GO TO ENGLAND'S WONDERLAND'S THIS SUMMER WITH ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS...
12:11:00
Good Afternoon Lovelies,
And how are we all today? I am off out on an adventure of a
lifetime. Bit of a clue there on where I could be going or more precisely who I
could be seeing aha! But before that adventure begins it is time we went to
Wonderland together.
Because I have a brand new feature to share with you all
celebrating the amazing places around the UK. I will admit lovelies that I did
not write it because I think the writer deserves the credit but I wanted to
share it with you all. It is a nice feature to get inspiration from for your
next travels.
Enjoy…
You don’t have to go abroad for adventure, right here in
England we have our very own natural wonderlands that are just waiting to be
explored. To celebrate the release of Disney’s Alice through the Looking Glass,
in cinemas now, Visit England compiled a list of our very own weird and
wonderful wonderlands to explore this summer, right here in the UK. You never
know you might even meet the Mad Hatter along the way!
Rebecca Lowe, Head of PR at VisitEngland said, “from
exploring the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, to discovering Margate’s
enchanting underground Shell Grotto, our map of England’s very own natural
wonderlands shows that, just like Alice, you don’t have to travel far to find
hidden worlds on your doorstep. We hope it will encourage Alice through the
Looking Glass fans to create their own fairy-tale experience this summer.”
Take in the wonder-land of Shanklin Chine, Isle of Wight: Explore
the route from Shanklin Old Village to the sandy beach and esplanade far below,
and see The Isle of Wight’s oldest attraction Shanklin Chine carved over the
course of 10,000 years. After the arrival of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
the popularity of the Chine grew, and was frequented by European Royalty,
becoming a ‘must’ on every Victorian’s itinerary. Perhaps Underland’s very own
White Queen has paid the Chine a visit? For a truly magical experience see
Chine Lumiere at night across the summer where hundreds of lights will
illuminate the narrow paths, streams and waterfalls of the gorge making a
spectacular for all those who visit. www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/things-to-do/shanklin-chine-p147941
The dramatic quarry at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens,
Northumberland: The beautiful Belsay Hall holds hidden secrets in its dramatic
quarry garden, complete with ravines, pinnacles and exotic plants. Belsay Hall
has been in the same family since the 13th century - owned by gardening
enthusiast, Sir Charles Monck and his grandson Sir Arthur Middleton. The grade
I registered heritage garden in Belsay Hall’s extensive grounds has been
restored with a real attention to detail. Seasonal trees, shrubs, and flowers
ensure brilliant colour throughout the year. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/belsay-hall-castle-and-gardens/
Discover the magic of Puzzle Wood in the enchanting Forest
of Dean: Get lost in the unique and enchanting 14 acre ancient wonderland of
Puzzle Wood in the Forest of Dean; a maze of meandering pathways, gulleys of
mossy rocks, twisted roots of yew trees and fantastic rock formations. Reputed
to have inspired JRR Tolkien’s fabled forests of Middle Earth and used as a
location for Dr Who, Merlin and Atlantis, it’s a wood unlike any
other. www.puzzlewood.net/index.php
A garden delight, Acorn Bank, Cumbria: Best known for its
incredible herb garden with over 250 varieties of herbs, vegetable patches and
traditional fruit orchards, Acorn Bank would make the perfect setting for a Mad
Hatters Tea Party. The 17th-century walls of this tranquil haven shelter the
National Trust's largest collection of medicinal and culinary plants in our
fascinating herb garden; the traditional orchards are carpeted with wildflowers
and surrounded by herbaceous borders. A series of small linked gardens
celebrates continuous development and adaption over at least 350 years with the
first brick-lined walls date from around 1650.Wander along the Crowdundle Beck
to the partially restored watermill, enjoying wildlife in the woods on the way,
and discover more about the history of gypsum mining on the estate. Enjoy the
views across the Eden Valley to the Lake District from the magnificent backdrop
of the sandstone house. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/acorn-bank
‘Lost’ Village of Wiltshire, Salisbury Plain: Located in the
heart of Wiltshire in the Salisbury Plains is the ‘lost’ village of ‘Imber’.
