British Tours By Tristan

Client Tour Comments/Reviews

Tristan — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:37:17 +0000

To all our Loyal Clients please leave a review on your recent tour with us!!

Tour Special!!

Tristan — Wed, 26 May 2010 10:15:04 +0000

We have room for 2 persons to join our 10 day May 2011 tour of England Wales and Ireland!

If intersted contact us asap for special discount!!

England’s 2010 World Cup Chances??

Tristan — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:09:44 +0000

South Africa is the current venue for this world famous sports event,Which is held in a different country every four years!!

England is representing British( Soccer/Football )Interests, As they are the only team from the United Kingdom that qualified for the final round of 32!

England have not won this coveted cup title since 1966 ( that being their only time!)

I remember it well, I was an enthusiastic teenager at the time!

The anticipation of “Great Expectations” to coin a Dickens Phrase! was exiting! The thought of failure! once England had made it to the final was unacceptable in the hearts and minds of the English Fans! A truly Great Final! England scoring two goals in extra time against at that time West Germany!

All other attempts have fallen short, losing a Semi Final Appearance on Penalty Kicks ironically against Germany in 1990 it being their best effort since that memorable win in1966!

This year they have a realistic chance of again going All The Way! Coached by a World Class Manager and a Squad on paper that equals the best in the field

My fear is that at times English players do not collectivey have that Fire in Their Bellies! That ultimate desire to give it their all! the Passion to Win!

Complacency in English Players is often the cause of their failure for success!!

I’ve noticed it all my life watching England’s National Team play Soccer! English Players just don’t seem Driven or Inspired to Rise to the Occasion for their Country with the same Burning Desire they seem to pocess at Club Level!!

Is it the Club Level Team Cohesiveness, Enthusiasm, and Comradery that’s missing at National Level? Perhaps!!

I beleive there are simply too many overpaid Prima Donna’s on the team that cant seem to play collectively as a unit!

Englands approach to any game is simple! “They don’t play to win! They play not to loose!!

Their Style of play often lacks imagination or creative individualism! An awful lot of What I call Posing goes on (wanting to look Cool) which results in Sloppy play! Too often playing the ball Square and back passing unnecessarily, Slow and methodical! Lacking any sense of urgency by pressing forward to score Goals!!! This Boreing Predictability seems to be the stocking play of all English Squads for the last 50 years

Whatever the reason, England’s players will fail to repeat what they achieved in 1966 without the pride in Country over and above any thing else!

They simply must give it There All!! With Fire in their Bellies! And Passion to Win! If they are to acheive Victory in South Africa!!

Weights, Measures (and Cameras) the British Way!!

Tristan — Tue, 18 May 2010 19:51:06 +0000

Did you know that Britain has never quite accepted the European way in it’s entirety!! In spite of the fact they are part of the European Union!!

All other E.U Nations use Euros as the Standard Currency, while Britain stubbornly refuses to change from Sterling!!

While changing in its Weights and “Some Measurements”! They have not converted to Kilometers!

Miles per hour is still the measurement in vehicle dashboards! and road speed signs.

Yards Feet and Inches is still the measurement used on some signage!

Distantace markers are also in Miles and not Kilometers!!

British Police Officers issue Speeding Tickets in M.P.H!! If you can ever avoid the “Pervasive and Intrusive Speed Cameras” that seem to be designed as ”Revenue Generators” and “Not Necessarily Speed inhibitors” for every Remote Hamlet and Village throughout the Kingdom!! (A Blog For Another Time!!)

”Oh Yes” then there’s that Three Camera Thing!! That Clocks your average speed over an eternity!!

Maximum speed in Britain is 70 mph! The No Speed limit Sign is a White Circle with a Diagonal Black Stripe

Which would indicate 70 is the Maximum Speed Allowed!!

“ Uh Uh” Guess Again !!

For when one is driving on what is known as a “Dual Carriageway” the ”No Speed Limit Sign” really means 60 mph! or in some cases 50 mph! You may well ask yourself, ”How is someone supposed to know this”??

No one quite does know!! Not even Brits themselves!! it’s a Guessing Game and No Official Authority has addressed this Frustrating Inconsistency!!

This Mish Mash of Weights Measurements ( and Cameras) is a Nightmare!

For all their High Tech and desire to move foward, The Brits arguably are being bogged down with their own Quaint Past, and Antiquated Infrastructure! Which is one of the things that makes Britain so charming and unique!!

“Bless Em” Don’t change whatever you do!! Just keep Visitors Guessing!!! and British Drivers Frustrated

P.S another interesting “Tit Bit’ Climate is measured in Centigrade and not Fahrenheit!!

“Anyone For Tennis” !!!!

