Category Archives: Middleton Cheney

#SEWES2016 ~ Sept 16 – Middleton Cheney to Old Catton

#SEWES2016

Sept 16 – Middleton Cheney to Old Catton

When we arrived at Manor Cottage yesterday, I didn’t photograph our room so got some pictures this morning before breakfast. We’d spent the night in their daughter’s room on the top floor of the house.

Sept 16
Our room at Manor Cottage

The small window in the background is the one in the picture I took last night from the driveway. If you look really closely, Robbie Raven is peeking out of the smaller jute bag in the chair.

Sept 16
Our room at Manor Cottage
Sept 16
Our room at Manor Cottage
Sept 16
Our room at Manor cottage

It had rained overnight, and quite hard from what we heard over breakfast this morning. A train derailed because of a landslip, and many reports of localized flooding.

We hoped none of the roads we’d be travelling to get to Catton Old Hall would be submerged under flood waters.

About 4:00 pm, we arrived at our destination without encountering floods. The downside to driving in the rain is it makes you have to go to the bathroom a lot more.

Stopping at services to use the bathrooms, the ones in the petrol station/convenience store were out of order. However, a Little Chef was located in the same complex. Their toilets worked but a huge sign on the door stated they were for restaurant customers only. Two small tins of Pringles purchased, we used the facilities and carried on.

Sept 16
Our room at Catton Old Hall
Sept 16
Our room at Catton Old Hall
Sept 16
Rainy view from our room at Catton Old Hall
Our Room at Catton Old Hall
Our Room at Catton Old Hall

The Wi-fi up in our room was terrible. I connected with my phone and it dropped out seconds later. Neither my laptop nor iPad could connect at all. Frustrating to say the least.

The Woodman Pub opened for supper at 6:00 pm. We’d eaten there on a previous trip to this area. The food was good then so we assumed it would be this time. Being a Friday night, we should have booked a table.

When we walked in the door, one of the barmen informed us it would be 7:30-8:00 before our food was served, but we were more than welcome to pick a table and have a drink.

While we sipped our first beer, we perused the menus and decided what we’d like for supper. They took our order, again telling us it could be a long wait. At least now, our meals were in the queue. And we received them long before the estimated time!

After a delicious meal (every bit as good, if not better than the first time we’d eaten here), we walked back to Catton Old Hall. It stopped raining while we were in the pub.

Before going inside, I snapped this picture with my phone of the hotel illuminated by floodlights.

Sept 16
Catton Old Hall

Tomorrow, we’re having supper with hubby’s cousins at a country pub called The Fur and Feathers. It should be fun. There are some castles and other historic things I’d like to see while we’re in the area so we’ll do them earlier in the day.

 

#SEWES2016 ~ Sept 15 – Pencoed to Middleton Cheney

#SEWES2016

Sept 15 – Pencoed to Middleton Cheney

with Castles and Abbeys, too

After yet another hearty breakfast, we set out for our first stop of the day – Caerphilly Castle – a CADW property in Wales, who also honour Historic Scotland memberships.

Quite the wee bomb parked next to us in the castle car park. Monty looks like a tank compared to this sleek little number. Look at his arse end hanging out over the end of the spot! I could have pulled in further but what dangers lurked behind the greenery? This girl didn’t want to find out.

Sept 15
Lotus
Sept 15
Lotus

Paid and displayed, we walked through the park to the castle. Geese, ducks and seagulls all vied for the bread a little girl and her father fed them.

Sept 15
Caerphilly Castle

The south-east tower leans due to subsidence but people reckon it to Cromwell knocking it about.

Sept 15
‘temporary’ statue of Jesus preventing the tower from falling over
Sept 15
Don ‘holding’ the tower up
Sept 15
Me doing the same but needing both hands

Should you desire, you can rent out the Great Hall here at Caerphilly Castle  for weddings and other celebrations.

Sept 15
Inside the Great Hall
Sept 15
Fireplace inside the Great Hall
Sept 15
Inside the Great Hall

Time to leave for our next stop along the way to our final destination for the night. But first, I wanted to take some pictures in the park. I’d glimpsed the ‘stone circle’ and the tree-trunk dragon en route to the castle.

Sept 15
Carved dragon
Sept 15
Stone circle

Our next stop – Tintern Abbey – another CADW property.

Sept 15
Tintern Abbey
Sept 15
Tintern Abbey
Sept 15
Tintern Abbey
Sept 15
Tintern Abbey
Sept 15
Tintern Abbey

I marvel at the architecture of the ancient ruins in the UK every time I visit. Nothing compares to them back home. The fact they’re preserved amazes and pleases me. On this side of the pond, we’d tear it down rather than restore it.

By now, we’d spent enough time at these two CADW sites. We needed to get on the road to Middleton Cheney.

Driving through Banbury, we experienced a diversion for a street fair. The rides and other amusements were set up on the driving surface and the vehicles funneled onto the pedestrianized section of the street.

Manor Cottage, on Main Street, in Middleton Cheney proved difficult to find. I ended up phoning and getting directions as I drove.

Given a room on the top floor, only the necessities would come into the house.

Our hosts were going out for the evening so left us a key to the back door so we could get in when we returned from a meal.

I’d creeped Middleton Cheney on google maps and discovered a pub just up the road. They displayed their menus on the website and the food sounded good and was reasonably priced.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of ordering our pints before asking for menus only to find out the kitchen was closed.

Our host had mentioned a chippy up the road, which also had some seating. We finished our pints and walked on. Never finding the chippy, we did find the Dolphin Inn. Another pub. Walked in and asked for menus. They didn’t do meals but a Chinese Takeaway did and we could bring the food into the pub to eat.

Sept 15
The New Inn
The Dolphin Inn
The Dolphin Inn
Sept 15
Manor Cottage
Sept 15
Our bedroom window at Manor Cottage

We brought our electronic devices downstairs so we could catch up online and use the wonderful lounge. The aroma of wood fires smelled delightful.

Sept 15
The fireplace in the lounge at Manor Cottage

Another travel day tomorrow so we made it an early(ier) night.