Eagle Pup going across the pond, and seeking advice on the UK

[Cow Poke]

OK, an ENTIRELY self-serving thread here...
In the spring of 2010, I plan on visiting England and Scotland, and maybe Ireland.
I haven't decided if I (and my wife) want to fly or cruise, but i'm inclined to fly to England, then take a cruise to ports all around the Isles.

My dad served in England in WWII, shooting down buzz-bombs incoming from Hitler's fellas. I'd like to visit some WWII History sites, besides whatever my wife wants to see.

I'm a Sutherland, she's a McClung, so there will be plenty to see and do "heritage-wise".

Since I have plenty of time to think / dream / plan / ponder, and since a number of fellow twebbers hail from "over yonder", I thought i'd be lazy and let some of you do my research.

What should i see? Cruise? Fly? Drive?

I am WIDE OPEN to suggestions and ideas, warnings & cautions, advice & insight.

Thanks in advance for you assistance.

[mossrose]

I want to go too.

[Longstreet]

I have no advice. I'm just chiming in to say






I'm jealous.

[Cow Poke]

I want to go too.

I'll check with my wife, Moss... i'm sure there will be no problem!

[mossrose]

I'll check with my wife, Moss... i'm sure there will be no problem!

Well, I don't have to go with YOU. I just want to go there. Again.

[Johnny MacManky]

Hey, there were Sutherland's on my Mum's Father's side.

Anyway, in a couple of weeks, my in-laws are doing a cruise around GB. I'll find a link to the info, and do a review for ya when they get back.

I live just outside Glasgow, and I'm only about 15 mins drive from Loch Lomond.

I'd be honoured to meet up with ya's and take you to visit a few places of interest.

:johnny:

P.S... I'd wear my kilt, of course!

[Abigail]

OK, an ENTIRELY self-serving thread here...
In the spring of 2010, I plan on visiting England and Scotland, and maybe Ireland.
I haven't decided if I (and my wife) want to fly or cruise, but i'm inclined to fly to England, then take a cruise to ports all around the Isles.

My dad served in England in WWII, shooting down buzz-bombs incoming from Hitler's fellas. I'd like to visit some WWII History sites, besides whatever my wife wants to see.

I'm a Sutherland, she's a McClung, so there will be plenty to see and do "heritage-wise".

Since I have plenty of time to think / dream / plan / ponder, and since a number of fellow twebbers hail from "over yonder", I thought i'd be lazy and let some of you do my research.

What should i see? Cruise? Fly? Drive?

I am WIDE OPEN to suggestions and ideas, warnings & cautions, advice & insight.

Thanks in advance for you assistance.

You could see the royal airforce museum www.rafmuseum.com .

There is lots to see round London (I live about 17 miles from the centre of London). London Eye seems to be a favourite ...if you are willing to queue. Tower of London, crown jewels, castles - see www.castles.me , palaces, cathedrals etc. You might see the ravens at the Tower of London. The ravens have lodgings there due to ancient legend that England will fall to her enemies if they leave - I cant imagine that anyone actually believes that tosh.

If you like shows then London has some good nights-out. You could see Joseph and his amazing techni-coloured dreamcoat which I am sure should still be on.

Right now we have the Chelsea flower show on so if you are here this time next year and you or your wife like that kind of thing, then that could be something

We have a lot of Roman sites eg the baths in Bath. Northumberland has Hadrian's wall and some sites, garrison barracks etc. If you are up that way I can recommend places like Durham and Lindisfarne abbey, www.lindisfarne.org.uk - you can only get to Lindisfarne when the tide is out though.

My local pub does a great steak and ale pie

[Cow Poke]

Thanks, all suggestions and ideas are much welcomed!

[Johnny MacManky]

I'm awaiting delivery of a new kilt in my clan tartan - Colquhoun, but I had considered getting one in Sutherland 'cause of the family connection.

Back in the 1930's/40's, my Mothers Uncle (John Sutherland Logan) was the Pastor of Speke Hall, which was Oswald Chambers' church. (He was the second pastor there.) Logan later emigrated to the US and was an Evangelist there.

There's loads online about the Clan Sutherland. The 'family seat' is Dunrobin Castle. (Piccy below) http://www.dunrobincastle.co.uk/the-...the-castle.htm

McClung is the anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Luinge ‘son of Lunge’, a personal name probably meaning ‘seafarer’, although the literal meaning is ‘ship’, from Latin navis longa. http://www.ancestry.com/ I dunno much about the Clan, but I think it might be an Ayrshire name connected to the MacCartneys.

[shadowmaster]

. I'd wear my kilt, of course!

[The Curtmudgeon]

Hmm, where to start ... where to start ...

The following represent only one man's thruppence-ha'penny, and YMMV!! So caveat travelor.

