Photos and the City

Tag: UK

  • Early Morning in Bath


    bath, somerset, england, jane austen, town, uk, photos and the city, ursula travels, morning light

    The next morning after my evening walk in Bath it was about time to explore the city more deeply. I remembered a little bit from my first time here a few years ago but there was still so much to discover!

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    It was a beautiful cold and crisp winter morning when I was making my way into the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. Even before Jane Austen’s heroines discovered Bath and its spa it was a beloved place of relaxations by the Romans who built a huge spa complex to use the natural hot springs, which was on my to-do list for that day – but first breakfast!

    bath, somerset, england, jane austen, town, uk, photos and the city, ursula travels, morning light

    Hay Hill

    And on the way to breakfast, I did some detours, like this one via Hay Hill, where I discovered the first of many ghost signs in Bath.

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    Books & Coffee

    Bath became the centre of fashionable life in England during the 18th century when its Old Orchard Street Theatre and architectural developments such as Lansdown Crescent, the Royal Crescent, The Circus, and Pulteney Bridge were built. (Wikipedia)

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    I walked by a lot of amazing looking bookshops and coffee houses but I already had special plans for my morning coffee.

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    Pulteney Bridge

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    Crossing the river Avon is Pulteney Bridge with little shops on both sides, named after Frances Pulteney the wife of William Pulteney who funded the project (and many others in Bath).

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    Crossing the Avon, the Palladian Pulteney Bridge is the work of the Scottish architect Robert Adam and dates to 1774. The monument grabs your attention for the rows of shops along its 45-metre span and is of the most photographed monuments in Bath’s World Heritage centre. (The Crazy Tourist)

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    And I´ve arrived at my designated breakfast spot for the day – I not only came for the coffee but also for the view across the Avon.

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    The current weir was constructed after the last floods, but the first ones were already built in the Middle Ages to prevent the city from flooding.

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  • Hello Bath!

    bath, somerset, england, jane austen, town, uk, photos and the city, ursula travels, sunset, the circus

    Sunset in Bath

    Last week I spend a few days in England, just a bit of relaxation and fun. So, there will be a wee break from the travels through Scotland last summer and a little bit of English winter.

    My flight left a very cold and frosty Vienna and actually arrived early in Heathrow, a quite new experience! I continued by bus to Bath and just enjoyed being driven through the lovely landscape – England greeted me with sunshine and blue sky!

    The first task of the day was a photo shoot for Natasha who chose Bath as the backdrop for her wintery dream images. And what a backdrop the city provided, such a gorgeous sunset and magical winter light!

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    Hair and makeup were provided by Louise Jane Makeup Artist.

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    Dress by Irina Hofer

    The Circus

    The Circus, Latin for “circular”, is an iconic building in the city of Bath, in Somerset, in England, consisting of three curved segments of Grade I listed townhouses arranged in a circular shape. Originally known as The King’s Circus, this 18th century landmark was designed by architect John Wood, the Elder, although he never lived to see his plans turned into reality as he died less than three months after the first stone was laid in 1754. His son, John Wood the Younger, completed the building in 1768. (Amusingplanet.com)

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    The first signs of spring were all around, from snowdrops to these little ones.

    I´ve already visited Bath once a couple of years ago, but back then I mainly was looking for Jane Austen’s footsteps, so I couldn´t wait to explore the city more in the next day!

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  • Stirling Castle

    stirling castle, scotland, uk, castleloch lomond,

    Stirling Castle, one of the most important and grandest castles of Scotland. Sitting 80 metres high on an extinct volcano it is surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides it became the strategic military key to the kingdom during the 13th and 14th-century Wars of Independence. And Stirling Castle was the favourite residence of many Stuart monarchs.

    stirling castle, scotland, uk, castleloch lomond,

    Try to be there as early as possible especially during the busy season! I was actually considering just turning around when I saw the masses of people! But as I had free entry with the “Explorer Pass” and turning around wasn´t possible I just waited for a free parking spot and went inside.

    Stirling Castle was first mentioned around 1110, and many royal dramas unfolded here. Until the Union of the Crowns in 1603, almost every Scottish monarch had either lived in the castle, or been crowned or died here. (Historic Scotland)

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    In 1543 Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned at Stirling Castle, like many Stuarts were.

    Most of the principal buildings of the castle date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. A few structures of the fourteenth century remain, while the outer defences fronting the town date from the early eighteenth century. (Scotlandinfo.eu)

    stirling castle, scotland, uk, castleloch lomond,

    Royal Palace on the left and the Great Hall on the right – a bird flying above! The Royal Palace was the first Renaissance palace in the British Isles, built by James V. The Great Hall is the largest medieval banqueting hall ever built in Scotland.

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    stirling castle, scotland, uk, castleloch lomond,

    It is possible to walk around the walls and the view is breathtaking to all sides.

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    King´s Knot

    The King’s Knot is on the grounds of the ancient King’s Park, Crown property from at least the 1100s, where Scotland’s royalty partook in jousting, hawking and hunting.  (Historic Scotland)

    The King´s and Queen’s knot were part of the formal garden, remodelled in1633 for Charles I coronation and extensively renovated on order of Queen Victoria.

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    I left the car at the car park and walked a little bit around the area looking for Argyll´s Lodging which was closed for renovations. It´s a Renaissance Townhouse which must be pretty amazing inside, the outside isn´t that bad either.

    stirling castle, scotland, uk, castleloch lomond,

    Mar´s Wark

    While walking around I also came across Mar´s Wark an impressive townhouse from the 16th century.

    Mar was governor of Edinburgh Castle during the regency of Mary of Guise, from 1554 to 1560. He turned against her daughter, Mary Queen of Scots, after the murder of her second husband Lord Darnley in 1567.

    He lost his governorship in Edinburgh, but became hereditary keeper of Stirling Castle – a position his ancestors had occasionally held since the reign of King Robert I. Mar was given custody of Mary’s infant son, James VI, after the assassination of Mary’s brother, Regent Moray, in 1571. (Historic Scotland)

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