古城、古堡和古迹 —— 英伦三岛自驾（一）：序

从今夏的英伦三岛自驾回来，已经近三个月了。一直有一搭没一搭的整理相片，直到早两天，才全部断续整理完、上传了网上相册里。这才终于可以开始，码这个迟到了许久的游记系列。

去英国是小朋友（其实，现在人家不小了，比我高出一头了。不过，既然这么叫开了，就这么继续吧）的念头，是老早老早就有且念念不忘的。不过，不知道为什么，我一直对去英国兴致平平。或许是因为，一提到英国，我脑海里的画面，总是阴沉沉、平淡淡、闷兮兮的。都不知道这样的印象到底是从哪里来的，反正它就那么固执地在那里。在小朋友嚷嚷了好些年后，大朋友终于也站到他的队里了。于是，二比一，今年出游的目的地就定在了英国。

借着是他们主意的由头，我把找机票、定计划、做准备之类的就都推给他们了。一是这次偷些懒，也是想他们会做了，以后可以省更多的心。小朋友只叽叽咕咕地报了些自己想去的地方，剩下的当仁不让地都归大朋友负责了。找机票这个，他倒算是在行的，二月初定好了。西捷的，哈利法克斯转机，到伦敦南部的那个机场Gatwick，三张往返机票共2228加币。

机票定好之后，也不知道他在哪里找的信息，反正是草拟了一个行程出来。把那个他打出来的两页google地图的路线，给我一个从英国过来的同事看，让他给写上路线途中或附近，他推荐我们去的地方。把他的建议，看都没看地就转回给了大朋友，让他继续去完善行程、做好沿途住宿安排啥的。我希望，象往年我一贯的那样，他可以给出一份完整的行程计划。不过，这个计划就超级难产了。

他倒是非常积极地租好车，再先把在伦敦的住宿搞掂了。因为他弟弟的介绍，他专攻airb&b,  很快就定了一家。不过，只知道个大概的方位，不知道具体地址，说是入住前四十八小时才回告诉我们。 之后，趁着余兴，也快快地把离开伦敦、上路后的第一天的B&B搞掂。我又用hotel.com账户里积得的一晚免费，预定好了最后一晚在Gatwick的酒店。 然后，就从二月搁置到了四月，才开始梳理中间的那些落脚点。每每到一地，他尽找些超预算的住宿给我看，否定几次之后，烦了，干脆自己去淘了。其实，这个英国游，我直到这个时候，才算是真正的参与了一把。之前，基本是真正地做了一次丢手掌柜。10年去奥兰多迪斯尼那次有过一次，这是第二次。由此可见，英国和迪斯尼一样，都是不在我的旅行清单前列的了。

四月底、五月初定好所有的旅馆。但是，到六月中，还是没看到行程计划的总结。伦敦几天，打算会两个朋友的，一个是麦大的同学、另一个是资深网友，还等着告诉她们我们的安排呢。上路后，每天路上和目的地，都打算去哪儿呢？他说在网上看了，到时候买个English Heritage的membership 通票，有介绍、有地图，去哪里就都知道了。我说，那好，随意吧；不过，这行程计划，再简单，也得有一个。于是，出发前几天，他终于挤牙膏似得挤出了这么一份。 模板是套用我以前做的计划的，至于实质嘛，那就另说了。

简单的行程计划： 

Day 1, June 23, 2018, Saturday : Montreal to London (England) (1h48 +47min +5h46 = 8h21)    

We leave home around 4:15pm to go YUL.

Flight:  6:45pm to 9:33pm   WJ3453 Montreal (YUL) to Halifax (YHZ) stop over 47min

Flight: 10:20pm to 8:06am +1 day WJ24 Halifax (YHZ) to London (LGW) arrives on June 24.

 

Day 2, June 24, 2018, Sunday  :  London (England)

We arrive at 8:06am at Gatwick airport, we either take the train to London or have friends pick us up.

We arrive at the BNB around 10:00am, drop the luggage there and start to visit London by foot or Tube (subway) & have brunch.

River cruise £11.75/p.p.in the afternoon.

