Restaurants Archives - All That I'm Eating

Review: The Crown and Anchor at Ham

March 24, 2022 By All That I'm Eating 2 Comments

This was a gifted meal.

At the centre of the beautiful village of Ham, The Crown and Anchor is a pub worth taking a trip to. It has featured in The Times in their ‘good walk’ piece and also voted Muddy Stilettos best Sunday Lunch across the counties (one of only two in Wiltshire). Considering it’s just over the hill from where I live, it was about time I went to try it for myself.

The bar at the front of the pub is full of comfy chairs, bar stools and small tables. The sofas and roaring fire made it feel relaxed and informal. It was rammed with locals on a Friday night. The restaurant is two steps up from the bar and stretches along the length of the building. We could see through the pass into the kitchen from our table as well as earwigging the latest local news from the residents. read more

The Fox at Peasemore

July 23, 2020 By All That I'm Eating 22 Comments

This was a gifted meal.

Earlier this year I went to The Fox at Peasemore for dinner. I hadn’t ever been there before but it’s safe to say that I will be going back. Not long after I’d been for dinner lockdown happened and the pub closed for a little while. So I’m writing about the dinner now they are back open, and getting rather hungry doing so.

The Fox at Peasemore is in a fantastic countryside location with some beautiful views. It had a very welcoming atmosphere and the staff are great. It’s run by a husband, Philip (the chef), and wife, Lauren (front of house), team and the menu changes so regularly they have been known to re-print the menu halfway through the evening! read more

Exploring the Lake District

November 12, 2019 By All That I'm Eating 18 Comments

Exploring the Lake District has been on my list of places to go for ages! I can’t believe how long it has taken me to get it booked and head up there. We went in November, certainly not the warmest time of year to go, but I would argue it’s one of the prettiest. The trees are all turning orange and although it’s cold, it’s not icy cold. Anyway, cold hands are just an excuse to get a hot chocolate.

We were based near Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere, a convenient 10 minute walk from either town. There is so much to do whether the weather is sunny or raining and we visited several different places offering different activities. Below are some of my highlights and top places to visit. You can find other ideas for things to do on this guide too! read more

Cocktail Masterclass at L’Ortolan

July 11, 2019 By All That I'm Eating 14 Comments

L'Ortolan mixologist at cocktail masterclass — Jayson mixing up cocktails

This was a gifted event.

Having eaten there before I was really looking forward to this cocktail masterclass at L’Ortolan. I thought the idea of pairing cocktails with canapés was really interesting; wine, beer, cheese and charcuterie are all well matched but how would it work trying to match the complex, sweet flavours in a cocktail with a canapé?

The masterclass was held by Jayson, L’Ortolan’s resident mixologist and Marco, GM, was on hand to answer any questions. There was quite a collection of bottles, jars and ingredients on the bar containing dried fruits, flowers, freeze-dried raspberries and all manner of different colours and flavours of syrups. All the syrups that are used in the cocktails are made in house which I think really gave the cocktails an added edge. read more

Dinner at Blandy’s Bistro

October 12, 2018 By All That I'm Eating 9 Comments

This was a gifted meal.

When you drive into Inglewood you can see the large house in the distance; at this time of year with the lights on it looks very welcoming. We had been invited to have dinner at Blandy’s Bistro at Inglewood House in Kintbury. I was really looking forward to it as I had been only a few weeks before and immensely enjoyed their afternoon tea. My expectations for dinner were pretty high.

Sometimes I’ll go to a restaurant and the choices on the menu will not be quite to my liking which leads me down a narrow path ending up at only one choice, not because it’s my favourite but because I’m not that keen on anything else. I had the opposite problem at Blandy’s; I wanted to try one of everything. So while I decided which one to try we munched on some warm bread with a hint of rosemary and onion, the butter was soft and ready to spread which I always think is a good sign.

Starters

The starters I was torn between included: butternut raviolo with chestnut and truffle; smoked salmon roulade, cockle popcorn and wasabi or grilled mackerel nicoise salad. Luckily the OH fancied the ham hock and foie gras terrine (£7.75); the texture of which with the smooth apple chutney and crisp pork scratching was excellent. I ordered the beef broth, ox cheek croustillants, spring onion and shimeji mushroom (£7.75).

