I've been to Great Britain in May this year and I've met some of you at Fiesta in the Park. I'd like to show you some photos of "your" country I took during the journey!

I started on May 10th in the early morning and after eleven hours of driving without a proper break I arrived at the port of Dunkerque.



The White Cliffs of Dover


I stayed for one night in Folkestone, on the next day I continued west to Falmouth.

Stonehenge. They tried to rob me more than 6 Pounds, so i took a photo from a path outside the area.
I knew the f2.8/70-200mm lens will be useful!


Dartmoor


Clapper Bridge, Postbridge, Dartmoor





Near Minack Theatre




Land's End








Trebah Gardens























After two nights in Falmouth my journey led me to Wales, on the way I visited the Newquay Zoo and Tintagel Castle

Newquay Zoo










Near Tintagel Castle




Tintagel Castle






Hamerton Zoo

 

Stunning pictures mate


Brian

 

Looks like you have a good trip with some excellent photos. Thanks for sharing them with us.

 

Your photos are excellent mate

 

Fantastic pictures, great quality aswell

 

Don't want to sound like a poof (as my mate puts it) or somthing but some people forget how beautiful our country is

 

On May 13th I arrived at my next stop after I visited the Newquay Zoo and Tintagel Castle and crossed the Severn Brige. A very old house near Abergavenny in Wales. Was hidden well on the side of a hill at the border to the Black Mountains but finally I found it! (http://brynhonddu.com/)

The owner of the "Brynhonddu Country House B&B" had some nice suggestions for me what to visit in the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Nearly all free of charge and no tourists there. Except me

Weather wasn't so fine during the day but it sure did suit the Black Mountains!


Partrishow Church (also named Patrishow or Patricio)

Position on google maps










Cwmyoy. Twisted Position on google maps











Llanthony Priory







Capel-y-Ffin. I still wonder about those teddybears inside???





Black Mountains





The White Castle



Raglan Castle

 

Great pictures mate, you've done a few miles!!

 

On May 15th I left wales and continued to the east again for Fiesta in the park. In the morning I visited Raglan Castle (see my last post). I stayed for the night at Peterborough and after I washed my car for FITP I had plenty of time left in the afternoon so I visited Hamerton Zoo (first post).

 

Blimmey didn't know england had places as nice as those in the pictures.

 

amazing pictures, looks like you had nice weather aswell.

i live near lands end and you really do just forget how amazing the local area is. hope you enjoyed your stay in the south west!

 

Very nice pictures, what did you think of our country on your visit?

 

Great pics there

 

After FITP I helped to fix a welsh MK2 XR2 and went to the north with some people from xrtwo.com. I stayed at Rotherham for the night and on Monday I headed for the main destination of my journey: Scotland!

I visited York, Falkirk Wheel and Stirling Castle while I was on the way. I spent the night at a wonderfol B&B at Denny near Stirling. I had plenty of time for the "short" way from Denny to Braemar, so I drove along the coast of Fife, crossed the Firth of Tay and reached Braemar in the late afternoon.


York Minster





That's the result of a proper equipment and an tripod! Much better than the crowd of japanese tourists with their small cameras and tiny flashlights












Near Falkirk Wheel












Stirling Castle. 9 Pounds. Quite a bargain. And they didn't tell me about the explorer passport from Historic Scotland. Got it the other day, ~ 30 Pounds and you can visit nearly 80 historic sites in Scotland for free.











Robert the bruce



Wallace Monument


Elie Beach, Fife. Sunshine, blue sky, green grass, lots of daisies, a sandwich and some Irn Bru. Do you need more to enjoy a lunch?

 

crikey ive lived here all my life and i dont think ive visited as many places as you have!
great pics mate and thanks for sharing them

 

Finally: Scotland. I've dreamt of visiting this country for more than 10 years now!



Dunnottar Castle













Somewhere near Brechin



Brechin Cathedral











Near Edzell Castle



Edzell Castle







Meigle



Meigle Sculptured Stones Museum



Elcho Castle. Very Nice!







