Author Archives: Jennie

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 87

Monday, 26 June 1978

Cold, windy, some showers

Through Hay-on-Wye. Back road came to a toll bridge (7p) over a canal. The WHITNEY toll bridge.

To Hereford and Worcester through rich rolling country to Stratford. Place full of tourist buses to see Shakespeare’s cottage that has been set up as a tourist attraction. Town very busy.

Shakespeare’s birthplace

Down to Stow-on-the-Wold. Old buildings around a square. Meal at White Hart £8 [Ed. I had some great meals here when I visited in 2000]. Stayed with Mrs Heatt – very good H&C £3.50 ea.

Stocks in Square at Stow-on-the-Wold

Our B&B at Stow

In the village at Stow

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 86

Sunday, 25 June 1978

Cold, cloudy, occasional showers

Breakfast 9.00. Drove to Llyswen and bought skirt and heavy jumper – to be sent to Australia.

 

Cattle moving through the main street of Llyswen Wells

Onto Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre. A special centre for the use of visitors – cafeteria, picnic facilities, showers, rest centre. Very well set up with a wonderful view of the Beacons in the distance. Beacons – an unusual outcrop of red sandstone pushed up many years ago.

 

To Merthyr and to Abergavenny where [we] tried to find Llangua where Marion’s cousin lived. Inquired at bus depot – talked with the mechanic. Place was 11 miles out on the Hereford border. Passed through the place and came back. Went up a road for miles – came back – the place Elsie asked at turned out to be where Paddy and Tony Wollan lived. (5.00pm).

Stayed for tea. Tony had had a throat operation and has his larynx removed (12 months ago).  His partner had had open heart surgery. Both families live in very large house (300 years old in parts) that used to be coach house. – 7 bedrooms upstairs. Dining and a couple of lounge rooms. Paddy showed us the large sideboard (£13) on a solid stone floor. The cellar and bar (of old inn) were below in another room down below they have a full size billiard table.

Back through Talgarth to Builth Wells.

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 84

Friday, 23 June 1978

Wet (VERY)

Set off to Mt Snowden. Very heavy rain as we went through the Llanberis Pass. Very rugged cliffs but could not see much. Saw the rack and pinion steam engine that goes up the mountain but cloud was very low.

To Carnarvon Castle. The walls very impressive but much restoration work has been done. In one tower an exhibition of the development. Built in time of Edward I between 1280 and 1320s. The city wall completed in 4 years.

Inside Carnarvon Castle

The dias where Charles was installed as Prince of Wales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another tower has the story of the crowning of Charles as Prince of Wales. Special chairs sold as souvenirs – slate dias, slate chairs for the crowning.

Very cold and windy in the passageways. Lunch on the quayside.

Saw the 3 bridges of Castle Conwy – rail, suspension bridge (1833) and new road bridge.

Pouring rain. Back up Conwy valley. Looked at shirts – bought little purses in Llanberis.

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 83

Thursday, 22 June 1978

Through Peak National Park (Blue John Cave near Castleton – peat stone). Mountainous country. Confused on way near Chapel – in to Frith and Congleton and coming out of Wrexham.

To Betws-y-Coed in mountainous country. Rocky – stream through village.

Cattle move down the main street of Llyswen Wells

B&B £3.75 / £3.50. Walk up the river side.

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 82

Wednesday, 21 June 1978

Drizzle and very heavy rain

Big breakfast.

Heaviest rain we have driven through. Rolling country to Skipton. Some climbing through the Yorkshire Dales.

Harrogate – a very large city. Difficulty in finding the Tourist Info Centre so that we could find Grove Road for Elsie to visit her aunt in Convalescent home. Molly (94) very excited to show us her room and the home. Uses stick but manages 2 flights of stairs quite well. Took a couple of photos.

Molly

To York and looked at the cathedral. Very light sandstone. Visited the undercroft where they put cement foundation to support one of the towers that was moving. Stainless steel pins 63ft long go through the concrete. Now a museum as they uncovered Roman foundations.

Couldn’t find [a] B&B [so] heading to Sheffield Royal Victoria Hotel (£25) without bath. You have to miss out sometime.

Jim and Elsie’s 1978 Tour – Day 81

Tuesday, 20 June 1978

Breakfast at 8. Early start.

Gone about 4 miles when we discovered we had left this book, maps and papers in the bedroom.

Returned and joined a traffic queue of about 3/4 mile into Stirling. Picked up the motorway and fast travelled to Gretna Green. Bought some jumpers £75 each.

By passed Carlisle and headed for the Lakes District. Lake, bare hills with sparse trees. Trees along edges of lakes. Suddenly came upon Keswick a large bustling tourist town. Cars everywhere. Difficult to park. Had our rolls in a national park wooded area near the lake.

At Windermere walked a little of the town and then drove down to the wharf area. People everywhere walking the streets. Many people coming off and around the area where the excursion boats leave.

Pretty drive through the tree lined roads to Kendall and to Kirkby Lonsdale – a neat little town – narrow streets and a square and lots of eating places. Stayed with Mrs Bradshaw. The Parko’s and Batto’s had left there that morning. They had come back and had 2 nights.

Excellent accommodation £3.50 each.