Cyprus Holiday Guide. The lovely Island of CYPRUS has probably
got just about everything you could wish for on your summer holiday - and of course
there are the Troodos mountains as well which means Cyprus is also a good choice for a
winter holiday if you want to go skiing. A holiday to Cyprus offers fantastic beaches
varying from busy and easily accessible beaches with all the
facilities you would want (perhaps particularly if you have children) i.e. food
outlets, sun shades and beach chairs, ice cream stalls and all of that type of thing -
to really remote beaches such as you can find out on the much wilder Akamas Peninsula.
Out on Akamas the beaches are sometimes huge and often have lovely waves crashing in
on the shoreline whilst there are also tiny little inlets with perhaps just a little
sand and with nobody else around - perfect if you like peace and quiet whilst sunbathing and
swimming nude.
We love walking and Cyprus is an excellent holiday destination for this - be it
walking out amongst the Troodos mountain or perhaps hiking out
on the wild Akamas Peninsula. There are quite a few trail, paths, gorge and hill walks
described on our various Cyprus pages - all packed with lots of photographs to
show what you can do on whilst on holiday in Cyprus.
From a purely sightseeing point of view the island has several extensive
archaeological sites to wander around - we have a series of archaeological photos
which were taken around Cyprus's Paphos and
Akrotiri areas. Please see our Cyprus Main Page for all these topics
Algarve Holiday Guide.
PORTUGAL's ALGARVE has been a favourite holiday destination for Northern European
holidaymakers for many years and is a great
choice not only for a summer holiday but since The Algarve enjoys a generally mild climate
all year round it's not a bad pick for a Spring and/or Autumn holiday either. The Algarve is located at
the deep Southern end of Portugal and is only a couple of hours flying time from
most Northern European airports.
We have a series of topic pages about the Algarve covering driving, sightseeing and getting
around, Algarve beaches and coastline, general holiday costs and so on - lots of
our topics include descriptive photographs too.
Golf trips are very popular out on The Algarve but we have little on this since we do not
partake in such a cruel activity however we do love to go out hiking and we have quite a
few walks - which include many descriptive photos - described. The Algarve's
Atlantic coastline has easily the best and most scenic rock formations we
have ever seen - and there are of course loads of gorgeous looking beaches to chose from
whilst in The Algarve. Please see our Algarve Travel and Holiday
Guides for all these topics
Walking and Hiking whilst on Holiday in the South
Midlands of England.
England has some of the best walking opportunities you will find anywhere in the world - with long National Trails like The Ridgeway and The Oxfordshire Way
(all of which are
interlaced with many well mapped footpaths and tracks) as well as river and canal walks
available.
We have an extensive section on walking in England using several of these excellent English National Trails -
instructions on mostly circular walks using The Ridgeway, The Oxfordshire Way,
The South Bucks Way, The Icknield Way and so on - perfect for a walking holiday
in England. These described walks take you through
our beautiful woodlands, along canals such as the lovely wandering Oxford Canal or our
famous Grand Union Canal as well as
The River Thames and it's Thames Path - visiting well known locations such as Henley, Marlow, Chequers, Blenheim
Palace and Park,
Woodstock and Goring. All of our Walks plus lots of photos from around England's beautiful
countryside are listed on our
ENGLISH WALKS topic.
English Ordnance Survey maps are extremely accurate for use when planning walking
(or cycling) days out with all recognised paths and tracks
clearly marked. In addition the paths and National Trails themselves have clear direction signs on
most intersections - making any holiday walking in England really straightforward whether
you want short walks of just a few miles or a longer 20 mile day out hiking. The Photos on the right
are of Steeple Aston's church of St Peter and St Paul and the
other is the beautiful Dashwood Canal Bridge. and perhaps typify what you can discover whilst
out walking and sightseeing in England.
ENGLAND -
Pictures of our lovely old English Churches.
There are 100s of churches in England - these local village and town churches
come in a variety of sizes and shapes and are often very old buildings going
back to and even before the 11th Century (and they are often sited on even older ancient ceremonial sites).
Some parish and local churches are huge in relation to their location - you
visit a small Oxfordshire village and find that a massive church has been built there.