Saving British Churches

Tristan — Sun, 02 May 2010 13:14:44 +0000

With the decline of religion in Britain and smaller congregations attending Services The Diocese and church leaders in resent years have had to make difficult decisions as what to do with village churches throughout England’s Countryside that no longer have congregations large enough to keep them operating. Sadly many just simply close their doors, lay empty,unused, and fall into disrepair! Until a developer or private buyer appears, to convert these once spiritual places into apartments, single family dwellings or sadly a Night Club! Some might argue that this is perhaps Sacrilegious, an affront to religion itself. (”Possibly)”

I however tend to think that maybe another kind of spiritual energy is being passed on to the new inhabitants!

Additionally if the structural integrity of these fine old buildings has not been compromised:

If one can still see and enjoy from a distance that it is the same old church, that has been a spiritual icon in the area for hundreds of years, which has now been given a new lease of life for hundreds more! Then I for one have little objection! A far better alternative to the Wrecking Ball, and ultimately another Walmart !!

A Short History of the River Thames!

Tristan — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 21:20:35 +0000

The River Thames contains over 80 islands ranging from the large estuarial marshlands of the Isle of Sheppey, Isle of Grain and Canvey Island to small tree-covered islets like Rose Isle in Oxfordshire and Headpile Eyot in Berkshire. Some of the largest inland islands — Formosa Island near Cookham and Andersey Island at Abingdon — were created naturally when the course of the river divided into separate streams, while Desborough Island, Ham Island at Old Windsor and Penton Hook Island were artificially created by lock cuts and navigation channels. Chiswick Eyot is a familiar landmark on the Boat Race course, while Glover’s Island forms the centrepiece of the spectacular view from Richmond Hill. Islands with a historical interest are Magna Carta Island at Runnymede, Fry’s Island at Reading and Pharaoh’s Island near Shepperton. In more recent times Platts Eyot at Hampton was the place where MTBs were built, Tagg’s Island near Molesey was associated with the impresario Fred Karno, and Eel Pie Island at Twickenham was the birthplace of the South East’s R&B music scene.

Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (commonly known today as the Houses of Parliament) were built on Thorney Island which used to be an eyot.

The River Thames has served several roles in human history, being an economic resource, a water highway, a boundary, a fresh water source, also a source of food and more recently a leisure facility. In 1929 John Burns, one time MP for Battersea, responded to an American’s unfavourable comparison of the Thames with the Mississippi by coining the expression “The Thames is liquid history”.

In London there are many sightseeing tours in tourist boats, past the more famous riverside attractions such as the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London as well as regular riverboat services co-ordinated by London River Services.

The river almost inevitably features in many books set in London. Most of Dickens’ other novels include some aspect of the Thames. Oliver Twist finishes in the slums and rookeries along its south bank. The Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle often visit riverside parts as in The Sign of Four. In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the serenity of the contemporary Thames is contrasted with the savagery of the Congo River, and with the wilderness of the Thames as it would have appeared to a Roman soldier posted to Britannia two thousand years before. Conrad also gives a description of the approach to London from the Thames Estuary in his essays The Mirror of the Sea (1906). Upriver, Henry James‘ Portrait of a Lady uses a large riverside mansion on the Thames as one of its key settings.

The British Bobby, a Unique History!

Tristan — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:59:51 +0000

The British Bobby was organized in the late 1700’s, essentially becoming the first police force as we know them today. Until the start of the Industrial Revolution which brought thousands flocking into cities, most crime was combated by the local constabulary with the help of the occasional citizen patrol. As the cities became more crowded, organized police forces were established to protect business interests. In England, one of the most prominent organized police forces was the Thames River Police, created in 1798 to deter thefts along the London wharves.

The Thames River Police, numbering about 80 full-time men, policed by establishing a patrol presence in the London port. The private police force was so effective that Parliament authorized money to add the men to the public payroll. The public was suspicious of waves of permanent police roaming the streets, but the plagues of urban ills brought on by surging immigration and mounting poverty began to weigh on Londoners.

It took the vision of 41-year old statesman Robert Peel, later a two-time Prime Minister of England, to establish the world’s first permanent police force. In 1829 Peel sponsored the Metropolitan Police Act which passed Parliament. As the founder of the police force, the men on patrol became known popularly as “peelers” or “bobbies.” The former nickname faded away and the moniker “bobbies” lives on today.

Much of which Peel created lives on today as well. He believed that the police force should operate from a centrally located headquarters which should be easily accessible to the public. Of prime importance would be recruitment, selection and training of the police force. All “bobbies” would be dressed in proper uniforms and be paid a full-time weekly wage. Peel established a system to determine crime rates to measure the effectiveness of the new force.

