UK
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Angel Hotel (Cardiff): A review – Standard Double Room
About Angel Hotel The Angel Hotel in Cardiff City Centre is a well-established hotel with 102 guestrooms, event spaces, meeting rooms, a restaurant, a café and conference space. The original hotel dates back to 1666 when the original coaching inn was built for mail coaches to serve Cardiff. The current building is a Victorian-era one…
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St Conan’s Kirk: Argyll’s Hidden Gem (Scotland)
As you head towards the Scottish Highlands and the Hebrides, you no doubt will have to pass through parts of Bute and Argyll – an absolutely beautiful area that is also defined by mountains, islands, lochs and more. There are also some amazing historical sites – Rest and Be Thankful, Ardchattan Priory, and McCaig’s Tower,…
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Best Western Fowey Valley: A review (Lostwithiel, Cornwall)
About Best Western Fowey Valley Best Western has been operating in the UK for over 30 years now, offering a series of independently owned and operated hotels. Located just a 10-minute drive from the Eden Project, this modern hotel in Lostwithiel offers free Wi-Fi, an outdoor heated pool, free parking, and an on-site restaurant. All…
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The Falkirk Wheel: A Wonder of Modern Engineering
Scotland is a land steeped in history, from ancient castles to storied battlefields. Yet, nestled in the heart of the country lies a marvel of modern engineering that seamlessly blends innovation with the charm of the waterways: the Falkirk Wheel. A Canal Conundrum For over a century, a logistical headache plagued central Scotland. The Forth…
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Unveiling Dunollie Castle: History, Haunts & Breathtaking Views
Standing sentinel over the Scottish coast just below the Scottish Highlands, Dunollie Castle tells tales of a bygone era. Steeped in history that stretches back to the dawn of Gaelic kingdoms, it was a seat of power for the Clan MacDougall. In its heyday, it witnessed battles, power struggles, and the ebb and flow of…
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Eden Project, UK – The Eighth Wonder of the World
There are some things that humans have made in the name of science that are just amazing. One example is Biosphere 2 for climate change and space research in Arizona. Another is the Eden Project in Cornwall, England. History The Eden Project arose out of an idea from 1996. At a site in St Blazey,…
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McCaig’s Tower, Oban, Scotland – The Scottish Amphitheatre
Located in the Scottish Highlands, the port city of Oban is the gateway to the Hebrides. McCaig’s Tower stands tall on Battery Hill overlooking the city and the bay. McCaig’s Tower was the idea of John Stuart McCaig, a banker who wanted to do two things: The result is McCaig’s Tower, which is an open…
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Pen y Fan, Wales – At the head of the Valleys
In the centre of Wales lies Brecon Beacons National Park, which contains a mountain range of the same name (Brecon Beacons). One of these mountains is Pen y Fan. Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in central and southern Wales. It sits just southeast of the town of Brecon, which is related to the…
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Arduaine Garden, Scotland – A slice of the world
Just south of Oban lies the Sound of Jura. Overlooking the Sound is Arduaine Garden, which contains plants from around the world. Established in 1898, it was a time when people were becoming very interested in plants from other parts of the world. Here native plants mix with those from the tropics and Asia. Tropical…
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Ardchattan Priory, Scotland – A garden of contemplation
Ardchattan Priory sits approximately 10 miles/16 kilometres outside the port city of Oban in Scotland. Its history dates back to its founding in 1230. History Ardchattan Priory resulted from Duncan MacDougal, the Lord of Argyll, located in Dunollie Castle. He invited the Valliscaulian Order to set up a local priory. They had been given a…
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Bridge Over The Atlantic, Scotland – Clachan Bridge to the Island of Seil
Just south of Oban in Scotland lies a bridge built in 1792. Connecting the Island of Seil to mainland Scotland, the bridge is known as Clachan Bridge. It gets its name from the body of water it crosses, which is the Clachan Sound. However it has a second name, which is the “Bridge over the…
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Falkirk Kelpies, Scotland – A tribute to Scotland and strong horses
Situated between the towns of Falkirk and Grangemouth in Scotland, the Kelpies are an art installation by Andy Scott, an artist of renown famous for his other installations around the UK. This installation is of two “kelpies”. The myth behind the Falkirk Kelpies A kelpie is a mythical creature said to be like a seahorse…
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Rest and Be Thankful – Scotland A83
Picture it: 1753, just after a recent Jacobite rebellion; General Wade had the task of subjugating Scotland. One of the many things they built were roads to improve connectivity, This would allow troops to move faster and react to these crises in the future. One of the results was Drover’s Road (the old A83) and…
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Tintinhull Gardens, England – Weekend Paradise
Set amongst the rolling farmland of Somerset, TIntinhull is a house/gardens combination; it sits in the tiny village of the same name. To visit the house you have to rent it from the National Trust and stay there for at least 3 days. As a result it is not open to the general public. The…
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Brean Down, England – Down to the Sea
On the Somerset coast just outside Weston-Super-Mare is a small holiday village: Brean. Apart from the beach and holiday homes, there really isn’t much there. There is just one exception: Brean Down. History Brean Down formed about 60,000 years ago at the end of the last Ice Age in southern England. Glaciers retreated across the…
