Trip around England and Scotland

Travel Diary

I had multiple opportunities of visiting England so far. But I usually only went to London for business or leisure trips. Many years ago I spent a lovely extended weekend in Wales. Also saw a few cities and places south of London. Therefore I always had the big plan to do a long roundtrip around England and – if time permits – also visit Scotland for the first time. In June 2015 I finally got the chance to do this. Spent about four to five weeks travelling around the big island.

In this article I will try to summarize the main route taken and main sights seen. Took about 7’600 photos of roughly 70 cities and sites.

Travel and accommodation was very similar to the Trip around the Western Coast of Europe last year. The main difference was of course that this trip was much shorter in duration and distance. Also I did not rent any apartments. Instead I relied completely on hotels. Travel between the cities and sights was by car.

Route taken

My overall goal was to go around the entire coast of England and Scotland. I also wanted to see important cities that are not directly on the coast. So I did not really follow the shoreline directly. It was more the natural boundary that led me around the island.

I would have loved to also include Wales in this trip. Unfortunately I did not have enough time. Also I already visited much of the southern parts of Wales about 15 years ago. Therefore I decided to skip this beautiful region. I only touched it slightly in the very North.

Took my car to drive from Germany to England. The first “driving-on-the-left-experience” with my German car thus started in Dover. From there I followed the coastline to the West until I reached Land’s End. Then I basically went straight north until I reached the Scottish highlands. Afterwards switched to the eastern side of the Island and went all the way back from Edinburgh down South to Dover.

Took the ferry from Calais to Dover when I went on the island. For the way back to the continent I took my car through the Eurotunnel.

The following list shows all the main cities or sites visited during this travel. It is not really an exhaustive list and it mixes cities, regions, buildings, etc. All entries marked in bold where locations where I stayed over night. The links lead to my picture gallery where you can find snapshots taken at this respective location. Please note that I have not uploaded all pictures to the gallery.

  1. Canterbury
  2. Rye
  3. Leeds Castle
  4. Bodiam Castle
  5. Hastings
  6. Beachy Head
  7. Brighton
  8. Arundel Castle
  9. Fishbourne Roman Palace
  10. Portsmouth
    1. Southshore
    2. Downtown
    3. Historic Dockyard
    4. Mary Rose Museum
  11. Isle of Wight
    1. The Needles
    2. Carisbrooke Castle
    3. Osborne House
  12. New Forest
  13. Stonehenge
  14. Stourhead
  15. Plymouth
  16. Eden Project
  17. Fowey
  18. Tintagel Castle
  19. St Michaels Mount
  20. Penwith
  21. Bristol
  22. Bath
  23. London
  24. Waddesdon Manor
  25. Hughenden Manor
  26. St Albans
  27. Hatfield House
  28. Blenheim Palace
  29. Oxford
  30. Warwick Castle
  31. Stratford-Upon-Avon
  32. Ludlow
  33. Llangollen
  34. Manchester
  35. Liverpool
  36. Blackpool
  37. Lancaster
  38. Kendal
  39. Holker Hall
  40. Wasdale Head and Windermere
  41. New Lanark
  42. Lowlands
  43. Culzean Castle
  44. Glasgow
    1.  Cathedral
    2.  Necropolis
    3. Downtown
    4. Haborside Museum
    5. Kelvingrove Museum
  45. Inveraray Castle
  46. Loch Ness
  47. Inverness
  48. Cawdor Castle
  49. Fort George
  50. Culloden
  51. Eilean Donan Castle
  52. Western Highlands
  53. Glenlivet Distillery
  54. Cairngorms
  55. Balmoral Castle
  56. Highland Games
  57. Doune Castle
  58. Stirling Castle
  59. Falkirk Wheel
  60. Edinburgh
    1. Edinburgh Castle
    2. Royal Mile
    3. St Giles Cathedral
    4. Camera Obscura
    5. New Town
    6. Scottish National Gallery
    7. Scottish National Museum
  61. Rosslyn Chapel
  62. Alnwick Castle
  63. Durham
  64. York
    1. York Minster
    2. National Railway Museum
    3. Treasurers House
    4. City Wall
  65. Chatsworth House
  66. Lincoln
  67. Cambridge
  68. Audley End House
  69. Eurotunnel
  70. Gent

Personal Highlights

Many things happened during these four to five weeks. Because every day was filled at least with one, two or three sites to visit, it really felt like several months. But there are a few things I will especially remember.

