Plymouth Harbour Cruise

Plymouth Harbour is an important part of Britain’s maritime history and on any visit to Plymouth, one of the things to do is to go on a Plymouth cruise of this historical harbour.

Once an old trading port, Plymouth Harbour is famous as the starting point of many pioneering voyages. When the Pilgrim Fathers made their epic voyage in the Mayflower in 1620 to discover their new world of America, it was from Plymouth that their ship set sail. On the Plymouth harbour cruise, we can get a sense of some of this history.

What we saw on our Cruise

There are different types of cruises offered by a number of cruising companies, including a longer cruise that goes up the River Tamar. From the Barbican Landing Stage, the Sound Cruising harbour cruise that we went on took us past RAF Mount Batten and along the famous Hoe to take in the views across Plymouth Sound, passing the Royal Citadel, Smeatons Tower, Drakes Island and the beautiful Mount Edgecombe Park.

Devonport Naval Base and Dockyard

Our cruise also took us close to HMNB Devonport, the  largest naval base in Western Europe, and an important part of Britain’s naval defence history.

Devonport Naval Base

At the Devonport Dockyard there were many navy ships and a few submarines were docked. The cruise commentary was very good and the crew member imparted a lot of information about the ships and submarines. Just in case you think that they are giving out military secrets, this information is available online.

We arrived in Plymouth on a rather grey day and it was a little chilly on the the top deck, but the cruise was nevertheless enjoyable. Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Walter Raleigh, Captain Cook and Charles Darwin all sailed in Plymouth Harbour and although our Plymouth cruise boat was not as elegant as those sail ships, we can now say that we’ve cruised in Plymouth Harbour as well.

See more Plymouth cruise photos at Travelsignposts Plymouth photo gallery HERE.

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: devonport dockyard, hmnb devonport, plymouth cruise, plymouth harbour, things to do in plymouth in Categories: Sightseeing

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Royal Citadel - Plymouth Hoe

On our Plymouth Harbour cruise we caught sight of the impenetrable walls of the Royal Citadel. Even from the water, the 70-ft high walls of the Royal Citadel look dramatic and dominate the eastern side of the Hoe. Its size hints at the role that Plymouth played in England’s naval history.

A Fortress for over 100 Years

The Royal Citadel occupies a site where the Plymouth Fort previously stood. After the threatened invasion by the Spanish Armada, Sir Francis Drake requested the construction of the Fort.

It was King Charles II who ordered that the Royal Citadel be built in 1665, as a defense against a threatened Dutch invasion. The King believed that the safety of the Navy was paramount to protect Plymouth’s military and commercial harbour. The Royal Citadel remained a most important English defence for over 100 years.

But in building the Citadel, King Charles II also had own interests in mind. The fortress also served to intimidate rebellious locals who were staunch supporters of Cromwell and the Parliamentarian cause during the Civil War. And, with some of the citadel guns trained on the town rather than out to sea, the locals had reason to feel intimidated.

Over the years, the Citadel was regularly strengthened and during the 1750′s it was equipped with as many as 113 guns. It is still in use today by the British military.

Visiting the Royal Citadel

The Royal Citadel is now an English Heritage property and you can only visit the site on tours by the Blue Badge Guides. On these guided tour visitors are taken for a walk along the ramparts from where there are stunning views out to Plymouth Sound and the old town. You’ll also be shown some of the weaponry in the fortress, with the guides imparting information about the history of the Royal Citadel, its occupants and British military history.

The tours run from May to September (these periods do change) and are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays only at 2:30 p.m. It is necessary to book your tour prior to visiting.   You can email them at plymouth.citadel.tours@googlemail.com.

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

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Black Friars Distillery - Plymouth

Black Friars Distillery is one of the oldest buildings in Plymouth and one of the city’s heritage buildings. Its Refectory Room – a medieval hall with a hull-shaped timber roof was built in 1431.  Since 1793, Black Friars Distillery has been home to the Plymouth Gin and is England’s oldest working distillery.

Black Friars Distillery

The Black Friars Distillery buildings have an interesting history, having been used for various purposes in the past. Originally a monastery, this Plymouth gin distillery takes its name from the Black Friars who used to live in the monastery.

