September 1 Arrived in Essex and visited Dover castle, Canterbury and Battle (where we bought an English Heritage Visitor Pass which lasts a year but was worth it although we couldn't claim the Dover entry fee - one of the highest!). After one night in a campground we landed at relatives Pam, Adrian, Sarah and Matthew Craggs in Hurstpierpoint, a Sussex Village of Domeday fame. While in Sussex we explored the fields, visited an airshow, Brighton Pier, had the car serviced for a whopping 90 pounds, and saw a few more castles at Lewes and Pevensey.

September 7 Visited more English Heritage places at Rochester in Kent, Upnor Castle, Audley End House on our way to seeing a bit of Cambridge. This enormous mansion has been beautifully restored including the gardens which boast this impressive sculpted hedge (left). We toured a few Cambridge colleges and the backs in lovely weather. On the same day we saw Ely and Oliver Cromwell's house where Pat got to dress up as a round head (right)! We had a quick look at the town where the Cooper's had spent a year in 1990 - Brooke in Norfolk, before camping near the Broads.

On our way to my other relatives in Ilkley we visited Sandringham and Lincoln. Valerie, Allan and John were around and on the way back from Scotland we managed to see Katie, Doris and Ron as well for a pub meal (left). Ilkely is near the lovely Wharfe Valley and this bridge (right). On the way to Scotland proper we stopped in the rain with many trampers in the upper Wharfe and saw Gordale Scar amidst the Dales.

September 24 Despite the strikes we had not too much trouble with obtaining diesel. We spent a couple of weeks in Scotland which was lovely as we had some nice days for walking, starting at Ben Lomond which ended in cloud. The weather was changeable but we managed a few walks on Skye (left is our campsite, right is a croft in gorgeous sunshine) and in the Western Highlands (beach below on right).

Bummer that the Olympics is so much fun. We've been listening to it on the BBC but it's not much of a comparison especially as they have a British perspective.

September 27 Our welcome to Wales was a downpour at Betws-y-Coed (Pat's grandmother was born there). We did all the wonderful Welsh castles and camped near Snowdon, climbing it the next day (summit right). Other stops included Hay on Wye and Hereford.

October 3 We are in Bath today (internet access is expensive here!). In our last ten days we saw Stonehenge and Avebury, Cornwall and Devon. The ancient bridge (below) is called the Tarr Steps and is on Exmoor.

We've extended the car and arranged to take it back to Heathrow so no trip to Calais is necessary. This cost a bit but not too much. We'll be home on the 14th of October, just in time to do our tax returns.

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