EIS – Stonehenge

Stonehenge

On our next to the last day while in England, we visited Stonehenge. 

The Stonehenge landscape is a World Heritage Site (1986) and protected by the National Trust.  The Stonehenge monument is under management of the English Heritage.

The Stonehenge you see today built between 3000 and 4000 years ago from stones quarried in Ireland.  Also built in the fields around the monument are some 340 barrows mounds.

Seeing Stonehenge in person is beyond what I expected.  Looking at the stones in a picture does not give you the experience of “feeling” the presence.

The tallest structure is 22 feet tall (6.7 meters) and about 8 feet in the ground (2.4 meters).

The Heel Stone sits on the outer edge of the monument, about 256 feet from the “Slaughter Stone” in the center of the monument. 

During the Solstice sunrise, allegedly, the tip of the shadow of the heel stone rests on the center of the slaughter stone.  The slaughter stone gets its name from the red on the stone.

Supposedly, a ley-line crosses the center of Stonehenge. 

There are a number of barrow mounds around the fields surrounding Stonehenge which are the resting places for kings and others.

We had good weather to view Stonehenge and we could have stayed a while longer.  We are on the North side by the road that passes Stonehenge.

Stonehenge (northwest side) view shows spectators walking along the walkway (partly paved and partly grass way) built around the monument.

Across the street from where we were taking pictures of Stonehenge is an old milestone noting how far you are from London and Amesbury.  Well, we are leaving Stonehenge and begin our 80+ miles to London.

EIS - The Giant's Causeway

Giant's Causeway

From the visitor center for the Giant's Causeway, you must either walk a mile down and around the corner to the sea or take one of the shuttles (which cost £1 each way).  We walked, and just below the visitor center is a group of rocks below the cliff which is called the camel hump, as you can see.

When we got to the bottom of the roadway, we went on the back side of the hill.  As you can see the basalt columns here are quite tall, about 25-30 feet high.

The Giants Causeway, in Northern Ireland, has remarkable geological features formed by volcanic activity and cooling lava.  The columnar basalt is a unique formation and the sea level location where the tops form a walkway, makes it an exceptional feature. 

It earned the title of the eighth wonder of the world.  First documented in 1693, the Causeway and cliffs of the Causeway coast have attracted thousands of visitors. 

The myth says that the famous Irish giant, Finn MacCool, built it.  Finn lived on the north coast of Ireland and had a rivalry with the giant, Benandonner, in Scotland.  The two had words across the sea boasting about their fighting ability and after Finn threw a rock as a challenge, Benandonner threw one back saying he could not swim.  Finn then tore slabs of volcanic rock from the land to pave a causeway.

Finn went across the causeway at night to fight Benandonner while he slept but saw how big he was.  The next morning Benandonner came running across the causeway to fight Finn.  Finn's wife dressed him in baby cloths and tucked him into bed.  

When Benandonner got to the house, Finn's wife said that he wasn't home and to not bother his baby since he was sleeping.  Benandonner saw how big "Finn's baby" was and imagined how big Finn really was and went running back to Scotland, tearing up the causeway as he went.

What is left of the causeway in Ireland is this section. 

From the end by the sea looking back towards the cliffs above the Causeway, you can see the length of the causeway.  Also, you can see the "hill" in the background and the drop off.

As we headed back up the road to go back to the coach, we took a picture of the hill.  You can see the size of the hill by the people climbing around.  The back side is a drop off as seen in the second picture above.

Just before rounding the corner and heading up the hill, we turned and looked back at the full length of the Causeway.  You can see the hill on the right and the end that goes into the sea.  In the far back, you can see the formation called the chimney. 

EIS – Cathedrals

Cathedrals

A number of the cities we visited had a cathedral or large church.  Many of the large cathedrals were originally built by the Catholic church and were converted to the Church of England when King Henry VIII declared himself head of the church.

In some cases, the newer church is built next to the ruined church it is replacing.  In this case the cathedral is built on the other side of this ruined cathedral in Coventry. 

Many entrances have very ornate carvings and sculptures surrounding the door.

Some of the cathedrals are extremely large. 

Many have gargoyles and statues ornamenting the outside. 

 

Gargoyles will at times have a use, such as this one, it is the end of a storm drain and when it rains, water comes gushing out.

Statues sometimes depict certain people.

Check out the flying buttresses on this cathedral.

 

The inside of some cathedrals.

 

There are several which had burial tombs inside, some dating back to the 1500 and 1600’s.

EIS – Castles and Estates

Castles and Estates

Wow, you wouldn’t believe the number of castles and estates we saw during our trip.  We traveled on only a few of the roads throughout the country, there are many, very many castles and old fortification and we missed more than we saw.  This Manor, just outside of London, named Hampton Court Palace, is a red brick Tudor palace linked to King Henry VIII. 

Windsor Castle, behind the giant ferris wheel, is one of the Royal Family’s getaway locations.  The Queen was not in residence at this time.

This is Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland high above the city.  We toured the castle and Scotland’s Crown Jewels which are older than those of England’s.   

You can see how steep the roadway is inside the castle’s walls.

During the Edinburgh Tattoo, the castle was lit up with different colored lights.  Looking at the castle entrance you will see two statues of knights.  These are supposed to represent Robert the Bruce (right) and William Wallace (you know him because Mel Gibson played him in Braveheart).

This Manor, in Scotland, is one of the estates used by the Royal Family and according to rumors, were in residence.  The area is where they hold the Royal Highland Games each year and the Queen oversees the games, hence the Royal part of the games.

Inverness Castle, Scotland

Eileen Donan Castle, Kyle of Lochlash, Scotland, sits where three lochs meet. 

Another Manor/Castle viewed in the countryside as we drove in the coach.

An old doorway leading through a wall.