Exploring the UK: Loch Ness, The Highlands, Scotland

Another post about my trip to Scotland! We arrived at Inverness Airport around 11am and after picking up our hire we drive into the city for a city bite to eat before meeting our friend. After stuffing our faces at The Filling Station - similar to Frankie and Bennies - we hit the road in search of Loch Ness.

Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area but thanks to it's sheer depth, it's the largest one in volume in the British Isles. Safe to say, it's pretty impressive to see in the flesh. It's most famous for its mythical sea creature that's said to loiter in the water - the Loch Ness Monster. Known affectionately was Nessie, there have been many reported sighting over the years. Sadly she stayed hidden whilst we were there!

While we were there, we hopped on a Jacobite Cruise* to help us see the loch in all its glory. We boarded the boat at the Clansman Harbour before being take on an hour long cruise around the loch. Despite a drizzly day, it was brilliant. The information on the loudspeaker was top notch - they even threw in some traditional Scottish music for good measure! The boat sailed over the ruins of Urquhart Castle so we could have a closer look and learn about its turbulent history.

A great way to see the sights of Loch Ness!

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Exploring the UK: Golspie, Sutherland, The Highlands, Scotland

Last week I travelled up to The Highlands to visit an old school friend who's a teacher up there. It was the furthest North I'd ever ventured in the UK and what a sight for sore eyes the region is! We travelled around to quite a few little towns so I thought I'd concentrate on each one in a few posts.

The Highlands had been on my bucket list for a while so I was looking forward to doing plenty of exploring. We headed to Golspie as we had tickets to see the stunning Dunrobin Castle* at the bottom of the town. The fairytale castle perched above walled gardens dates back to over an incredible 700 years ago. It has been the home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland since the 13th century - making Dunrobin one of the oldest inhabited houses in Scotland. At 11am and 2pm there's an incredible falconry show put on in the grounds. To be honest, I wasn't really prepared to be impressed. Birds? Pah! I'd seen an owl one before and it was a little bit boring. But this one? This one was amazing. The gentleman was so knowledgable and made it fun. The falcon flew straight over my boyfriends head, just skimming his hair.

After refuelling on a jacket potato and plenty of cake, we headed to the Big Burn in search of waterfalls. The walk is only a 2.5km round trip through lush, green woodland. Pack sensible shoes - not *ahem* boots with a heel - and don't forget your camera. The scenery was absolutely stunning on every corner you turn. There's just something so relaxing and mesmerising about watching the loud waterfall echoing in your ears. After being rewarded by an impressive, gushing waterfall it was well worth the muddy boots!

We drove back as the sun was setting, leaving the sandy beach in the distance. There was more exploring to do in the morning!

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Exploring the UK: Whitstable, Kent

Last weekend we decided to have a spontaneous trip to the Seaside for some fish and chips. Not really knowing where to go, we had a handful of places in Kent that were possibilities. As we were driving down the motorway, we saw a turn off for Whitstable and decided to take a chance. What a good decision that was!

Whitstable is such a quaint little seaside town full of pastel coloured houses, oyster shacks and cute, quirky boutiques. We only ventured down to the harbour which wasn't the most picturesque of seafronts but realised there was a whole other beach that we didn't discover as we drove home. Next time!

We stuffed our faces with the most delicious fish and chips at VC Jones. The crispy battered haddock, chunky chips and the curry sauce were the perfect Saturday afternoon treat. After a wander in a few of the boutiques, a quick browse of an old fashioned sweet shop for some strawberry bon bons and a pitstop for some salty cockles, we headed back. October isn't too warm by the seaside!

It was such a lovely afternoon and made me realise just how much I loved wandering along a seafront soaking up the salty sea air and gazing out longingly at the coast. I often forget we're a tiny little island in the middle of North Sea! The trip was short but sweet so I'll definitely be back as soon as the elusive sunshine appears!

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A Liverpool City Guide

Travelodge Liverpool Central

Like I mentioned in my photo diary, we were kindly put up by Travelodge. The Liverpool Central hotel was in a prime location. It was far enough away from the centre of the city to be quiet yet only a 20 minute walk to all the action. It wasn’t too far from the Cavern quarter which is fantastic if you’re a fan of the Fab Four! Our rooms were clean, tidy and spacious enough for two girls getting ready with all their belongings flung over the place. I can’t praise the staff enough. They were kind enough to book us a taxi and let us store our suitcases in reception so we didn’t have to lug them around on the last day. Hospitality at it’s finest!

Seal Street

I was recommended this strip of bars and clubs by a relative who used to live in the city. She said it was a student part of town and mostly free from the notorious stag and hen parties that frequent the city. On a side note- I have never seen so many stag and hens in one place! It’s the perfect place to have a bar crawl - so many locals which always means it’s going to be a corker! There’s bars if you fancy a quiet drink with your partner, a few cocktails with your best friend or clubs for a wild night out dancing before you come staggering home at 5am. We went back to the strip both nights for a night of dancing. 

