Where have you toured because of a book?
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Whilst staying at bladon chains a few years ago my wife and I used Colin Dexter's "Inspector Morse" novels as tourist guides for Oxford .If memory serves me right, we came across some real quirky places .Have also used Dan Browns "Angels and Demons "on a walking tour of Rome .
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I love Phil Rickman books and have read all his works (including the Wil Kingdom and Thom Madley ones). I'd be interested in any cl sites around the Merrily region that you recommend Nellie😊
I also really enjoyed Outlander-but in a first for me I actually thought the tv series was better than the books (needed a good editor in my opinion 😉). We have also visited many of the associated Scottish locations.
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A fascinating series of postings.
Hardy and 'Wessex' immediately comes to mind.
We also loved 'Virgils Vineyard' so much we actually moved to Languedoc!!
As an aside. Having spent 9 months in Cyprus in 1965 I was also lucky enough to spend 4 years there (77 - 81) and Durrell's 'Bitter Oranges' gave an accurate portrayal of that beautiful island before mass tourism took over. Ayia Napa was just a Taverna on a beach with one hotel in the distance in those days, I have not been back since!!
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We used The Leen campsite at Pembridge to visit there, Weobley, and Dilwyn, which were used in the TV adaptation of Midwinter of the Spirit. It is also good for visiting many of the interesting churches in the area, including Kilpeck and the Templer's church at Garway. There's The Paddocks at Holmes Lacy, no. 702 in SD for Hereford, Dinedor and Rotherwas Chapel. Hollymount CL, no 710 for Ross and Forest of Dean; Hucks Barn, no. 1284 for Ludlow. I think that will do for starters.
BTW the best book for places to visit is Merrily's Border by Phil Rickman, photos by John Mason, published by Longaston Press. Now into it's second revision.
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Grape Britain: A Tour of Britain's Vineyards. By David Harvey
This paperback inspired us to make a tour of some of our British vineyards which were open to the public. The tour took us to several in the east and south of England. One had a CL attached and two others let us stay overnight on their visitors car park. A brilliant three weeks touring taking in other non alcoholic attractions and POIs.
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50+ years ago as a teenager I read a series of books about a fictional french heroine called 'Angelique'. The books used events and people in 17c French history as backdrop to the story. Over years we've visited various places which were included in the books.
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Thanks tb (and nth) - can't see us visiting everywhere in the time we have but I'll put that one on the list. One of the things we both enjoyed about the books was not just the twists and turns in the thrillers but the wonderful descriptions of the area - which is what has motivated us to go and have a look for ourselves.
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R&R, you won’t be disappointed in Northumberland. It’s as stunning and variable as Yorkshire, but with better beaches. We have read some of the “Vera” books, but enjoy the TV series for the location shots. Big county, lots to see and do. We go back at some point every year. Hadrians Wall alone could take us a month easily. If you decide to visit HW, can highly recommend Vindolanda for seeing some of the fabulous Roman finds, and it’s close to Steel Rigg car park. You can walk easily from there to Housesteads along the Wall path, including Sycamore Gap. It’s up and down walking though.
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Thanks TTDA - didn't realise Sycamore Gap actually existed - so that's another one to add to the list. Wonder if we will stumble on any more bodies in the wall!!
I'm hoping that by May, my knee will be fully healed so that I will be able to walk again - rather than hobble. Didn't realise that a torn ligament could take so long to mend.
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Have you tried Elizabeth Chadwick’s novels? Many of them feature William Marshall (The Greatest Knight, The Scarlet Lion and Templar Silks), and she wrote a trilogy about Eleanor of Aquitaine- The Winter Crown, The Summer Queen and The Autumn Throne (not sure if that’s the correct order, off the top of my head). All of her novels are throughly researched, and most are based on real people and historical fact, but hugely entertaining. Similar to Philippa Gregory, but ranging from the Norman Conquest to the end of King John’s reign. I love all of them.
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Yes, have read a lot of hers, I think she is better than Philippa Gregory. The two Bigod novels follow on from The William Marshall ones. My favourite is A Place Beyond Courage, the story of William Marshall’s father John Fitzgilbert Marshall. Just read Templar Silks, very good😁
If you enjoy War of the Roses era, try The Sunne In Splendour, by Sharon Penman. Well researched fictional telling of the story of RichardIII, from boyhood to Bosworth. Dozens of places to visit around this telling. We had a picnic at Minster Lovell Hall last year, along with visiting Middleham, Sheriff Hutton, Warwick, Ludlow, Fotheringhay, Sandal Castle, Pontefract Etc.....
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It’s there all right, made very famous by Costner’s Robin Hood. It’s in a mile castle, not far from Steel Rigg. If you decide to walk the Wall, be aware that it is quite strenuous in places, but that stretch from Steel Rigg to Housesteads is superb. Needs good boots and waterproofs. Look out for The Sill as well on road below Steel Rigg. Fairly new visitor Centre, with a rooftop walk. More about the area rather than the Wall, cafe is very good. Photo of different roman footwear in Vindolanda Museum, best Roman Museum I have ever been in outside of Italy.
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Without my caravan, of course.
At age 50 got to Machu Pichu, on a tour of Peru, having seen a picture of it in a library book at age 5.
Thought then that it was wow! which it subsequently proved to be for me along with the Nascar lines thrown in as well.
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Machu Piccu and the "Indy 500"? Wow.
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