It was just fantastic; the broth was clear and so full of rich flavour, there was the smallest hint of star anise in the background which enhanced rather than overpowered the flavour. The ox cheek was tender and the little peeled cherry tomato was a stroke of genius as it was so sweet amongst all the savoury flavours. On the top was crispy potato which brought great texture to the whole dish. Clean but comforting this will be a hard dish to forget.

Mains

It might not come as a surprise that choosing a main course was just as tricky as a starter. We didn’t try the Ramsbury beer battered fish, chips and crushed peas; chicken Caesar, egg and Parmesan crouton; the dry aged beef fillet, bourguignon and roasted bone marrow or the cod, tiger prawns, charred leeks and caviar veloute.

What we did try however was the wild mushroom and fine herb risotto (£15.50), the OH’s choice, and the guinea fowl supreme, heritage carrot, pistachio and hispi cabbage (£17). The mushroom risotto was exactly what you wanted it to be; full of savoury mushroom flavour and oozing with cheese, the herbs really added a freshness to the whole dish.

I had the guinea fowl and the pistachio crust not only looked great but the flavour it added to everything else was delicious. Most unexpectedly the hispi cabbage had been mixed with ginger and despite not being a huge fan of ginger I wolfed it down. The sweet purple carrots and butternut purée with the perfectly cooked guinea fowl and the richest jus were balanced so well with the slight fiery flavour of the gingery cabbage.

Desserts

After a little interlude it was time to look at the dessert menu and, lo and behold, I didn’t know what to try! I was extremely tempted by the roast figs, crème mousseline and puff pastry and the apple and blackberry pie. But then I saw there was quince on offer and I had to have it. The OH ordered the dark chocolate fondant, salted caramel ice cream and popcorn (£7.50) and I opted for the vanilla panna cotta, quince compote and coconut straw (£7.50).

When the fondant arrived at the table I feel like the description had undersold it somewhat. This was no ordinary salted caramel and chocolate get up. The best way to describe what came alongside the fondant would be like a giant Twix or Mars bar; biscuit at the bottom, salted caramel ice cream on top all wrapped in thin dark chocolate and topped with popcorn. It tasted as good as it sounds yes.

The coconut straw that came with my panna cotta was sort of like a sweet, skinny cheese straw using coconut rather than cheese. Also atop the panna cotta was a dried, thin slice of quince which I really enjoyed. At the bottom of the glass was the beautiful, glowing quince compote. I’ve no idea how Gert (the head chef) managed to keep it so pink, mine always turns brown! The slightly tropical flavour of the quince with the creamy panna cotta worked really well together.

We were pretty full at this stage but still managed to squeeze in these lovely little cakes. You can see from the above picture what the Bistro is like inside. The tables are spaced just far enough away that you can’t overhear anyone else but close enough together to create a nice atmosphere. Everything is decorated tastefully and boldly at the same time; oversized ceiling lights and huge wall paintings are the name of the game.

What most struck me across this menu is that you know exactly what time of year it is by looking at it. There’s apples, blackberries, quince, carrots, mushrooms and so many other ingredients that are all in season right now. I really loved how these seasonal ingredients are being used and celebrated and some of the ingredients are from Inglewood House itself. The quality of the food served at Blandy’s Bistro along with how the food is presented means you know you are somewhere special. A good atmosphere, a good drinks menu (including some local beers) and a regularly changing menu means I will certainly be going back.

This meal was paid for by Blandy’s Bistro, thank you to them. All opinions and words expressed are my own. Prices correct as of 9.10.18.

A Weekend in Brixham

July 18, 2018 By All That I'm Eating 9 Comments

A quick whistle-stop visit to a British seaside town is a perfect way to blow away the cobwebs and having recently spent a weekend in Brixham, Devon I wanted to share some of my favourite spots to eat and drink. As a harbour town with a thriving fish market it’s no surprise that there’s Brixham fish, crab and shellfish almost everywhere. From little seafood stalls on the harbour front to the restaurants it’s not hard to get fresh fish and Devonshire ice cream, wine and more from almost everywhere.

