Vacations to Go

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Easter Anime and Puget Sound-2011

Rockin' 4th of July-2011

Glacier and Beyond-2011

Future Trips:

Ireland and the U.K. with a Spot of France-2013

Europe's Choices

"Europe's Choices Votes"

Friends:

Fun in the Sun-2011

Twilight in Forks-2011

Barb's Puget Sound Adventure-2011

Optional Trips:
Long Trips:

Big Mountain/ Glacier National Park

Ireland

Maui and Kauai

Oregon
Coast-a-Thon

Oregon Coast Websites for Vacation Rentals

Yellowstone National Park-Long Trip

Yellowstone-Teton Adventure-2011

Short Trips:

Glacier in a Weekend

Yellowstone National
Park-
Short Trip

Puget Sound Adventure

Ireland

Day 1
	Do:	Fly to Dublin
	Lodge:

Day 2
	Arrive:	Dublin
	Do:	Purchase Heritage Card €21 and Heritage Island Explorer Touring Guide €6 for buy one, get one's
12:00 p.m.	See:	Trinity College Tour €9/HIE €1 off admission (9:30-5, Sun 9:30-4:30) 30 minute tours of their campus including rundown of the Georgian architecture, peek at student life and ending at the Book of Kells, a 9th-century gospel manuscript famous throughout the world. Take stairway upstairs to Proclamation of Irish Republic.
		(Go back to where you meet for the tour. Turn left/south on Grafton St.)
		Browse Grafton St shops to St. Stephens Green, glass enclosed in 1664. Many street artists and musicians
	Do:	Lunch- Dunne's grocery store is on the SW corner of Grafton and St Stephen's Green St. (7-midnight)
		(At Grafton and Merrion Row/St. Stephen's St. go east. Turn left/north on Fitzwilliam.)
2:00 p.m.	See:	#29 Georgian House- €6.00/2 for 1 HIE (10-5 Tue-Sat, 12-5 Sun) Restored 1790 Georgian home. Descend the stairs to the basement level entrance. Do 15 minute video first.
		(Head back left/west on Merrion Square. Go1 long block, then turn left/south on Merrion St. Go 2 blocks, then turn right/west on Merrion Row. At the end of the block turn right/north on Kildare St.)
3:00 p.m.	See:	National Museum Archaeology and History-Free (10-5 Tue-Sat, 2-5 Sun) Treasures of Ireland from the Stone Age to Modern times including Celtic metalwork
	Lodge:

Day 3
10:00 a.m.	See:	Dublin Castle - Free HC/€4.50 (Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat & Sun 2-5) Built on the spot of the 1st Viking fortress in 1230 AD at King John's orders, this castle was the seat of English rule for 700 years.
		(Take Lord Edward Street, which is north of the castle, left/west. It will become Christchurch Place. At the junction go left on Thomas St. It will become James St. at the brewery. Take a left/south on Echlin. At the top of the road turn left (opposite the Old Harbour Pub). Take the first left on to Market Street. The pedestrian entrance to GUINNESS STOREHOUSE® will be on the left. To reach the car park, take the next left onto Crane Street and the car park is immediately on the right. Journey time 5 mins. Complimentary car parking is available at the visitor car park on Crane Street.)
11:30 a.m.		Guinness Storehouse - €15 (daily 9:30-7) including €4 pint/HIE pass 10%- Began brewing stout here in 1759. By 1868 it was the biggest brewery in the world. Gravity Bar on to of the building provides a 360 degree view of the city.
		Black Gold (It's Good For You!) Letterbox
		OR
		(Continue on Thomas St going west. At the junction take the left on James. Turn right/north on Surf/Circular Rd.)
11:30 a.m.		Kilmainham Gaol (Jail) Free HC/€6.00 ( daily 9:30-6) Inchicore Road Kilmainham, Dublin 8. Opened in 1796 as both Dublin County Jail and a debtor's prison. Many who fought for independence of the rebellions of 1798, 1803, 1848, 1867 and 1916 were executed here. Take the 760 minute guided tour including a 15 minute slide show in the prison chapel. See the museum's dimly lit Last Words 1916 hall upstairs, which displays the stirring final letters that patriots sent to loved ones hours before facing the firing squad.
		(Go north on Surf/Circular Rd. After crossing the river at the roundabout take a left on St. John's Rd going east. At the next junction continue east on Wolf Tone Quay. Go left/north on Blackhall Place. Go right/east on Brunswick St, then right/south on Church St. Go left/east immediately on King St. It will become Dorset St. Turn right on Frederick St and park.)
	Do:	Walking Tour
	See:	Garden of Remembrance -Free (8:30-6) Honoring the victims of the 1916 rising. The bottom of the cross-shaped pool is a mosaic of Celtic weapons, symbolic of how the early Irish would proclaim peace by throwing their weapons into a lake or river.
		(Stroll down O'Connell Street looking at shops and statues.)
		Charles Stewart Parnell Monument- member of Parliament who nearly won Home Rule for Ireland in the late 1800's. The names of the 4 ancient provinces of Ireland and all 32 Irish counties ring the monument.
		Father Matthew Statue-Leader of the temperance movement of the 1830's.
		Millenium Spire- 390 ft stainless steel spire.
		(Turn right on Henry St for two blocks enjoying the shops on the way.)
		Moore Street Market
		(Go back east on Henry to O'Connell.)
		James Larkin Statue- founder of the Irish Trasnport Workers' Union.
		Daniel O'Connell Statue (1775-1847) Liberator for founding the Catholic Ass. and demanding Irish Catholic rights in the British Parliament
		O'Connell Bridge - Look upriver (west) as far upstream as you can see. On the left in the distance, the big concrete building is the city planning commission. Across the river stands the Four Courts, Supreme Court building. It was shelled and burned in 1922, during the tragic civil war. The National Archives was burned, losing all birth records. The closest upstream bridge is Ha' Penny Bridge leading to Temple Bar for nightlife. Turn 180 degrees to see the tall Liberty Hall union headquarters, the tallest building in the Republic.
	Lodge:

Day 4
8:00 a.m.	Depart:	Dublin
		(Take the N2 (Derry road), by pass Ashbourne,. Continue on towards Slane , Newgrange Bru Na Boinne clearly signposted to the right off N2.)
	See:	Bru n Boinne - (9-7) 30 minute tours. HC/€11.00 Donore, County Meath, Republic of Ireland Newgrange, Knowth Megalithic Tombs (Free HC/€11.00, which dates to 3200 BC. At Newgrange you will squeeze down a narrow passageway to a cross-shaped central chamber, located under a 20 ft. high igloo-type stone dome. Bones and ashes were place here under 200,000 tons of stone and dirt to wait for a special moment. On Dec. 21st a ray of light would creep slowly down the 60 Ft. long passageway for 17 minutes. Knowth is a necropolis of several grassy mounds around one 85 yd wide grand tomb. The big mound covers 1.5 acres and has 2 passages aligned so that on the spring and fall equinoxes, rays from the rising and setting sun shine down the passageways to the center chamber. Neither is open to the public, but you visit a room cut into the side where you can see a passageway.	31
		Travelers Among You Letterbox
		(Go back to the N2. Go right/north crossing the N51. Exit right onto the Grassallen/Mellifont Park or watch for signs.)
		Old Mellifont Abbey - Free HC/€3.00 (10-6) Tullyallen, Drogheda, Co. Louth 45 minute tour This Cistercian abbey was established by French monks in 1142 to bring the Irish more inline with Rome. Henry VIII dissolved it and it was used as a quarry. Only the lavabo remains, where the monks washed their hands.	7
		(Continue north on Melifont/Begrath Rd. Turn right on on R168. Enter the M1 going left/north. Watch signs for turnoff.)
		Monasterboice - (Sunrise-Sunset) Free Ruined abbey, but "Celtic" Christian monastery founded by St. Buite before 521 has 2 of the best crosses in Ireland. The Tall Cross (or West Cross) is the tallest high cross in existence, standing at an impressive 21 feet. Unfortunately it has been carved from stone not very resistant to the elements and been left at their mercy too long, the carvings are withered. But just a few yards away you will find Muiredach's Cross - named after its sponsor, commemorated in an inscription (but an elusive figure nonetheless). The 18 feet high cross consists of three parts and is complete, most of its carvings are still well-defined and identifiable. The center of the west face has a crucifixion scene, contrasted by a "last judgement" on the east face. Other panels show scenes from the Old and New Testaments, including the Passion, the Adoration of the Magi, Moses smiting a rock, David smiting Goliath and even the Fall of Man with Eve giving an apple to Adam and Cain slaying Abel.	14
		(Enter the M1 going right/south. Take the N51 exit going right/west. At Navan go left/south on N3. Turn right on Tara Hill.)
		Hill of Tara - Free HC/€3.00 (10-6) Most important center of political and religious power in pre-Christian Ireland. 20 minute video and a 20 minute guided walk. You'll see the Mound of Hostages from 2500 BC, a couple of ancient sacred stones, a war memorial and vast views of the Emerald Isles. In 1798 Irish rebels chose Tara to stand and fight. Again in 1848 Daniel O'Connell gathered 500,000 peasants for a peaceful show of force demanding the Act of Union with Britain be repealed.	30
		Ducks in Dublin Series#4 The Hill of Tara
		Celtic Gryffin Letterbox
		(Go back to the N3 and turn right/south. Turn right on R125/Drumree Rd. At R154/Augherskea go right/northwest. In Trim go straight ahead on Castle.)
	See:	Trim Castle (10-6) Free HC/€4.00 Ireland's largest castle completed in 1204. Cross the timber Millennium Bridge to reach the belfry tower Yellow Steeple a remnant of the Abbey of Saint Mary. The Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, once the largest Gothic cathedral of Ireland, is also within walking distance. "Braveheart" was filmed here.	9
		(Walk across the timber Millennium Bridge over the River Boyne.)
		Yellow Steeple-One of the major landmarks in Trim, this is 14th century tower which was part of the Augustinian Abbey of St Mary. It was also used as a bell tower and a place of refuge. It's called the Yellow Steeple as the stone work sets off a golden colour during sun set.
		(Continue your walk.)
		A short walk down across the river and down a footpath takes you to a more modest yet very historical structure called the Sheep Gate. It is thought that the name of this gate was nothing more than an acquired knickname. In actuality, it is the last remaining gate of the city wall that existed in medieval times.
		(Pass the Sheep's Gate until you reach the main road. Depending on the weather conditions you have now two options to proceed to Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. If the pasture is swampy we suggest you turn right on the main road and take the first road left. In better conditions you just follow the River Boyne to the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, which was once the largest Gothic cathedral of Ireland.)
		Saints Peter and Paul Cathdral-Founded close to the temporal power of Trim Castle by the Norman bishop Simon de Rochfort in 1206, after his cathedral at Clonard was burned down, only a part of the original nave and chancel survive. This was the largest Gothic church in Ireland. Part of the ruined Priory of Augustinian Canons, which was established to maintain the Cathedral, also survives.
		(Continue your stroll by crossing the River Boyne to the ruins.)
		Priory or Hospital of St. John the Baptist-By the banks of the River Boyne at Newtown Trim. A house of the Crutched Friars founded after c. 1202 by Simon Rochfort, Bishop of Meath, and dissolved on 12 October 1540.
		(Go back east on Dublin Rd/R154. Turn left/east on R125/Knockmark. Enter N3 going right/southeast.)
	Arrive:	Dublin	30
	Lodge:		(121)