Near the "Devils elbow", Cairngorms


Near Braemar





May 20th, big "Castle-Tour"

I started with Corgarff Castle early in the morning



Glenbuchat Castle





Kildrummy Castle







Balvenie Castle near Dufftown





Glenfiddich Distillery. Didn't intend to visit it, but it was free and while I was sitting at Balvenie Castle just right above the Distillery and having a sandwich I always had the nice smell of the Malt Whisky in my nose so I couldn't refuse. Wasn't so bad after all. Just waited for the crowd of German tourists get into the distillery (they ran and they behave like they were raiding the country, quite embarassing). For the rest of my journey whenever I was asked where I'm from I said I'm from Bavaria! Made most of the Scots smile because they know it's quite the same for them. Not too bad to be british, but still proud to be scottish
Well, I joined the next tour (in english language certainly!) and tasted some fine Single Malt Whiskys afterwards!











Huntly Castle







Got lost???



May 21st

Tomnaverie Stone Circle



Strathisla Distillery, Keith. What a difference to Glenfiddich!!!





Elgin Cathedral (or what is left of)















Dallas Dhu Historic Distillery

 

Some very nice pics esp the last one its 5mins from my house and i drive past it almost every day in life infact up to ten times a day depending lol.

 

May 22nd

Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle. Too crowded with tourists, even in the morning just after they opened the place. So I left soon!

















Bridge of Oich, Caledonian Canal. South of Loch Ness













I visited the southwestern point of the "island" and because I was near Inverness I decided to visit its north opposite also: John o' Groats. Weather wasn't so fine this day, so I didn't make much photos!

Cromarty Bridge











On May 24th I left Loch Ness and continued to the West.





Famous Eilean Donan Castle

 

Isle of Skye

Neighbours garden





B&B was small, cosy, cheap and well looked after! Also was the garden and the view of the Skye bridge was fantastic!





Next day, somewhere near Armadale





Clan Donald Centre

































Loch Dhugaill



Dunvegan Castle car park



Dunvegan Castle and gardens





















Uig Bay. Scenery (and weather) sometimes reminded me of a holiday in southern Italy years ago.



Expected to see more of them in the Highlands?







Tulm Bay



Near Duntulm Castle





North of Staffin Bay

 

On May 26th I left the beautiful Isle of Skye. I drove through Glen Coe and arrived at Loch Lomond in the early afternoon. Most people over here just talk about Loch Ness. But after I heard "Bonnie / The Fling Thing" of AC/DC on a live concert, I read some information about Loch Lomond and saw pictures of it I knew I have to visit it when I'm in Scotland!

We've got a lake over here just a few kilometers away from my home that looks nearly the same. But it's muuuuuuch smaller!





May 27th

Doune Castle











Dunblane Cathedral













Castle Campbell & Gardens





















Huntingtower Castle

 

May 28th. I slowly realised my trip is coming to its end. To shorten the way from Scotland to Dover I stayed in the Southern Uplands for two days.

Bothwell Castle







Dundonald Castle











Crossraguel Abbey















Cairnholy

 

great pictures could you do me a favour and send me the original of the picture of elie with the stone tower. grew up about st andrews and loved going up to the beach there.

 

May 29th. My last sightseeing day and the first day in the three weeks I've been unlucky with the weather! (still Southern Uplands)

Cardoness Castle





MacLellan's Castle







Threave Castle























Caerlaverock Castle



















New Abbey Corn Mill



Sweetheart Abbey

 

great pictures could you do me a favour and send me the original of the picture of elie with the stone tower. grew up about st andrews and loved going up to the beach there.

the_lad11@hotmail.com

cheers

 

wow great pics! you have seen more of the UK then i have and ive lived here 22yrs lol

 

On May 30th I left Gatehouse of Fleet and arrived at Folkestone in the early afternoon. I took a walk along the beach, had the same cheeseburger with chips like on the first evening and spent my last coins.