It may sound a bit stupid, but I only now really realized that England is an island. So far I always used a plane to get to London, etc. Never used a ferry before.
It may sound a bit stupid, but I only now really realized that England is an island. So far I always used a plane to get to London, etc. Never used a ferry before.
Simply love the simplicity of Bodiam Castle. It has probably the most simple and classical design possible for a medieval fortress: Rectangular base, four towers, two gates and a moat around it. This is how children would draw a castle. Brilliant.
Simply love the simplicity of Bodiam Castle. It has probably the most basic and classical design possible for a medieval fortress: Rectangular base, four towers, two gates and a moat around it. This is how children would draw a castle. Brilliant.
Still very much undecided if I like to dislike Brighton. The Royal Pavilion was quite nice. The city is trying to improve the crumbling attractions on the beach. I can definitely say that it is much nicer than Blackpool.
Still very much undecided if I like or dislike Brighton. The Royal Pavilion was quite nice. The city is trying to improve the crumbling attractions on the beach. I can definitely say that it is much nicer than Blackpool.
Did you know that the largest Roman Villa ever found north-west of the alps is in the south of England? Well, I did not. So it was a big surprise for me.
Did you know that the largest Roman Villa ever found north-west of the alps is in the south of England? Well, I did not. So it was a big surprise for me.
Was totally surprised by Portsmouth. Expected a typical run-down harbor city. Portsmouth is currently totally reinventing itself. Downtown and Southshore are beautiful. The Historic Dockyard and especially the Mary Rose Museum are brilliant.
Was totally surprised by Portsmouth. Expected a typical run-down harbor city. Portsmouth is currently totally reinventing itself. Downtown and Southshore are beautiful. The Historic Dockyard and especially the Mary Rose Museum are brilliant.
A negative highlight was Stonehenge. Was there many years ago. National Trust just tried to transform the site to be able to manage the floods of daily tourists better. The result is a giant shopping center with very limited information. The whole place is just overrun by tourist busses.
A negative highlight was Stonehenge. Was there already twice. Last time quite a few years ago. National Trust just tried to transform the site to be able to manage the floods of daily tourists better. The result is a giant shopping center with very limited information. The whole place is just overrun by tourist busses.
The Eden Project simply looks like a science fiction movie set.
The Eden Project simply looks like a science fiction movie set.
Big, bigger, Blenheim Palace. This enormous building is simply amazing and probably the largest "thank you" present I have ever seen.
Big, bigger, Blenheim Palace. This enormous building is simply amazing and probably the largest “thank you” present I have ever seen.
I am also still undecided if I love or hate Warwick Castle. The castle itself is huge and impressive. It is however owned by Madame Tussauds and they transformed it into a giant theme park. It seems to be very popular with children. So they obviously did something right here.
I am also still undecided if I love or hate Warwick Castle. The castle itself is huge and impressive. It is however owned by Madame Tussauds and they transformed it into a giant theme park. It seems to be very popular with children. So they obviously did something right here.
Really got used to a daily dose of cream tea.
Really got used to a daily dose of cream tea.
Liverpool is another harbor city that is currently reinventing itself. Really liked the new Liverpool. Was also very lucky with the weather.
Liverpool is another harbor city that is currently reinventing itself. Really liked the new Liverpool. Was also very lucky with the weather.
The Blackpool Tower Ballroom was just a surreal experience of glitter and gold
The Blackpool Tower Ballroom was just a surreal experience of glitter and gold
Driving through the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands was simply spectacular.
Driving through the Scottish Lowlands and Highlands was simply spectacular.
BEST CASTLE AUDIO GUIDE EVER. Terry Jones leads you through the history of the castle - and how Monty Python shot Knights of the Round Table here. Doune Castle itself is probably not so spectacular itself. But it has been Swamp Castle, Castle Anthrax and Camelot! I almost fell off the stairs giggling when listening to the audio commentary and movie excerpts.
BEST CASTLE AUDIO GUIDE EVER. Terry Jones leads you through the history of the castle – and how Monty Python shot Knights of the Round Table here. Doune Castle itself is probably not so spectacular. But it has been Swamp Castle, Castle Anthrax and Camelot! I almost fell off the stairs giggling when listening to the audio commentary and movie excerpts.
Feeling a touch of history on the rock of Stirling
Feeling a touch of history on the rock of Stirling
Harry Potter feelings at Alnwick Castle. Actually I found the main building with the family apartments much more impressive. But unfortunately it is not allowed to take pictures inside this splendid house.
Harry Potter feelings at Alnwick Castle. Actually I found the main building with the family apartments much more impressive than the park. But unfortunately it is not allowed to take pictures inside this splendid house.
Still cannot believe that I spent almost one day exploring the enormous Lincoln Minster.
Still cannot believe that I spent almost one day exploring the enormous Lincoln Minster.
Of course I was excited to use the Eurotunnel for the first time.
Of course I was excited to use the Eurotunnel for the first time.