Day 5
8:00 a.m.	Depart:	Dublin
		(Take M7 west out of town. Take exit 9 left/south onto M9. It will become N9.)
10:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Waterford	92
		Reginald's Tower - Free HC/Adult: €3.00 (10-6) Built in 1003 AD by the Vikings. Oldest building in Ireland. Displays of Medieval coins, old city models, a few Viking artifacts and a short video. Guided tour upon quest.
11:00 p.m.	Depart:	Waterford
		(Continue on N25/Meaghers Quay, then becomes Merchants Quary. Go right across the Brother Edmund Ignatius Rice Bridge. Turn right on N25/Dock Rd. It will become Fountain St, then Ferrybank, Milepost, Kilmurry, Rathpatrick, Luffany, etc. etc. N25 will cross the bridge at New Ross and turn right. Turn right on R733. At the junction go straight on R734. Go through Fethard, then turn right on Ralph. Follow signs to Hook Head.)
11:40 p.m.	Optional:	Hook Head Lighthouse- €6.00 (10-5:30) Oldest operating lighthouse in N. Europe. Built by the Normans in the 12th century. 110 ft. tall you climb the 115 steps to the walkway at parapet level to feast your senses on the magnificent landscape of Hook peninsula. On your climb to the top your guide will bring you through a series of chambers, introducing you to the fascinating story of Hook Lighthouse, an entrancing audio show retells the story of the monks, the earliest keepers of the light.	26
		(Go back north on Churchtown, then left on Slade.)
2:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Waterford	26
		(Take N25 west out of town. Past Middleton take R624 south to Cobh. Continue to the harbor and past the Trade Winds Restaurant and Commodore Hotel.)
4:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Cobh	71
		Lusitania Peace Memorial-Erected following the Lusitania tragedy. It was commissioned by an international committee which included President Roosevelt and sculpted by Jerome Connor. The Irish language inscription at the foot of the Angel of Peace "Siochain in Ainm Dé" means "Peace in God's Name". The fishermen at the forefront of the monument depict the sheer exhaustion of those who made repeated trips out and back to the site of the sinking of the ship. Their efforts to recover as many survivors as possible and to bring the victims' bodies ashore for burial were acts of great humanity. At the northern end of Casement Square stands the arched building housing the Cobh Library and Courthouse. This was the Town Hall at the time of the Lusitania sinking and was used as temporary morgue. It was originally constructed as a Market House in 1806 by Mr. Smith Barry of Fota House, whose family crest can be seen on the pediment.
	See:	Titanic Memorial and Lusitania Memoral - l/2 of all emigrants to the U.S. came through here. This was the last stop for the Titanic before it went overseas.
		Shops Christy's Irish Store
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	Cobh
		(Go back north on R624. Enter N25 going west/left. At a roundabout outside Cork take N8. In town don't go across the bridge, take N20 north following signs to Limerick. Watch for the exit to Blarney on R617.)
5:30 p.m.	See:	Blarney Castle- 2 for 1 HIE/€10 (9-7 castle, 9-5:30 Sun.,10-4 gardens)- a) Blarney Castle, as viewed by the visitor today, is the third to have been erected on this site. The first building in the tenth century was a wooden structure. Around 1210 A.D. this was replaced by a stone structure which had the entrance some twenty feet above the ground on the north face. This building was demolished for foundations. In 1446 the third castle was built by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster of which the keep still remains standing. b) Badger Cave- When Cromwell’s general, Lord Broghill, besieged the castle, he fired down from Card Hill above the lake and broke the tower walls. Yet when he entered the castle, he found only two trusty old retainers. The main garrison had fled through this cave – Badgers Cave. All had gone – as well as the gold plate that Broghill expected to claim. Legend tells us there are three passages to find in the darkness beyond – one to Cork, one to the lake, and one all the way to Kerry. But this being Blarney, the passages may be as hard to find as the gold... c) When Cormac MacCarthy, King of Munster, sent five thousand men to support Robert the Bruce in his defeat of the English at Bannockburn in 1314, a portion of the historic Stone was given by the Scots in gratitude – and returned to Ireland. To kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. The prize is a real one as once kissed the stone bestows the gift of eloquence. d) The Court- Against the east wall of the Castle, you can see the ruins of a late eighteenth century Gothic mansion, known as ‘the Court’, and built in 1739 by the Jeffereys, who bought the Castle in 1703, but found it rather uncomfortable to live in. It was a grand residence, three storeys high, with ranges of casement windows facing east, and was a thriving and lively country house through the latter part of the eighteenth century. Sadly it was destroyed by fire in 1820 and all remaining good building materials were sold off. There were rumours that this was to prevent the son from inheriting it. But they’ve always loved a good story round here... e) The Dungeon - Beneath the tower house that we know as Blarney Castle, you will find a labyrinth of underground passages and chambers, dating from different periods in the Castle history. Now mostly inaccessible, many are beyond the most intrepid explorer. If you do venture within, you will find the chambers of what is believed to have been the Castle prison. If you climb the left-hand of the parallel staircases, you will find the chamber that some say housed the Castle well.	20
		The Gift of Gab Letterbox
7:00 a.m.	Depart:	Blarney
		(Continue on R617 going west. Turn left/east on R579/Cloghroe. It will change names several times. Enter R618 going left/east. Enter N22 going west. Exit onto R569 going west.)
8:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Kenmare	58
	Lodge:		(293)

Day 6
	Depart:	Kenmare
	Do:	Ring of Kerry
		Glacier Lake-	10.9
		Parknasilla Hotel-19th century hotel	3.2
		Sneem- Celtic Weave China Shop-only place other than Tiffany's where you can buy this china Bridge between North Square and South Square has a waterfall.	2
		(Turn off to Staigue Ring Fort at Castlecove.)	9
		Staigue Ring Fort- €1 donation (10-9) Exhibition with tiny museum, fort model and 10 minute film. Built in 500 BC	1.5
		Spirit of Ireland Letterbox
		(Back to Ring of Kerry and turn right.)	1.5
		Beara Peninsula beyond a ruined hospital with IRA ties by a local English woman sympathetic to the Irish Republican cause. No one will touch the ruins out of fear of "kicking up a beehive."	.7
		Carroll's Cove-fine beach and grand view of Kenmare Bay	1.2
		Derrynane House turnoff	1.8
		(Just outside the town of Derrynane, pick up a handy free map of the estate from the little T1 inside the brown Wave Crest market and picnic food. One mile after the market, take a left and follow the signs into the ark.)
	See:	Derrynane National Historic Park- Free HC/€3.00 (9-6) Home of Daniel O'Connell, Ireland's most influential pre-independence politician, whose tireless nonviolent agitation gained quality for Catholics 175 years ago.
		Coomikista Pass lookout point-great view in both directions	3.7
		Skellig Island views	1.9
		Ruins of famine villages on both sides of road	1.2
10:30 a.m.		Waterville-Sculpture of Charlie Chaplin on the left. Butler Arms offers tea and scones in the Charlie Chaplin room with lots of pictures of him.	2
		(After rejoining the main road and turning left, cross the small bridge that's locally famous for salmon fly-fishing. Take the 1st left (R567) for the Skellig Ring loop. Follow brown Skellig Ring signs through Ballinskelligs.)	3.4
		St. Finan's Bay-pleasant little picnic-friendly beach, but no WC. Just before the bay is the small Skelligs Chocolate Factory (free samples and a fun visit)	6.2
		Portmagee-Jumping off point for small boats to Skellig Islands. (€40 boat ride) Has a bakery. Read slate memorial to sailors lost at sea. Also a 10 minute walk to see the cliffs.	5
	Do:	The Watchful Puffin Letterbox
		(Across the bridge to Valencia Island.)
		Lunch Only Skellig Experience Centre - €5 (10-7) Story of Skellig Island and the monks with an exhibit and 15 minute audiovisual show. Offers – again through artefacts and realistic re-creations - an experience of Skellig lighthouse – its history – its light keepers and its service to mariners since the 1820’s. Gift shop, ‘Fionan’s Kitchen’, our ‘restaurant-with-a-view’, overlooking the waterfront of Portmagee Channel, and seating up to 48 persons, offers teas, coffees, snacks, sandwiches – and larger meals. you can always enjoy the good food and keen shopping at the Skellig Experience Centre even without entering the exhibition area!	.1
		(Return to the main road and go through Knightstown to the tiny ferry.)
	Do:	Ferry €5 per car for a 2 km trip.	6.1
		(Leave the ferry, rejoin N-70 turning left for Cahersiveen.)
		Cahersiveen	3.1
		(Just beyond the town church at the tourist office, turn left, cross the narrow bridge, turn left again, and follow signs for ancient forts.)
		Cahergal Ring Forts- Free parking, 100 yd. walk	1.6
		Leacanabuaile Ring Forts
		(Return to Cahersiveen at N-70 following signs to Glenbeigh and Killorglin.)	1.6
	Arrive:	Killorglin	15.8
		(Just past town take N72.)
	Arrive:	Killarney	12
	Lodge:		(96.4)
		(From Killarney go back on N72 west. Turn left/south on Coolmagort through Beaufort. Turn right on Dunloe Upper.)
Optional:	Do:	Authors of the World: Maria Edgeworth (Ireland) Kate Kearney's Cottage Restaurant