Simply Fish

Is it just me or is eating chips by the sea so much better than anywhere else? Maybe it’s the peril that accompanies the enjoyment of the chips; at any moment an overly-confident seagull could swoop down and snatch that chip right off of your chip fork. Perhaps it’s the smell of the salty sea air as you munch through the hot, crispy chips that you don’t get anywhere else. Simply Fish are next to the harbour and there’s normally a queue to get in, not surprisingly as their batter is crisp, chips are well cooked and not greasy and their mushy peas and curry sauce are delicious.

Rockfish

One of a few restaurants of the same name I have to say I’ve been to Rockfish many times. Despite them offering plenty of delicious menu options I just can’t say no to their fish and chips; which come with unlimited chips! There are three types of tartare sauce to choose from (classic, seaweed or jalapeno) and the fish depends on the day’s catch. With a real emphasis on Devon produce and serving sizes as generous as the views over the harbour it’s a great place for lunch or dinner. They do have a takeaway too and you must try their pickled onion rings.

Port Espresso

I really like it in Port Espresso, it’s a small coffee shop with an equally small menu but the emphasis is on proper, quality coffee and food. They make a cracking iced (and hot) coffee and it would be rude not to get a cannoli while you’re in there. Other menu options include homemade granola, avocado on toast and some very squidgy looking brownies.

The Curious Kitchen

Home cured bacon? Yes please. The menu at The Curious Kitchen all sounds so tempting but I had to try the home cured bacon and homemade tomato ketchup. Quality here, again, is king and the coffee is great, the portions generous and just look at that bacon! There are plenty of veggie, vegan and gluten free options on the menu too.

There are plenty of great places to eat and drink in Brixham and if you’re elsewhere in Devon and after some ideas for where to go this post is a good place to start.

Food Highlights in Scotland

June 19, 2018 By All That I'm Eating 11 Comments

Apart from a weekend in Edinburgh I hadn’t been to Scotland before. A few weeks ago we set off for a stay in central Scotland, overlooking a loch, naturally. The weather was exceptional for the whole week we were there; blue skies and sunshine every day! The views, sights, towns and villages were all fantastic but the thing that really stood out to me was the food. It seemed that whether you were in a little cafe or a restaurant the food was almost always brilliant. I wanted to share some of the food highlights in Scotland I found on our travels; there was a lot of cake and thorough quality testing.

The Watermill Aberfeldy

We timed a trip to Aberfeldy perfectly; there was a brilliant market on in the town with fresh fruit, bread and cakes, beer, fish, meat and plenty of other local food and drink to stock up on. One thing which definitely needs a mention is the wonderful cinema in Aberfeldy; the films are written on a blackboard outside the cinema and they have a lovely little cafe inside. It is so charming.

We headed to The Watermill for some lunch. It’s got three different levels: home wear and furniture upstairs, books on the middle level and then the cafe in the basement. The menu was full of different things I wanted to try but I went for a sandwich. I can’t say no to a good sandwich. This one was a crusty seeded roll absolutely full of smoked chicken, homemade pesto and rocket served with a small beetroot cous cous salad and shredded veg with a delicious citrus dressing. Should you be passing, or staying, in Aberfeldy definitely stop here for lunch!

Deli Craft Fort William

The next day, after driving through stunning Glen Coe we went to Fort William. There were plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from but Deli Craft had a really good range of sandwiches, paninis, pizzas, quesadillas and all sorts that we couldn’t resist. The cafe is set up as a takeaway but there are tables you can sit at to eat the food there.

I had the goat’s cheese pizza with balsamic pickled onions, caramelised onions and pesto. My Mum had the vegan quesadilla which looked great, Dad had the spicy lamb pizza (harissa lamb, rocket, pomegranate, mint yoghurt) and the OH had the pastrami, mustard and pickle panini. We all left pretty stuffed and it was really reasonably priced for the portions, freshly cooked food and quality.