Sleep AIR BNB (paid)

 

Day 3, June 25, 2018, Monday : London (England)    

In the morning, we go to Abbey road to take picture street crossing and see the recording studios. (St-John’s Wood tube station)

After lunch, we visit London by foot see self-walk tour. (London eye £33.3/p.p.  fast track online, The National Gallery, free)Sleep AIR BNB (paid)

 

Day 4, June 26, 2018, Tuesday : London (England) 

In the morning, we go to the Tower Bridge and Tower of London (Tower Hill tube station)

For lunch, we go meet friends at St-Paul Cathedral (St-Paul tube station)

In the afternoon, we find where to buy the England heritage pass (to visit places during the trip)

Visit London by foot or Tube (subway)

Sleep AIR BNB (paid)

 

Day 5, June 27, 2018, Wednesday:  London to Penzance,  300miles / 482km

In the morning, we pick-up the car Marbel Arch tube at 9:30am Advantage rent a car, 7-23 Bryanston street London,

We leave for Stonehenge (visit with pass) 100miles/160km, we stop along the way for lunch.

Go to Exeter (visit) 90miles/145km, we stop along the way for supper.

Go to Penzance 110miles/177km

Sleep in Penzance at the Blue Dolphin Backpackers (paid by Dan)

 

Day 6, June 28, 2018, Thursday: Penzance to Cardiff, 300miles/430km

In the morning, visit Penzance, go hiking, and then have lunch.

Go to Tintagel 60miles/100km (visit with pass)

Go to Glastonbury, 120miles/200km, visit the Tor tower, have supper.

Go to Cardiff, 80miles/130km

Sleep in Cardiff at Park Inn Radisson

 

Day 7, June 29, 2018, Friday : Cardiff to Liverpool, 200miles/320km   

In the morning, visit Cardiff and then have lunch.

Go to Liverpool, 200miles/320km, have supper.

Sleep in Liverpool, Holiday Inn Express Knowsley

 

Day 8, June 30, 2018, Liverpool to Glasgow, 220miles/355km

In the morning visit Liverpool, and The Beatles museum £15.95 p.p. and have lunch.

Go to Glasgow, eat supper along the way, 220miles/355km

Sleep in Glasgow (Hamilton), Days inn Hamilton, Roadchef Motorway service area.
 

Day 9, July 01, 2018, Glasgow to Inverness, 175miles/282km

In the morning visit Glasgow, and then have lunch,

Go to Fort William, visit, 110miles/177km

Go to Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness, 50miles/80km, have supper.

Go to Inverness, 15miles/25km

Sleep in Inverness, Crown Hotel Gesthouse.

 

Day 10, July 02, 2018, Inverness to Edinburgh, 155miles/250km

In the morning, visit Inverness, and have lunch.

Go to Dalwhinnie Distillery &  Cairngorms National Park,  55miles/90km

Go to Edinbugh, 100miles/160km, have supper.

Sleep in Edinburgh, Herriot Park Guest House
 

Day 11, July 03, 2018, Edinburgh to Leeds, 220miles/355km
 

In the morning visit Edinburgh, have lunch.

Go to Leeds, 220miles/355km, eat supper along the way.

Sleep in Leeds, The Midlan Hotel.

 

Day 12, July 04, 2018, Leeds to Oxford, 210miles/340km

In the morning, visit Leeds,

Go to Manchester, 50miles/80km, have lunch & visit,

Go to Oxford, 160miles/260km, eat supper.

Sleep in Oxford, Witney, The Bell Inn.

 

Day 13, July 05, 2018, Oxford to London, Gatwick (LGW), 200miles/320km,

In the morning, visit Oxford, & have lunch.

Go to Cambrige, 100miles/160km, visit & eat supper on the way.

Go to London, Gatwick (LGW), 100miles/160km,

Sleep in Holiday Inn. London, Gatwick airport.

 

Day 14, July 06, 2018, Friday      London to Montreal    (7h10+4h35+2h01=13h46)                             

WJ25			London (LGW) 9:30am	Halifax (YHZ) 12:40pm (stop over 4h35)	06 Jul 2018
WJ3452			Halifax (YHZ) 5:15pm	Montreal (YUL) 6:15pm	06 Jul 2018

 

自驾部分计划线路的地图：