Our UK Trip in September of 2023

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We had a really great 2-week trip to the UK in September of 2023!! Sandy heard in early 2023 that our very close friend, Jackie Stetina was planning a huge surprise for her husband, Steve Kerr’s 70^th birthday & asked us to join her “secret” party at his historical familial Scottish place, Ferniehirst Castle which is in Jedburgh, Scotland… details are day-by-day below!

Thursday, September 7th       >  We rode down to Atlanta airport, checked in and departed on time at 9:55pm… we flew overnight to Heathrow, London on Delta flight 32 and we each slept a little on the plane!

Friday, September 8th (Our visit with my brother Alan & family)       >  We landed around 11am after breakfast on the plane & a nice flight, picked up our nice rental car ( SiXT ) and drove out to Alan & AyKeung in Maidenhead, spending the           afternoon with the family & catching a lovely view of their garden!!                                                       LTR: (top) Don, Sandy & Alan (bottom) Hannah, AeKyung & Danny       >  Our 1st Air-B&B, called “Littlebrooke” (on Ray Park Road, a short walk to Alan’s house) opened up at 3pm for us to check in… we slept quite well!!

Saturday, September 9th       >  We departed with Alan around 9am for a visit at Highclere Castle… a fabulous tour of the place used in the Downton Abbey series! Here are some snaps of our visit:                         As we approached The Castle Sandy Temple of Diana Shows how high it goes!       >  We then went out for the afternoon, stopping for a (delightful!!) late lunch            at The Crooked Billet pub in Marlow, just a few miles north—some great online snaps are here!           Snapped as we parked       >  AyKyung later made a lovely dinner for us at their house!

Sunday, September 10th       >  Our day started with breakfast being provided at Alan & AK’s house, from “La Chèf de Delight”!!           We then headed out (with Alan driving) for a walk… but it was raining!           Stopped for lunch at The Bull and Butcher pub, which is near the windmill       >  In the evening we drove behind Alan & family to a nearby Indian Punjab restaurant in Slough, called the “Exotic Karahi” for an awesome dinner!!           I washed it down with a large Kingfisher beer ;)

Monday, September 11th (Visiting the Cotswolds)       >  We arose & checked out around 8:30am, driving west to Castle Combe via the M4, etc… those damned “skinny” roads in England were (as ever!!) *very* hard for me to drive!!            A snap of one of the older cottages            and some of the flowers around town:                             A memorial Someone’s garden and A rose       >  We took a nice walk around the village of Castle Combe; I snapped Sandy while we walked       >  I then managed to trip on the step as I left the toilets …ouch!!            Luckily enough, Sandy had bandaids & some woobie-cream, immediately helping prevent any infections ;)       >  I limped back up the hill and we drove north for an hour to Burton-on-the-Water… nothing short of a miracle that the fall didn’t impact my driving!!       >  We checked into our Air-B&B at 1 Mouse Trap Lane at Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire (map) around 3pm            We then walked around a little, albeit a tad tricky with my bruised knee/lower back!!       >  We wanted to have a late lunch at the pub right next to our B&B, the Mousetrap Inn… if you click & watch the video, rotation ends up at our B&B!!            Sadly, they weren’t serving so we walked (well, I limped!) into town & had lunch at The Willow       >  We later walked to the Rose Tree Restaurant by the river in town for dinner by the river… a delight!!                             A view Another The river The bridge My beer Seated very happily!

Tuesday, September 12th       >  We traveled (in light rain) to Blenheim Palace, the largest palace in Britain, which is Winston Churchill’s family home—it was used to film the Bridgerton series             and looking back            We visited and Sandy caught several snaps:                             The entranceway The gardens The huge organ & me at the organ The “tree with a hole,” used to film parts of the Harry Potter series!            I also caught a great (published) view of the palace & gardens…

Wednesday, September 13th (Visited Yorkshire)       >  We checked out & departed around 9am, driving 1st to the nearby Upper Slaughter village where we parked at St Peter’s Church (where I stayed in the car)            Sandy then had a lovely walk to Lower Slaughter & back (view the map?) … also, see her online snaps & her note?       >  We drove on for a couple hours up to the city of York… our 1st visit en rout was to the destroyed Abbey                             A ruin with me Another view       >  We drove into York, parked & went into the city…                             Walking from car Chimneys (approaching) York Minster A gate in the wall The grass Lion       >  We got on the “Hop-on-Hop-off” bus to ride around town                             Wall of the city View from the bus in town View of the wall       >  We stopped off of the bus for a visit to a Viking memorial, the Jorvik Museum where, after walking across the actual residual relics (held below glass in the original grounds),            we took the ride seeing several areas… snapped a few views of a a great ride!!                             Ancient dog on a chain View of a boat Another view A Jorvik man       >  After the visit, we were waiting for the bus in front of Clifford’s Tower … see more info here?       >  We left York, driving north to Aislaby & checked into our Air-B&B… a view of their gardens from the upstairs room       >  Dinner a little later out at the Middleton Arms in town, where I had Curried Chicken!!

