Read this blog: The one where we experience a whiteout in a helicopter Saturday 19th to Monday 21st September 2026 In contrast to the outward journey which took place in clear skies and sunshine, the helicopter flight back to the mainland was beset by fog. The pilot completed several circles just off the coast by Penzance hoping the fog would clear. A gap in the clouds did eventually open up and, after a few nerve-wracking minutes when we thought we might have to divert to another airport or even return to Tresco, we were thankfully able to touch down in Penzance where we said farewell to Sue and Henry. Over the years we have regularly passed Hardy Exotics on the road into Penzance and Matilda has been yearning to visit. This year we had planned a leisurely journey home with two overnight stays and agreed we would drop in on our way. When we arrived, the owner stressed that this was not a traditional garden centre. Walking round was indeed more like taking a stroll through the Tresco Abbey Gardens or an RHS property. From here we decided to go to Trerice. This Elizabethan manor is a National Trust property […]
Monthly Archives: September 2026
Read this blog: The one where we party 20 feet under the sea Tuesday 8th to Saturday 18th September 2026 The journey to Tresco is always part of the adventure: this year the skies were clear and the helicopter left on time. The views were, as always, impressive and particularly so with the sun reflecting off the sea. On our visit this year, for the first time ever, we were blessed with three consecutive days of low tides: Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all designated as being “walkable’. On the first of these we walked across to Bryher with Liz and Martin. A Low Tide Event was scheduled for the next day. Although some of our visits have coincided with these in the past, they have always previously been cancelled due to bad weather. This year the forecast was good and the sun was shining when we woke. We decided to go to the Abbey Gardens to watch the red squirrels being fed: Robert had spoken to the chief squirrel feeder and confirmed the time in advance. From here we walked to Flood Hatch to start the walk. A Low Tide Event is a rare occurrence which lasts for just […]
Read this blog: The one where we learn about the London Quarter Saturday 5th to Monday 7th September 2026 Although Robert enjoys researching and organising our longer holidays, he assigns Matilda responsibility for planning the places to visit and stopover on our annual trip down to Penzance to catch the helicopter to Tresco. This allows her to make the most of her life membership of the National Trust. Our first stop was Hinton Ampner – see feature photo. When Ralph Dutton, the eighth Lord Sherborne, inherited Hinton Ampner in 1935 he immediately embarked upon a schedule of renovation and redecoration. Because of the date of this, Matilda had been expecting an Art Deco extravaganza and had sold it to Robert on this basis. However, it transpired that Ralph Dutton‘s vision for his home was, according to the National Trust ‘a Neo-Georgian house combining classical inspired interiors with the elegant gardens and parkland’. It was not what we had expected but was nevertheless both grand and ornate. Sadly the building suffered a devastating fire in 1960 but has been largely painstakingly rebuilt since. Fire damage was to become a recurrent theme on this trip. It was undoubtedly beautiful in the autumn […]
Read this blog: The one where we divert via Mumbai Friday 27th to Sunday 29th March 2026 Matilda was so pleased with our new ‘room with a view’ that she felt she needed to be recorded for posterity before going to ensure Robert honoured his cocktail commitment to her. Earlier in the trip, Robert had promised that any left over Sri Lankan currency at the end of the holiday could be spent on cocktails at the Galle Face Hotel and we decided to go to the Firebeach Bar to indulge. The choice was more limited than Matilda would have liked but she first opted for a Cucumber Mule comprising vodka; cucumber; lime and ginger beer which she pronounced very refreshing. Robert, unsurprisingly, preferred beer. The attentive and charming staff offered us insect repellent as we sat at the bar. I think they felt our pale skin would be an insect magnet. This close to the Equator the time of sunset and sunrise does not vary very much and every day at around 17:40 a lone bagpiper in traditional Scottish dress plays as they process from the hotel, across the checkerboard [see below] . . . . . . to the […]
Read this blog: The one where Matilda complains to Management Thursday 26th and Friday 27th March 2026 The day started with a rail journey. As regular readers will know, this holiday was originally planned to include far more train travel. Tragically, floods in November 2025 killed many Sri Lankans and washed away sections of the railway tracks in the scenic mountain regions. Indeed during this trip, we have been struck by the deep orange wounds in the landscape caused by rock slides and the mounds of fallen rock and soil where these wounds have been tended and the debris cleared from the roads and train tracks. Obviously, with Robert in charge, we arrived at Galle Station in good time for our train and as this is a terminus station we were able to see the engine being shunted from one end to the other of the train [see Video of the day]. Much of the south western coastal section of the track was destroyed in the 2004 tsunami but during our visit the rails between Galle to Columbo were unaffected and this picturesque seafront section was therefore one of the few journeys we were able to complete. The views were […]
Read this blog: The one where we watch a cobra capture Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th March 2026 Once again there were very few other guests staying at our hotel but we enjoyed greeting the pond life on our way down to breakfast [see also Video of the day]. Galle lies on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka and is justifiably famous for Galle Fort, the 16th century fortified city founded by Portuguese colonists. We decided we would first walk the ramparts as this would take us past many of the historic sights. The old town of Galle and its fortifications are a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. It was first built in 1588 by the Portuguese, then extensively fortified by the Dutch from 1649 onwards before being taken over by the British. The entrance up to the fortifications [see Selfie of the day] was close to the Old Cricket Ground which is officially known as the Galle International Stadium and is considered to be one of the most picturesque cricket pitches in the world with views back towards the fort. This is clearly a relic from the British era. As we strolled along the ramparts, we first came across the […]