Caoldair Coffee and Craft Shop Laggan

We stumbled upon this coffee and craft shop by complete accident, it was just down a side road on our way back to where we were staying. The blackboard outside announced that it served ‘Yummy Things’ and that sounded like an opportunity not to be missed. What a wonderful place. You can sit in the beautiful courtyard garden surrounded by flowers and enjoy your cup of tea and slice of cake then have a look round the small shop inside which is full of things made in Scotland.

The cakes (you might be noticing a cake and sandwich trend by now) here all sounded so good I held up the queue a little bit while trying to make a choice. I decided on a spiced plum tart with a crumble topping and it was perfect with a cup of tea in the sunshine. I can also testify that the millionaire’s shortbread was excellent too, from the little corners I managed to steal.

Dunalastair Hotel Kinloch Rannoch

Next we managed to combine the two essential staple foods in one: sandwiches and cakes. We had a fantastic afternoon tea at this hotel sitting on hugely comfortable velvet sofas and munching our way through sandwiches, warm scones, copious amounts of tea and coffee, cake, macarons and mini lemon tarts. The outdoor courtyard was bathed in sunshine so we finished our tea basking outside with some more drinks. If I’m up this way again I’d certainly look at staying at this handsome hotel.

Caledonian Canal Centre Fort Augustus

Driving down the north side of Loch Ness means you will arrive at Fort Augustus at the southern end. It’s a very sweet little town and the Caledonian Canal Centre is worth stopping in. Built right next to the canal and its locks separating Loch Ness and Loch Oich it’s full of history about the area, and, you guessed it, a marvellous coffee shop. A quick cup of coffee and a Tunnock’s caramel wafer was ideal afternoon sustenance.

Fiddler’s Pub Drumnadrochit

While I was in Scotland I really wanted to get my hands on some cullen skink. Of course we had to take a trip to Loch Ness and it was at a pub near Loch Ness that I managed to find a bowl of this delicious soup. It was so full of smoked haddock and the smoky flavour was so well balanced throughout the soup with soft potatoes, silky leeks and creamy broth.

House of Bruar Pitagowan

Would you believe that this next place has (almost) nothing to do with cake?! The House of Bruar is mind-bogglingly huge and definitely worth a stop. It’s got everything: fish and chip shop, fresh fruit and veg with plants and flowers, ice creams, café and restaurant, a huge food hall and even clothes shops. Of course I was there for the food hall; it was immense.

Tea, coffee, cakes, biscuits, jams, honey, butchery, condiments, sauces, bread, cheese, smoked meat and fish, beers, wines, spirits, chocolate; the list goes on. So much choice and all of it so tempting. We made up a grazing dinner from here with different pies, smoked terrine, veg, dips, bread, cheese and all of it as local as it could be. To give you an idea of the scale of the shop they had one whole ‘aisle’ devoted entirely to different types of fruit cake. And there was me thinking there was only one kind.

Rannoch Cafe

This is no ordinary train station café. In fact, it is so extraordinary it’s almost worth making the trip on the train just to stop here and visit. You might have a bit of a wait before your next train but it would be worth it. The station is actively used but so well-tended; fresh flowers in the hanging baskets and scrupulously clean inside and out. The café is right in the middle of the station with inside and outside seating on both sides stretching down the platform.

Next time you go to your local train station, just check the food on offer and see how it compares to Rannoch Station’s offerings (this is just a few of them): dippy eggs with sourdough soldiers, homemade soup or freshly baked cakes. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try the midge cake; a perfectly sharp lemon drizzle filled with poppy seeds (the midges). After filling up on food you can take one of the various walks from the train station, all provided on a little map you can take with you.

We certainly covered some ground while we were up in Scotland and found some real food highlights. I always like to find somewhere small and local to visit as they are always more interesting than the big places. With plenty of walking, cycling, various water related activities and even bungee jumping there’s plenty to do to burn off all that cake.