Albert Dock

This part of town looks so beautiful in the sunshine! It’s such a lovely to place to wander around and soak up the city. There’s restaurants, bars, museums, galleries and shops all within this quarter. If you’re a Beatles’ fan, make sure you check out The Beatles Story. Feeling cultural? Check out the Tate art gallery, the International Slavery museum and the Merseyside Maritime Museum. The list is endless!

Moose Coffee

Someone recommended we sample the breakfast at Moose Coffee so who were we to argue! It turned out that Sarah knew her stuff! We had to queue for 15 minutes but before we knew it we were sitting down and inspecting the menu. My hangover self demanded the biggest thing I could find so I settled on Mano Pollo. The classic Huevos Rancheros was topped with strips of chicken. With a generous helping of fresh sour cream, spicy salsa and grated cheddar cheese, it did just the trick. The service was great and we never felt rushed.

Free State Kitchen

I've already reviewed this burger joint on the blog but it definitely belongs in this city guide. It's right by the university and has a wonderful outside garden if the sun is shining. I opted for the BBQ burger which got a massive thumbs up!

Heebie Jeebies

This multiple floored club is one of the best nights out I have had for a very long time. The music is on bang on point. A real mix of old school and modern music with lots of indie, RnB and pop thrown in. They have a fab courtyard - you'll find some right characters! It's open till 4am - if you can handle it!

The Cavern Club

I never expected to love this as much as I did. I'm not too big a fan of the Beatles but you can't help but get swept up in the history as you wander down the dingy steps. We chilled out with a couple of ciders and watched a fab 1960's cover band and a solo man who did rock covers. Before we knew it we'd be perched on a bench for over two hours and our bellies were rumbling. It's a £2.50 entry fee during the day but it's so worth it.

Do you have any Liverpool institutions to add to the list?

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A Liverpool photo diary

Last weekend I was very kindly invited by Travelodge to try out their hotel in the heart of Liverpool. Armed with my best friend, wine, glad rags and lots of gossip, we were up bright and early to catch the bus from London. Despite the journey taking a nightmare 10 and a half hours - we could have flown to NYC sob! - we didn't let this dampen our spirits.

We arrived at about 8.45pm so quickly ordered some pizza and poured some wine to get ready for a night on the tiles. Liverpool is a cracking night out! Once again I'm going to do a separate city guide with all my favourite haunts. It was a great weekend spent dancing, eating too much and basking in the sunshine. I really didn't expect to love the city as much as I did. The people were so friendly and there's so much to do. I even got swept up with Beatlemania despite not being too much of a fan!

It was so lovely to spend a few days away with a friend who I really don't see enough of. I can't believe we're celebrating 12 years of friendship this year - how did we get so old?!

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A UK bucket list

Ah the green and pleasant land. I hold my hands up and say I take living in the UK for granted. When I'm looking for trips away, it's the last place I look. But when I actually sit and think about it, the UK might be rainy but it's pretty stunning! The four countries are blessed with incredible history, greenery and landmarks. It's about time I started exploring properly!

1. Cheddar Gorge
The limestone gorge in Somerset reminds me of a a landscape from Middle Earth in Lord Of The Rings! I feel so lucky to have such stunning landscapes right on my doorstep in the UK. It's almost 400ft deep and a staggering three miles long - it started forming a mind blowing million years ago during the last Ice Age. Apart from Glastonbury, Somerset isn't a part of the world I'm too familiar with and I'd love to take a camping trip nearby. It really is nature at it's finest!

2. Giant's Causeway
I love a good folk tale and this one has to be one of my favourites. According to the legend, Irish giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill was challenged to a fight by a Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted and built a causeway across the north channel so they could meet. Fionn panics when he realises Benandonner's size and gets his wife to disguise him as a baby in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the 'baby' he reckons his father must be a giant among giants. So he flees back to Scotland, destroying the causeway on his way to his home. My boyfriend's family doesn't live too far away in Ireland so I'm hoping we can squeeze in a trip if we go over to visit next year.

3. Arthur's Seat
I've only spent the day in Edinburgh and only managed to see the castle. I'd love to go back and climb the highest peak in the city's Holyrood Park. The views from the dormant volcano look absolutely incredible. It's also home to 2000 year old preserved fort and a 15th century medieval chapel. But if I'm honest I just really want to soak up that view.

4. Stonehenge
I've seen this bizarre arrangement of rocks a few times from the car but I've never gotten up close and personal before. No one really knows why these rocks were displayed in such a way but there are many theories out there. But many believe that it is a prehistoric temple aligned with the movements of the sun. One of things I'm most proud of as a Brit is our vast incredible history over our four countries - Stonehenge is a prime example of this.

