Was in the neighbourhood and visited Herstmonceux Castle and the Observatory Science Centre (the site of the former Royal Observatory at Herstmonceux).

Built originally as a country home in the 15th century, the moated red-brick Castle is most impressive. As is the avenue of sweet chestnut trees that date from the 1700′s, the walls of the Elizabethan walled garden, and a number of sundials in the formal gardens.

In 1946 the Admiralty bought the estate for the Royal Greenwich Observatory, and it became an important scientific institution for the next 40 years (until 1993 when it was acquired by Queen’s University of Canada, and is now an International Study Centre attracting students from around the world).

The Observatory Science Centre occupies the buildings that were the site of The Royal Observatory. The tour of some of the domes and telescopes highlighted how it was a world leading astronomical site for many years, though nowadays it is at the forefront of making science accessible with an excellent range of hands-on exhibits, activities and science shows. While children need to be accompanied by adults, thankfully as an adult I was able to play with the exhibits quite happily unaccompanied (it looked like all adults, parents and grandparents were having a great time too).

Minions is the highest village in Cornwall, high up on Bodmin moor, and was totally created for the needs of the local industries: mining, quarrying and railways. It was almost entirely constructed in the few years between1863 and 1880. The area though is thought to have been inhabited for around 6,000 years, and old field systems and settlement areas can still be seen amidst the moorland, though they can be more clearly seen in Google Maps.

To the north of the village is Stowe’s Pound is an early hillfort set on the top of Stowe’s Hill, while there is said to be no firm dating evidence it is considered to be Pre-Ironage and possibly Neolithic. Some of the hill has quarried away on the southern side, the stone being used for buildings including Tower Bridge and the Albert Memorial in London.

Next to the remains of the hillfort, and right on the edge of the quarry, is the Cheesewring is a natural formation of balancing rocks, along with several other stacks of similar rocks.

The name Cheesewring comes from the fact that the rocks resemble the bags of apple pulp used for making cider. These are locally known as cheeses and when piled on top of each other in a press form a similar shape.

To the south of the village there is even more evidence of the industrial past with spoil heaps and derelict pump houses, chimneys and railway lines – the latter made very good walking.

More photos from the walk, this trip and the trip to Cornwall last month can be found here.

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Tregothnan garden is situated at the head of the Fal Estuary and has been the home of the Boscawen family since the 1300s. It has a wonderful collection of plants including original introductions brought back from by plant hunters including William and Robert Lobb, and plants from expeditions to China and South America.

More than 100 years ago the Boscawens introduced rhododendrons, rare trees and the earliest outdoor plantings of camellias in the country. A specimen of Trachycarpus fortunei is reputed to be the tallest in the country, and they have probably the best Cork Oak (Quercus suber) specimen I have seen in the UK.

The Tregothnan estate continues to be at the forefront of plant introductions, particularly with growing its own tea – though that was not accessible on this rare open day.

More photos from Tregothnan, this trip and the trip to Cornwall last month can be found here.

I had such a good time visiting last month, I was really pleased to be back again now. I had only ever spent time down ‘in the pit’ but I was curious about the wider estate. Having a look at Google Maps and Microsoft Live Search Map gave a real insight into the evolution of the site.

The cathedral was beautiful, and as it has no central tower it has the longest uninterrupted vaulted ceiling in England – there are lots of great pictures of the inside here on Flickr.

On the outside there was someone halfway up a tower working on the building.

Having tried to find shelter from the strong northerly wind yesterday on The Lizard, the promise of better weather today coaxed me out onto Bodmin Moor…

I started from Churchtown, just north of the town of Bodmin, and headed off east across fields and then up onto the moor. The first objective was to find King Arthur’s Hall – a rectangular earthwork lined with stone slabs, surrounding featureless and marshy centre. The views were fantastic and I could see 3 peaks in the distance further east and to the north that would provide an interesting circular walk.

The weather was a bit mixed and I got rather wet – from both the top down, and from the bottom up! Walking across the marshy moorland did slow me up, and I had missed lunchtime when made it back to Churchtown – thankfully I was just in time for an afternoon cream tea, which was most welcome after just over 12 miles of moorland walking.

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More photos from the trip to Cornwall can be found here.

Setting off from the lighthouse car park I planned to walk along the coast to the east, then find a path to walk inland to cross over the peninsula to the west coast before heading back south towards Lizard Point. The walking along the coast would be on part of the South West Coastal Path (SWCP) – which I might try and complete in full one day.

Heading eastwards I soon found out why the SWCP is such a challenge, the path quickly meandered from the top of the cliff to a small bay and then back up the other side, though the views from both the bottom and top were superb and the visibility meant you could see for miles.

I came across a very unassuming wooden building, owned by the National Trust, and had I not read the small plaque I would have missed that it was the Lizard Wireless Telegraph Station built by Guglielmo Marconi in 1901. It is still fitted out with working equipment and looks as it did in 1901, when Marconi received the distance record signals of 186 miles from the Isle of Wight.

More striking in the large white building that dominates Bass Point, with huge letters identifying it as the Lloyd’s Signal Station. As such a prominent landmark 2 miles east of Lizard Point it is often used as a finishing line for such activities as trans-Atlantic or round the world yacht races.

Reaching the small village of Cadgwith, having skirted around the Devil’s Frying Pan (a spectacular collapsed blow-hole where the seaward arch still remains, and through which incoming waves are funnelled – sometimes with some force – best viewed on GoogleMaps), I headed inland across the Lizard Downs to crossover to the western edge.

This bit of the coast was just as spectacular, but had none of the buildings or features. Thankfully it was easier walking and I was back to the car park sooner than I expected – having walked just over 8 miles.

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More photos from the trip to Cornwall can be found here.

I spent a really interesting day at the Eden Project, and had a very sociable time. There was not much time to take many pictures, and the weather was pretty lousy with heavy rain, sleet, hail and strong winds – I was glad to be hunkered down in an old china clay pit rather than on top of a moor.

The last time I had visited the Seed sculpture by Peter Randall-Page had yet to be lowered into place within the central space of The Core education centre. To see it in situ was great – it is quite a piece of stone!

More photos from the trip to Cornwall can be found here.

Heading down to Cornwall for a few days and stopped off at Stonehenge to stretch my legs.  The weather was cold, but the sun was out and I managed to get a couple of photos from over the fence with the henge in silhouette.
If only the catering was up to scratch I would have stopped for a nice cup of tea.

Did they get me? Am I on GoogleEarth?? What are the views like…

I doubt that I made it :-( from the look of the flowers and foliage my best guess is that these images date back to the spring and early summer. The oilseed rape seems to be in full bloom, most of the trees are in leaf – though if you look carefully some of the largest (which I presume will be oaks) have a slight pinky-brown tinge in patches on some of the trees and I think that will be the leaves just unfurling.

Some of the views down are excellent, and compare well with some of the photos I took on my way round…

Derek Jarman’s garden
Battle of Britain Memorial
Deal Castle
Viking Ship at Pegwell Bay
The remains of St Mary’s Church at Reculver
Rochester Castle
Grain Tower
An old boat rotting away on the River Thames
Dartford Bridge