Day 7
	Depart:	Killarney
		(Go north on N22. At Tralee go west on N86.)
	Arrive:	Dingle	51
	See:	Dingle Peninsula
		(Starting with your odometer on 0 at Oceanworld go west along the waterfront. On the left are "two up and two down" flats built in 1908 as affordable government housing.)
		8 foot tide, across the Milltown River estuary is the Milltown House B& B where Robert Mitchum stayed for a year while filming Ryan's Daughter. Look for the narrow mouth of this blind harbor (where Fungie frolics), and the Ring of Kerry beyond.	.3
		(At the roundabout turn left over the bridge. The hardware store on the right was a corn-grinding mill in the 18th century.)	.1
		Millstone B&B is named for the stone pillar in its front yard. This may be a prehistoric grave or a boundary marker between two tribes. The stone goes down as far as it sticks up. The peninsula is dotted with more than 2,000 such monuments dating from 4,000 BC. Another stone pillar stands in the field across the street, in the direction of the yellow manor house of Lord Ventry (in the distance) Lord Ventry built the mansion in 1750. It is a boarding school for girls today. As you pass the Ventry estate, you'll pass palms, magnolias, and exotic flora introduced into Dingle by Lord Ventry. It never snows here. The old red-sandstone and slate-roof cottages along the roadside housed Ventry estate workers in the 1840's.	.4
		Stay off "soft margins" as you enjoy views of Ventry, it's 4 mile long beach and Skellig Michael in the distance. In 1866 the first transatlantic cable was laid from nearby Valentia Island to Canada's Newfoundland. It was used until 1965. Mount Eagle rising from the bay marks the end of Ireland. In the town of Ventry Gaelic is the first language.	2.1
		The bamboo-like rushes on either side of the road are the kind used to make the local thatched roofs.	.4
		The Irish football (GAS) star Paidi O Se (Paddy O'Shea) is a household name in Ireland. He won eight all-Ireland football titles for Kerry as a player. He then trained the Kerry team for many years and now runs the pub on the left. There is a tiny grocery store on the right and easy beach access.	2.1
		The plain blue cottage hiding in the trees 100 yds off the road on the left (view through the white gate, harder to see in summer when foliage is thickest) was kept cozy by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman during the filming of Far and Away. Just beyond are fine views of the harbor and Dingle's stone tower.	.4
		Red-colored, two-room schoolhouse on the right that is used to teach Gaelic courses for kids from big cities. Left is a small Celtic and Prehistoric Museum, a private collection of prehistoric artifacts.	.9
		The circular elevated hedge/mound on the right is a late-Stone Age ring fort. In 500 BC it was a petty Celtic chieftain's headquarters, a stone and earth stockade filled with little stone houses. Superstition believe them to be fairy forts, so they were not touched.	.3
		Look ahead up Mount Eagle at the patchwork of stone-fenced fields.	.4
		Dunbeg Fort-€3 (9:30-7) a series of defensive ramparts and ditches around a central clochan, is open to tourists. It's ready to fall into the ocean. Includes a 15 minute video giving a bigger picture of the prehistory of the peninsula in the restaurant across the street. (500 BC-500 AD)	.5
		Lunch Stone House Restaurant (12:30-3:30, closed Tues.)-good lunches Stone-roofed house built to blend in with the landscape and a currach boat dry docked in the parking lot.
		Kavanaugh cottage €3 (9:30-6) abandoned 150 years ago during the famine. Old artifacts and good descriptions of their simple lifestyle. 50 yds up the hill	.1
		Beehive huts €2 (9:30-3) WC These mysterious stone igloos are clustered together within a circular wall and built in the bronze age. A short walk up the hill.	.5
		Pull off to the left at the 2nd group of beehive huts. Look downhill at the rocky field-in the movie Far and Away, that's where Lord Ventry evicted/torched peasants from their cottage. Look above at the patches of land slowly made into farmland by the inhabitants of this westernmost piece of Europe. Rocks were cleared and piled into fences. Sand and seaweed were laid on the clay, and in time it was good for grass. The created land, if at all tillable, was generally used for growing potatoes; otherwise it was only good for grazing. Much has fallen out of use now. Look across the bay at the Ring of Kerry in the distance and ahead at the Blasket Islands.	.9
		Slea Head-marked by a crucifix, a pullout, and great views of Blasket Islands.	.8
		Dun Chaoin sign-View Blasket Islands and Dunmore Head (the westernmost point of Europe) and to review the roadside map. About a km down the road on the left, a plaque celebrates the 30th anniversary of the filming of Ryan's Daughter	.5
		Blasket Island Cemetery - Famous Blascaod storyteller, Peig Sayers (1873-1958) is buried in the center. At the next intersection, drive down the little lane that leads left (100 yds) to a small stone marker (hiking in the grass on the left) commemorating the 1588 shipwreck of the Santa Maria de la Rosa of the Spanish Armada. Below that is the often tempestuous Dunquin Harbor, from the where the Blasket Islands ferry departs. Island farmers, who on a calm day could row across in 30 minutes, would dock here and hike 12 mile into Dingle to sell their produce.	1.5
		(Back on the main road, follow signs to the Ionad An Blascaod Mor (Great Blasket Centre). You'll pass a village school from 1914 (2 teachers and 6 grades with 18 students. Leave the Slea Head Road left for the Great Blasket Centre, good cafeteria.)	.1
			1.8
	See:	Ionad an Bhlascaoid Mhóir - The Blascaod Centre- Free HC/€4.00 (10-6) Blascaod and Gaelic heritage center gives visitors the best look at the language, literature and the way of life of Blasket Islanders. Sacred view of the actual islands. 20 minute video
		(Back at the turnoff, head left (sign to Louis Mulcahy Pottery.)	.5
		Stone-Passing land that was never reclaimed, think of the work it took to pick out the stones, pile them into fences, and bring up sand and seaweed to nourish the clay and make soil for growing potatoes. Look over the water to the island aptly named the "Sleeping Giant"-see his hand resting happily on his beer belly.	.9
		Grab the scenic pull-out. The view is spectacular. Ahead, on the right, study the top fields, untouched since the planting of 1845, when the potatoes didn't grow, but rotted in the ground. The faint vertical ridges of the potato beds can still be seen-a reminder of the famine (easier to see a bit later). Before the famine 40,000 people lived on the peninsula. After the famine, the population was so small that there was never again a need to farm so high up. Today only 10,000 live on the peninsula. Coast downhill. The distant hills are crowned by lookout forts built back when Britain expected Napoleon to invade. The lousy farmland on both sides of the straight stretch of road was stripped of 7 ft. of peat in the 19th century. While the land here provided a lot of warmth back then, it provides no food today.	3.4
		Ballyferriter town- established in Norman 12th century is the largest on this side of Dingle. The pubs serve grub and the old schoolhouse is a museum €2.50 (10-6) The early Christian cross next to the schoolhouse looks real. It's a fiberglass prop from Ryan's Daughter.	3.2
		(At the t-junction, signs direct you left to An Daingean (Dingle). Go left, via Gallaras (and still following CeannSleibhe/Sea Head Drive. Take a right over the bridge and follow signs to Gallaras. Just beyond the bridge, you'll pass the Tigh Bhric pub and market (great pub grub). 5 yds before the sign to Mainistir Riaise (Reasc Monastery), detour right up the lane. After .3 km (up the unsigned turnout on your right), you'll find the scant remains of the walled Reasc Monastery. )	.9
		Mainistir Riaise (Reasc Monastery)-Dating from 6th-12th centuries, free, always open. The inner wall divided the community into sections for prayer and business (cottage industries helped support the monastery). In 1975 only the stone pillar was visible, as the entire site was buried. The stone pillar is Celtic (500 BC) When the Christians arrived in 500 AD, they carved a Maltese-type cross over the Celtic scrollwork. The square building was an oratory. The round buildings would have been clochans-those stone igloo-type dwellings. They operated a double duty kiln. Just outside the wall (opposite the oratory, past the duplex clochan, at the bottom end), find a stone hole with a passage facing the southwest wind. This was the kiln, fanned by the wind, it was used for cooking and drying grain. Locals would bring their grain to be dried and the monks would keep 10% tithe. When the Normans arrived in the 12th century, these communities were replace by big time state and church governments.	.4
		(Return to the main road and continue to the right.)	.5
		(At Smerwick Harbor Hotel turn left following the signs to Gallaras, Gallarus Oratory.)	1.1
		At the building with camping sign, go right and follow the sign for the oratory, where you'll find a small tourist center with a coffee shop, WC and a video theatre. €3 for a 17 minute video overview of Dingle Peninsula's historic sights. (9-9) Gallarus Oratory, built about 1300 yrs. ago, is one of Ireland's best-preserved early Christian churches. Shaped like an upturned boat, its finely fitted drystone walls are still waterproof. Notice the holes once used to secure covering at the door, and the fine alternating stonework on the corners. Gallarus Castle- Free Built in 1400's. It's a 4 story tower with a vaulted ceiling on the 4th floor. From the oratory, return to the main road and continue, following the brown Ceann Sleibhe/Slea Head Drive sign.	.6
		(Turn right at the fork and immediately take a right (at the blue shop sign) at the next fork. Here you leave the Slea Head Drive and head for Dingle, 10 km away.)	1.3
		Kilmalkedar (Cill Mhaoil-cheadair) -Norman center of worship for this end of the peninsula. It was built when England replaced the old monastic settlements in an attempt to centralize their rule. The 12th century Irish Romanesque church is surrounded by a densely populated graveyard, which has risen noticeably above the surrounding fields over the centuries. In front of the church you will find the oldest medieval tombs, a stately early Christian cross and a much older ogham stone. The stone, which had already stood here 900 years when the church was built, is notched with the mysterious Morse code-type ogham script used from the 3rd to 7th centuries. It marked a grave, indicating this was a pre-Christian holy spot. The hole was drilled though the top of the stone centuries ago, as a place where people would come to seal a deal as they stood on the top of the graves of their ancestors and in front of the house of God. They would "swear to God" by touching thumbs through this stone. You can still use this to renew your marriage vows (free). The church fell into ruin during the Reformation, as Catholic worship went underground until the early 19th century, Kilmalkedar was never rebuilt.	1.1
		Ciher Dorgan-Free - Another "fairy fort" on the right, dating back to 1000 BC. Go through the rusty "kissing gate" The bay stretched out below you is Smerwick Harbor. In 1580 a force of 600 Italian and Spanish troops, sent by the pope to aid a rebellion against the Protestant English) surrendered at this bay to the English. All 600 were massacred by the English forces, who included Sir Walter Raleigh.	.4
		At the crest of the hill, enjoy a 3 mile long coast back into Dingle.	.9
		Tog Bog E means "take it easy". At the T-junction turn left. Turn right at the roundabout.	2.9
	Arrive:	Dingle	.8
	Lodge:		(84)

Day 8
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Dingle
		(Go east on N86. At the roundabout continue on N86 northeast. Just outside of Tralee look for the Blennerville Windmill.)
9:40 a.m.		Blennerville Windmill was built in 1800 and is restored.	30
		(At Tralee roundabout take the 1st left on Princes Quay. Go through the next large roundabout on Rock St. Go right/east on Circular Rd. Continue through the roundabouts until you reach Leeside/N69, then go left/north. It will go left, then right at Listowel, but stay on N69. Look for the Tarbert-Killimer Ferry sign in Tarbert.)
10:00 a.m.	Do:	Tarbert-Killimer Ferry € 18.00/car Runs every l/2 hour, 20 minutes	30
10:20 a.m.	Depart:	Killimer
		(Continue on N67 to the left/west. In Lahinch take R478 going west/left.)
11:00 a.m.		Holy well of St. Bridget- 1 km south of Cliffs of Moher. Located beside the tall column. In the short hall leading into the hillside spring, you'll find a treasure of personal and religious memorabilia left behind by devoted seekers. The simple gray column outside was a folly erected 150 years ago by a local landlord with money and ego to burn.	35
	Do:	Moher Migrators Letterbox
11:15 a.m.	See:	Cliffs of Moher - Visitor center charges a €8/25% HIE parking fee. Long Dock Restaurant upstairs with cafeteria meals until 7 p.m., a photo diorama showing aerial views of the cliffs and underwater photos of local marine life, toilets with huge panoramic photo of the cliffs on the stall doors to enjoy as you wait, small cafe downstairs, gift shop and new Atlantic Edge exhibit. A €4 exhibit focuses mainly on natural and geological history, native bird and marine life and interactive exhibits. IMAX film shows "The Ledge", which films someone as he flies and dives in the waters near the cliffs. After leaving the center walk 200 yds to the cliff edge. Look at the Liscannor slate with its worm, eels and snail marks. O'Brien's Tower, built in 1853, marks the highest point on the cliffs. Rangers lead tours of the cliff area.	6
	Do:	Lunch
1:00 p.m.	Depart:	Cliffs of Moher
		(Continue on R478, then take a left/west on R479. At R477 go left to the ocean.))
		Boot on the Trail Letterbox
		(Now turn around on the R477 and go back. Take N67 left to Lisdoonvarna. Turn right in town on R478, then left on R476.)
1:20 p.m.	Arrive:	Kilfenora	13
	See:	Burren Centre-20% HIE/€6 (9:30-5:30) 12 minute video explaining the geology and botany of the region and museum exhibits. 12th century church next door with 12th century crosses.
		Shamrock Shindig Letterbox
2:30 p.m.	Depart:	Kilfenora
		(Continue on R476. Enter N85 going east/left. It will circle Ennis. Enter N18 going right/south.
3:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Limerick	43
	See:	King John's Castle 2 for 1 HIE/€9.00 (10-5) Built in 1212 by the Anglo-Normans.
	Lodge:		(157)

Day 9
8:00 a.m.	Depart:	Limerick
		(Take N84 north. At Headford take R334. Turn west on Dowagh. Cross the small bridge and park in front of the abbey.)
8:45 a.m.	Arrive:	Cashel	34
	See:	Rock of Cashel HC/€6.00(9-7) A spectacular group of Medieval buildings set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale including the 12th century round tower, High Cross and Romanesque Chapel, 13th century Gothic cathedral, 15th century Castle and the restored Hall of the Vicars Choral. Attractions include an audio-visual show and exhibitions.
		St. Patrick's Letterbox
10:00 a.m.	Depart:	Cashel
		(Take N8 going northeast. Enter the M7 outside Portlaoise. Enter the M50 going north. Enter the M1 going north to the airport.)
12:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Dublin Airport	105
	Do:	Return rental car
	Do:	Ferry to Holyhead, Wales $25-$30
		Practical Car and Van Rental Telephone: 01407 741852
2:30 p.m.	Depart:	Dublin
4:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Holyhead
	Do:	Rent Car
		Laundry
	Lodge:		(139)