Some of our English churches seem to be in quite isolated positions - for instance these two
Oxfordshire churches shown in the photo on the left are Holy Cross Church at Shipton-on-Cherwell and on the right-hand side of the
picture you can see St Gile's church which is located at Hampton Gay (where there is also
the site of a medieval village).
Between these lovely old churches you will also find the River Cherwell
wandering along as well as a main railway line and the equally wandering Oxford Canal.
We live in Oxfordshire so we commenced taking photos of as many churches
as possible quite some time ago - there are so many Oxfordshire church pictures now that we
have ended up splitting these photo pages into two sections. We enjoy hiking in
our area - The Chilterns - and this caused us to also start taking photos of
churches we visited and passed in adjacent counties so there are also many
Buckinghamshire church photos to look at as well as others from a little further
afield.
Oxfordshire Churches -
pictures of local Oxfordshire churches from villages and towns in Oxfordshire with
location names between Abingdon and Lower
Heyford.
Oxfordshire Church Photos -
Oxfordshire Church photos covering towns and villages in the county which are named between Marcham and Yarnton.
Buckinghamshire Church Photos
Pictures of Buckinghamshire churches from the county's Villages and Towns
English Church Photos A variety of Local and Parish church
photographs which were taken around the English Counties of Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire and Wiltshire.
ENGLISH NATURE
English Wild Flowers 100s of pictures of our English
Wildflowers
and English Wild Plants.
Toadstools Pictures of English Toadstools.
ENGLAND'S BEAUTIFUL CANALS. There is an extensive series of canals to be
enjoyed in England whether for boating holidays or for walking, cycling and
sightseeing. One of the oldest English Canals is the Oxford Canal which is really
worthwhile visiting especially
in the Spring what with the lovely trees, wild flowers and shrubs as well as
plenty of English wildlife -as well as- all the
really nice old bridges and interesting old locks and canal buildings. Another of our canals is the Grand Union Canal - the Main
Line sets off from the Midlands in the centre of Birmingham and travels south right into London
by The Thames - this canal also often goes through really nice English
countryside.
Using the canals - cyclists and walkers. Generally
the towpaths are useable/passable for both walkers and cyclists however there
are parts where the canal bank has semi-collapsed - this can be a considerable
hazard particularly for cyclists. If you see the towpath is overgrown with
high growth both sides this usually indicates a collapse has
occurred - expect to find holes and often deep mud. There is a speed limit which
applies to everyone using England's canals - that is maximum 4mph -
this spped limit includes cyclists who also usually need a
permit to cycle on the towpaths. Motorised vehicles are not
allowed on the canal towpaths unless they need access and they have to have
specific permission. Although the canals are not very deep they usually contain
a thick layer of mud and also have quite a lot of weed - obviously quite
hazardous for young children in particular should they decide to fall in. Perhaps just as
potentially hazardous are the canal locks - they have quite deep drops when
empty or of course contain many feet of water when filled - the locks do not
have guard rails or anything similar so care should be taken.
The Oxford Canal and it's lovely old Bridges and Locks:-
We have we believe a photo record of every Bridge and Lock on
The Oxfordshire Canal in England - there are also other canal features shown such as sluices
and syphons, nearbye
old railway
bridges, pipe bridges, old pump houses and aqueducts.
Oxford Canal Locks - if you just enjoy
looking at canal locks then this section has photos of all the
canal locks to be seen on the
Oxford Canal as it heads out of Oxford and goes north to Sutton Stop.
Canal Photos Hawkesbury Junction to Braunston Turn Each
canal bridge and lock in sequence plus other canal features are shown of the Oxford Canal's trip
from where it starts at
Sutton Stop (Hawkesbury Junction) down to Braunston Turn.
Braunston to Banbury Oxford Canal Photos All the Oxford Canal's
Locks and Bridges plus other canal features which can be seen on the next part of the canal's
route as it
continues it's wandering journey through the English Countryside.
The Oxford Canal - Banbury to Oxford This
shows at least one picture of Every bridge and canal lock
which crosses or is crossed by the Oxford Canal as it wanders it's bendy way between
Banbury into the heart of Oxford where it ends.
Stratford-on-Avon Canal. Whilst wandering around photographing the above canals we came across the
Stratford-on-Avon Canal where it just
about touches the Grand Central at Kingswood Junction. Obviously it was quite
irresistible to ignore such an obviously beautiful canal so we therefore took several pictures around the area
including some of the extensive Lapworth Lock Flight.
