Chapter 2 - DAY20- Bristol to Plymouth

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We left Bristol for the short trip to Bath. We had been told Bath is a must see city, and that proved to be absolutely true. Famous for its Roman Baths and Georgian architecture Bath certainly didn’t disappoint.

BATH
We did a bit of a drive around on the way in going through a park with beautiful gardens and stopping to see the Royal Crescent. The Royal Crescent is a group of luxury residential dwellings in the shape of a crescent. Built between 1667 and 1774 it is considered to be one of the very finest examples of Georgian architecture. Some of the existing homes remain but the Royal crescent now includes a luxury Hotel/Spa and some of the properties have been converted to flats – it is no less impressive from the outside though.
There is also a Royal Circle, same deal except a circle (surprise, surprise!) It not a complete circle as it is broken by roads.
There is a bridge with a row of shops across it and the most beautiful riverside gardens.
When we got to the city centre we were dropped at the Roman Baths – what an experience. You get an audio guide when you enter so you can have a commentary as you walk through. The Baths are the best preserved ancient baths and temple complex in northern Europe and includes Britain’s only thermal spring. It was in the first century AD that the Romans chose this site to build the most dramatic suite of public buildings of Roman Britain. We started at the top looking down into the baths and then wound our way through a series in informative displays (including artefacts from the original buildings) slowly down until we came out next to the baths – just an awesome experience!

GLASTONBURRY
From Bath we headed to Glastonbury for lunch. Famous for the Glastonbury music festival has a really interesting CBD, we saw no chain stores, all the businesses in the main shopping area appeared to be small locally owned and operated stores – many of them specialising in things such as crystals, mystics, gothic culture etc – Glastonbury is a focal point of alternative culture. Glastonburry has always been a place of religious significance, there are lengends of a holy island of druids and priestesses, rumours 9however unlikely) that Jesus Christ visited as a young man, the physical location of glastonburry means that it has a special significance for some people. So for its own reasons it is a very interesting town.

The Pub where we stopped for a drink dated from the 1400’s, it had a very odd layout –a huge central corridor from the front door to a garden bar out the back with a variety of relatively small rooms/bars off the corridor. Complete with uneven floors, sagging ceiling and a really unusual decor it was an absolute delite. The Bakery where we got our lunch was superb - the best ploughmans bread roll and crab sanwich we have ever had - YUMM!

Just one more stop on the outskirts of Exeter before arriving for our last stop – two nights in Plymouth. The Hotel in Plymouth is central and comfortable. We have had a quiet evening just hanging around the Hotel – dinner was in house – and then watching Manchester United v Spurs in the bar. Great display by United hopefully we will get more of the same at Old Trafford next week.


NOTE
We have posted some extra copies which might be below the advert at the bottom of this page

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Photos

Roman Baths
Sulis Minerva - Goddess of the thremal spring and the Bath House

The Royal Crescent Bath
recognised as one of the finest ever examples of georgian artitecture

Bath House - Ground Zero
After winding our way down we reached the Bath HouseSpring

Sculpture
located at the top of the baths structure

Bath Park
A beautiful park nest to the river

Bridge with shops
This bridge has a group of shops on one side as you go across