Day 10
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Holyhead
		(Take A55 east. Take exit 8 onto A5025 going north. At the roundabout take the 3rd left onto B5420. Continue on B5420 on the 1st left at the next roundabout. Go left/north on A545. In Beaumaris continue on Castle.)
9:30 a.m.	Arrive:	Beaumaris	25
	See:	Beaumaris Castle (9:30-5) BHP/£3.60 Begun in 1295, this unfinished castle is the last and largest of King Edward I's Welsh fortifications. Designed by the king's mason-architect, Master James of St George, it is a perfect example of a concentrically planned castle. Formidable defences survive, surrounded by a partly restored moat.
		(Go back on Castle/A545. Take the last left on the B5420 roundabout. At the next roundabout take the 2nd left on A5. Go left/south onto A55. Take exit 17. Turn right on A547. Follow signs to the castle.)
11:30 a.m.	Arrive:	Conway	23
	See:	Conway Castle (9:30-6) BHP/£4.60 Conwy, constructed by Edward I between 1283 and 1289 as one of the key fortresses in his 'iron ring' of castles to contain the Welsh, was built to prompt such a humbling reaction.
		(Continue on Conway Rd across the river. At the roundabout take the last left on A546. Enter A55. Take exit 27 left/north on A525. At the roundabout take the last left into Rhuddlan on Station/High. Turn right on Castle.)
3:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Rhuddlan	15
	See:	Rhuddlan Castle BHP/ £3.00 (10-5) Castle Street Rhuddlan Rhyl Denbighshire LL18 5AD Begun in 1277, this was the second of King Edward I's great Welsh fortifications. A protected river dock forms one side of the defences of this concentrically planned castle, dominated by a distinctive diamond-shaped inner ward. Parking, toilets and toilet for disabled visitors, baby changing facilities, on-site gift shop.
		(Go back to High/Station St and turn right. At the roundabout continue through it on A547. At Bren Newydd turn right on A548. In Flint turn left on Evans St. It will turn right onto Castle Dyke St.)
4:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Flint	18
		Flint Castle (Free) Begun in 1277, one of the first castles to be built in Wales by King Edward I. Its most impressive feature is a solitary round tower, isolated from the rest of the inner ward. It features in Shakespeare's Richard II.
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	Flint
		(Continue on Castle Dyke St. Turn right on Castle Rd. Turn right on Chester/A548. Turn left on A5119. Go left on the A55. At a roundabout south of Chester take the 3rd left on A483. At the roundabout take exit 1 on A539. At another roundbout take the 3rd left on A5. Froncysyllte take a right on B5434/Gate Rd. It will go right on Pontcysyllte.))
6:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Llangollen	37
	Optional:	Llechwedd Slate Caverns £13.50 (10-6) Meet "Sion Dolgarregddu" – the ghost of a young miner, and your guide through the Deep Mine. Sion was born in 1844 and was only 12 years old when he came to work at Llechwedd, with his father and uncle, in the vast chambers you will see during the tour. Follow Sion as he leads you through winding tunnels and 10 "breathtaking" caverns that were once his work place. Listen to haunting music emerging from the ‘Caban', - as the story of his life unfolds - and your journey leads you deeper and deeper underground. Imagine what it was like before electricity, without light, but for a few candles. This would have been an easy place to get lost, with over 25 miles of tunnels connecting underground chambers at Llechwedd alone – but today it is well lit and easy to navigate, and Sion knows the caverns well, having worked at the Quarry for over 50 years. Enjoy a ride on the Miners' Tramway for a guided tour, via the spectacular "Cathedral Chambers", to discover the world of the Welsh Slate Miner, during the reign of Queen Victoria, as we travel underground for a third of a mile at surface level.
		Snowdon Mountain Railroad £25.00/19.00 9 a.m. only /4.00 parking Goes to the rooftop of Wales, Snowdon, at 3,560ft.
	Lodge:	Wnnstay Arms Hotel Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8PF Wales UK 44(1978)860710 http://www.wynnstay-arms.co.uk Family rooms and a 6 -9 berth en-suite bunk house	(118)
		Glyn Valley Hotel Llanarmon Road, Glyn Ceiriog, Llangollen, LL20 7EU Tel: 01691 718896 3 people 70, 4 people 80, restaurant 12-2, 7-10
		Owain Glyndwr Hotel, Corwen The Square, Corwen, LL21 0DL http://www.owainglyndwrhotel.com/index.html Double or Twin 75, Quad 112
		The Hand Hotel Bridge Street Llangollen LL20 8PL 01978 860303 Email: info@hand-hotel-llangollen.com http://www.hand-hotel-llangollen.com/index.html Double 50, Twin 55, Ensuite, English breakfast included

Day 11
	See:	Llangollen-Shops on Castle Llangollen Map: 1-Plas Newydd 3-Llangollen Bridge 5-Valle Crucis Abbey 6-Elisegs Pillar 10-Horseshoe Falls 12-Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
		The Old Tailor's Chocolate Shop 39 Castle St Come and choose from a vast selection of continental chocolates either loose or pre-packed.Whatever the occasion we have chocolates to suit. Traditional confectionery, Ice Creams and Jelly Beans all on offer. (Corner of A5/Berwyn and Heoly Castell Rd/A539.) It was built by Morris Roberts, ‘Builder of Llangollen’, whilst the architect was Hill and Son of Oswestry. Mr. Roberts bought the land at auction on 23rd December 1858. The building was finished in the 1860’s and by the 1870’s was used by a printer and stationer. In 1891 it was recorded as being an ironmongers and by 1897 was occupied by a tailor. Although suits ceased to be made in the rear workshops during the 1930’s a succession of tailors occupied the building until 2001.
		Nice Things and Country Kitchen-Home made food and the gift shop (Go north on Castell/A539, then left on the first street Market.)
		3-Llangollen Bridge- Built in 1345 by John Trevor I, Bishop of St Asaph. The bridge was rebuilt in Elizabethan times and that structure remains to this day unaltered on the lower side and perfectly copied on the upper side when it was widened in 1873.
		(On Castle St. go north, then leftwest on A542/Abbey Rd. At the junction continue right on A542. It's on the right.)
		5-Valle Crucis Abbey- BHP (10-5) £2.50 Llangollen Denbighshire LL20 8DD The spectacular remains of Valle Crucis, this once proud Cistercian Abbey were built, probably on the site of earlier buildings, in c.1200 by a local Welshman, Madoc ap Gruffydd, Prince of Powys who lived at Dinas Bran Castle. Dissolved in 1535, Valle Crucis Abbey quickly fell into disrepair and parts even became a farm during the 17th century. A true sign of its once great importance was the discovery of the grave slab of Madog ap Gruffudd Fychan - great grandfather of the last true Welsh prince, Owain Glyndwr. This is now on display at the Abbey.
		(Come back on A542. It is on the right.)
		6-Elisegs Pillar-Erected by Concenn, ruler of Powys in the 9th century, it was to commemorate his great grand father Eliseg, from whom the whole valley is named, who saved Powys from falling into the hands of the Saxons. They are no longer visible but the antiquerian Elfyn Llwyd thankfully copied them on his tour of the area in the late 17th century. This inscription included many names which today are associated with the Arthurian legends. Its present position is not the original one as it was moved during restoration. It can be found next to the A542 out of Llangollen on the way to the Horseshoe pass not far from Valle Crucis Abbey.
		( Pass the turnoff to the town. It is on the right.)
		(Continue on A542. At the junction continue left on A542. Take the 1st right on Wharf Hill Rd. Thomas Telford Narrowboats is on the left.)
		Stream in the Sky Aqueduct Cruise 12:15-2:30, 1:45-4:15 $11 (Llangollen Wharf and back by bus) Built by Thomas Telford between 1795 and 1805. The country's biggest navigable aqueduct towers a massive 126ft (38m) above the River Dee supported by 18 stone piers. The canal runs through an iron trough 1007 feet (306.9 metres) long, 11 feet 10 inches (3.6 metres) wide and 5 feet 3 inches (1.6 metres) deep. Water is fed from the River Dee at the Horseshoe Falls near Llangollen.
2:30 p.m.	Depart:	Langollen
3:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Chester	27
6:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Carlisle	171
	Do:	Dinner
	Lodge:		(200)

Day 12
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Carlisle
		(Enter the M6. It will become the M/A74.)
11:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Glasgow	92
		(Go left on M73. Go left on M8. Take exit 30 onto M/A898. Go left on A82.)
1:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Fort William	104
		(Go north on A82. On leaving Fort William in a northerly direction, take the left turn at the small roundabout opposite the Nevis Bank Hotel. Carry on over the traffic lights and past the Ben Nevis Hotel on the left. Shortly before the Esso petrol station on the right there is a left hand turning, Follow the road round for about 100 metres, and then turn right over the small bridge. There is a small amount of parking available there.)
	See:	Inverlochy Castle (Free) Originally dating back to the 13th century, Inverlochy Castle last played a part in Scottish and English history during the Civil Wars of the 1640's. In 1645 the royalist Earl of Montrose routed the roundhead forces of the Campbell Chief Duke of Argyll at the second Battle of Inverlochy.	1
		(Continue west on A830.)
	Arrive:	Corpach
	See:	Neptune's Staircase
		Ben Nevis-At 4406ft or 1344m, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the country. That's the good news. The bad news is that it's probably also the most popular. And simply in terms of people lifted or carried off, it is also probably the most dangerous.
		(Continue on A830.)
		Glenfinnian Monument (9:30-5:30) Free VC, Shop Snack Bar Was built in 1815 to commemorate the Jacobites who fought and fell during the 1745 uprising. Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) raised his standard on the 19th August 1745 marking the start of his campaign to restore the exiled Stuarts to the throne.
		Glenfinnan Viaduct- Train bridge in Harry Potter movies	14
	Depart:	Glenfinnian
		(Go back east on A830.)
	Arrive:	Fort Williams	14
	Lodge:		(225)

Day 13
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Fort Williams
		(Continue east on A82 Follow signs to Glengarry Castle Hotel. On the grounds of the hotel, 1 mile south of the A87 intersection in Invergarry.)
9:30 a.m.	Arrive:	Invergarry	24
		Invergarry Castle (Free) PH35 4HW Built by the MacDonells (or MacDonalds) of Glengarry in the early 1600s, it was not long after burnt to the ground by Cromwellian forces in 1654. Later re-fortified, this L-plan tower of 5 or 6 storeys was visited twice by Bonnie Prince Charlie and subsequently blown up by his enemy, the Duke of Cumberland.
10:00 a.m.	Arrive:	Fort Augustus	8
	Do:	Great Glen Trading Center-The Trading Centre houses a petrol station, Londis shop, gift shop, hardware and two clothing outlets. Scottish foods, quality gifts, Nessie souvenir gifts, outdoor clothing and Calor gas seller.
		The Laura Connection-If you want something different, we have it. Local art & craft, antiques, collectables, gifts, jewellery, exclusive products from Scottish and International artists and designers AND the only professional Magician in the Great Glen. We're sure to have something you want to take home, so come and see us soon!
		The Mill Shop-In our converted church beside the Caledonian Canal we stock a selection of gifts, clothes, jewellery, shortbread and sweets. Our clothes range from childrens' kilts to ladies and gents t-shirts, knitwear and jackets. We also stock Cashmere scarves as well as tartan accessories and traditional Aran knitwear for all ages.
11:00 a.m.	Depart:	Fort Augustus
		(Continue on A82.)
11:30 a.m.	Arrive:	Lewiston	20
		Urquhart Castle BHP/£7.00 (9:30-6) 13th century, the Centre features an outstanding array of medieval artifacts found at the castle. Visitors can relax in the café and visit the shop with its local crafts. The visitor centre contains retail, interpretation area, audio-visual presentation and tearoom and toilets on one level. Stunning views of the loch can be obtained from visitor centre veranda.
		Nessie Letterbox
12:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Drumnadrochit	1
	See:	Loch Ness Exhibition Centre- £6.50 (9-6:30) Drumnadrochit Loch Ness Inverness-shire IV63 6TU Tel +44 (0) 1456 450573 A hi-tech multi-media presentation leads you through 7 themed areas and through 500 million years of history. Using a highly effective mix of lasers, digital projection and special effects Loch Ness charts the history of the monster by exploring Scotland's geological past, its folklore and the various research projects carried out on the loch. It also reveals the discoveries of some of that research including the environmental fingerprints left in the loch's layers by both nature and mankind.
		(Across from the post office.)
		The Clansman Gift Company (9:30-4:30) The Green Drumnadrochit Inverness IV63 6TX Tel: +44 (0)1456 450695 Fine quality gifts from the shores of Loch Ness in The Highlands of Scotland. We have sourced only the best suppliers from all over Scotland to enable us to offer you traditional Scottish and Nessie themed gifts and keepsakes or that special gift for any occasion.
		(At The Loch Ness Clansman Hotel is situated on the A82 9 miles south of Inverness, Inverness - Fort William road.)
		Loch Ness Nessie Shop	7
	Arrive:	Inverness	9
		(Continue on the A82, but do not turn. Continue on the B861/Tomnahurich and cross the bridge. It will become Bridge and make a right on Castle. Make a left on B853/Old Edinburgh Rd. At the roundabout GO STRAIGHT OVER, taking the SECOND exit onto B9006 [Old Perth Road]. At the roundabout TURN SLIGHTLY LEFT, taking the SECOND exit onto B8082/B9006 [Culloden Road]. GO STRAIGHT ON onto B9006 [Culloden Road] Take a right to VC.)
4:00 p.m.		Culloden Battlefield BHP/£10 (9-6) Culloden Moor, Inverness, Highland IV2 5EU 44 (0) 844 493 2159 Visitor Center with 16 min. film, wander through a furnished old cottage and the battlegrounds -The Battle of Culloden (April 16, 1746) was the final clash between the French-supported Jacobites and the Hanoverian British Government in the 1745 Jacobite Rising. It was the last battle to be fought on mainland Britain. Culloden brought the Jacobite cause—to restore the House of Stuart to the throne of the Kingdom of Great Britain—to a decisive defeat. The Jacobites — the majority of them Highland Scots, although containing significant numbers of Lowland forces — supported the claim of James Francis Edward Stuart (aka "The Old Pretender") to the throne; the government army, under the Duke of Cumberland, younger son of the Hanoverian sovereign, King George II, supported his father's cause. It too included significant numbers of Highland Scots, as well as Scottish Lowlanders and some English troops. The aftermath of the battle was brutal and earned the victorious general the name "Butcher" Cumberland. Charles Edward Stuart eventually left Britain and went to Rome, never to attempt to take the throne again. Civil penalties were also severe. New laws attacked the Highlanders' clan system, and Highland dress was outlawed.	3
		(300 yards East of Culloden Battlefield. Following the brown tourist signs to Clava Cairns takes you down some very minor roads and close to a spectacular railway viaduct en route to the car park for what are properly called the Prehistoric Burial Cairns of Balnuaran of Clava. You can see why the signposts stick with "Clava Cairns". )
		Clava Cairns The cemetery was used in two periods. Around 2000 BC a row of large cairns was built, three of which can be seen today and there may once have been two more. A thousand years later the cemetery was reused. New burials were placed in some of the existing cairns and three smaller monuments were built including a 'kerb cairn'. Traces of a smaller cemetery can also be seen at Milton of Clava, a short distance up the valley to the west. The cairns at Balnuaran of Clava extended along a gravel terrace raised above the River Nairn. Excavations have found evidence for farming on the site before any of these monuments were built. The settlement was directly replaced by the cairns and it even seems possible that some of the material used to build them had been taken from demolished houses.
	Arrive:	Inverness	3
	Lodge:		(75)

