Punting on the River Cherwell, Oxford

I had a unique experience of punting once when a friend of mine in Oxford invited me to do punting on the Cherwell River in Oxford. I had never done this before.

Trying my hand at punting on the Cherwell River, Oxford

A punt is a flat bottomed boat with a square bow and punting is boating in a punt by use of a long pole to push against the river bed to push the boat. 

Now Cherwell is an ideal river for punting, rowing and canoeing as the water current is slow and there are no power boats. River Cherwell is a tributary of Thames and meets Thames at Oxford.

Getting stuck due to inexperience!

It may seem easy to punt but in reality it is very difficult to steer and keep it in the right direction if you are not experienced and may very well take your punt into very shallow area or the bushes. Also though going downstream is easy but taking the punt upstream needs lot of strength.

Victoria Arms, a pub on the Cherwell is popular halting point

About 30 minutes upstream of the Cherwell boat House is the Victoria Arms, a pub where punters stop by to relax and have a beer or other refreshments. Oxford being a student-centric town punting is a fun activity for the students and I saw several punts in which people were having fun and taking alcoholic beverages.

Punting and having a good time!

The Cherwell Boathouse has over 70 handcrafted punts that were made here itself. Rowing boats and canoes are also an option. One can hire a punt for about 12 to 14 pounds per hour. Each punt can accommodate a maximum of six persons.

The Punts at the Cherwell Boarthouse, Oxford

It was a real good experience of punting in the picturesque locale of Oxford as on both sides of the river you see green stretches and there are ducks floating on the river!

Albert Dock and Pier Head, Liverpool

Liverpool used to be seafaring giant once upon a time and Albert Dock was an important dock in the Merseyside in the North West England.

The view of the Old and the New Liverpool from Albert Dock

Liverpool was a gateway to the world and Transatlantic slave trade happened from here (even there is a museum to that effect). At the Albert Dock there is a maritime museum called the Merseyside Maritime Museum.

An old ship at Albert Dock

The Pier Head is a good place to go for long walks. There is a ferry service also going to the Isle of Man which I could not take as I reached the pier after the last one was about to leave so that is on my agenda for the next time. 

Pumphouse at the Albert Dock

Also on this stretch one sees old buildings as Liverpool is almost an 800 year old city mixed with ultra modern ones with lots of museums and also The Beatles Story (Liverpool being the birthplace of the Beatles). 

An anchor in front of the Merseyside Maritime Museum

From the Merseyside I could even see The Liverpool Cathedral as it is located on higher land and it is a huge structure.

A fire-escape on a warehouse 

Walking along the Merseyside next to the Albert Dock as well as the Pier Head is a soothing experience and there are plenty of options for rest and refreshments.

The Lusitania propeller, 1909

The propeller in the above photo is one of the four propellers from the Liverpool based passenger liner RMS Lusitania built in 1907. The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine on 7th May 1915 killing 1201 people off the coast of Southern Ireland. At that time it was the fastest vehicle reaching the shores of America in 4.5 days. This propeller was fitted in 1909 to increase her speed.

Love-locks on the Merseyside

I also saw next to the Merseyside on the chains next to the waterfront people putting padlocks on the chain. These are also called the lovelocks which people come and put for their sweethearts everlasting love. I have seen this also on the Great Wall of China and several other places.

A statue next to Merseyside

And there are number of statues depicting life of people.

Also read:
The Liverpool Cathedral
St. George’s Hall, Liverpool

A Walk in the LAKES - The Ambleside Walk

I would count Lake District among the most beautiful areas of England abounding in outstanding natural beauty with several large and small lakes, hills and undulating plains.

Sailing Boats on the Windermere Lake at Ambleside

One of the areas in the Lake District is the Ambleside. It lies between Windermere and Grasmere. One can reach Ambleside after getting down from the train at Windermere and taking stagecoach after that.

Come on in, the water is beautiful, marathon swimmers at the start of their swim at Ambleside

The Windermere Lake at Ambleside is popular amongst the long distance swimmers and I saw these four swimmers who started their marathon swimming of 21 miles! Now most people cannot even run that distance leave aside swimming. When I enquired I was told that they would go from this end of Ambleside all the way to Windermere and back and would reach only in the early hours of morning. They were starting their race late in the evening. These events are organized by The British Long Distance Swimming Association (BLDSA).

Rowing in the beautiful Windermere lake at Ambleside 

I also saw several persons rowing on the lake. The lake is surrounded by hills increasing the visual effect of the place. The Windermere lake is 17 km long and is probably the largest in the United Kingdom.

Streets of Ambleside are lined with flower beds

The town itself is not very big but the roads are lined with flower beds increasing the beauty of the place. Most of the town buildings are still Victorian.

