Monday, July 5 2026
Welcome back to the RelativeRest blog. After two years of inactivity due to various health/family issues and failed travel plans I have decided to do a road trip in my native country, the United Kingdom. I left the country some 40 years ago and realized that I had not visited many parts of England and Wales and have never visited Scotland. This trip is a whirlwind tour of the country north of my base, Northampton. All being well I plan to tour the south next year.
I actually started the trip a week ago and have already visited friends from my school and college days in the Cotswolds who then travelled with me as we crossed Wales to Aberystwyth on the west coast via the Brecon Beacons and the Elan Valley. I then drove north through Snowdonia, which was gorgeous, and was shown some highlights of Anglesey by longtime friends from my former school in Washington DC. I ended the first week spending time visiting Chester with a longtime friend from my first teaching post in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Unfortunately for readers, when spending time with such good friends, I do not blog since I want to make the most of our time together so there are no posts for that week.
Today I began the solo part of the trip, driving from Chester to the Lake District, but it was not a particularly successful endeavor. I had spent time in Liverpool two years ago so decided to skip it this time and use the motorway to quickly head to the lakes with only one stop at Lancaster Castle. The main structure was built on the site of a Roman fort, probably between 1092 and 1094 but it has been mainly used as a prison, rather than keeping invaders at bay. since 1196. This role became more prominent as time passed with royal protagonists, religious dissidents, witches, and many others being incarcerated at the whim of the local ruler of the time. Later, it was used to hold WWI prisoners of war and, in 1955, became a formal UK prison for convicted criminals – closing in 2011.
I arrived in Lancaster around noon, expecting to buy a ticket for the 1 o’clock tour which is the only way to see inside but, due to a low number of visitors and staff shortages, it was cancelled. The next tour would have overrun my parking time and, with the weather deteriorating, I decided I would have to forego a tour if I wanted to see much of the lakes.
The drive to the Lake District was pleasant in places but it was drizzling at times and low, dark clouds covered the tops of the higher hills so there are few good views on today’s road video. When I arrived at my B & B in Powter Howe, a few miles north of Keswick, I went for a short walk in the forest near Bassenthwaite Lake but the rain was moving in. It was not the sunny, picturesque arrival that I had hoped for.
Steve. It was great to see you earlier in the week and explore part of Wales with you. Sorry to hear the weather let you down in the Lake District while we were sweltering in 30+ degrees here in the Cotswolds. Last time we visited Ullswater, the lake was overflowing onto the road and there were sizeable waves on the lake. If the weather is good, it is a lovely part of the world and I hope it brightens up for you soon. Simon
You and Denise provided a great start to the trip. Sorry about the heat. In the borders it is cool, windy and damp at the moment but I’m sure I will have some good weather days.
Uhm…it’s England. I think you would be more surprised had it been sunny, no?
So glad to see you back on the bandwagon! Love it!
Can’t wait to see the sights and read your take on it all!!
xx
When I arrived we were in the peak of a heat wave and I had to leave the AirBnB I had booked to get in an air conditioned hotel. Somewhere between that and the cool, damp windy weather I’m experiencing now would be nice. We’ll see how it goes.
Steve,
As Natasha said, that will be the Lake District for you. But it makes everything so deliciously green. Enjoy your trip. In the meanwhile we, especially Dileep is missing you at the soccer matches. After yesterday’s nail bitter of a match Dileep needed an extra drink and chocolate too!!
Vaija
You are correct about the green hillsides and valleys. Unfortunately, the England-Mexico match started at about 2 AM here but I was in a remote B&B without TVs so not tempted to stay up. Sounded like a great match. Look forward to seeing both of you at the end of the month.
Good to have you back on a road trip and posting info. Looking forward to hearing all about it face to face on the 24th
Thanks. Also looking forward to seeing you in person later this month.
Hi Steve
Apologies to your readers that our meet-up in the city of my birth (Chester) has deprived them of your blog. It was great to see you and catch up on bits of the last 47 years. Hopefully see you again in the south.
Great to catch up with you and thanks for showing me around Chester. No apologies needed.
Welcome up North! Shame I wasn’t there to greet you! I’ll be over in the UK end of July – mid August. It’s not called the Lake District because of its dryness!!! On your way back, the Yorkahire Dale’s are worth a visit as are the metropolis of York, Skipton & Harrogate!! Betty’s for a lovely tea!
Have fun
Cathy
Since my route is mainly in scenic areas my main concern was that I would be driving through mist and rain and seeing nothing. The weather in Wales was good and it has not really interfered with anything I planned yet. On the way back I have included the Yorkshire Dales and York itself. Hope you have a good trip here later in the summer.
Steve dear ~ safe and happy travels. Always great to ‘travel’ with you. Love, Kusum
Thank you. Glad to have you along for the ride.
On which side would you have been in the War of the Roses?
I found the Lake District charming!
There is no bad weather there – just rainy and more rainy. Have a great time.
And then my heart in pleasure sings , And dances with the daffodils.
As a Brit I am not going to favor Lancaster or York. Same goes for Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, both have their charms.
Wordsworth definitely had his favorite.