At the time of the Reformation, and with the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536 , the building was used for various purposes. It was thought to have been the town’s first Guildhall at a point in time. It was also used as a debtor’s prison and a camp for the Huguenot refugees from France.

It is also believed to be the place where the Pilgrim Fathers spent their last night in Plymouth before they sailed on the Mayflower for America in 1620. The Mayflower appears on the front of the Plymouth Gin bottles.

Plymouth Gin Navy Strength

Plymouth Gin has had a long association with the Royal Navy and owes its early success to the British Royal Navy. With the Navy taking copious amounts of Plymouth Gin to all corners of the world, it soon became the world’s largest volume gin brand. There is even a Plymouth Navy Strength brand. This is a reference to the level of alcohol. At 57% abv, or higher, spirits can be spilt onto gunpowder without impairing its ability to explode.

Plymouth Gin Navy Strength

For nearly two centuries, no navy ship left port without a bottle of Navy Strength Plymouth Gin.

These days Plymouth Gin is no longer British-owned – it is being distributed by the Greek subsidiary of the giant French Pernod Ricard Group.  However, Black Friars still follows the traditional distilling processes for its Plymouth Original, Navy Strength and Plymouth Sloe Gin.

If Gin is your drink of choice, there are guided Plymouth Gin tours and tastings available all year round.  But even if you’re not a gin drinker, a visit to this heritage Plymouth building is interesting.

Address:

Black Friars Distillery
60 Southside Street
Plymouth PL1 2LQ
Tel: +44(0) 1752 665 292

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: black friars distillery, plymouth gin, plymouth gin distillery, plymouth gin navy strenth, plymouth gin tours, plymouth sloe gin in Categories: Food

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Mayflower Steps - The Barbican, Plymouth

Plymouth Harbour is famous as the starting point for many pioneering and historic voyages and the voyage of the Pilgrim Fathers in the Mayflower was one of these epic journeys. The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth in 1620, bound for the new world of America with 102 passengers. Flanked by the flags of Britain and America, the Mayflower Steps is a memorial commemorating their brave voyage.

Pilgrim Fathers

The Pilgrim Fathers were mostly Puritans looking for a new life away from religious persecution by James I. They originally sought sanctuary in Holland and were now looking to colonize new lands and create a community of their own. The Pilgrims had intended to settle in Virginia but stormy weather and the rough crossing forced them to land at ‘New Plymouth’ in Massachusetts.

A list of Mayflower Pilgrims, printed on a wooden board, can be seen on the wall of Island House in the adjacent street.  Incidentally, Island House is also where you can try some Pilgrims ice cream.

Mayflower Steps

The original steps from which the Pilgrim Fathers embarked no longer exists but a granite block in the pavement with the ship’s name on it marks the approximate site. A nearby tablet commemorating the voyage was erected in 1891 and the sand-coloured Doric portico was added in 1934. Step through this portico and you’ll be standing on a small balcony with views out towards the sea.  This was added in 2000.

Mayflower Steps - Plymouth Barbican..

Nearby to the Mayflower Steps are numerous plaques and tablets that chronicle other major events near the site such as the departure of the ‘convict ships’ for Australia, the departure of the Tory – the pioneer ship that left to colonize New Zealand and the arrival of the first transatlantic American seaplane in 1919.

If you’re interested in learning more about the voyage by the Pilgrim Fathers in the Mayflower or about the lives of the merchant families, Plymouth’s fishing industry, Sutton Harbour,  the naval harbour and the development of The Barbican over the centuries, the Plymouth Mayflower building houses an interpretation centre with three floors of exhibition space.

From April to October, boat trips leave from the Mayflower Steps and Phoenix Wharf offering a sea view of Plymouth.  One-hour cruises take you to the dockyard and warships in Devonport – longer cruises go further up the River Tamar.

For more photos of the Mayflower Steps and pictures of Plymouth, see Travelsignposts Plymouth photo gallery HERE.