Leicester Canal - Leicester Line. On Ordnance
Survey maps this really beautiful English canal is shown as
The Grand Union Canal Leicester Section since it feeds into the Main Line however with a run
of 42 miles between Norton Junction to where it meets the River Soar in the City
of Leicester (and with navigaton continuing via that river to the River
Trent) it only seems fair it should be it's own thing rather than
an Arm or Section. We have walked around 55 miles on the canal so far - namely
from Norton Junction up past the 1528 yard long Crick Tunnel (which was opened in 1814) -continuing
past Husbands Bosworth Tunnel - Foxton Locks to just north of Fleckney. One of the
Leicester Canal's particular features are the excellent series of 4 staircase locks at Watford Locks and the two sets
of 5 staircase locks at Foxton Locks (see our Market Harborough item below for photos from around Foxton Locks
including the remains of an inclined plane).
Our Leicester Canal Guide Norton - Foxton
covers all the canal's features between the Grand Union Junction at Norton and through the series of
staircase locks at Foxton Locks (and it's inclined plane and museum area).
The GUJC Leicester topic covers all the
bridges and locks and other features on the canal's journey from the bottom of Foxton Locks through
to Aylestone Meadows where it shares water with the River Soar. Then up through Leicester City
via West Bridge - plus photos showing the route a little further north
along the (mostly now) River Soar as far as Swan's Nest Weir where the canal
finally ends.
The Grand Union Canal / Grand Central Canal / Grand
Junction Canal.
Having completed a photo record of every one of the Oxford Canal's bridges and locks we decided that
it was necessary to do the same thing on this equally beautiful English Canal for
the purpose of taking pictures of all of it's locks, bridges and nearbye
features as well. This was in a way a much more difficult exercise as there is
quite a lack of public transport to allow you to get to various locations along
the Grand Union Canal Main Line and walk back perhaps 10 or 15 mile lengths at a time -
we found we often had to try and make circulars or just do "there and backs".
Nevertheless we have now completed a walk along the entire length of the Canal and we
believe we have
at least one photograph - though often photos from both directions - of all of the Canal's locks and
bridges from Birmingham through to Brentford in London by the River Thames
opposite Kew.
Birmingham through to Lapworth on the Grand
Junction Canal.
The Grand Union Canal's Main Line starts from Salford Junction in the north west of the City of
Birmingham and then heads south via Solihull and then into the countryside. This
topic contains photos of all the Grand Union's locks and bridges plus various
syphons and sluices, aqueducts, mini-sidearms and old buildings involved with the canal as
it heads south to Lapworth. There are loads of old warehouses lining the canal in the Birmingham
part of the canal's run - they are really nice to look at and extremely interesting - as are the myriad of
old brick railway bridges which still exist from when railway lines were routed all over the area.
Lapworth-Hatton Lock Flight-Shrewley
Tunnel-Royal Leamington Spa The series of 21 Locks at Hatton Lock Flight are
really interesting - we have photos of them all plus pictures of every other
lock and bridge on the Grand Union Canal Main Line as it travels between Lapworth and Royal Leamington Spa.
Leamington Spa to Braunston These are pictures
of Canal Locks and Canal Bridges as well as other canal type features which can
be seen on the Grand Union Canal's
trip between Leamington Spa and Braunston including Stockton Locks and Napton
Junction.
Braunston-Gayton Junction-Blisworth Tunnel-Stoke
Bruerne-Wolverton
A picture record of every Lock and Bridge (also Blisworth Tunnel) featured on the Grand Union Canal
Main Line on it's watery route between
Braunston, Norton Junction, Gayton Junction, Blisworth Tunnel, Stoke Bruerne and Wolverton - plus photos of other canal features on the way.
Grand Union Canal Wolverton to Horton on
The Grand Union Canal -
Canal Pictures of all the Locks and Bridges
between these two locations including it's trip around the top of Milton
Keynes and Leighton Buzzard.
Ivinghoe Lock to Kings Langley Canal Lock and Bridge Photos from the
Grand Central Canal's journey as it heads on south - thse photos cover the
stretch between Ivinghoe Lock and Kings Langley in Buckinghamshire, England.