West Coast Sweden Road Trip

May 5, 2018 By All That I'm Eating 10 Comments

We learnt a few things about Sweden while we were there. Firstly, if you drive on the smaller roads there’s hardly anyone else driving the same way. Secondly, if you like lakes, red houses and pine trees then Sweden is the place for you. Lastly, it doesn’t seem to matter where you are, all the food is brilliant. Embarking on a west coast Sweden road trip meant we had to consider a few things we don’t normally have to think about on other road trips: ferry crossings and waterproofs being the two most important.

Gothenburg and The Volvo Museum

We landed in Gothenburg and within half an hour of the plane touching down we were through the airport and in the hire car. We’ve been to Gothenburg before; there’s lots of museums, galleries and brilliant restaurants to check out. This time however we were heading to stay with family just outside Gothenburg and on the way we stopped at the Volvo Museum.

The museum is amongst all sorts of Volvo factories and warehouses but it’s easy to find. As you’d expect, there are many Volvos. The cars are arranged by decade, lots of their concept cars are on display too and there’s also a car made out of Lego. Our visit was a welcome pit stop after sitting on the plane and it was great to see all the old cars, I think the OH enjoyed it a bit more than I did!

Tanum

The Vitlycke Museum is worth a stop. The museum itself is small but full of facts and the model bronze age village is fully open to walk around. Most of the reason to stop however is over the other side of the road from the museum at Tanum.

The rock carvings here date from the bronze age and are remarkable because there are so many of them, the subjects they depict and the quality of the carvings. The carvings are all signposted through walkways and stairs through the forest and the site is UNESCO listed.

Strömstad

Strömstad is far north on the west coast of Sweden, near the Norwegian border, and we headed up there to stay at Emma’s bed and breakfast; a renovated 18th century house.

We ended up having the B&B to ourselves, not even the host was there, so we didn’t get the second B as part of our stay but we were welcome to use whatever was in the fridge to make our own breakfast! It was a lovely place to stay and easy to walk to Strömstad; you just have to get a little ferry across the water to get to the town. There was a little drizzle while we were there but I bet the town is glorious in the sunshine.

Fjällbacka

On the way to the next place we stayed we stopped at Fjällbacka. Their town square is dedicated to Ingrid Bergman but we went to climb Kungsklyftan where from the top you can get a 360 degree view of the archipelago around the town. I won’t lie. The rain hampered our plans somewhat so we set our sights on finding somewhere for lunch.

We ate at Stora Hotellet Bryggan and they had a fantastic set lunch menu. For the equivalent of around £9 you got unlimited salad (a selection of different ones to help yourself to), a hot meal (on Mondays it was goulash or cod), unlimited soft drinks (water, lemon water or iced tea) then coffee and a biscuit to follow. I had the cod, it came with simple boiled potatoes and an egg sauce and it was just perfect to eat as the rain came down outside.

Smögen

Smögen is a really beautiful town. It has a hugely long boardwalk that runs alongside the water’s edge with classic red, and sometimes not so red, houses, bars and restaurants on the other side. There wasn’t a lot open when we were there as it was out of season but I bet in the summer it is rammed with people soaking up the sun on the boardwalk.

Fiskebäckskil

Another lovely seaside town but different to the others as all the streets are cobbled. We stayed at the Slipens Hotell which was probably one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in. It was in such a great seafront location and the room was immensely comfortable.

The food was fantastic too. We asked for something vegetarian, with no idea what we would get, and we were not disappointed. There was bread to start of course; four different types with two different butters and a tapenade. The main was baked celeriac, Jerusalem artichoke purée, arancini, raw asparagus, lentils and herb oil. So hearty and filling. What we didn’t realise is just how many whiskys they have in their collection…and they gave us a key to the cupboards to smell as many as we liked before choosing which one to drink!

I would like to do this road trip again, but in the summer months, to see how different these towns are with more people around; but in a way it was very nice to have them almost to ourselves.

A Shepherd’s Hut Weekend Getaway

November 24, 2017 By All That I'm Eating 5 Comments

I think being in connection with the seasons is hugely important. When it gets dark in the evenings and the mornings are gloomy and grey it can be hard to see the different colours, the natural changes and shifts that happen at this time of year. Last weekend we headed down for a Shepherd’s hut weekend getaway to the New Forest and it was just what I needed.

