Invariably the first question we’re asked when we describe our trip is “Why England?” For Amanda its the history, the beauty, and the romance. For Steve it’s more mathematical: there are more amazing things to see per square mile than perhaps anywhere else in the world. The next question is “OK, but why so long?” Visits to England in 2009, 2015, & 2018 left us wanting more. With the gracious gift of time we will relish the Scottish Highlands: imbibe single malt scotch on Islay, marvel at the Calanais Stones, stand silently on the hallowed moors of Culloden, marvel at Skara Brae, and watch the latest season of Shetland while DI Perez’s house sits just outside our door. We plan to tell of our own tales from Canterbury, regale with ghost stories from Rye, channel Ross Poldark (for Amanda) and Demelza (for Steve) in Nampara, meet Neil the puffin at St. Michael’s Mount and Doc Martin in Portwenn, stand atop Snowdon Peak, try our Irish luck, cross the Brig o’ Doon, find a hedge hog near Peter Rabbit’s home, summit Ben Nevis, hike the Lairig Ghru, cross the Holy Island tidal causeway to visit DCI Vera Stanhope’s home, gaze across Brontë’s high waving heather, and be awed by the same landscapes that so inspired James Harriott. We hope our blog helps you fall in love with these and so many more magical places. Let’s go!