This also has photos from Marsworth and it's flight of Locks and canal junctions
- as well as Berkhamstead and Hemel Hempstead.
Grand Central Canal This sequence
shows canal features and structures from Kings Langley via
Denham, Cowley Peachey Junction, Stockley Bridge and Hanwell Locks to the end
of the canal down at London's Thames Lock where it joins up with the River Thames
opposite Kew Gardens. We believe we now have every one of the Grand Union Canal
Main Line's Bridges and Locks photographed.
Canal Side Arms which adjoin The Grand Union Canal - England.
The Grand Union Canal also has quite a few Side Arms - some of them are quite
short as with the 5 mile Northampton Arm whilst others are pretty much full canals in
their own right due to their length. Several of the Arms are in a poor state but
a huge effort is being undertaken by local canal enthusiasts to get them back
to their full glory - as for instance with the extremely attractive Wendover
Arm. The Canal Arms we have walked so far are shown below - with a picture record of all
their bridges and (if they have any) Locks etc. at the time of walking and also a
little about their history.
Aylesbury Arm Aylesbury Canal Arm - Photos and Information about this
rural Canal Arm located in Buckinghamshire - the Canal Arm starts off with a
staircase lock at Marsworth
Junction. The towpath can be quite muddy for walking and fairly difficult in places for
cyclists.
Market Harborough Arm. Leaving the Leicester Canal at the bottom of
Foxton Locks (and it's unique double set of staircase locks and the site of an inclined
plane) the Market Harborough Canal Arm sets off on a 5 mile meander to this Leicestershire Town. We have photos off
all of it's bridges and other scenery and also describe how it is
easy to make a nice 11 mile circular walk coming back across the fields via Lubenham.
Northampton Canal Arm Northampton's Canal
leaves that city from Cotton End Wharf and heads off to link into the Grand Union Canal
at Gayton Junction - there are pictures of all of it's locks and bridges plus other features. The main
event on the canal is probably the Rothersthorpe Flight of 13 locks - the towpath is in good condition for
use by both cyclists and walkers.
Slough Arm. The 5 mile Slough Canal Arm with
photos of all of it's bridges and canal features - the Slough Arm starts off
from Cowley Peachey Junction. This Arm is quite neglected which is a shame as it
should be a beautiful stretch of England's waterways and would be without the
rubbish and graffiti. The towpath is in fine condition for both walkers and cyclists.
(The) Welford Branch. Photos and some information about the short branch canal which goes from
The Grand Union Canal Leicester Canal at Welford Junction to Welford. There is
also a 10 mile circular walk described out of Welford which uses the Jurassic
Way, The Leicester Canal and comes back via the Welford Branch.
Wendover Arm Pictures showing off the partially wet and very beautiful
Wendover Canal Arm in England - it starts from Bulbourne Junction near Tring
Reservoirs. Particularly towards the Wendover end the Canal Arm (not navigable here
yet) is full of wildlife. This towpath is always in good condition for both walkers and cyclists as
well as lazy ducks.
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Walking Instructions. These are correct to the best of our knowledge but we cannot
guarantee 100 percent accuracy - tracks and paths do
get changed and sadly sometimes even destroyed. A good map should always be utilised
particularly on longer/remote walks.
Aylesbury-Arm Portugal Algarve Aynho Walks Beckley Walk Blenheim+Woodstock Walk Walking amongst the Bluebells Bucks Church Photos Chequers+Ivinghoe-Walks Chiltern Walks Herts/Wilts/Berks/Beds/Northants/Leics/Glouce/Church Photos Culham - Abingdon Walks Cyprus English-Walks English Wild Flowers Gayton Jc to Wolverton GU GPS Readings GUJC Leicester Islip Walk Leicester Canal (Grand Union) Lower Heyford Walks Market Harborough Arm and Foxton Locks Northampton Canal Oxford Canal Bridge Photos Oxford Canal Lock Photos Oxfordshire ChurchPhotos M-Y Oxfordshire Church Photos Oxfordshire Way Walks Oxfordshire Way Stratford-on-Avon Canal The Ridgeway ToadStool Photos Wantage+Goring-Walks Welford Canal Branch and Walk. Wendover Woods Walks