Day 14
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Inverness
		(Go south on A9. At Perth take M90 south. Cross the Forth Bridge taking A90.)
12:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Edinburgh	156
Option 1:
		Edinburgh Castle BHP/£13.00 (9:30-6) Around 1130 David I builds a formidable royal castle on the rock. It includes a chapel dedicated to his mother Queen Margaret, which still stands. Impressive buildings were constructed, including the 12th-century St Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh, David’s Tower, built for David II, Robert the Bruce’s son, in the 1370s, and the monumental great hall of James IV, opened in 1511. But the long and bitter Wars of Independence with the ‘auld enemy’, England, took their toll, and the castle endured siege upon siege; Edward I, Edward III and Henry VIII all did their utmost to batter down the walls. In 1566 Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI in the royal palace within the castle. The tiny bed-closet still survives, a room that has a special significance for Great Britain, for in 1603 James VI became also James I of England - the ‘Union of the Crowns’. The departure of the Scottish court for London saw much of the royal ‘glitter’ go from the castle. Thereafter the stronghold became little more than a garrison fortress and arsenal. The last sovereign to sleep there was Charles I in 1633, prior to his coronation as king of Scots. Queen Anne Cafe 11:30-3 £4.50-£11.00 Redcoat Cafe 12-3 £3.95-£7.95
Option 2:
		Palace of Holyroodhouse BHP/£10.25 (9:30-6) The Royal Apartments reflect the changing tastes of successive monarchs and are renowned for their fine plasterwork ceilings and magnificent furnishings, particularly the unrivalled collection of Brussels tapestries. One of the most famous rooms in the Palace is the Great Gallery, hung with Jacob de Wet's portraits of the real and legendary kings of Scotland. Included on the tour, a display focuses on the Order of the Thistle, the highest honour in Scotland. The Order honours Scottish men and women who have held public office or who have contributed in a particular way to national life. Shown alongside historic insignia is an example of the mantle worn at the Thistle ceremony at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, which The Queen attends during her visit to the Palace in July. From 1 April to 31 October the gardens, which are today used for garden parties, can be included as part of a visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Visitors to the gardens must keep to the paths, which are about 400 yards long. Café at the Palace-In the historic setting of the Palace's Mews Courtyard, the Café at the Palace offers simple home-made dishes made from fresh, locally sourced produce. Choose from a selection of soups, two hot main courses and a range of delicious salads, sandwiches, specialty breads and home-baked cakes.
		Royal Mile-approximately one Scots mile long, and runs between two foci of history in Scotland, from Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle Rock down to Holyrood Abbey. There souvenir shops and restaurants.
Option 3:
	Depart:	Edinburgh
	Arrive:	Rosslyn Chapel £7.50 (9:30-6 Mon-Sat, 12-5:45 Sun.) Dedicated in 1450 as the Collegiate Chapel of St. Matthew. 2004 The DaVinci Code was filmed here.
Everyone:
9:00 p.m.	Do:	Military Tattoo - €20 to €47 (Mon-Fri 9 p.m., Sat 7:30 and 10:30 w/fireworks)
	Lodge:	St. Regis/Braveheart Guest House £100 57/26 Gilmore Place Edinburgh EH3 9N Tel.: (+44) (0) 131 229 4057 (Full Scottish breakfast, double bed, 1 single bed and a bunk bed) Park near annex	(156)

Day 15
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Edinburgh
Option 1:
11:20 a.m.	Arrive:	Newcastle Upon-Tyne	116
11:50 a.m.	Arrive:	Chollerford	21
	Do:	Lunch
Option 2:
9:45 a.m.	Arrive:	St. Boswells	40
		(From the B6404, St Boswells to Kelso road, turn off along the B6356 road, signposted Dryburgh Abbey. About one mile along this road there is a junction signposted for Scott’s View to the right. Follow this road for about ½ mile. Car Parking is available on the left.)
		Dryburgh Wallace Monument-This statue was placed on its pedestal on 22nd September 1814. It stands 21.5 feet high and is formed of red sandstone. When first raised it was painted white, but is now bare sandstone.
		(
	See:	Dryburgh Abbey Free BHP/£3.30 Founded in 1152 by Premonstratensian monks (Augustinians, also known as White Canons) on a site perhaps made sacred by Saint Modan around 600. It was founded by monks from Alnwick on land owned by Hugh de Moreville, the father of one of the assassins of Saint Thomas Becket. It was burned by English troops in 1322, after which it was restored and patronised by Robert I of Scotland. It was again burned in 1385, but it flourished in the fifteenth century. It was finally destroyed in 1544, briefly to survive until the Reformation, when it was given to the Earl of Mar by James VI of Scotland.
11:00 a.m.	Depart:	St. Boswells
	See:	England/Scotland Border
12:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Chollerford	58
	See:	Chester's Roman Fort Free BHP/£4.80 (10-6) It was built in AD 123 to guard the Roman bridge which carried Hadrian’s Wall over the River North Tyne. It has the best preserved remains of a cavalry fort in Britain. Explore the foundations of the headquarters building and amble through the well-preserved commandant’s house. Discover the complex of rooms in the bath house which offered customers hot, cold or steam baths. Restored to its Victorian glory, the highly distinctive on-site museum displays an amazing collection of Roman finds retrieved by the local antiquarian John Clayton. These include important early archaeological discoveries relating to the central section of the Wall.
		(
		Walk Hadrian's Wall-Cawfields to Caw Gap- 2 miles roundtrip
3:30 p.m.	Depart:	Hadrian's Wall
4:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Darlington	58
6:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Leeds	72
	Lodge:		(228)

Day 16
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Leeds
10:15 a.m.	Arrive:	Chatsworth	62
	See:	Chatsworth (11-5:30, 4:30 last admission) BHP/£15.50/£2 per car. Farmyard (10:30-5:30) Garden (11-6) Chatsworth Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1PP Gift shops Whether you want a traditional three course meal or freshly made sandwich at the Carriage House restaurant; a sophisticated, contemporary menu at The Cavendish rooms; or tea and home baked cake in the garden. Mr. Darcy's house in Pride and Prejudice.
12:30 p.m.	Depart:	Chatsworth
2:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Stratford Upon Avon	70
	Do:	Shops
		Nutcracker Christmas Shop (10-6) 44 Henley Street Stratford Upon Avon CV37 6QW
		Shakespeares Birthplace BHP/£12.50 (9-5)
		Anne Hathaways Cottage
5:00 p.m.	Depart:	Stratford upon Avon
6:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Oxford	60
	Lodge:		(192)

Day 17
9:00 a.m.	See:	Christ Church College £6.00 "Behind the Scenes Tour" -Visit the hidden Christ Church. With access to private gardens, our 'Behind the scenes tours' allow visitors unique access to the College's history, its architecture, student life, scenes associated with the world of Lewis Carroll and of course, the Harry Potter films. To guarantee a guide, please make an advance booking. £2 per head in addition to the standard admission charge, with a minimum charge of £25 per tour. Make an advance booking telephone the Head Custodian on 01865 276492 or email
		Magdalen College £4.50 (12-7) On May 20, 1925, C.S. Lewis was elected fellow of Magdalen College, where he served as a tutor in English language and literature for 29 years. His rooms were in the New Building of Magdalen College, which are marked by flowerboxes on the exterior but are still in use and not open to the public. It was his Magdalen College rooms that Lewis converted, very reluctantly, from long-held atheism to a belief in God. In 1929, Lewis knelt down to pray for the first time since he was a child. Lewis was not yet a Christian; only a theist. But on September 19, 1931, he had an important late-night discussion with Hugo Dyson and J.R.R. Tolkien regarding myth and the truth of Christianity. A little over a week later (September 28), while riding in the sidecar of Warnie's motorcycle back to Oxford from Whipsnade Zoo, Lewis suddenly realized he believed in Christ. He wrote to Warnie (who had only become a believer himself in May 1931) about his new faith the following January.
		Merton College JRR Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, was Merton Professor of English Language and Literature from 1945 to 1959. Featured first in the banner above, he was an expert on Old and Middle English. T.S. Eliot Nobel Prize-winning poet spent 1914-15 studying philosophy as a graduate student at Merton. His most famous works include: The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915), The Wasteland (1922), and Four Quartets (1936-1942). In addition to his poems and plays, Eliot was an influential literary critic and editor.
		Alice's Shop- Lewis Carroll wrote the shop into the Alice adventures in Through the Looking-Glass and the illustrator, Tenniel, sketched two illustrations of the shop for the book. Opening Times. Every day from 10.30 to 17.00. July and August from 09.30 to 18.30
12:30 p.m.	Depart:	Oxford
2:00 p.m.	Arrive:	Bath	75
	See:	Bath Abbey- £2.50 donation (Mon-Sat 9-6, Sun 1-2:30, 4:30-5:30) is an Anglican parish church and a former Benedictine monastery in Bath, Somerset, England. Founded in the 7th century, reorganised in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries, it is one of the largest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in the West Country.
		Roman Baths BHP/£11.50 (Mentioned in Pride & Prejudice)
		Jane Austen's Centre (
	Depart:	Bath
	Arrive:	Bradford-upon-Avon	11
	Do:	Dinner
	Arrive:	Bath	10
	Lodge:		(96)

Day 18
9:00 a.m.	Depart:	Bath
10:30 a.m.	Arrive:	Lyme Regis	76
	See:	Steps from Persuasion by Jane Austen
12:30 p.m.	Depart:	Lyme Regis
2:15 p.m.	Arrive:	Stonehenge	88
		Stonehenge BHP/£6.90 (9-7) Stonehenge is known for its infamous stone circle exhibiting endurance and power. The first stone circle was created around 2,000 BC. The Stones used in this circle are believed to be from the mountain Prescelly which is approximately 240 miles away. This distance made it difficult to transport stones weighing up to four tons each. Although difficult to transport, the remains of these stones can still be seen today.
3:30 p.m.	Depart:	Stonehenge
4:10 p.m.	Arrive:	Avebury	30
	See:	Avebury BHP/£4.40 (10-6) It is one of the finest and largest Neolithic monuments in Europe, about 5,000 years old
6:00 p.m.	Depart:	Avebury
7:30 p.m.	Arrive:	Heathrow	71
	Do:	Travelcard Off Peak 1-4 £6.30, zones 1-2 £5.60
	Do:	Dinner-Loco Mexicano
	Lodge:		(265)

