For The Love of Travel

We are staying in a fine example of an 18thC country villa, where the renowned biographer, James Boswell, indulged his penchant for ” old laird and family ideas”. Built around 1760 by his father, Lord Auchinleck. Once inherited by Boswell, the house was host to much “social glee”.  Mine hosts are Janice and Frits whom I met on the Arctic expeition a couple of years ago. They love staying in Landmark Trust houses and this is one of them. Family members (Mark and Wendy; Jack and Jaqui) and some friends (Letia and Jasper) have been invited to join them on the estate. I have the privilege of being chosen as the only Aussie! And brought a selection of my tiaras from the colony to share with my female companions for dinner dress ups!

Auchinleck House expresses the rich spirit of the Scottish Enlightenment period, combining “classical purity with baroque exuberance”. This was a period of prosperity, curiosity and experiementation, where people sought solace in their landscapes and enlightenment through their intellect. The magnificent library has been restored as has the elegant dining room, its ceiling with elaborate paper mache decoration.  

Visitors to the house pass through the front doors beneath a Latin extract, chosen from Horace by Lord Auchinleck, carved into the pediment:

“Whatever you seek is here, in this remote place, if only you have a good firm mind” .

This speaks clearly to all of us today, as much as it would have to James himself.

Today we walked to the ruins of Lord Auchinleck’s old house in a beautiful woody glade – gnarled tree roots taking possession over the stone house over the decades. Then a walk past the gorge and the perimeter of the 35 acres of the property.  I think we might have passed Her Majesty on the way, walking her local doggies (West Highland terriers).

Back for lunch, parsnip and curry soup and lovely roast beef for dinner. Hannah is our chef and she does a wonderful job looking after us.

And it was a spectacular sunset tonight!!!

I’m staying with friends in north Bristol, who live in Montpelier, an area with a reputation for being bohemian and ‘alternative’. Picton Street is a haven for lovers of organic and vegetarian cuisine. 

Perfectly chosen as a home location by my vegetarian friend, who paints, does yoga and loves acrobatic rope work – and her husband, who has played in various bands; with both loving music, folk festival attendance, and ‘dressing up’. Here is John in one fine example….

Previously, Montpelier was carved by French prisoners of war (P.O.W’s) from the Napoleonic conflicts. All the streets and avenues are named after famous generals or have military connotations, such as Wellington, York and Banner Roads. Picton Street was built and named in honour of Sir Thomas Picton in 1783 endeared himself to Bristolians by bravely facing the rebellious 75th Battalion on College Green and averting a military mutiny.

There is a strong feeling of community spirit in Montpelier, that you feel as you wander around the neighbourhood.

Walked up the hill to Clifton village and wandered around. A lovely shopping quarter with heaps of Georgian architecture; shops and boutiques selling jewellery, art, gifts, furniture, fashion good food and more. Keith Floyd’s first bistro in Princess Victoria St is still there and under “new management”, what a gorgeous little building.

“Spice and Coffee” is a fab brekky and brunch spot – tuna melt and earl grey tea went down very well today. The “Quadrant” a lovely century old building, is now a wine bar.  And there are little lane ways with gorgeous ‘secret garden’ doors buried into the high stone walls