A Short Trip to Hambledon Lock

Hidden away in the small village of Aston in Berkshire is Hambledon Lock. One of many locks along the Thames, it is open to the public free of charge and even has a free car park situated a couple of minutes walk away.

My girlfriend and I went to the lock after a few days of heavy rain and the water levels were uncharacteristically high. The higher water level made the cascades even more dramatic than usual. Hambledon Lock is a good place just to stand for a while and watch the water flow. On sunny days there are often artists and writers perched along it taking in the scenery and listening to the sounds of the water.

It doesn’t take long to walk across the interconnected bridges of the lock and cross over the river. Once at the other side you can head off in whichever direction you wish along the calmer stretch of the Thames. Hambledon’s surroundings are a little less dramatic than the cascades of water and consist of pretty fields and small areas of woodland. On a sunny day it’s perfect for a leisurely stroll along the river.

Today was a little wet to go traipsing across the farmland and due to the high water level much of it was flooded anyway. However, it did allow for a dramatic sky filled with clouds and rich colours.

The short stop over, we wended our way back along the metal bridges and out of the lock. Hambledon Lock may not seem the obvious choice for a visit but it is free and is the perfect place to start walks along the Thames from. If you are in the Berkshire area it’s well worth a look.

One Day In Brighton

I had never been to Brighton before and with the weather being uncharacteristically good my girlfriend and I decided to make the trip. Getting up at stupidly-early-o’clock to beat the traffic we arrived at around 7.30 am.

The first thing to do in any UK seaside resort early in the morning is to find a decent place for breakfast. Luckily for us we there was as café nearby. Every seaside resort has the café run by the good old local boy.

It was still early and, as Brighton is a late waking town, very quiet. We strolled along the pebbly beach front in the sunshine trying to ignore the many workman drilling holes in the road. Brighton is a unique looking place that could only be in England. Heading down to the marina revealed expensive boats and a promenade of fancy restaurants designed to make the rich fish that owned them bite. The city gradually began to wake up and we headed back to the pier.

Brighton pier is very much an old fashioned British pier filled with all sorts of amusements, rides and food stalls. The wooden boards underfoot conjured images of old movies and people dressed in stripped bathing costumes.

Walking away towards the old Brighton pier, which sadly burned down, I came across a long line of small galleries well worth spending a few minutes in. There are also a number of pieces of interesting art around the beach. The sun was high in the sky and we paused to sit on the pebbles and listen to the sea. It’s easier to make yourself comfortable on the pebbles than you might think and the way the beach is set it keeps all the noise of the town away.

After our rest bite we headed into the town to look around the cities fabled ‘Lanes’. These are a group of winding narrow streets with various different shops. It was more enjoyable to look around than a charmless shopping centre. There are a number of unique trinket shops here and it is well worth checking out if you are interested in antiques and things of their ilk.

On the way back towards the seafront we took a look around the grounds of the city hall. Brighton’s city hall is, oddly, designed like it was meant to be standing as some grand structure in India.

Our time was up and after another short stay on the beach it was time to head home. Brighton is a unique place and while it may have the image of being a bit old fashioned it is actually very interesting. It’s well worth making a trip if you have never been and want to head for somewhere a little different.

Final Thoughts on Iceland.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Iceland and it really is a unique place. It certainly isn’t for everyone and the weather can be very hostile even if you have taken proper precautions. However, it’s certainly a must see destination for anyone who likes mountains, lakes and rugged landscapes.

The lava fields are incredible and Gullfoss falls and the Geyser fields are truly astounding. It’s also a great place to relax with the Blue Lagoon being one of the most tranquil and beautiful places I have ever been.

I would urge caution for anyone planning on going there and renting a car to travel around. Outside of Reykjavik can be very dangerous. The country has regular earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and fissures and hot springs burst through the earth on an almost daily basis.

It is incredibly important to pay attention to any warning signs you see. Every year tourists get in trouble because they drive up closed roads or jump into hot springs without realising the dangers. You must respect your environment here or you will get hurt.

On the brighter note there has never been a better time to go. Due to its financial collapse the ISK has taken a bit of a pounding and works out at good value against the pound. Food can be found at reasonable prices as well. Make sure you don’t need to buy clothes though as a simple bobble hat will set you back around forty-five pounds.

Tourism is about the only strong industry left in the country. Despite Gordon Brown implementing a terrorism act against them we found everyone relieved that people were in the country spending money. If you really want to get on their good side then buy one of the many ‘Brown is colour of poo’ T-shirts that fill the shops on the high street.

Language is also not a major problem with most Icelandic people speaking English better than we do. I found the people to have a wonderfully dry sense of humour and be very welcoming. Iceland is also one of the cheaper options if you are looking to try and see the Northern Lights. If you are looking for a real adventure in Europe then this could well be the place for you.