The police would be responsible only for crime detection and prevention which would be accomplished by the establishment of regular patrol areas, known as “beats.” Historically, police would only show up after a crime had been reported. Peel wanted his men to become familiar figures to the public within specific geographic zones. He reasoned that a conspicuous, known figure would be able to better elicit help from the citizenry in the event of a crime. By becoming familiar with the people and places on his beat, the “bobby” could readily recognize suspicious things out of place and help deter crime. The patrol concept would be universally adopted by police forces the world over. It was Robert Peel’s greatest innovation.

To maintain organization among his men on patrol, Peel adopted a paramilitary structure of command. Lacking such a line of command, it would be all too easy for the “bobbies” to lapse into the uncommitted ways of their watchmen predecessors. Peel’s men were to be patient, impersonal and, above all, professional.

The Metropolitan Police Act was initially limited to the outer parts of London and did not apply to the mile-square City of London. The “bobbies” were not immediately popular and were often jeered at on patrol. The preventive tactics proved successful, however, and the police force showed skill in handling erupting street riots. Crime prevention was not the only duty of the “bobbies.” They kept a lookout for fires. They lit streetlights as they walked the beat. They called out the time.

The Bobbies were issued with a wooden truncheon carried in a long pocket in the tail of their coat, a pair of handcuffs and a wooden rattle to raise the alarm. By the 1880s this rattle had been replaced by a whistle.

To be a Bobby the rules were quite strict. You had to be 6ft tall (or as near as possible), and have no history of any wrong-doings.

These men became the model for the creation of all the provincial forces; at first in the London Boroughs, and then into the counties and towns, after the passing of the County Police Act in 1839. An ironic point however; the Lancashire town of Bury, birthplace of Sir Robert, was the only major town which elected not to have its own separate police force. The town remained part of the Lancashire Constabulary until 1974.

Early Victorian police worked seven days a week, with only five days unpaid holiday a year for which they received the grand sum of £1 per week. Their lives were strictly controlled; they were not allowed to vote in elections and required permission to get married and even to share a meal with a civilian. To allay the public’s suspicion of being spied upon, officers were required to wear their uniforms both on and off duty.

The public was won over and the police began patrols in the City of London in 1839. Slowly the concept of the police force expanded to rural areas. In 1856 Parliament finally mandated that police forces be established in outlying provinces. By this time police departments were forming in the United States and the rest of the world based on Robert Peel’s model.

2012 OLYMPICS! LONDON CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES IN 2012!

Tristan — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:35:00 +0000

In the summer of 2012, the London and the United Kingdom, UK, will come alive with the Olympic and Paralympic Games!

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXX Olympiad, are due to take place in London, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948!

The logo for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics was unveiled in a star-studded ceremony in London in June 2007. The jagged emblem, based on the date 2012, comes in a series of shades of pink, blue, green and orange and will evolve in the run-up to the Games. The word London and the Olympic rings are included in the first two digits of the new logo.

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games will use a mixture of new venues, existing and historic facilities, and temporary facilities, some of them in well-known locations such as Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade. Some of the new facilities will be reused in their Olympic form, while others, including the 80,000 seat main stadium, will be reduced in size and several will be relocated elsewhere in the UK. The plans are part of the regeneration of Stratford in east London which will be the site of the Olympic Park, and of the neighbouring Lower Lea Valley.

To help fund the cost of the games the London Olympic organizers have agreed partnership deals with major companies. “Tier One” partners already announced include Lloyds TSB, EDF Energy, BT, British Airways, BP, Nortel and Adidas — who announced the deal on the popular website YouTube. “Tier Two” supporters already announced include Deloitte and Cadbury’s.

Organizers estimate that some 7.7 million tickets would be available for the Olympic Games and 1.5 million tickets for the Paralympic Games. They will be going on sale in 2011; with at least 50% of these priced under £20. To reduce traffic, ticketholders would be entitled to free use of London’s public transportation network on the day of the event. It is estimated that 82% of available Olympic tickets and 63% of Paralympics tickets will be sold. There will also be free events: for example, the marathon, triathlon and road cycling.

The Haunting and Enchanting Dartmoor!

Tristan — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:44:29 +0000

Dartmoor is a stunningly beautiful area of moorland accented with wooded valleys and wind swept Tors (the old celtic word for “tower”). A wide-open expanse covering 369 square miles (953 sq. km.), the area features some of the wildest and bleakest country in England. The setting for the Sherlock Holmes’ novel ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles,’ based upon a local legend, this isolated landscape with weather conditions (mist, rain and snow) that can change in minutes, creates a truly natural spectacle - ‘nature’ at its best.

Prehistoric remains are found all over the moor, though exact dates of many of them are often in dispute. Any walk across the moor is likely to lead you to the remains of old stone buildings from Dartmoor’s industrial past. Ancient clapper bridges - crossing streams and rivers, stone crosses; barrows, standing stones, circles, tumuli and cairns all contribute to the wealth features to be enjoyed on Dartmoor.