On May 31st Norfolklines left Dover at 6 o' clock GMT.
One eye laughing, the other eye weeping I was standing on deck of the ferry and watched the White Cliffs of Dover disappear.

And again - after eleven hours of driving through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria I reached home near the Austrian Border. The south-eastern district of Upper Bavaria.


Nearly 9.000 km on the road (~5.500 miles)
visited:
~25 castles
~10 churches, ruined churches...
~10 other tourist sights
4 whisky distilleries (including Dallas Dhu Distillery Museum)
4 gardens
2 animal zoos
1 Ford event

I really enjoyed my time in Great Britain!

One thing I didn't really expect: All the people I met over there were very friendly and helpful! Much more like at home!

Some people said that I'm insane, driving in my own car 1000 km to reach the ferry AND drive in Great Britain on the wrong side on the road. After I left the ferry in Dover I just wanted to go back onto the ship after I crossed the first roundabouts. But after a few kilometers of driving I got used to it. You aren't allowed to drive as fast as on german roads, I had the feeling it's less traffic than it is in Germany AND people in Great Britain take care of each other while being on the road. Over here everybody seems to be in a hurry while driving a car, taking absolutely NO care of the others and always insisting on his right, especially when driving a big or expensive car!

Food isn't half as bad as it's said to be! I tried haggis and a full english breakfast! Both were fine, everything else I tried also!

But the only thing you guys really don't know is how to make real beer! You're much better in making Whisky and Irn Bru!!!

 

bloody hell, youve seen more of britain than i have!! brilliant pics :P

 

Oh and I forgot: Thx for the comments, I'm glad you like the pics!!!

 

you have a truely fantastic catalog of pictures. i hope u enjoyed the epic road trip. alltho im not entirely convinced your actually in Great Britain, as the weather seeems far to good. i actually saw your car at FITP had no idea you were doing such a road trip lol. be gratefull you had that fiesta and not my FRST lol. very inspiring journey though well done

 

Yes, weather was much better than expected. Skin got darker every day!


The Fiesta ST was a fine car for this trip! Had a lot of fun in the highlands. The suspension is fantastic, probably the best you can get in a small car, although some people say it's too stiff for their back. Fuel consumption also was good (70 on motorways helped a lot I think), with 7,2 l/100 km it was about 15% less than usually, despite having the boot filled with clothes, photo equipment etc.

 

I live in the uk and im ashamed to say you have sean more of the uk in the short time you was over here than i have in my 41 years . and i must say you have sean some very nice places to tuck a lot of very nice photos ..VERY NICE MATE

 

What a fantastic road trip! Some really good pictures and sights.

I've travelled a fair bit around Scotland (not as much as you!) and I can never get over how beautiful it is (especially in the highlands). I'm planning on seeing more of the area once I move north to Aberdeen.

P.S. I laughed out loud at the Bavarian comment and you're liking of irn-bru!

 

Absolutely fantastic photos, the colours are so crisp and the focus so sharp. Do you do photography for a living or just a hobby?
Glad you enjoyed your stay on our little rock.

 

looks like you had a great trip

very good pics, but you could have been a bit more selective with which ones you pt up imo - too many flowers and churches for my liking

 

I have to blame it on the two lenses (quite a difference to cheaper lenses!) AND the good weather.

At the moment photography is just a hobby...


@ForeigneRS: There were so many flowers and churches! And castles. And countryside. And rocks. And the sea. And countryside. And narrow roads. Oh - did I mention the countryside?

 

Thanks for sharing this

 

awesome

as said you ahve seen more of this country than most of us and we live here

 

Wow, what an amazing road trip and pictures, you have seen far more of this country than I have and your pics make me realise this place has more to offer than we realise. Great photography skills too, very impressive.

 

nice pics, awesome quality too. Glad you enjoy our country that we all enjoy moaning about so much !!

one thing though.. you should have visited Essex.. few different types of er.. 'birds' down here

 

Yeah, and crappy V6 engines :P

I've seen much of your country but it was just a scratch on the top! Well... much left for the next trip