Once a rural village, the small community was evacuated during WW2 and taken
over as a military base. These days the ‘lost’ village is perfect for idyllic
walks, spotting wildlife and seeing the almost forgotten buildings, such as St
Giles Church. www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/blog/read/2015/12/the-lost-village-of-imber-b83
A Tropical garden paradise, The Isles of Scilly - Tresco
Abbey Gardens: Located on the island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly, the
gardens were established by the nineteenth-century proprietor of the islands,
Augustus Smith. One of England’s most outstanding sights and one of the world’s
most remarkable sub-tropical gardens, Tresco Abbey Gardens contains a unique
collection of plants, many of which are too tender for outdoor cultivation on
the British mainland. The plants are
mainly from the southern hemisphere and flourish in the warm Gulf Stream climate
and are regarded by botanists as one of the most interesting and varied
botanical experiments in the world. www.tresco.co.uk/enjoying/abbey-garden/
Immerse yourselves in Myths and Legends, Tintagel, Cornwall:
The civil parish and village of Tintagel sits on the Atlantic coast of Cornwall
and is said to be the birthplace of Britain’s legendary leader, King Arthur. He
was supposedly born in Tintagel castle, whilst magical wizard, Merlin, lived in
a cave below the fortress. The stunning coastline and dramatic castle has fired
the imaginations of writers and artists for centuries. Whilst exploring the
castle ruins, you can imagine a time of chivalrous knights or the Red Queens’
playing card armies and heroic battles upon the windswept Cornish cliff. www.visitcornwall.com/places/tintagel
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall: Once an aristocratic
estate, the grounds were abandoned after the Second World War and fell into a
state of decay. But after one of the largest garden restoration programmes in
Europe, there are now more than 200 acres of luscious land to explore. Marvel
at the mini jungle, with its banana plantations, towering bamboo and giant
rhubarbs and meander across the ancient woodland and lost valley. Come spring,
you’ll be surrounded by a carpet of bluebells. Watch out for those pesky rabbit
holes or you might end up on an unexpected trip to Underland. www.heligan.com
Explore the winding passages of The Shell Grotto, Margate: Discovered
in 1835, Margate’s Shell Grotto is an astonishing find – its winding passages
are decorated with 4.6 million shells and the unique walls are covered with
images of gods and goddesses, trees of life and patterns of whelks, mussels and
oysters. Local legend says Margate’s Shell Grotto was discovered by chance 180
years ago, when in 1835 Mr James Newlove lowered his young son Joshua into a
hole in the ground that had appeared during the digging of a duck pond. Joshua
emerged describing tunnels covered with shells. Its origins remain unexplained
today. In this remarkable subterranean enclave, winding tunnels snake beside
2000 sq ft of magnificent symbol mosaics, made out of cockle, whelk, mussel and
oyster shells. Nobody can explain who built this amazing place, or why, but
since its accidental discovery visitors from all over the world have been intrigued
by the beautiful mosaic and the unsolved mystery. http://shellgrotto.co.uk/
A natural amphitheatre, Malham Cove, Yorkshire Dales: The
white-walled limestone amphitheatre of Malham Cove rises 300ft above its
surroundings in the Southern part of the Yorkshire Dales. The spectacular views
from the top look across the famous limestone pavement, an expanse of clints
(slabs) and grykes (clefts) created by water seeping through weaker lines in
the limestone rock. The Cove was formed at the end of the last ice age, when
temperatures warmed the ice melted and a large river and waterfall began to
flow over the cove. Once dried up, the combination of erosion, limestone rock
and acid rain formed chunks of rock, known as slabs or “clints,” and deep
cracks between them known as “grykes.” This feature of the cove is very rare in
the UK, which makes Malham a magnet for both geologists and tourists alike.
Malham village is home to barely a couple of hundred people who inhabit the
huddled stone houses on either side of a bubbling river.
www.yorkshiredales.org.uk
Mythical Glastonbury, more than a festival: On the southern
edge of the Mendips, Glastonbury is built around the evocative set of ruins
belonging to its former abbey. Famed for the world-renowned music festival, the
town of Glastonbury lies at the heart of the so-called Isle of Avalon, a region
rich with mystical associations, and for centuries it has been one of the main
Arthurian sites of the West Country. Glastonbury Tor rises dramatically from
the flat landscape of the Somerset Levels and is topped by the tower of St
Michaels, a ruined 15th-century church. History, myth and legend surround the
Tor - Dark Age and Saxon remains excavated here suggested that it was once a
Saxon fortress, or perhaps an early Christian hermitage. Alternative conjecture
has suggested that the Tor is associated with 'ley lines' and various earth
energies; it is claimed to be the home of Gwyn ap Nudd, the Lord of the
Underworld, and others consider it to be at the centre of a Zodiac pattern
formed by surrounding field boundaries. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/glastonbury-tor
Alice through the Looking Glass is in cinemas now.
Blog Soon,
Joey X
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