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: mayflower, mayflower pilgrims, mayflower ship, mayflower steps, Pilgrim Fathers, plymouth mayflower, plymouth memorials in Categories: Sightseeing

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Plymouth Barbican Map

The Barbican, Plymouth’s harbour area was an old trading port and is home to Britain’s maritime heritage. It was from Plymouth that many of the early pioneering voyages set sail. Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins, Sir Walter Raleigh and Captain Cook, all sailed from Plymouth, as did Charles Darwin many years later in the Beagle.

The Barbican is also famous as the starting point for the historic voyages made by the Pilgrim Fathers who left from the Barbican for the new world of America. Whilst the actual steps no longer exist, the present Mayflower Steps marks the area from which the Mayflower sailed on its historic voyage in 1620.  Around the Mayflower Steps are several plaques and tablets commemorating various historical events at the Barbican.

At the Plymouth Mayflower is an extensive exhibition that tells of the lives of the merchant families, Plymouth’s fishing industry, the naval harbour and the epic voyage by the Pilgrim Fathers in the Mayflower and others after them.

The Barbican Today

Today the Barbican is a thriving tourist destination with a large choice of restaurants, bars and al fresco dining. The sail ships have been replaced by pleasure yachts, dive boats and fishing boats.  Although the Old Fish Market has been relocated to the other side of the harbour, the Barbican is still home to many fishermen.

Things to See and Do at The Barbican

Mayflower Steps - Barbican Plymouth

• Explore the Elizabethan House, a carefully restored 16th century sea captain’s dwelling
• Relax in the enchanting Elizabethan Gardens or take a guided tour of the fortified Royal Citadel (between May and September).  This fortification was built by Charles II in 1666 to both defend and intimidate the citizens.  It is still home to front-line British troops.
• For those with a predilection for gin, a visit to the Black Friars Distillery will be happy experience.
• For indoor entertainment, the Plymouth Arts Centre , Barbican Theatre, Barbican Leisure Park and the National Marine Aquarium are within easy stroll of each other.
• Sailing excursions, pleasure boat trips of Plymouth Harbour and diving expeditions are popular things to do in Plymouth.
• You can go fishing, windsurfing or take a water taxi and walk along the South West Coast Path at Mount Batten and Jennycliff or head west and take the Cawsand ferry to this pretty Cornish village.

For the shoppers with money to burn, the Barbican’s winding lanes are packed with a range of antique shops and galleries displaying the works of famous local artists.

If you need information on what’s on in Plymouth, or other travel information, the Plymouth Tourist Information Centre is housed in the Plymouth Mayflower at 3-5 The Barbican (see the Plymouth Barbican map).

Search for Plymouth hotels, read hotel reviews and book your Plymouth hotel HERE.

See more Barbican photos at Travelsignposts Plymouth photo galleries HERE.

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

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Camelot - Tintagel

Mention Tintagel, and the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table come to mind immediately. Since Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his History of the Kings of Britain in 1150, visitors have been coming to Tintagel Castle to see the legendary King Arthur’s birthplace. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth’s tales, King Arthur was born in Tintagel to the beautiful Queen Igerna under the protection of Merlin the magician who lived in a cave below the mighty fortress.

Fact or fiction, Arthurian legends have been good business for Tintagel. Poets, artists, historians and sightseers have been flocking to this little village on the northern Cornish coastline since the Victorian era. This fascination with King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table, Lancelot and Excalibur has been further fuelled by the many Hollywood blockbusters. These days Tintagel is a popular tourist destination for people holidaying in Cornwall.

Things to See and Do

If it’s King Arthur’s Tintagel that you’ve come to see, Tintagel Castle ruins would probably be your first port of call. Set against the dramatic and rugged north Cornwall coastline, the extensive site is mysterious and atmospheric. To learn about the King Arthur legends and history, the Arthurian Centre at Camelford has a huge exhibition space and video that will help you unravel some of the fact from faction. The Centre is set in 20 acres of grounds which surround the ‘King Arthur’s Stone’. Here you can wander through the fields and see where King Arthur and Mordred fought their last battle. Archaeologists are still digging on this site and in summer you may get to see them at work.

Tintagel Village

Tintagel Village, Cornwall

But don’t leave Tintagel without stopping in the village. Tintagel village is easy to explore as the places of interest and the many shops and inns are along Fore Street, the main Tintagel thoroughfare. And the spirit of King Arthur prevails in the village as well. The shops and inns have names that make a play on the Arthurian legends. The medieval Tintagel Old Post Office is worth a visit and further up the road is the King Arthur’s Hall and the Medthodist church.