Day 19
	See:	London
		Walking tour of London: Big Ben, Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, etc.
	Optional	Parliament Tour- £14.00 Tours start every 5 minutes and last approximately 75 minutes. Monday and Tuesday: 9am-12noon (full tour) Wednesday: 9am-9.55am (full tour) and 10am-12noon (partial tour of Lords only) Thursday: no tours Friday: 3.30pm-5pm (full tour) Saturday: 9.15am - 4.30pm (full tour) Will see the key areas of the estate, such as the Commons and Lords debating chambers and the Queen's Robing Room. Westminster Hall
		Jewel Tower Free BHP or £3.20 (10-5) Westminster - SW1P 3JX Was built c.1365 to house Edward III's treasures. One of only two buildings from the medieval Palace of Westminster to survive the fire of 1834, the tower features a 14th-century ribbed vault. Displaying Parliament Past and Present, a fascinating exhibition about the history of Parliament, it is also the permanent home of the English Heritage Book of Remembrance.
	Arrive:	King's Cross Station
		Harry Potter 9 3/4 Station
		British Library- (9:30-6 Mon Wed Thurs Fri, 9:30-8 Tues, 9:30-5 Sat, 11-5 Sun) St Pancras 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB In a gallery called Treasures of the British Library are displayed Jane Austen’s small writing desk (like a forerunner of the laptop computer) also a letter to Cassandra and a notebook of Jane’s very early writings. Included here are the Magna Carta, Lindisfarne Gospels, Leonardo da Vinci's Notebook and 310,000 manuscript volumes: from Jane Austen to James Joyce; Handel to the Beatles.
		St. Paul's Cathedral Free BHP/£12.50 (8:30-4 last ticket) Evensong 5 p.m. The Cafe (9-5 Mon-Sat, 12-4 Sun) The Chapter House St Paul's Churchyard London EC4M 8AD
6:00 p.m.		Harrod's Department Store (10-8 Mon-Sat, 11:30-6 Sun) Monument to Princess Diane's boyfriend Brompton Road London SW3 1 United Kingdom Tel: +44 20-77301234
	Lodge:

Day 20
	See:	London
		British Museum
		National Gallery
	Optional:	Tower of London
		Churchill War Rooms £14.95 (9:30-6)
	Lodge:

Day 21
	Do:	Chunnel $39
	Lodge:	Cecilia's Guest House 10 rue Denfert-Rochereau Asnieres 92600 ceciliasguesthouse@hotmail.com Studio British (Double with kitchen) and Studio Chasse (Double and Bunkbed with kitchen and patio) (croissants)

Day 22
	See:	Paris
		Paris Museum Pass €32
Paul:
9:00 a.m.	See:	Louvre (Musee du Louvre)- Free MP/.2+/6- (9-6 Mon,Th-Sat,Sun, closed Tues., Wed,Fri 9-10) Europe's oldest and biggest museum. Home of the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Western art from the Middle Ages to 1848 (paintings, sculptures, objects d’art and graphic arts) and ancient civilizations (Oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities); Islamic, African, Asian, Oceanic and North and South American arts.
Sherry:
OR		National Museum of the Middle Ages 8,50 € (9:15-5:45) The Baths and Hôtel de Cluny 6, place Paul Painlevé 75005 Paris The Museum of the Middle Ages is housed in two exceptional Parisian monuments: the Gallo-Roman thermes (1st - 3rd centuries) and Cluny Abbey (late 15th century). It was founded by the State in 1843 with the collections of an art amateur fascinated by the MIddle Ages, Alexandre Du Sommerard who lived in the building at Cluny.
	Do:	Arc de Triomphe - Free MP/€9 Free on 1st Sun. (10-11) - Commissioned by Napoleon to commemorate his victory at the battle of Austerlitz. 284 steps lead to a cute museum about the arch with sweeping panoramas and mesmerizing views of the traffic.
	Do:	Eiffel Tower - €4.50/1st level, €8.10/2nd level and €13.10/top. (9-12:00 a.m.) Or climb the stairs for €4.50 to levels one and two. Built in 1889 for the Centennial World's Fair. Walk up to the 2nd floor for the best views. Cafeteria and WC. 1st level has exhibits and a post office. The cancellation stamp reads Eiffel Tower. Snack cafe. (Ride the lift to the 2nd level and immediately line up for the lift to the top. Enjoy the views on top, then ride back down to the 2nd. level. Enjoy the view. Then hike down the stairs to the1st level. Eat and explore shops here. Buffets Restaurant €7.50 Pizza, Sandwich, Hot Dog


Day 23
		(Take the SNCF train from Becon les Bruyeres to La Defense. Take the red/Marna LaValler Chessy. Exit at Charles deGaulle. Take the blue/Nation. Exit at Anvers.)
	See:	Paris
		Elysees Montmartre- Oldest cancan dance hall in Paris.
		(Walk two blocks up rue de Steinkerque, the street to the right of Elysees Montmartre.)
	Do:	Funiculaire de Montmartre- Use your RER card. It opened for business in 1900. It originally relied on hydraulic power for the ascent and gravity for the trip downhill; the hydraulic system was replaced by an electric motor in 1930, and the funicular was completely rebuilt in 1991. The current funicular has two 60-passenger cars, which run on parallel tracks that ascend 36 meters or 118 feet between the lower and upper stations. Each car operates independently, like an elevator (and unlike the many funiculars where each car is a counterweight to the other).
		(Find a good viewing spot on the steps.)
		Sacre-Coeur Basilica- Free- (6 a.m.-11 p.m.) Pl. du Parvis-du-Sacré-Coeur, 18e, Built from 1875-1919 with 83 pillars sunk 130 feet deep.
		(Public WC to your left down 50 steps. Go right to the church's dome and crypt.)
		(
	See:	Notre Dame Cathedral- Free (7:45-7) - 700 year old cathedral Archaelogical Crypt- Free MP/€3.50 (10-6) Roman ruins The Tours de Notre-Dame (Towers of Notre Dame) MP/€8 (10-6:30, Sat & Sun 10-11) are amongst the great delights of Notre Dame and, provided you have the energy for the ascent, they provide a spectacular view over central Paris. The Towers ascend to 422 steps (226 feet) above ground level. Crypt (10-6), Treasury: €3
		(Walk along the river, toward the front end of Notre-Dame. Stairs detour down to the riverbank. This side view of the church from across the river is one of Europe's great sights and is best from river level.)
		Left Bank-window shop among the green book stalls and browse through used books, vintage posters and souvenirs.
		(Return to the river and turn left on rue de la Bucherie. Go to #37.)
		Shakespeare and Company Bookstore- 37 Rue de la Bucherie Sylvia Beach, an American with a passion for free thinking, opened the store for the post WWI Lost Generation who came to Paris to find themselves. American writers flocked here for the cheap rents, fleeing the Prohibition era in the U.S. Ernest Hemingway borrowed books here regularly. James Joyce had his books published here. Struggling writers get free accommodations upstairs in tiny rooms with a view of Notre Dame.
		(Go outside the store.)
		Green water fountains- built in 1900 by an English philanthopist Sir Richard Wallace. The books below the carytids once held metal mugs for drinking the water.
		(Follow it west to Saint Michel)
	See:	Shops
		Dinner
	Lodge:
Optional:
		(Take train. €5.80)
	See:	Palace of Versailles (9-6:30) MP/15.00 € Louis XIV, had a great interest in Versailles. He settled on the royal hunting lodge at Versailles and over the following decades had it expanded into one of the largest palaces in the world (Félibien, 1703; Marie, 1972; Verlet, 1985). Beginning in 1661, the architect Louis Le Vau, landscape architect André Le Nôtre, and painter-decorator Charles Le Brun began a detailed renovation and expansion of the château. This was done to fulfill Louis XIV's desire to establish a new centre for the royal court. Following the Treaties of Nijmegen in 1678, he began to gradually move the court to Versailles. The court was officially established there on 6 May 1682.
		(Take a train 15.60€ )
		Chateau Fontainbleau The work of many French monarchs, building on an early 16th century structure of Francis I. The building is arranged around a series of courtyards. The city of Fontainebleau has grown up around the remainder of the Forest of Fontainebleau, a former royal hunting park.

Day 24
	Do:	Fly Home

Dublins:
Black Gold (It's Good For You!) LbNA #: 35236

Placed by: celtuscan (Contact the Placer)	Your status: (none)
Placement date: Jul 28 2007
State: Other International	Found by: Auntie & Uncle Dud
County: Other International	Found date: Jan 17 2008
Nearest city: Dublin, IRELAND
Number of boxes: 1

Clues

Background:
A Guiness Fermentation Plant, from 1904 to 1988 is now the 7 story museum dedicated to the history and making of a world famous beer. Located in the heart of the St. James Brewery, Guiness Storehouse is the Home of Guiness, where you discover what goes into the making of every pint!
The building is designed in the shape of a giant pint of Guiness, that, if full, would hold 14.3 Million Pints! As you make your way through the Storehouse, you will see the history of this drink, experience the Tasting Laboratory, have a chance to pour your own pint, and even have a pint at the Gravity Bar, where you can see incredible 360 Degree views of Dublin.

Clue: While on the tour of the Guiness Storehouse, while in the upper floors, look for the glass sign showing the "ROASTING" process. Behind the sign, is a David Brown & Sons antique process machine. Hidden behind, and near the rear back leg, lies your prize. Because of the number of tourists around the area, please be discreet. Also, to preserve this hiding spot better, if someone could attach the stamp with a piece of double-sided velcro, this would be appreciated.

This is a microbox....there is no logbook or stamppad. But, if you find it, please let me know how it's doing.

Dublin Castle

Box #115424

Planter:	The LBAC Crew
Location:	Dublin, DUB (Ireland)
Plant Date:	May 21, 2009
Clue Last Updated:	June 8, 2009

Status:	active (Last found: Sep 19, 2009)

BYO pen & ink

From Trinity College walk West on College Green. Turn left on South Great George’s St, then right on Stephen St Upper, then right on Ship St Little. At the fork, bear right. Walk towards the end of the street. There will be a « door » in the wall on your right. Walk through the door. On your right will be signs for the Chester Beatty Library. Walk to the signs. You will see a lovely garden on your left. Go in. There will be a path going straight in front of you, and a path going right. At the intersection is a low bush. The letterbox (a microbox) is hanging inside the bush, about a foot above ground. Enjoy the bench for stamping and the view of the castle tower.

A note on the stamp : I was traveling and I didn’t have all the right tools for carving, hence the not-too-great stamp…

Also be sure to check the Wicklow Mountains, just South of Dublin. They are absolutely gorgeous and there's the Wicklow Way Hiker LB there!

Ducks in Dublin Series#3 The Bective Abbey LbNA #: 14028

Placed by: illia	Your status: (none)
Placement date: Apr 30 2005
State: Other International
County: Other International
Nearest city: Trim, Ireland
Number of boxes: 1

Clues

STATUS: Confirmed but as of 07/24/05

DIFFICULTY: Easy/Moderate
DISTANCE TO LETTERBOX: 300 yards

Ducks in Dublin Series #3

I originally posted this letterbox in early may but the clues seemed to have disappeared and I don't have a copy so this will be from memory, should be relatively easy to find however.

Background Information

Bective Abbey was founded in 1150 by Murchadh O' Melaghin, King of Meath, for the Cistercians, and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. It was an abbey of some importance as the Abbot was a spiritual lord and sat in the Parliament of the Pale. Hugh De Lacy, was buried there in 1195, but was eventually moved to Dublin. The abbey was suppressed in 1536 and the lands were rented to Thomas Asgarde, and eventually bought by Andrew Wyse in 1552. It passed into the hands of the Dillons and then the Boltons, before fallling into ruin. The chief features of the ruins are the combination of both Church and Defence. The Cloister is the best preserved of the buildings and there is a pillar of a figure carrying a crozier. There are also some beautiful arches which are still intact

Clues

You can park along the road anywhere near the gates to the abbey but be sure not to block any of the farm gates. There are plans in the works to add a parking area to make visiting easier but for now this interesting site is little visited and a great place to picnic.

Once you are inside the Abbey grounds head toward the old cloister garden area (there is a map at the entrance to the abbey)
and wall furthest from the road that runs parallel (approximately) to the road and looks out over a cow pasture and further to the river.

Facing this wall find a window on the left hand end that has a ledge large enough to stand on. It is where two walls intersect. Standing on the ledge look above you to the left and you will see a hole in the wall. If you need it there is a stone jutting out part of the way up that you can stand on to reach. The box is located inside the hole.