A riot of colours, Ambleside

The trees during the season were of various shades of green, red, yellow, purple and brown. On the lake besides the rowing and swimming activity I saw several sailing boats as well though most of them were without the sails probably because it was already late in the evening.

I hope I am able to again visit The LAKES soon and do some hiking in this land of poets.

Also Read-

A Walk in the LAKES - The Keswick Walk
A Walk in the LAKES - The Windermere Walk
A Walk in the LAKES – The Grasmere Walk

Manchester - An Amalgamation of Old & New

As the FIFA World Cup is currently going on in Brazil the football (or soccer as it is called in some parts of the world) fans have of course heard of Manchester as a Mecca of football with two clubs - the Manchester United and the Manchester City – producing some world class footballers. David Silva and Vincent Kompany play for the Manchester City whereas Wyne Rooney and Robin van Persie play for the Manchester United.

The Old & the New, Manchester

But this post is more about the Manchester City as a town and not as a club. The city came into prominence during the industrial revolution mainly due to the textile manufacturing. Therefore one sees lot of old buildings with beautiful architecture.

Old Church with new Arndale building

The buildings specifically notable are the Manchester Town Hall and several old hotels like the Midland Hotel etc. But now when one visits Manchester one sees very old buildings with the ultra modern and new glass buildings side by side.

Selfridges and Harvey Nichols buttressing an old structure in the middle

The city also has several museums and art galleries. It is also a leading educational hub with three universities – including the University of Manchester and the Manchester Metropolitan University – providing lot of options to the students.

An old building dwarfed by the City Tower building

Though I am not too fond of shopping but to others Manchester could be a heaven for shopping with lots of malls and big names like Selfridges keeping all the top brands under one roof.

Manchester Street Market

But competing with these are also the Manchester weekly street markets selling all kinds of wares!

Another old building surrounded on all sides with modern structures

Manchester is also known for a bustling night life with several pubs and clubs. Sometimes it does lead to a law and order problem late in the night.

Manchester Metrolink

One can commute to all these places either on foot or by an excellent bus service. The trams are also a good way to see the city quickly. The Manchester metrolink is the largest tram system in UK spanning a route of 77 kms.

Wellington Statue with a modern building in the background 

The city is far from London but has the Manchester International Airport that serves most of the cities of North England like Manchester, Lancaster and other Lancashire towns and cities.

A Visit to an Organic Farm

I have been to plenty of farms in India and abroad but this time I got an opportunity to visit an organic farm in the Lancashire region in England.

Cows roam freely in the Gazegill Organic Farm

The world over farming is increasingly using chemical fertilizers and pesticides which are harmful for the body. Compared to this the organic farming relies on natural methods and is sustainable and good for the environment as well as the product is good for animal and human consumption. 

A stream with bridge inside the Gazegill Organic Farm

I visited the Gazegill Organic Farm situated a few kilometres from the town of Clitheroe. We were met at the farm by the owner Mr Ian O’Reilly who was kind enough to take us on a tour of his farm. 

The ownder Mr Ian O'Reilley

We put on high gum boots as several parts of the farm had muddy water which would have spoiled out city shoes! The farm is spread over several acres and the grass is probably 700 years old and has not been uprooted since then and is only sheared periodically so that it retains its true value over the years and it is this grass which the cows eat roaming freely in the open instead of tied in a cowshed producing excellent quality of milk. 

Cow with calf in a shed

Only cows with new born calves are kept under a shed. The owner explained that he does not feed anything extra to the cows to increase their milk output by artificial means. There were probably around a hundred cows. He has set up his own milking and chilling unit. Even the meat products that he sells are organic in nature.

A huge pig at the Gazegill Organic Farm

The farm is located in a beautiful undulating area with small streams flowing within the farm and the view of the Pendle Hill in the background adds to the beauty of the area. 

View of the Pendle Hill from the farm

The grass is sheared periodically and I could see bales of grass piled high wrapped in special bags which retain the moisture of the grass inside so that when they are opened to be given to the cows in the winters it is as fresh as when it was cut as it had retained their moisture.

Bales of grass stacked in special moisture retaining bags

Mr Ian O’Reilly had a good knowledge of the flowers and herbs that were growing naturally on his farm. The grass with flowers and herbs when eaten by the cows produce high quality of milk.

Also read: Clitheroe Castle, Lancashire

Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland is a treat to one's eyes. The Garden is just a couple of miles away from the city centre and can be reached either by cab or bus.

Beautifully landscaped Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

The Garden remains open from 10 Am to 6 PM in summers. There is no entry fees for the garden and only the entry to the glasshouse has a charge of 5 GBP. Within the garden one is transported from various different climates from equatorial to Scottish Highs.

The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

If one gets tired while walking within this 70 acre of beautifully maintained garden then there are plenty of benches spread all over the garden to sit and relax. Else if you want to grab a bite then there are three restaurants/coffee houses.