Tintagel has a range of tea rooms and pubs where you can enjoy a Cornish pasty or the famous Cornish cream tea.

If you’re planning to spend a few days here, there are many hotels, guest houses, inns, cottages and other accommodation to choose from in and around Tintagel, including the five-star Camelot. Nearby is Boscastle, another little historic village.

See more photos of Tintagel at Travelsignposts Tintagel photo gallery.

Map of Cornwall Coast:

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

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Tintagel Old Post Office

There is more to Tintagel than the legend of King Arthur and Tintagel Castle.   On the main street of the village is the medieval Tintagel Old Post Office. This very well-preserved 14th century yeoman’s farmhouse on Tintagel’s Fore Street has a curious wavy roof and interesting exhibits on the inside.

During Victorian times, this cottage was a post office for a brief period. It held a licence to be the letter-receiving station for the district and hence its name The Old Post Office. The National Trust bought this medieval cottage in 1903 and has restored it to its present beautiful condition.

Visiting Tintagel Old Post Office

We arrived in Tintagel on Heritage Open Day and so we were treated to a free visit of the site. The cozy rooms inside the cottage display furniture, fixtures and other household items that give an idea of how things would have looked like in the early centuries. In the bedrooms are some interesting quilts that were made by local quilters. If quilting is your interest, the National Trust organizes quilting exhibitions here where you can learn about this craft’s history and pick up some tips.

At the little ‘post office counter’ you can buy little souvenirs, stamps and Victorian postal memorabilia, but it is not a post office.

Tintagel Old Post Office Garden

Don’t forget to visit the cottage garden at the back of the building. This beautiful and quiet space offers a nice escape from the busy main street. In summer music and art in the garden are some of the events that take place here.

If you’d like to know more about the Tintagel Old Post Office, the National Trust has a little booklet that covers everything, from its history, architecture, social history, natural environment and conservation to horticulture and garden history.

The Old Post Office is open Mondays to Sundays from February to November. For more information about opening times and entry fee visit the National Trust website on www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Address:

Tintagel Old Post Office
Fore Street
Tintagel, Cornwall

Tel : 01840 770024
Email: tintageloldpo@nationaltrust.org.uk

See more Tintagel Old Post Office pictures in Travelsignposts Tintagel photo gallery HERE.

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

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Tintagel Castle, Tintagel, Cornwall

Since Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his fictitious “Historia Regum Britanniae” (History of the Kings of Britain) in 1150, Tintagel Castle has been associated with the birthplace of the great King Arthur.

According to the tale told by Geoffrey of Monmouth, King Arthur was born in Tintagel to the beautiful Queen Igerna.  He was protected from evil by Merlin, the magician who lived in a cave below the mighty fortress.

Tintagel Castle

The Cornish Celtic name “Dindjagell” or “Din Tagell” means “Fortress of the Constriction”.  Set upon the steep cliffs overlooking the Atlantic ocean, the remains of Tintagel Castle are quite spectacular. Although archaeological finds show that the site was possibly occupied as early as the Romano-British period, it is the Arthurian legends that visitors come to explore.

Tintagel Castle was built around 1236 by Earl Richard Comte de Poitou.  He was the second son of King John of England and half brother to Norman-French King Henri III.  The Earl was persuaded to build his castle on this isolated, windswept spot as it was seen as the traditional place for Cornish kings.

Did King Arthur rule here?

After over 800 years, fact and fiction are inextricably entwined and some historians think that the legendary King Arthur probably did exist.  He could have been a Romano-British chieftain or warrior who led British resistance against the Saxon invasion of the 6th century.

Tintagel Castle, Tintagel Cornwall..

For many visitors, what is fictitious or true from Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain is best left to the historians to sort out .  Facts and history aside, Tintagel Castle inspires the imagination – it’s a place of dreams, romance and legends, with much embellishment from Hollywood.

To this day, visitors like us still flock here to catch a glimpse of the place where King Arthur was believed to have been born.  And if we’re lucky, Merlin’s Cave can also be seen when the tide is not high.