Enjoy beautiful County Meath and happy boxing

Newgrange:

Travelers Among You

Author:	Reidling Trinity
Location:	Drogheda Slane, MEA (Ireland)
Clue Last Updated:	May 5, 2007

Status:	active (Last found: Sep 29, 2007)

The Dowth passage cairn is not open to the public, though you can see it from the outside. From the N51 west from Drogheda, take the first left after the turn for the site of the Battle of the Boyne. It is on the left just after Dowth castle (under renovation at the time of planting), and just before the Glebe House B&B (my favorite in all of Ireland, if you stay there be sure to tell Elizabeth Kisma sent you!)

The cairn shows damage from early excavations and 19th century stone quarrying. It has fallen victim to treasure-hunters over the eyars, including the Vikings. The mound is about 275 feet across and nearly 50 feet high.

Nearby is the famous Newgrange & Knowth cairns which can be visited via a tour. Like Knowth, Dowth has two passages opposite each other: a north passage about 27 feet long and a shorter south passage about 11 feet long which faces towards Newgrange. The sun rises to illuminate the Newgrange chamber at winter solstice and at the end of the day it enters the south passage of the Dowth cairn at sunset. Though the passage and chamber are much smaller here than at Newgrange, the beam of light is much bigger. This chamber has one recess on the right. The stone forming the right side of this recess is decorated with circular symbols, and it is this stone that is illuminated at winter solstice sunset by the sunbeam.

The back stone of the main chamber and the stones either side of it are also decorated. In the days before and after the solistce, the beam of light at sunset travels across these symbols lighting them in turn. The entrance stone has a large circular hollow, which marks the position of the setting sun.

Dowth's alignment with the setting sun at the winter solstice is at the end of the sun cycle and the beginning of the longest night of the year, the darkest point of the year. Its mythology reflects this. It is said to have been built by the Druid Bresal who wanted to build a tower that would reach the sky, but due to complications, the tower was never finished, and it was given the name Dubhaigh meaning "darkness."

CLUE: Once you find the 'Dowth' signpost, park on the side of the road (the N51 from Drogheda to Slane). Climb through the double "V" cattle guard gate and continue up the gravel walkway. A stone wall runs to your right, a field to your left, the mound before you. From the double "V" gate, take 22 paces, which will bring you to a turn style gate. With your back to the gate pole, face the stone wall. Compass bearing is 38-40. Three paces should bring you to the stone wall. Directly on the other side is an ivy garnished tree with another tree directly behind it, giving the apperance that it is one tree with four large branches springing up from the trunk. The box is in between these two trees in a crevice-like opening, close to the ground. You'll have to climb over the fence to retrieve the box, but the wall is only waist high and easy to do so. There are no worries about being yelled at for tresspassing, though the box has been planted in secret. Please be sure to seal the box before replanting to be sure no wetness gets inside. Thanks!

We hope you enjoy the seven boxes we planted in Ireland (The North Star, Congrats!You Found It!, the 4-box Animal Power Series!, and Travelers Among you.)

Hill of Tara:
Ducks in Dublin Series#4 The Hill of Tara LbNA #: 14026

Placed by: illia (Contact the Placer)	Your status: (none)
Placement date: Apr 30 2005
State: Other International
County: Other International
Nearest city: Navan, Ireland
Number of boxes: 1

Clues

STATUS: Confirmed as of 07/22/05

DIFFICULTY: Easy/Moderate
DISTANCE to LETTERBOX: 300 yards

DIRECTIONS: Prehistoric Hill of Tara is in Navan, Co Meath, Ireland, 12 km south of Navan off N3. Heading Northwest out of Dublin on the M3 you will turn West at the Hill of Tara sign. Following the road to the parking lot.

Opening Hours: Everyday

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Though best known as the seat of the High Kings of Ireland, the Hill of Tara has been an important site since the late Stone Age when a passage-tomb was constructed there. Tara was at the height of its power as a political and religious centre in the early centuries after Christ.

CLUES:

At the north end of the parking lot there is a gate that will let you into the Hill of Tara property. Go through the gate and follow the path until you come to a stone wall surrounding a church and graveyard. Don't go over the wall, instead, keeping the wall on your left (St Patrick will be on you right) follow the wall around until you come to a white entrance gate. From the corner walk 16 paces along the wall (with the wall still on your left) and turn to face the wall. In front of you on the other side of the wall will be a old tree with a large wart. Directly below the wart at the base of the wall is a hole with no grass growing in front of it. The box is at the back of the hole. You are probably going to have to stick your whole hand in this whole so maybe use caution or a stick to find the box.

Please remember to replace it carefully and make sure it will not slip out.

Happy hunting and enjoy beautiful County Meath.

Celtic Gryffin LbNA #: 20913

Placed by: Illia (Contact the Placer)	Your status: (none)
Placement date: Mar 15 2006
State: Other International
County: Other International
Nearest city: Navan, Ireland
Number of boxes: 4

Clues

At the seat of the High Kings of Tara is a spot known as the Fairy Tree. The Hill of Tara has been an important and mystic site in Ireland since ancient times and it still attracts people looking for a little magic in their lives. The Fairy Tree is said to make you wishes come true if you leave a token for the Fairie folk.

Find the Fairy Tree (you'll need to walk past the mounds, look for a tree standing a little on it's own on a ridge, decked out in ribbons and charms) When you find the tree, stand facing it so that you can look back at the mounds. Look for the spot where coin offerings are left, behind a rock under the roots is your first box.

Next walk along the ridge, back toward the parking lot, until you have passed two more trees. After you have passed the second tree, turn back and face the Fairy Tree, then look at the tree you have just passed. A hollow in the tree sits waist high and deep inside is your second box (this one is in a bag rather than a hard container)

Continue on along the ridge until you have gone three additional trees. When you reach this tree, you will find a good spot to sit down at it's roots and gaze up at the seat of the king, and down at his domain. This tree grows on a flat rock that makes a ledge. Under the ledge, you will find the third box.

Your final box and the book to leave your mark is next. Stand up and look back at the Fairy Tree again, you will now notice an old, low rock wall. Walk towards the wall and find a large bramble growing on it. To the right of the brambles you will find, imbedded in the wall, the symbol of another religion deeply entrenched in Irish history. At her feet are two largish rocks that can be pulled away, the box lies beneath.

The Hill of Tara is a sacred spot, please be careful in taking and replacing these boxes so that they remain well hidden. Enjoy your journies in Ireland, we have cherished ours. Special thanks to Kreepy Kelli who made these beautiful stamps for us to place. If you visit Ireland, please plan to place a box as well as find one. Thanks

Happy Hunting!

Cork:
The Gift Of Gab LbNA #: 35237

Placed by: celtuscan (Contact the Placer)	Your status: (none)
Placement date: Jul 30 2007
State: Other International	Found by: El (Attempted)
County: Other International	Found date: Jul 18 2008
Nearest city: Cork, IRELAND
Number of boxes: 1

Clues

Background: Blarney Castle was built nearly siz hundred years ago by one of Ireland's greatest Chieftains, Cormac MacCarthy, and has been attracting attention beyond Munster ever since. Not all of that has been welcome, as Good Queen Bess and Oliver Cromwell could testify. But over the last few hundred years, millions have flocked to Blarney, making it a world landmark and one of Ireland's greatest treasures.
Now, that might have something to do with the Blarney Stone, the legendary Stone of Eloquence, found at the top of the Tower. Kiss it, and you'll never again be at a loss for words. Everyone from Sir Walter Scott, to a host of American presidents, world leaders, and international entertainers have been eager to take advantage.

If people come for the Stone, many stay for the mystical and beautiful Rock Close and gardens. Time has its own rules here, and this is where you'll find what you seek.

Clues:
After parking at Blarney Castle and paying the fee, walk up to the castle, and go to the right, looking in the caves for signs of leprechans. COntinue around the castle, and if desired, hike to the top of the castle, through narrow and steep stone circular stairways to kiss the famous stone. Upon leaving the castle, walk by the stables, and then take a left to go to the picnic area. Continue around the walk to the Rock Close. Pass the Dolmen, and make a wish as you walk up and back down the steps with your eyes closed. Continue by the witches kitchen, and visit the Fairy Glade. As you exit the Rock Close, keep your eye out for a strange double tree in the middle of a lawn, with a horizontal limb, connecting two large limbs, and looking amazingly like a harp. As you face the tree, walk to the right down a path, and over a bridge, about 8 pages, buried underneath on the left side of the bridge lies the goal.

Replace it and hide it well from visitors and carekeepers.

Edinburgh:
Bella

Box #22676

Planters:	Infinity A Hummingbird
Location:	Edinburgh, SCO (United Kingdom)
Plant Date:	October 1, 2006
Clue Last Updated:	October 12, 2006

Status:	active (Last found: Aug 2, 2010)

This box was placed by my mother and father while on their first trip to Great Britain. I personally created the box, at the request of my mother, in memory of my great-grandmother (my mother's grandmother), Isabella. It was her favorite past-time to sit and watch her favorite creature outside her window...

Near Edinburgh, Scotland lies the small village of Rosslyn. Here we find Rosslyn Chapel. On the way down the lane leading to the chapel is a lane to the right. A sign says this is the way to the castle. A short distance down this lane we find a cemetery, on both the left and right.

In this cemetery, we learned that John Wilson loved his mother, Isabella. He erected a monument in her honor. In time, his father, (also John) joined Isabella. As time marched on, the younger John was reunited with his parents. It is here they wait, looking out high upon the grounds, for Jane, the younger John's wife. Behind them all waits Bella, for you.

***Although I have never been myself, instinct tells me that this has become a high-traffic area. Use caution, and rehide well. This is also my mother's first plant. So, please, if you can improve its camouflage, I beg you do so. Thank you so much!!!!!

Corcomore Abbey

Carver:	Gallchobhair
Author:	Leabhar
Location:	Burren, CLA (Ireland)
Hike Length:	0.0 miles
Elevation Gain:	0 feet
Clue Last Updated:	July 24, 2007

Status:	active (Last found: Dec 29, 2007)

This is one of several letterboxes planted in western Ireland that is associated with the poet William Butler Yeats (1865-1939). Corcomroe was used by Yeats as the setting for his play, The Dreaming of the Bones. The play begins:

Somewhere among the great rocks, on the scarce grass,
Birds cry, then cry their loneliness.
Even the sunlight can be lonely here,
Even the hot noon is lonely.

Corcomroe Abbey was built for the Cistercian monks at the end of the 12th century, and monks seem to have lived here into the 17th century. An 1857 drawing of the interior of the abbey ruins shows skulls sitting on a piece of the abbey wall. Post famine drawings of Irish abbey ruins often show skulls and skeletons lying on alters and propped up in corners because there were not enough survivors to bury the dead. The stamp in the letterbox is taken from the carving of a monk on the wall in the choir.

Directions:

From Kinvarra, take the N67 towards Lisdoonvarna. About 5 km from Kinvara you’ll come to a junction with lots of signs, “Welcome to County Clare” and “Burren Visitors Center” among them. There are two roads leading to the left. Take the right-most road, the one that appears to lead up the hill (not the one that is almost a U-turn).

Continue along this road. You may spot the Abbey in the distance on the right, but keep going until you see a signpost for it. Turn right as directed and you will shortly come to another signpost and right turn on the road that leads to the Abbey.

From the carpark, enter the churchyard. Follow the gravel path to the left. Near the far corner you will see an opening in the wall. Pass through here. To the left are two trees. The box is behind the second tree, on the right side, covered by several loose stones. Please replace the stones to keep the box hidden.

Here are alternate directions taken from a guidebook. We attempted to use them, but could not find Bellharbour on our map. We cannot swear to their accuracy, but perhaps they might help you...”The abbey is signed from Bellharbour on the road east of Ballyvaughan. It is about 1 mile from Bellharbour.”

NOTE: Before you set out you must read and agree to the Waiver of Responsibility and Disclaimer.

Ring of Kerry:

Spirit of Ireland

Box #116185

Planter:	Gofish Family
Location:	Staigue Fort Castlecove, KRY (Ireland)
Plant Date:	June 2, 2009
Clue Last Updated:	June 3, 2009

Status:	active (Last found: Jun 30, 2010)

While in Ireland, the Ring of Kerry tour is a must do. It is a beautiful tour of small towns and the coast. There are many interesting towns and sites to visit on the trip. Be warned it will take all day. One site in particular is the Staigue Fort. This is a great fort that shows the building technique of the area. It is a round fort build completely out of stone without mortar. Quite remarkable construction and it is still standing today. Here is a link with more info. http://www.stonepages.com/ireland/staigue.html

The best part is that the site is free, you just have to navigate the one lane road getting there. Once to the fort, remember to close the gate behind you to keep the sheep in.