5. Lake District
The Lake District is one place I've heard many people go ga-ga over. The sheer beauty of the national park has people going gooey-eyed. There are many market towns within the region and it seems like such a beautiful part of the United Kingdom. I'd love to pop on a pair of walking boots, grab a map and just explore until my hearts content, breathing in the fresh air. Sometimes we need to be reminded of the beauty of nature to feel like everything will be alright.

6. Isle of Skye
Seals. Seals are the sole reason why I'm so desperate to visit the Isle of Skye. I wouldn't mind seeing the dolphins either. Or the dinosaur fossils. At 50 miles long, it's the largest island of the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. The isle is full of castles, quaint villages and lots of walking trails. The ultimate outdoor holiday eh?

7. Highlands
There seems to be a running theme of Scotland in this list. Full of gorgeous stretches of coastlines, impressive mountains, overwhelming glens and stunning islands, it's got something for everyone. I've actually got a friend who moved up to a little village so really I have no excuse not to visit. My boyfriend went earlier in the year and the pictures looked amazing. Although he didn't manage to find the Loch Ness monster. Can't win them all!

8. Norfolk Broads
For years I've been meaning to hire a canal boat and travel down the broads stopping at the quaint pubs along the way for a cider and roast dinner. The rivers and lakes run through the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. It's an area of the country that's not too far from my house so it's a crime I haven't been sooner.

What's on your UK bucket list? It seems like I need to plan a road trip around Scotland!

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Oxford City Guide

Christchurch College
If you're a Harry Potter fan, no trip is complete without a wander around this college's grounds. The building is absolutely beautiful! You'll certainly recognise some things! It's a £4.50 entrance fee and you can stroll around to your hearts content.

The Randolph
Like I mentioned in my pervious post, my boyfriend surprised me with afternoon tea. The Randolph is a gorgeous old-fashioned five star hotel in the heart of the city. It's very charming! It's a lovely place to go if you're celebrating a special occasion. We opted for the yummy full afternoon tea which consisted of a selection of sandwiches, fruit scones with clotted cream and jam alongside afternoon pastries. The bakewell tart was my favourite!

Malmasion Oxford
I love a quirky place to rest my head and this hotel ticked all the boxes. It's set in a converted prison in a medieval castle. It's so luxurious and definitely somewhere to book if you fancy a little treat. I won't say too much as I'm going to write a separate post on it later this week.

The Vaults and Garden Cafe
I found this on Trip Adviser when I was researching some places to stop for breakfast. It's set in the Church by All Souls College, not too far from the high street. You join a canteen style queue as you place your order on what homemade food you'd like to sample - get your partner to grab a table as it gets very busy! We opted for the full breakfast which consisted of organic eggs, air-cured bacon, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and giant butter beans in a tomato sauce. It was pricey at £7.95 but it tasted delicious. Sometimes it's worth splashing out!

St Johns College
Lily mentioned this was her favourite college so we set off to hunt it down. This college was free to enter and it has gorgeous grounds. If it was a little warmer, we would have spent a lot longer exploring.  It's so cool to think that people actually study and live here and the incredible history that the walls could talk about.

Cafe Loco Oxford
This was a recommendation from Hannah - when she mentioned it was Alice In Wonderland themed I was sold. It's again quite pricy - sense a theme? - but the portions were a good size. It's a great place to go for lunch after you've visited Christchurch. It offers table service which is great after you've been on your feet all day. I opted for a tasty pesto, mozzarella and roasted vegetable panini to help refuel before we headed off home. Make sure you get a cake from the takeaway section!

 

The University Church of St Mary the Virgin
I'm a sucker for a good view so I was very excited when I found out you could climb up the church tower for £4. After quite a lot of huffing and puffing, we finally reached the top and were rewarded with some stunning views. It was such a bright day and we could see for miles. It was well worth the dollar and provided some gorgeous pictures. Try not to lean on the wall as my boyfriend got pooped up on the cooing pigeons nesting there!

Oxford University Museum of Natural History
After spending a small fortune, we decided to venture to the museum after reading it was free. It's not too big but you can still whittle around an hour in there taking in all in. They had a good selection of dinosaurs - always a winner in my book - and some cool stuffed animals. There's a cafe upstairs too if you fancy some cake! It's set in a beautiful building.

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A weekend in Oxford

Last weekend I was whisked away to Oxford as a special birthday treat from my boyfriend. We spent the weekend milling around the city and wandering in and out of the beautiful colleges. The boyfriend got serious brownie points for booking a surprise afternoon tea in a swanky hotel and for requesting a room upgrade. I'm still dreaming about the divine roll top bath! It was just the relaxation we needed to recharge our batteries - we always seem to go at 100mph most days. In fact we ended up in bed at 9.30pm after a cheeky Byron with a bottle of Kooperburg and American Pie on telly. Rock and roll indeed!

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