To get up to the castle there are two steep staircases clinging to the cliff-side. Visit in the height of summer and you may have a storyteller on hand to bring the legends of King Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot to life.

From the clifftop, a path leads from the castle to Tintagel’s church which has Norman and Saxon masonry.

See the sights of Tintagel Castle and Tintagel village through Travelsignposts Tintagel photo gallery HERE.

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

Post tags: King Arthur, knights of the round table, Merlin, Tintagel, tintagel castle, tintagel cornwall, tintagel king arthur in Categories: Sightseeing

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A rather bizarre sight near the top of Chapel Street in Penzance is the Egyptian House, a bright-looking building with a pseudo-Egyptian facade.

Egyptian House – Penzance

The Egyptian Fashion Craze

The facade of the Egyptian House was commissioned around 1835 by John Lavin, a local Penzance mineralogist. Following Napoleon’s North African campaign in 1798, all things Egyptian became very fashionable and Egyptian arts and style also became the inspiration for architectural ideas. The Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly London, completed in 1812, was the first of such Egyptian architectural-style buildings to be commissioned in Britain. This style remained very much in vogue into the next century and the Penzance Egyptian House is a rare survivor of that splendid era.

Egyptian House Features

In amongst the traditional Egyptian motifs and sphinx-like adornments of the Egyptian House, you can find the royal coat of arms of George III and William IV and the inscription ‘Dieu et Mon Droit’ (God and my right), the motto of the British Monarch.

John Lavin lived in the upstairs part of the house, while his mineral collection was housed on the ground floor. His extensive collection was eventually sold by his son and it is believed that it has since been donated to the Oxford University Museum.

By the 1960s, the Egyptian House had fallen into a state of disrepair. The Landmark Trust purchased it in 1968 and restored to its original glory by 1973. The upstairs apartments are available as holiday lets from the Trust.

Address:

Egyptian House
6-7 Chapel Street
Penzance

Map of Penzance:

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

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Isles of Scilly - Courtesy VisitBritain

The Isles of Scilly are located just 28 miles off the Cornish coast in the Atlantic Ocean. Comprising five inhabited and numerous uninhabited islands, Scilly has been rumoured by the British press as one of the places that Prince William and Kate could spend their honeymoon on.

So why would Scilly be suggested as a honeymoon destination and what do these islands have to offer the newly-wed Royal couple.

Attractions of Scilly as a Honeymoon Destination

Scilly is not a new holiday destination for Prince William, although it was a long time ago that he holidayed there with his parents and brother, Harry.

The islands can only be accessed by air or sea, giving a sense of escape. The place is small enough for security to keep a watch over and its distance from the mainland would allow privacy for William and Kate. After the public spotlight of their Royal Wedding, who can blame them for wanting some privacy.

There are no cars on the Isles of Scilly and the scenic islands are ideal for romantic walks. In late spring, Scilly’s famous daffodils are still in bloom and the islands are awash in colour. Sailing around the uninhabited islands and exploring these by boat is another romantic activity. There is the abundant marine wildlife to see, including puffins, basking sharks, gannets and even occasionally whales.

For those who prefer to spend time on land, there are ancient monuments to discover, horse riding along the beach, and castles and forts to explore.

The Clanger

The only reason why the idllyic Isles of Scilly fail as a potential honeymoon destination for William and Kate is Scilly’s World Pilot Gig Championships, an annual event that takes place during the May Bank Holiday. During this major event on the island’s social calendar, flocks of visitors come to watch the traditional rowing races and join in the celebrations on the beach.

If you’re planning a honeymoon on the Isles of Scilly, avoid the May Bank Holiday.

Getting to Scilly:

• The Scillonian III passenger ferry operates from Penzance from end March to end October only.
• There is a helicopter service from Penzance.
• There are flights to the Isles of Scilly all year year round from Land’s End and Newquay Airport
• You can fly from Exeter, Bristol and Southampton airports during the main spring, summer and autumn season.
• There are no hire cars on the islands, but there are taxis on St. Mary’s.

© Devon and Cornwall, 2011. Written by Helen Page

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