Port Issac,Cornwall

Port Issac, on the Cornish coast, is the village where the television series 'Doc Martin' is filmed. Perhaps due to our familiarity with the programme, the local accent resonated with us.

We were very lucky to have our friends, Jane and Keith, drive us all the way down to Cornwall and Devon, and show us around. Many of the roads in Cornwall would be called cycle tracks in New Zealand, given how fat Big Bertha is (not to mention the driver) it would have been impossible for us to navigate our way around.

The chemist shop

Keith, Jane, and Gretel looking excessively happy.

 

Doc Martin's house with his white car parked outside.

Beatrix Potter, The Lake District

Beatrix Potter was an early conservationist and farmer of the Lake District in addition to her literary and artistic accomplishments. Her work was inspired by the natural world around her.

The house

“Don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.”

Mr McGregor's wheelbarrow

Iona, Scotland

Our time on Iona was brief due to the imminent cancellation of the ferry. It was also wet, the type of rain that mysteriously finds it way inside your jacket and trickles down your nether regions.

It was also the land of Druids, Monks, St Columba and was where the Book of Kells was written.

The Abbey

Remnants of early occupation.

The village and port.

Mull, Scotland

Mull was all about the wind. No trees, no gardens, almost no people. We developed a 45 degree walking style to get around.

 Waterfalls defying gravity, evidence the strength of the wind.

Our campsite

About as sunny as it got.

Sheltering

Oban, Scotland

Oban is a small town providing ferry access to a number of Scotland's north west islands.

Oban harbour

Rain makes regular appearances on the west coast of Scotland

Oban has its very own colosseum, a project commenced in the 1880's as a way of reducing unemployment amongst local stonemasons, and we suspect a rich man leaving his mark on the landscape.

Wharton Hall and Lamerside Castle, Cumbria, England

It appears Gretel is related to half of England. William the Conqueror, in his

generosity, gifted a slice of the Cumbrian countryside (and a title) to Mr Wharton. 

It was time for us to lay claim to this bounty.

Lamerside Castle (nearly 1,000 years old) was in need of some TLC. At least there was nobody else around except for some rabbits and an former archeology student who is now putting his knowledge to work in a motorbike shop.

The interior was no better.

Climbing the stairs.

The Manor looks more promising than the castle

The 14th century walls have been tastefully incorporated with a 19th century addition.

Wharton Hall's more modern extension. Unfortunately when we knocked on the door we discovered the Wharton's had lost their fortune and sold the whole caboodle to the Chippendales.

The farm

 
Complete with stream


And coat of arms

Brough, Cumbria, England

Like Barningham, Brough was on our itinerary as we traced Gretel's maternal origins. The Metcalf's were the subject of this search. Unfortunately, despite help from a number of locals, the only evidence of the Metcalf clan was gravestones.

Gretel standing on the bridge over the Greta River

A higher class Metcalf, given the 'e' on the end of his name.

Friends that helped us to research church records.

Barningham, England

Barningham is a small Yorkshire village, home to Gretel's maternal Great, Great Grandmother, Magerat Sowerby. We were unable to locate any living relations but the graveyard contained a number of her forebears.

Rockville, S/W Scotland

The more we travel in Scotland, the more we are attracted to the coast. Magnificent views and very few people there to enjoy them.

Arran time lapse

Loch Fyne, Scotland

Our travels took us to meet our friends, Angel and Julian, who were working (as part of their Masters study) at a fish farm on Loch Fyne.

Julian gave us an enlightening tour of the farm complex, the undoubted stars being the lumpfish - fish that feed off lice on salmon, therefore negating antibiotic use on salmon farms. It was particularly interesting to witness the different stages of development of the various species of fish.

Loch Fyne

From an elevation

Stone walls are ubiquitous in Scotland

We wanted to take a lumpfish home

Angel and Julian balanced over the halibut tank

Spot the fatty