Bristol Pt 1 A Hill, a tower and a squirrel

Took a recent trip to Bristol for a wander around the old home town, fist stop - up to Brandon Hill to climb Cabot Tower, last time I came it was closed for maintenance.

The tower was built in 1897 to commemorate John Cabot's famous voyage from Bristol to North America in 1497.

John Cabot was actually born in Italy in around 1450 and allegedly he traveled to Bristol to find backers for his expedition, Bristol being the only English City to have a history of such expeditions (Can't you tell I'm proud of my home) Today a replica of the ship that Cabot sailed on, the Matthew is moored in Bristol and you can visit it.

Cabot Tower 

One of Brandon Hill's friendly squirrels

 Vie wof the University buildings from the top of the tower

The squirrels on Brandon Hill are so used to people that they will come take take the food straight from your hand, and in fact if they see a person walking along they will run up to them

Canal Walk

You never know what you are going to see when you take a walk along the canal, this time I was lucky to catch the heron

Llandovery Castle

Recently went on a drive and ended up in Llandovery where we had a quick look around the castle (really quick, there's not much of it left)

It was a lovely wander and I enjoyed taking photos of the statue of Llywelyn Ap Gruffydd Fuchan - see below, a very interesting scultpure

Twmbarlwm continued

View to Brecon 

 Trig Point

Twmbarlwm

Always a great place for a walk, Twmbarlwm also known as Twm Barlwm, Twyn Barlwm, or locally known as "The twmp" or the Pimple because of the mound that lies at its summit, is a mountain situated 2 km to the northeast of Risca in South Wales.

Return to the Vale Pt 4

Return to the Vale pt 3

 When you have a cup pf tea in the cafe, if you need to use the rest rooms, just tucked around the corner is this magnificent relic one of the cremation chambers that was once in use at the Vale

Return to the Vale Pt 2

It takes a lot of hard work to maintain the Vale in it's heyday there were more than 35 full time gardeners

Return to the Vale pt 1

My Dad and I recently took another trip to Arnos Vale to tidy up the family graves, of course lots of photos were taken and a cup of tea in the cafe was enjoyrf.

Soon I will have enough photos to publish a book on the Vale if I keep going!

St James's Church, Mangotsfield Bristol

On a recent visit to Bristol we stopped at Mangotsfield, it was here in the 1970s that my Dad had his Butchers shop. So a quick stop to have s look, the shop building is there but it hasb't been a butchers in a long time and then a walk around the grounds of St James's church. The church was built in the 13th century but was extensively remodeled in 1812 by James Foster and then again in 1851 by Pop, Bindon and Clarke

St James' Church is very special to me as it was here that I, and then my brother were christened back in the 70's