CONTENT
1. Visiting Amersham
2. British Farm Holidays
3. Dorset - a little bit of Heaven
4. Recommended B&Bs
5. UK Travel news
Welcome friends, its time to put the kettle on, settle into a comfortable armchair, and enjoy the best of Britain with Britain Update. But before you do, please take the time to forward this newsletter to someone who loves Britain as much as you do.
David Ross, Publisher
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Amersham, Buckinghamshire
by Patricia Latford
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A short distance northwest of London lies the town of Amersham in the rolling hills of Buckinghamshire. It can easily be reached either by tube on the Metropolitan; by Green Line coach or by car on the A413 out of London. The town has two parts, the new - Amersham on the Hill - and the old - Amersham Old Town. A lot of history has passed through this small town. It has one main street, called High Street with a few smaller lanes on each side. A town was on this site in Saxon times called "Agmodesham" and later there was trouble with the Danes in the area.
The Domesday Book listed the town as "Elmodesham" with six manors, one belonging to Edith, the wife of Edward the Confessor. In 1200 King John granted to the town a market and fair to be held every year which is still an annual event. The Reformation had some roots in the town as several Lollards were condemned to death and burned at the stake - hence the memorial on the hill. More on this later on. Walking up High Street from the bus depot at the edge of town, you will immediately see a large hill across the road to your left.
Read more at /counties/bucks/amersham.htm
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Farm Holidays
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If you'd like to stay well off the beaten track on your next excursion to Britain, perhaps a stay on a working farm is for you. The Farm Holiday Bureau is a central registry for farms offering accommodation to single visitors and families throughout Britain. Details are available from The Farm Holiday Bureau, NAC, Stonely, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2LZ Most farms are inexpensive - by British standards - and many occupy centuries-old listed buildings. Some also offer self-catering options.
The Bureau's website at http://www.farm-holidays.co.uk/ is an excellent place to start planning your farm stay. I found that it provided very clear browsing and search capabilities with extremely good maps and extensive details of each property. Photos of the farms would have been nice, but that's a minor quibble. It's definitely a site worth checking out if you prefer independent travel.
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Dorset: A little bit of Heaven
by Joanne Paul
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Thomas Hardy said it and I think he was right: It is better to know a little bit of the world remarkably well than to know a great part of the world remarkably little. Of course Hardy was referring to writers but his advice could easily apply to travellers who want to do more than troop around to overcrowded tourist attractions, mentally cutting notches on their carry-ons as they systematically visit places they "can't afford to miss."
There's no denying that The "if it's Tuesday it must be Belgium" approach gets the job done in a fast and efficient manner. Perhaps this way of travelling can be justified for the first time traveller with limited time and budget. But after one whirlwind tour it's time to settle down to something more satisfying, something that can bring valuable, lasting memories rather than a quickly forgotten jumble. Let's imagine that we have six weeks to spend exploring. Picking just one European country, England for instance, seems a good idea, but if you really want to absorb the atmosphere and gain a little insight then choosing an even smaller area is a better idea.
Let's imagine that we have six weeks to spend exploring. Picking just one European country, England for instance, seems a good idea, but if you really want to absorb the atmosphere and gain a little insight then choosing an even smaller area is a better idea. What better plan could there be than to take the advice of Thomas Hardy and visit the land he loved and knew so well, the land that gave him the framework on which to hang his novels, short stories, and poems: The County of Dorset on England's southern coast.
Read more at www.britainexpress.com/countryside/dorset/dorset.htm
Author Joanne Paul has contributed several articles to Britain Express - on Dorset, of course! - and to Dorset Life magazine.
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User-Recommended B&Bs
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Our Scotland and Villages Editor Barbara Ballard just returned from a lengthy visit to the UK with a batch of recommendations for our B&B listings at www.britainexpress.com/accommodation/bblist.htm
This seems like a good excuse to remind readers that we welcome your suggestions for our list. All the bed and breakfasts on our list have been recommended by YOU, our readers (and by Barbara!). If you're looking for a place to stay, or you want to let the world know about a really special B&B that you've stayed at, visit the page above. Every B&B has been personally submitted by happy travellers.
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UK Travel Tips
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CANOES AND PUNTS IN EASTERN ENGLAND
A network of canoe rental centres has been launched on the Norfolk Broads, the picturesque network of lakes and rivers in eastern England. Five centres are being equipped with up to six Canadian canoes, capable of taking three adults or a family, for hire by the day (£22) or half-day (£12). The centres, at Norwich Riverside, Horstead, Sutton Staithe, Wayford Bridge and Bungay, will give advice on suitable routes.
Complementing the Broads Authority's popular Bike Hire network, the eco-friendly canoes enable visitors to get close to the water and the wide variety of wildlife in and around it. The Broads, east of the historic city of Norwich, 115 miles north-east of London, is one of Europe's most important wetland areas, a haven for bird, plant and insect life.
Themed punting - cruising in a flat-bottomed boat propelled by a pole - has been launched in Stamford, Lincolnshire. Up to four people at a time can be steered, with options ranging from Victorian or 1920s costume, to a champagne picnic or jazz cruise. A 48-hour punting break costs from £125, or a short excursion from £25.
That's all for now. Until next issue, let me remind you that laughter is contagious. Be a carrier.
David Ross, Publisher, Britain Express