Stay

The Shepherd’s Huts are the perfect size for two and contain everything you could possibly need for your stay; except (and I think importantly) a television. You spend your time tending to the wood burner in the corner, listening to the radio, reading a book and just completely relaxing. At the huts we stayed in in Fritham there is no light pollution and it is so quiet; a real and proper escape.

The Shepherd’s huts themselves are behind the gardens of The Royal Oak pub in Fritham which serves ploughman’s and soups for lunch; what more could you need. I find many pubs in this country describe themselves as having friendly locals and it’s rarely actually true. Unless you count being stared at by the regulars when you walk in and the whole place going quiet. However, The Royal Oak is actually genuinely filled with interesting local people; some of them will come and sit at your table, some will have a chat at the bar and the staff at the pub are all great. Oh and there’s loads of local beer and an extremely old fireplace. And live music on Friday nights. It’s the pub that everyone wants to have as their local.

Visit

With our base in the village of Fritham it’s an ideal location to walk to other villages in the New Forest; there’s one in every direction. We chose to walk to Nomansland through the forest and were surrounded by browns, oranges, reds, greens, yellows, mushrooms, mosses, ponds, puddles, tree stumps and every imaginable bit of autumn.

The Lamb was where we ended up for a quick morning coffee; the pub is so full of different things on the walls! Our coffee turned into lunch and we filled our bellies with steaming soup (a rather tasty, smoky tomato and pepper) before embarking on the walk back.

Eat

For dinner, the huts are equipped with a little electric oven and hob and you can order food cooked by Jenna, the landlord’s daughter. And you will want to. I love how it’s proper, home-cooked, full of flavour and so filling.

On the first night we had individual beef and ale pies, new potatoes, green beans and carrots. Then chocolate brownies, raspberries and ice cream. On the second night we had Shepherd’s pie with peas and carrots and then meringues with forest fruits and double cream. It’s just the comfort food you need at this time of year, and it is all delicious. A little bit of redcurrant jelly in the pies, a dollop of mint sauce in the shepherd’s pie; just brilliant.

Top Tip

This is the perfect place to read that book you never got round to, finish that project you started or just sit and have a cuppa next to the fire. As I said there is no television and no Wifi but that is a good thing! You might spend your time mesmerised by the fire, playing cards and listening to the radio; busy doing nothing. As someone who rarely gets a chance to do nothing I made sure I immersed myself fully in the opportunity to do so.

Ironbridge to Blaenavon to Cheddar: A Road Trip

August 5, 2017 By All That I'm Eating 9 Comments

I planned a brilliant road trip; it was all mapped out, places of note to stop at if there was time, places to stay and eat all sorted. There was going to be plenty to see and do and then after a series of unfortunate, last minute events, the plan went out of the window entirely and a new road trip was drawn up rather hurriedly, while on the road! But you know what, managing to see two UNESCO sites in two days and then tick somewhere else off my bucket list makes for a pretty good road trip; even if the routes seem a little erratic. Our Ironbridge to Blaenavon to Cheddar trip was slightly spontaneous and all the better for it.

After staying a night in Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds for a friend’s wedding we headed up to Ironbridge; one of many UNESCO listed sites in the UK. We stopped off in Worcester on the way for a very brief glimpse of the cathedral and to grab a coffee, reached Ironbridge just in time for lunch and went off to explore. I am pleased to report that the bridge itself is free for everyone to walk over and under and that Ironbridge itself is a really sweet little town.

Ironbridge

We were short on time so wanted to find out as much as possible as quickly as possible and opted to visit the Museum of The Gorge. At £4.50 a ticket to get in my expectations were high, too high I think. The museum was small, the mini replica of the Ironbridge area is nice and there are a few tiles on the walls (which I knew were there as they made (or still make) tiles just down the road) but it was all pretty disjointed and I learned absolutely nothing about the bridge itself or the industrial revolution. I did learn that the building the museum is housed in gets flooded from time to time though thanks to a nifty ‘history of floods’ giant ruler on the wall.

