvon, Conway and Harlech Castles are all in very good condition and are all in the Snowdonia National Park area.

http://www.castlewales.com/beaumar.html
http://www.castlewales.com/caernarf.html
http://www.castlewales.com/conwy.html
http://www.castlewales.com/harlech.html

There is also the interesting, pretty village of Portmeirion, created over a period of 50 years in an Italianate style by architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis on a peninsular with stunning views across the estuary.

http://www.virtualportmeirion.com/
http://www.portmeirion-village.com/en/index.php

If you like gardens, you could also visit the famous Bodnant gardens which are owned by the National Trust and situated in the lovely Conwy valley.

http://www.bodnantgarden.co.uk/

Edited to add some links

On the way to/from N Wales you should visit Ironbridge in Shropshire. Well set up for tourists, lots of museums. Well worth a visit.

La Mina, I too would recommend visiting west/north Wales but with some interesting diversions on route. I've put some links for you at the end of the post which I hope might help and give you a flavour of the places I will mention.

The good part about this is that once you're up to the Midlands there really isn't a lot of driving involved in between places.

I swear that there are more book shops in Hay on Wye than there are permanent residents and it is now famous for it's book festival. It's a lovely little place, full of history and old monuments/building and there are lots of interesting places nearby such as the Brecon Beacons and lots of castles!

You could then head for the cathedral city of Hereford. A small city, lots of history and of course in the cathedral the historical Mappa Mundi.

Then a short drive up to the Black Country, the place that was once home to heavy industry and hard working people. The Black Country Museum is fabulous and gives a real insight into how people used to live. Nearby is Dudley Zoo, the now world famous New Art Gallery in Walsall, the various glass works of Stourbridge and Brierley Hill.

Whilst there you could also nip across to Lichfield with it's lovely cathedral and/or Tamworth with its haunted castle. Both places are only 15 minutes drive apart.

I also recommend the Ironbridge area and in particular the Ironbridge Gorge Museums. This is the place where the industrial revolution was born although some in the Black Country might argue that point! The countryside around that area is lovely in a very understated sort of way with places like Shrewsbury and Ludlow well worth a visit.

Then take the road to Wales! I suggest heading toward Machynlleth, the old ancient capital of Wales. There are lots of places of interest nearby including the Centre for Alternative Technology, Energy and Living. It is also your gateway to Snowdonia and the nearby magnificent mountain of Cader Idris. Lots of time is recommended to tour the inland mountains and the nearby coastline whilst slowly making your way up to northern Snowdonia and Conwy, Caernarfon, Angelsey.

Finally give yourselves a treat by relaxing for a day or so in a traditional Victorian holiday resort; Llandudno.

Whatever you decide to do, have a fabulous holiday and welcome!

http://www.hay-on-wye.co.uk/

http://www.hereford.gov.uk/

http://www.herefordcathedral.org/

http://www.bclm.co.uk/

http://www.blackcountrytourism.co.uk/

http://www.tamworthcastle.freeserve.co.uk/opening.htm

http://www.visitlichfield.com/

http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/

http://www.shrewsburyguide.info/

http://www.ludlow.org.uk/

http://www.cyber-space.co.uk/machynlleth/

http://community-councils.powys.org.uk/machynlleth/

http://www.eryri-npa.co.uk/

http://www.nwt.co.uk/english/coastal/what2dofs.htm

Blist Hill museum at/near Ironbridge, the best I've been to
Stratford
Warwick Castle

Derbyshire:-
Matlock Bath Heights of Abraham ( big hill and cable car to the top)
Buxton
Bakewell ( home of the real tart) Market day used to be Monday and is very busy
Haddon Hall
Chatworth House and gardens

South Wales:-
Tenby
St Fagans ( museum of Welsh life-not as good as Blist hill though)
Swansea, the Mumbles and all the coves around it.

Cornwall
Anywhere

Hi LaMina,

There is no need to `kill you` for your spellin..(oops, sorry `spelling`!).....it is better than some of my English friends!

