Holy Isle, just off the Isle of Arran, Scotland

Looking down holy Isle hill

 Holy Isle, in the Firth of Clyde off the west coast of Scotland is a delightful place to visit for the day. It has a population of about 13 and is just out in Lamlash Bay, Arran. It was the site of a cave and holy well that was home of the 13th century Saint Molaise. 

Looking across to Lamlash

The island is now the home to a Buddhist Community and home tp the Centre for World Peace. The island is also a nature reserve, home to the Eriskay ponies, Saanen goats, Soay sheep and the Arran Whitebeam.

One of the Islands painted stones

The visitors centre

Throughout the summer ferries from Lamlash to the island can be taken from about 10am and the final ferry back is about 4pm. Just enough time to walk over the hill and then back along the sea shore taking in the painted stones of Buddhist Gods.

The low path

Another of the Island painted stones. 

Gardiners Quarry, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire

Gardiners Quarry

Path up from Gardiners Quarry

Turn up path for Black Hill

 Today I parked in Gardiners Quarry, (WR13 6DN), and then walked up the main path. About half way up there is a T junction, and here I turned right and walked up towards Black Hill. The cloud cover today was thin wispy stripes of clouds. The light kept changing accordingly, sunny, overcast, sunny, overcast. 

It was a busy day for walkers as there was a charity ridge walk taking place. 

On Black Hill

Walkers on Black Hill Ridge

From the ridge you can see the town laid out like a toy town, and Black Hill overlooks the Three Counties Showground. It looked as though today there was a caravan show, but in two weeks time it will be the Spring Garden Show, and Gardeners World's BBC show will be coming from there on Friday 10th May. If you watch the show you will be able to see this part of the hill behind them.

View south towards British Camp

View east towards the Three Counties Showground

Walking down from the top of Blackhill

View north towards the Beacon

Broadway Tower, Cotswold/Worcestershire Border.

Broadway Tower

Memorial plaque

 Broadway tower stands high above the Worcestershire Cotswold skyline. It is a mini museum inside. The first floor display is all about it being built as a folly and it's early history. The next floor is about the renaissance art movement and William Morris. The third floor is about the military history of the sight.

With it's fantastic views it was used as a spotting station in the wars. Sadly also it was the sight of a memorable crash, so the history of that, and their is a plaque outside on the sight. The tower also played it's part in the cold war, and a nuclear bunker was built just along the hill. You can go and explore the Nuclear Bunker if you wish, though it is generally only open on a Sunday.

We also looked around Broadway village. In many way's it is a typical Cotswold village, as there are eleven art galleries, about six antique shops, and numerous cafes and bistro's. My favourite place was the old fashioned sweet shop.

I also liked the curious sign outside one of the estate agencies. It looks to me like a bishop fighting a five headed snake. It must commemorate some local mythology, but no-one seemed to know what it was about, and so far my research has turned up no answers. Any interesting ideas or actual facts please tell me.

Nuclear Bunker history

Part of the WW2 display

View from top of tower

Names and dates carved in by the soldiers

The most interesting thing in Broadway village

Broadway, a Cotswold village