Pretty disappointed and without time to head anywhere else, the Tollhouse on the bridge was closed half an hour before it said it would be, we cheered ourselves up with a cracking coffee, tea, cake and doughnut at Number Nine which is definitely worth a visit.

There are plenty of B&Bs in Brosley, the village right next to Ironbridge and we stayed at The Old Rectory which was a great location, really comfortable and does a cracking full English! We’d decided that as we were so close to the Welsh border to head to Wales and another UNESCO listed site: Blaenavon.

Blaenavon

Before we went to Blaenavon I wasn’t too sure what was there and what it was all about. I left Blaenavon knowing so much about it; the site was so well laid out and interesting. And it’s all free to get in to, apart from the Big Pit, more on that later. We did, of course, leave a donation.

The Ironworks have a great exhibition showing the workers houses throughout the years; each house is made up as it would have been in that year from the late 1800s to the 1960s and you can walk around each of them. You can see in the photo above the big brick building in the background, inside which is a big scale exhibition with lights, projections and a lot of noise to give you an idea what it was like to work there. One of the best bits is when they start to simulate pouring the molten iron from the top of the room; they cleverly use lighting installed on the floor to show how it flowed down, settled in the moulds and made the railway tracks. Which incidentally were used at Ironbridge.

The Big Pit is walkable distance from the Ironworks but by this point the heavens had truly opened so we opted to drive there. You do need to pay for parking at Big Pit but considering this is a whole other site the £3 parking seems like a bargain. There was quite a queue to go down the pit, so much so, that after the third group had been called and we’d been waiting half an hour we actually aborted the mission.

There’s another clever exhibition showing you around the caves at Big Pit, including a quite alarming moment where one of the machines they use starts whirring away. It had some sort of terrifying name like ‘The Many Toothed Ultra Fast Rock Remover’ and trust me, you wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of one of those.

After Blaenavon we headed to Ross-on-Wye. Another charming town which had some great independent shops, cafes and delis. A visit to Field Fayre meant we stocked up on all sorts of organic goodies, including the best sourdough bread I’ve ever eaten.

Cheddar Gorge

We went home after Ross-on-Wye ready for an early start the next day to Cheddar Gorge. Not content with one gorge in a week I’ve wanted to head to Cheddar Gorge for ages so it was the perfect time to go.

There are three main things to see at Cheddar Gorge: the gorge, the caves and the town. To see the gorge and caves is £18 per adult and you pay for parking on top of that and I am a bit conflicted about paying to see a natural part of the landscape. For me, the gorge should be free for everyone to see and explore, however I know that it needs to be maintained and rubbish etc. removed. The caves were great and I completely understand charging to get into these. Having said all that you can get to the gorge without paying; it’s further away and getting to the see the view takes longer so if you do pay and walk the Jacob’s ladder then you are sort of paying for the convenience.

We walked up the 274 steps on the Jacob’s ladder meaning we gained height pretty quickly and got spectacular views of the gorge and beyond from the top of the viewing tower. The tower has the names of different cities at the top showing you how far you are from each one.

The photo above is actually of the cheddar cheese that’s matured in the caves. Only the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company mature there cheese in here and their cheese straws are worth seeking out, they are divine.

You could spend all day walking the gorge, we walked around the top and then through the gorge to get back to the town for lunch. There’s plenty of places to choose from, I can’t recommend where we ended up! Next we headed to the caves of which there are two: Dreamhunters and Gough’s. Dreamhunters is an interactive cave where you follow little projected cavemen around, come face to face with a woolly mammoth and get chased by digital wolves. This is definitely one for children but I enjoyed it!

Gough’s cave is the one you can see in the photo above, full of lighting to make the most of the natural carvings and formations, some of the caverns in here are astoundingly large. You can get an audio guide to accompany you around here but I gave up with mine, he talked far too slowly!

We crammed a lot in to just three days and I ticked off three places that are either on the UK UNESCO list or on my own UK bucket list. I need to get planning the next road trip now.