Thursday, September 14th (our trip mid-point!!)       >  After breakfast we drove to the Rievaulx Abbey on the Yorkshire Moors, another destroyed place… Sandy left me in the car (as I wasn’t walking too much!!) and            went into the Abbey, capturing some of the most stunning snaps (online) of her visit!                             The Abbey Another view The arches Sandy looking back in       >  We then drove around the Northern Yorkshire Moors where Sandy snapped some delights (online)                             The Yorkshire Moors A stone wall & sheep The hills Flowers More flowers A close up       >  (our lunch en rout is still pending!)       >  We had a loverly dinner at the Willowgate Bistro…

Friday, September 15th (Visited Scotland)       >  We checked out & drove up to Jedburgh (via Whitby on the coast, ~3.5-4 hours), checking-in to Ferniehirst Castle…                             The Coast The Castle as we approached A closer view The front access       >  There were stairs everywhere (some were simply **agonizingly** small!), others just really difficult w/my smashed left knee -but- we got a good room!       >  View the collection of snaps that were caught over the weekend!!       >  Evening festivities began with Jackie & Steve arriving, surprising him upon his entry!! (click to download the video/view)           We then celebrated & went out for a pub visit & an Indian Dinner

Saturday, September 16th       >  A Continental breakfast was provided for us by the castle kitchens... great coffee!!       >  Sandy spent the day out (I stayed in as I was not in walking mode!!), visiting Jedburgh Abbey and Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott       >  At 7:00pm the festivities & dinner with Jackie & Steve started; click the Bagpipes to watch him play? Awesome young lad!!

Sunday, September 17th       >  We had a Continental breakfast again (same), said farewell to all & packed up/checked out       >  We left for Edinburgh at around 9am (driving in the rain), parked and took the Hop-on-Hop-off bus & a walking tour of Old Towne                             Walking More Singing       >  Stayed overnight near to the airport in The Bridge Inn where I had an enjoyable pint or 2 at the pub & dinner!! Slept well, too!!

Monday, September 18th (in London)       >  Up early at 7:00am, we turned in our car & flew down to Heathrow, British Air flight 1439… pretty tricky as there were delays!!       >  We landed at 10:50am, jumped on the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station & checked in to the Hilton Hotel       >  We took a 2-mile stroll into Hyde Park, visiting Diana and Kensington palace                             Statue of Diana Memorial Queen Victoria Flowers as we walked back       >  After we relaxed, we had dinner at the Carriages Restaurant in our hotel, starting with a (deeeeelicious!!) Burrata cheese, cauliflower wings (Indian flavored) & an           awesome Ceaser Salad with a splash of chicken… embedded anchovies too—urch!!

Tuesday, September 19th       >  We met up with our friends, Jim & Bev and has some afternoon fun at St. Pauls Cathedral, etc                             Jim & Sandy in the cab St. Pauls entry Another inside view Don and Bev       >  After bidding farewell to our friends, we headed for our booked 5:00pm dinner at Clos Maggiore, a French restaurant with an awesome wine list!       >  After dinner, we headed to the 7:30pm show “The Book of Mormon” at the Prince of Wales theater where we had booked seats -- great show, very funny!

Wednesday, September 20th       >  Sandy departed our hotel at 9am for a 2+hours visit to the Churchill War Room                             The Churchill statue as she walked No. 10 Downing Street A rear view of him to show Big Ben & him with Sandy       >  At 11:30-ish I met Alan & AK at the Mad Bishop & Bear for lunch (right next to our hotel!)… Sandy joined us after her visit & we had a lovely session!!       >  We then spent the afternoon / evening relaxing!!

Thursday, September 21st (our last day)       >  We departed early for LHR on the Paddington Station express, arriving on time       >  After checking in, we ran into Aaron Kerr at the airport said “Hi!” & then flew home on Delta flight 31       >  At 4:15pm or so we arrived in Atlanta, went through customs, Global Entry, etc successfully       >  Took a Taxi Home, but traffic took us 90+ minutes!! Such a rush to arrive!!