Dartmoor is a haunted and enchanting place, and can become very busy on the most popular routes during the summer months. The vagaries of the local weather, particularly the mist which can descend without warning mean that whenever you venture away from the roads that traverse the moor it is essential that you have a good map, appropriate clothing, compass and whistle.

Dartmoor was designated as one of the National Parks of England and Wales in 1951. The National Park is named after the River Dart, whose source rises on the moor, with the West and East Dart rivers merging to form the River Dart at Dartmeet.

Though the majority of the Dartmoor National Park lies over a granite plateau - 600m above sea level, rising to a height of 621m, the park also includes the some of the beautiful surrounding Devon countryside. Rich fertile lands to the north and south of the moor, known as the “Hams”, have been formed over older marine sediments and volcanic rocks from the Devonian and Carboniferous age; contrasting sharply with stark landscape of the upland granites.

There are many attractions to visit in the Park. English Heritage and the National Trust have many properties throughout the area, including the Finch Foundry, Castle Drogo and the dramatic Lydford Gorge.

At Princetown, in the very centre of the moor, you will find Dartmoor’s most famous (infamous) building - the grim edifice of Dartmoor Prison. Princetown is also the home of the Dartmoor National Park High Moorland Visitor Centre. The Centre has a wealth of information.

Exquisite Walks in Cornwall!

Tristan — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:28:46 +0000

The South West Way coastal footpath follows the entire coastline of Cornwall. It can be joined at points all around West Cornwall. The coastline between St Ives and Pendeen is particularly spectacular if you fancy a walk. For a spectacular introduction to the scenery of West Cornwall, try the following walks. They really are ‘off the beaten track’ and you’ll definitely avoid the crowds;

Meanabilly (41/2 miles)

Embarking from Fowey through Daphne DuMaurier country, this walk passes the light house at Gribben Head and follows the coast to Polkerris Cove, where you might enjoy a light repast at the Rashleigh Pub. If you time it right, you may even witness a pair of salt water swans take flight over the open ocean!

Hall Walk (4 miles)

Launching from Polruan by Fowey,to Boddinick you’ll follow the River Fowey a short way to Pont Creek, follow the creek through some remarkable and enchanting countryside, crossing over Pont Bridge on your way! You may even be accompanied by a cat or two making sure you don’t stray from the path!

Gurnard’s Head (2 miles)

Park at the Gurnard’s Head Hotel on the ‘main’ St Ives to St Just road (B3306) and follow the lane beside the pub into the small village of Treen. Take the path on the left next to the Coastguard house and follow it across several fields towards the sea. After 1/2 mile you will see the rugged promontory which is ‘Gurnard’s Head’. To the trained eye, the remains of a 2000 year old Iron age cliff castle can be discerned on the headland itself. The views along the coast from the headland are breathtaking. Great place to relax and have a secluded picnic.

Chun Castle (2 1/2 miles)

Short walk providing magnificent rural views over West Cornwall, a ruined Iron age hillfort and a bronze age burial chamber (c. 5000 years old). From Penzance bypass, take Heamoor road and follow road through Madron and on towards Morvah. 1/2 mile past Lanyon Farm take second road on left (signposted ‘Great Bosullow’). Follow road for a mile (ignoring the left turn which leads to Great Bosullow) and park at Bosullow Farm. Follow path (marked by white stones) up hill to hillfort. The inner part of the fort is a great place to relax in the sun and have a picnic. See if you can find the iron age well. After visiting the fort walk along the crest of the hill to the west until you reach the well-preserved Chun Quoit ancient burial chamber. Follow the same path back towards the car.

Porthgwarra - Land’s End (7 miles return)

Excellent coastal walk, with rugged cliffs, opportunities to see seals and sea-birds, a sheltered cove and the attractions of Land’s End. Take B3315 from Newlyn to St Levan. Take next left after Porthcurno turning signposted ‘Porthgwarra’. Park at Porthgwarra car park and walk up the hill towards the coastguard station. Follow coastal footpath from here to the west and keep on path until you reach Land’s End - you will be able to see the Land’s End Hotel in the distance. On the way you pass the huge cliffs of Gwennap Head, Cam Les Boel Iron age cliff castle, Nanjizal beach (see ‘Beaches’), the Armed Knight (arched rock in the sea) and Land’s End itself. The scenery is so good and peaceful that Land’s End almost seems an anticlimax. Note: This is a remote, unspoiled part of Cornwall with no amenities or shops until you reach Land’s End - please take drinks & food with you. The tiny shop at Porthgwarra sells soft drinks and good pasties.