Flowers in the Garden

The landscaping has been done in such a manner that there is a small stream flowing within this garden with waterfalls and lakes in between. The lakes have several ducks . The garden is also host to several bird species.

A waterfall within the Botanic Garden in Edinburgh

I saw some plants whose single leaf was as big as an adult human being. There are various kind of cherry  plants as well as rhododendrons.

A Place to sit & relax? But how do you reach it?

In one of the lakes I saw this platform with a few chairs on it but I wondered how does one go there or is it only ornamental? Of course the reflection it created in the water was very pleasing. There is a big section devoted to Chinese plants with Chinese huts also built for an added effect. Within the gardens are the huge beech hedges reminding me of the Harry Potter movie.

Cherries in the Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

The Inverleith House within the gardens normally is the venue of exhibitions for the new works of artists though no exhibition was on during my visit. The Royal Botanic Garden was opened in 1670 and in the previous century three regional gardens were acquired. These are the Benmore, Dawyck and Logan gardens.

The Temperate Palm House

The tall glasshouse (about 72 feet high) contains some very tall palms. Within the glasshouse ten different climate zones have been recreated so the overall experience is not only soothing to the eyes but educational as well.

Also read:
Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh
Edinburgh's Calton Hill - Athens of the North
Old Calton Cemetery

A Walk in the LAKES – The Grasmere Walk

The Lake District in England is probably the most beautiful in the whole country for outdoor activities be it trekking, cycling, mountaineering, hiking or just walking.

St. Oswald Church & Cemetery, Grasmere - resting place of Wordsworth

While coming down from Keswick I got down at Grasmere to spend some time here walking in and around the village by the same name as well as the beautiful lake.

St. Oswald Church, Grasmere

Grasmere is not only famous for its natural beauty but also because it was also home to the famous writer and poet William Wordsworth. His grave is part of the St. Oswald Church and the adjoining cemetery. 

Grasmere Street with hotel Wordsworth

The church is small and looks quite old but has beautiful surroundings and it is just nice to sit inside as well as outside the church for some time to soak in and enjoy the tranquility of the place. There is even a hotel by the name of Wordsworth Hotel & Spa to attract the tourists! 

Rothay River Walk, Grasmere

Next to the St. Oswald Church I took the Rothay River Walk which is a small but beautiful walk one can have. After this I just followed the banks of the lake and continued walking in the general direction that will take me towards Ambleside. 

Ducks next to the Grasmere Lake

Next to the lake I saw several large ducks and I was able to go quite close to them. The lake is about 1.5 km long and more than half a km wide. 

Grasmere Lake

It is fed by the Rothay river which flows through the village before entering the lake waters. The path took me to some forested area. 

Grasmere Walk 

I came out of the forested area next to a small water channel where some persons were deeply engrossed in their hobby of angling. 

Angling in Grasmere

I ultimately came out of the woods and crossed a road and saw this small waterfall very close to the bus stop from where I took the bus reluctantly for my next destination – Ambleside.

Waterfall, Grasmere

Also Read- 

A Walk in the LAKES - The Keswick Walk
A Walk in the LAKES - The Windermere Walk

Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh

I was staying in the Edinburg University in Edinburgh, Scotland and I had this magnificent view of a hill nearby called Arthur’s Seat.

Arthur's Seat

It was too tantalizing for me and I therefore decided to go hill walking on it as I knew I could get spectacular 360 degree views from the top and also it would be a good small trek as well.

View of Edinburgh Castle from Arthur's Seat

Now one can make this trek an easy hill walking one or if one desires then can take a straight route up make it a moderate trek and that is what I decided. Though while coming down I took a circuitous route along this 640 acre Holyrood Park.

A Water body inside Holyrood Park , the City in the middle and the North Sea in the background

The hill is a dormant volcano and has wide range of flowers and plenty of bird life as well..

Flowers in Holyrood Park

Also I could see two fresh water bodies inside the park. The Duddingston Loch had several water birds in and around it.

Duddingston Loch

The Arthur’s Seat rises 251 meters above the city and therefore also visible from Arthur’s Seat is the North Sea as well as the Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace which is the official residence of the Queen of England and  the Scottish Parliament building.

Holyrood Palace

From the Holyrood Park I could also see clearly the the Calton Hill considered as the Athens of the North and therefore I decided to go to that volcanic hill also the next day.

Calton Hill from Arthur's Seat

If one is a rock climbing enthusiast then the Salisbury crags can throw some good challenges at you. As the rocks are loose be careful and do wear protective gear.

Salisbury Crags

It is advisable to carry your own water bottle and eatables as these are not available anywhere inside the Holyrood Park. Also do carry additional layer of clothing if you intend to stay on the top for some time as it becomes quite windy on the top.

Also Read:
Edinburgh's Calton Hill - Athens of the North
Old Calton Cemetery