I see that you have already visited Salisbury before (this is where I live) but I find that many people who come here only get to see the two main places of interest: Salisbury Cathedral and Stonehenge.

There is much more to see here in the way of historical sites.

I operate a taxi service and giving tours is only a very small (but interesting) part of my business so I have made a small website to give tourists an `overview` of what is available. There are links to some local information sites as well which may be useful.

Having your own transport is certainly the best way to get around in our rural area....it is only about a 45 minute drive to Avebury stone circle but it will take half the day zig-zagging around on different buses!

This is why some people use a day `taxi tour` if they only have a limited time here. Anyway, I hope that you will look around the site below and decide to take a look at our area again........Old Wardour Castle where some of "Robin Hood Prince of Thieves" was filmed, and Avebury Stone Cirlcle which is much more impressive (and free!) than Stonehenge perhaps. Or maybe the Roman Villa at Rockbourne justoutside Salisbury or Wilton House.

The beautiful historical city of Bath is not far from here and is a logical stop on your way to Wales and surrounding areas as detailed in a post above and as you are driving up from Dover, you will have to pass this area anyway.

My website is: http://www.salisburytaxi.com/

Whatever you decide, have an enjoyable holiday!

Regards,

Tony

Well what a wonderful site for Wiltshire/Hampshire attractions!

LaMina, this guy has done a fab job advertising this area and all the amazing sights we have here - all packed with history and some magic, you should seriously check it out!

TonyW - good on you!

bellaoz

thanks for all the great info here
and I didn't only see the cathedral and stonehenge, the weather was bad and we walked through the city quite a bit ...
and stonehenge isn't even that great, I thought avebury was a lot more interesting ...

Using the old post, as the trip didn't work out last year, but stands now.
Same question as before just that we do have a plan now ...
So we are finally managing to do a car trip again (last year didn't work out, cause of several visiting family members and stuff)
So same questions: Info, places to visit, tipps, links - tricks - good pubs, nice B&B places, scenic routes, traffic advice - whatever you find ...

We will take the Ferry from Calais to Dover on July 23rd - will arrive in Dover around 2pm I think - will try to get past London and up to Cambridge or thereabout on that day , then up to somewhere around York the next day, two nights in a B&B around York, then off to the Lake district - three nights (arriving there on a Thursday- will we need to prebook something? We usually search for the B&B stuff on the road, as we like to be spontaneous )
3 nights stay planned for the Lake District - then around Shrewsburry (again two nights ) - near Avebury (3nights), next planned quarter near Arundel- then the last two nights around Canterbury

We have been in Avebury, Arundel and Canterbury before - and kinda have some plans fixed for the time at Avebury and Arundel, and we definitely want to catch the sunday service at Canterbury Cathedral, apart from that we are still in the rough planing stage

Hi LaMina,

Aah, you haven't forgotten about the South West England, have you? Yeah, some might think nothing great happens here but then again we have warm weather and lots of different attractions. There's a free guide:

Great days out in south west

Being a patriot, I hope you will include South West in your tour

It's a long way but well well worth it....Northumberland.

Its about a 5 hour drive north of London

Alnwick Castle and gardens....very famous
Bamburgh Castle
Lindsfarne and Holy Island
Berwick and the Scottish borders.
Hadrians Wall
Newcastle and the surrounding area.

More than you could ever visit in a week!

Stopping between York and Newcastle lies the Land of the Prince Bishops (County Durham) with delights such as Durham Cathedral, and Beamish (An open Air Museum).

South & West WAles - Cardiff Castle , museum & millenium stadium. The big pit. Pembrokeshire National park, taking in the Tudor Merchant house at Tenby, the Norman Castle in the Ancient Borough of Kidwelly. The mumbles & Gower Coast, Margam Park & orangery - the list is endless.

on your way back you may like to try the EDENBRIDGE area of Kent here you will find many historic homes and castles including
Chartwell House [home of Winston Churchill]
Heaver Castle
Chiddingstone Castle
Knoll house
and a bit further south
Lamberhurst castle
Sissinghurst Castle

wizard