Dumfries and Galloway

 As our last break of 2025, in mid September, my wife and I stayed at the Holiday Inn hotel in Dumfries. We normally travel north at this time of year either to Cumbria, Northumberland or North Yorkshire.

I was guided to Dumfries because I liked the look and the location of the hotel, plus the fact we had never been to Scotland before as a couple. It was a gamble that paid off handsomely; a great hotel with excellent breakfasts and evening meals and a great base for exploring the many treasures of that part of Scotland.

A little bit about the hotel and its location - The hotel was opened in late 2006 and comprised a repurposed Victorian building to which a modern extension was added.

It was first call the 'Aston' hotel, I would love to know why, because Aston is an "Old English" name meaning "Eastern Settlement" and such place names are to be found throughout England: Probably the most famous being the inner district of Birmingham of that name, home to Aston Villa Football Club and the Jacobean period 'Aston Hall'. Also the district where I grew up, I guess that is why the name of the hotel had such resonance with me. In 2014 the then owners took on the IHG Holiday Inn franchise and that is name the hotel has been known by ever since.

The hotel in located on the Crichton Estate on the southern edge of Dumfries. The Crichton Estate was established in the first half the 19th century by Elizabeth Crichton, the widow of wealthy Dr. James Crichton. James had trained and practiced as a doctor but it was his investment in the East India Company that was the source of his wealth. 

He left £100,000 to his widow and her first ambition was to establish a university in Dumfries but the authorities did not allow her to do this. Her next and successful ambition was to establish a hospital caring for people with mental conditions. This was opened in 1829 and went on to become world famous for the practices it developed, caring for those who were afflicted with serious mental illness.

Ironically, Elizabeth's first ambition, to establish a University in Dumfries, came to fruition in the 21st century, on the estate she first established nearly 200 years previously.

In addition, the vast grounds of the former hospital are a joy to amble around, or even jog around if you are so inclined.

I mentioned at the beginning that the hotel proved to be a great base from which to explore the many treasures of the area. I hope the following photos provide you with some idea of what I am referring to -

The Crichton Estate

Holiday Inn Hotel

Memorial Church late 19th Century

Caerlaverock Castle

River Nith Estuary/Solway Firth

John Paul Jones Cottage/Museum

A Model of JPJ's ship the Bonhomme Richard

A model of John Paul Jones

JPJ's cottage - bedroom

A replica of JPJ's cabin on the Bonhomme Richard

JPJ's cottage - living room

Arbigland Gardens

Drumlanrig Castle and Gardens

The Douglas Crest  - A Heart with wings
This is based on the legend that Sir James Douglas carried out the wishes of Robert the Bruce to take his heart on a 'Crusade'. In a battle with the Moors at Teba, Spain, in 1330, James and his Scottish troops were surrounded and about to be defeated. In one last heroic charge, James threw Bruce's heart at his enemies crying " Go ahead Brave heart and we will follow" before being killed himself.

I hope that you have enjoyed this little insight into the many treasures of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

Nick

Berkeley Castle

In early August 2025 my wife and I spent a mini break with the 'Bank House' hotel, Bransford, Worcs. as our base. Incidentally, there are some lovely walks to be taken from the hotel itself and we did just that - 'The Fold Nature Trail' in particular.

But this post is about our visit to Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. I first became aware of the Berkeley family name and the Castle on a visit to Jamestown VA., USA, in 2017. There we visited a plantation, located to the west of Jamestown, called Berkeley 100. 

As a result of this visit to Berkeley Castle I have renewed my research into how the plantation in Virginia got its name. One of its founders was Richard Berkeley but he was only one of a number of wealthy Gloucestershire and Bristol investors who established the colony in late 1619. They didn't necessarily go to Virginia themselves, they would have appointed representatives, one of these being Captain John Woodliffe. All that is a different, continuing story, this blog is about our visit to Berkeley castle.

Although Storm Floris mainly affected Scotland and northern England, we suffered rain and strong winds on our visit. It was a good job that most of the visit was indoors. The Berkeley family and the castle can trace its history back to the early years of the Norman Conquest, The lineage in fact, via the Fitzhardinge family, goes back to Saxon England. 

The castle is still owned and manged by a branch of the Berkeley family and what a very fine job they are making of it. If a castle could be described as being the equivalent of a "Rolls Royce", this would be it. From the guides, labelling, layout, the rich history itself, to the café, all are of a very high standard. As you probably gather by now, we loved it. It does help if you are interested in English history.

Here are a few of the photos I took -

For much much more you will have to visit yourself. You wont regret it.

Nick

City of Chester and Flint Castle

Probably our last trip of 2024 was to Chester, the Wirral/Dee estuary and North Wales. We stayed at the Double Tree hotel at Hoole just outside Chester, thoroughly recommended. It is a modern hotel and very busy with business conferences and a very active Spa/leisure centre. It is ideally placed for exploring the Wirral and North Wales which was the objective of this trip.

We spent the first day exploring the historic and well presented city of Chester. There is so much to see if you, like us, are interested in British history **. The Romans, in particular, left their indelible mark on Chester (Deva Victrix) not least being the city wall and the amphitheatre. We spent sometime exploring St.John's Church, Chester's first Cathedral before it lost that role to St Werburgh Abbey at the time of the Dissolution of the Abbeys in the mid 16th Century.

On the second day we travelled via the excellent A55 (North Wales Expressway) to Conwy with the objective of buying a Welsh Blanket throw from the nearby Trefriw Woollen Mills.

It was back to North Wales again on the third day, this time to visit the well preserved and presented (credit to the Cadw organisation) ruins of Fling Castle.

Here are some photos taken during the trip -

 CHESTER

Views from the top of the Roman Wall

Amphitheatre

Churches

St John's c of E church, formerly Chester's Cathedral

After the 16th Century Reformation, St John's lost it's status as Chester's Cathedral and it was physically reduced in size. These photos are of the ruins of that great building that still remain together with information boards-

The River Dee at Chester

CONWY CASTLE

FLINT CASTLE

** https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DDTSH51B

Nick