• England -
  
  • Not really all that much to suggest; I've spent a grand total of five or so days there. London & vicinity: Standard turista places, such as the Tower, are well worth doing if you can stand the crowds. One non-standard suggestion: Take the Thames River cruise that ends up at the Maritime Museum & Old Royal Observatory in Greenwich; it's half-a-day well spent for any kind of a history buff. Windsor Castle is worth seeing if the queen's not at home; if she is, there's too much restricted access to make it worth your time.
  • If you're literarily inclined at all, check out Sherlock Holmes' place (221B Baker Street), and then up to Stratford-upon-Avon for the Bard.
• Scotland -
  
  • http://www.secretbunker.co.uk/
  • Edinburgh Castle (and take your wife shopping on Princes Street, but don't let her have the credit card)
  • Again, for the literatti, Sir Walter Scott's Abbottsford in the Borders.
  • Falkirk
  • Blairgowrie
  • St. John's Town of Perth, and Scone Abbey
  • Inverness -- frankly, except for the Castle, I prefer spending my time here over Edinburgh (nothing wrong with 'Embro', just I love Inverness). You can easily find a place to stay for days here and just take daytrips out and about almost all of Scotland without moving too much, including all of Sutherland.
  • Drummossie Muir (Culloden Battlefield)
  • I'd mentioned Orkney & the Italian Chapel to you in an earlier post.
  • The Outer Hebrides
  • Iona
• Ireland -
  
  • I suspect, since you've not mentioned any Irish connection, you'd be more interested in the North than the Republic, but there's plenty to do and see anywhere.
  • There should be a WWII museum in Belfast, but that's the one major city I've not visited so I can't say for sure. But Harland & Wolff (Titanic) are there, I know.
  • If you think you might have N'orn Irish connections, the genealogical library used to be at the Linen Hall, but I think they've moved to newer quarters since my grandmother went over ('63). A distant cousin of ours, John Killen, used to be the Head Librarian there, but he's long gone (or we'd be hearing about him for sure).
  • Giant's Causeway
  • If you want a good night's pub entertainment, head down to Rostrevor (Co. Down) or Keady ("the Republic of South Armagh") and ask around for traditional music pubs. I've been away too long to recommend any specific pubs, but you won't go lacking in those places anyway.
  • I love the west coast of Ireland, from Donegal (Inishowen, where there's a still behind every hill) all the way down to Kerry. You can't find a lovelier place, and there's history in every stone.
  • The Quiet Man was filmed mostly in and around Cong, Co. Mayo, and there's a QM Pub in the town still. (However, the pub called "The Quiet Man" isn't the best one -- there's another pub in town, or was up to recent years, where John Wayne, John Ford, and the rest of the cast spent their paychecks during filming, and they have a lot more memorabilia than the one that looks like the movie set.)
  • Oh, just everywhere in Ireland and Scotland is good. You can't really go wrong, as long as you don't drive yourself crazy trying to see it all in one trip.

The (and ask about my very reasonable rates as tour guide, luggage handler, and experienced left-hand driver) Curtmudgeon

[Johnny MacManky]

. . . Irish connection . . .

I think there might be an Irish connection thru' the McClung side... Still checking that tho'.

[The Curtmudgeon]

I'm going to get really annoyed, though, if a newcomer like Pup gets to meet Johnny (or Moose or Jnthn) in the flesh before I do.

The (although I guess I'd get over it in time) Curtmudgeon

[Cow Poke]

I'm awaiting delivery of a new kilt in my clan tartan - Colquhoun, but I had considered getting one in Sutherland 'cause of the family connection.

Back in the 1930's/40's, my Mothers Uncle (John Sutherland Logan) was the Pastor of Speke Hall, which was Oswald Chambers' church. (He was the second pastor there.) Logan later emigrated to the US and was an Evangelist there.

My brother, John Sutherland, was the "black sheep" of the family... strayed FAR from the Lord... but, got right, was living for Jesus, then died a few years later.

There's loads online about the Clan Sutherland. The 'family seat' is Dunrobin Castle. (Piccy below) http://www.dunrobincastle.co.uk/the-...the-castle.htm

Sincere thanks!

McClung is the anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Luinge ‘son of Lunge’, a personal name probably meaning ‘seafarer’, although the literal meaning is ‘ship’, from Latin navis longa. http://www.ancestry.com/ I dunno much about the Clan, but I think it might be an Ayrshire name connected to the MacCartneys.

As it gets closer, I'll post dates here, and WHO KNOWS... I'd like to meet some of my "across the pond" brethren. (and sistren )

[Cow Poke]

Curt... keep posting things as you think of them, and I might just have to arrange to meet you so you see how ugly you get in the future!