To find the box, proceed to the entrance of the fort. With your back to the fort, walk straight to the stone wall in front of you. At the wall, walk 14 steps to the right down the wall. The letterbox is in the wall on a ledge. It is a black letterbox pouch, so there are no rocks on it or in front of it.

I imagine that in summer it is quite busy here so be descreet, just pretend you are taking pictures of the great panoramic views.

Skellig Michael LbNA #: 54445

Placed by: The Olde Oak (Contact the Placer)	Your status: (none)
Placement date: Jun 30 2010
State: Other International
County: Other International
Nearest city: Ballinskelligs
Number of boxes: 1

Clues

Skellig Michael can be accessed by small boat from multiple harbors. One of those is in Ballinskelligs in County Kerry, Ireland.

For information on Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage site go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skellig_Michael

and Ballinskelligs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballinskelligs

The Skellig Michael Letterbox can be found near the Ballinskelligs Beach:

http://www.myguideireland.com/ballinskelligs-beach

Park in the Ballinskelligs Beach car park. Find the sign, Angling in Ireland. Face it and walk 9 steps up the hill. Turn left and walk toward the Lifeguard hut. Find the third large rock on left. Hidden beneath a small rock on the side away from the Lifeguard hut next to the larger rock should be the Skellig Michael Letterbox.

Thanks for coming and please close everything up tightly to keep the Irish weather out!!!

The Watchful Puffin LbNA #: 54440

Placed by: The Olde Oak (Contact the Placer)	Your status: (none)
Placement date: Jun 27 2010
State: Other International
County: Other International
Nearest city: Portmagee
Number of boxes: 1

Clues

In Ireland if you want to visit Skellig Michael you must journey to the end of the Ring of Kerry, then to the end of the Skellig Ring to Portmagee. There small boats take off in the summer on calm days for a few hours to that amazing place, Skellig Michael:

http://www.sacredsites.com/europe/ireland/skellig_michael.html

You however needn’t travel beyond Portmagee to access the Watchful Puffin Letterbox. The image of a puffin is on the stamp since puffins are numerous, unafraid of people and close during nesting season on the island. Here is a website from one of the ferry concerns which show puffins on the island:

http://www.skelligstrips.com/about1.html

To find the letterbox first find the Catholic church with its graveyard beyond. From Main street turn at “Skellig Trips” up and away from the bay. Walk straight up to St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church. Walk past the church on the left down the lane. When the rock wall on your right ends keep walking until you learn the speed limit. Reach beyond the sign on your right all the way to the ground on the west side.

Close everything up tightly as Ireland is a land of lots of rain. Thanks for coming!

Cliffs of Moher:

Moher Migrators

Box #72412

Planter:	slick kitty
Owner:	Grumpy Grinch
Location:	Liscannor, CLA (Ireland)
Plant Date:	April 8, 2008
Clue Last Updated:	April 13, 2008

Status:	active (Last found: Jun 12, 2010)

With the wind at your back and pickings are good, it is a lovely day in Ireland!

From Liscannor, you breeze along the R 478 . . . on your way to visit a gem of cliffs.

As you get closer kilometer by kilometer, you notice a large obelisk--perfect for a rest. As you approach this, on your right, you will notice a sign "St. Bridget Well", pointing to the left. Make this left and pull into the parking spot on the right.

Feel free to visit St. Bridget but for your fellow friend, you don't have to.

In the parking spot, you will see a staircase and a rocky gate. Fly through the rocky gate and make a U turn on the right. Wedged in the rock of this gate, buried a little deep is a friend.

After this short visit, continue on to the gem of cliffs! Tis a lovely view, even from the land.

Hike Length: 0.0 miles

Gráinne Ni Mháille! The Irish Pirate Queen!

Box #72415

Planter:	slick kitty
Location:	Liscannor, CLA (Ireland)
Plant Date:	April 9, 2008
Clue Last Updated:	May 16, 2008

Status:	active (Last found: Sep 27, 2009)

You are in hot pursuit of Gráinne Ni Mháille--Grace O'Malley, The Irish Pirate Queen!

You order your crew to quickly sail from Lenhinch, along the route of R- 478, towards the town of Liscannor . . .

Then as you past a ruin of castle, in the middle of a golf course, you order your men to ready the cannons! Today you will have that vile Gráinne Ni Mháille--Grace O'Malley, The Irish Pirate Queen! You will be damned if you don't!

Then as luck would have it, it would appear that she is taking refuge in the ruins of an old abbey! You can barely contain your excitement, as you pull in on the left hand side, sailing just under a large grey double bar over pass.

You signal your men to "hold their positions". You know she is here, hiding . . . hoping to elude you yet again! Quickly you organize a crew to go a-shore!

You lead them, over the wall of the fence-- what wall can dare hold you back now! Swiftly and quickly you signal your men to enter the abbey . . . you will have her, for God, for Queen Elizabeth, for glory!

Quickly you rush in . . . and find, and find . . . that she has elluded you yet again!

But one of your men signals you over to a fallen headstone with 6 visiable swirlly circles on it, in a corner, near the entrance, north.

Behind it, buried under some rock and rumble, you find her calling card (stamp) and logbook.

Hike Length: 0.0 miles

Burrens:

Boot on the Trail

Box #90631

Planter:	Green Tortuga
Location:	Oughtdorra, CLA (Ireland)
Plant Date:	August 29, 2008
Clue Last Updated:	September 9, 2008

Status:	active (Last found: Sep 23, 2009)

The Burren has room for billions of letterboxes, so I humbly submit my one of my own. These directions won't be good. I was on a bus tour and we had all of about ten minutes to jump off, take pictures, enjoy the scenery, plant the letterbox, and jump back on the bus. Under such less than ideal conditions, you may find these directions lacking a certain degree of precision that you may be used to. =)

We were driving north on R479 between Doolin and Galway, through The Burren. We passed by Ballinalackan Castle, passed a sign saying that we were entering The Burren, then the road turned rather sharply to the right upon reaching the Atlantic Coast. We stopped at the first pulloff where tourists can stop and admire the rocky formations known as The Burren.

Head approximately 10° magnetic to a particularly flat and smooth area with three particularly noteworthy boulders on it, and the letterbox is under the rightmost of the three boulders. The road is about 35 steps away towards the east.

Hike Length: 0.1 miles

Shamrock Shindig

Box #130324

Planter:	Celtic Knotheads
Location:	Kilfenora, CLA (Ireland)
Plant Date:	October 1, 2009
Clue Last Updated:	October 22, 2009

Status:	active (Last found: Apr 12, 2010)

The Shamrock Shindig was a 2 week bus and rental van trip through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the early fall of 2009. Fourteen ladies and two husbands from various parts of Canada, the United States, and one from Australia, met in Dublin to discover this wonderful island. They were brought together through a website dedicated to friendship, craic, and a love of books, especially "Exit Unicorns" by Cindy Brandner which is set in Ireland and was the inspiration for this gathering. One of our members carved the detailed stamp and made the beautiful logbook that are in this box.
KILFENORA CATHEDRAL is dedicated to St. Fachtna, who founded his monastery here during the sixth century. The original church was probably wooden and was later replaced by a stone building. Murrough O'Brien burned the abbey church in 1055 and killed many of the inhabitants. Repairs were carried out between 1056 and 1058 but the building was plundered in 1079 and accidentally burned in 1100. The present structure dates from between 1189 to 1200. Kilfenora cathedral was built in the transitional style with a nave and chancel. Samuel Lewis described it in 1837 as "a very ancient and venerable structure with a massive square tower, commanding a very extensive and interesting view; the aisle is at present undergoing repair, and is being fitted up as the parish church". It was during the course of these renovations that the nave and chancel were separated, with the nave forming the present Church of Ireland church.
THE CHANCEL was roofed with an oak ceiling, or so tradition says, until the end of the eighteenth century. It was supposed to have been painted blue with gold stars. Now roofless, with a fifteenth century doorway leading into the interior, it is still dominated by the three-light east window with its triangular pillars topped by carved capitals.
The oldest decipherable tomb inscription here appears to be that of Hygate Lowe which dates from 1638 but remember that since the foundation of the church, monks, abbots, bishops, chieftains and the last King of Thomond and his sons have been laid to rest here. There are also some fragments of a high cross by the south wall.
THE HIGH CROSSES OF KILFENORA are its most famous feature. It is believed that there were seven high crosses here at one time. Some have been removed to museums and one to the inside of the ruined church which is now covered by a glass roof that is open on the sides. The graveyard contains the remains of three high crosses. There is the shaft of a thirteenth or fourteenth century cross near the doorway of the cathedral. Close to the graveyard gate is a rather simple cross, possibly dating from between 1300 to 1500. This is unusual insofar as it has no ring and may have been a trial piece. The third cross is the one within the chancel. West of the graveyard and almost midway between the cathedral and the comparatively modern Catholic church dedicated to St. Fachtna is a splendid high cross, which stands in a field west of the lane.

Make your way to the small village of Kilfenora, which is in County Clare, in the Burren area, and is a 25 minute drive from Ennis. The "cathedral", it's small, is near the Burren Center, which is a wonderful introduction to the geology and history of this area. It is easily seen from anywhere in the village, with its sheltering glass roof. Upon entering the glass roofed structure with the high cross inside, look to the right and go through the door into the adjacent room. On your left is the end wall of this room, as seen in the attached picture, with the large and dramatic window with 3 arched openings within it. On the floor in the left-hand corner of this wall is a small, stone platform or step that once held a statue. Stand on that step facing the wall and a loose stone will be about head or shoulder high between you and the edge of the window on your right. Please replace the stone carefully to mask the box. You will need stamp pad and pen.
In addition to the Burren and the Burren Center, be sure to visit the Poulnabrone Dolmen, a burial site dating from 2500 BC, which is nearby.

Rock of Cashel:
St. Patrick

Box #72410

Planter:	slick kitty
Location:	Cashel, TIP (Ireland)
Plant Date:	April 6, 2008
Clue Last Updated:	November 3, 2008

Status:	active (Last found: Never)

St. Patrick is the patron Saint of Ireland. Not a snake in sight!

He once visited a rather famous "Rock" of Ireland . . . The Rock of Cashel.

From this famous Rock, spy the Abbey Ruins across the street and in the fields.

Make your way to this abbey, Hore Abbey. Once there, while poking around this abbey you will notice there are three large cement blocks, in three separate rooms. In the large chapel area, you will see the largest of these cement blocks . . . perhaps it was an alter.

St. Patrick probably still gives his sermons, standing behind this alter.

Stratford Upon Avon:

The Bard

Box #37872

Planter:	Ukusa
Location:	Cottage Lane Stratford-upon-Avon, ENG (United Kingdom)
Plant Date:	April 21, 2007
Clue Last Updated:	April 21, 2007

Status:	unknown (Last found: Apr 23, 2007)

In the area of Shottery, across the street from Anne Hathaway's cottage, there is a peaceful meandering brook. Starting from the rear of the Cottage Tea Room's outdoor patio, or down the road away from Anne's Cottage, there is a short walk in the woods along this brook. Follow the path, taking the loop pointing to Woodland Walk. Along the loop, there is a dilapitated brick shed. Go around the right of it, on the side of the brook, and you will see a pile of log sections. Hiding under the bark debris, you'll find this box. Hope you enjoy it!

This box and my other one were done as a tribute to the great poet, playwright, bard, as the 23rd of April is the day he was born (1564) and died (1616).

There's another stamp in this area. Be sure to look for that one too. It's worth it! Also, I have another letterbox hidden in the Town Centre of Stratford, and there is another one too. Don't miss those. ;-)

The Quill

Box #37883

Planter:	Ukusa
Location:	Bridgefoot Stratford-upon-Avon, ENG (United Kingdom)
Plant Date:	April 21, 2007
Clue Last Updated:	April 21, 2007

Status:	active (Last found: Apr 21, 2008)

Take the A3400 into Stratford. Find the Pen & Parchment Pub in the town centre. Cross the footbridge across the canal. Go down the stairs to the canal edge. The pub will be across the canal now. You will see a small triangle shaped playground behind a picket fence. In the corner point nearest the stairs down from the road, you will see a pile of concrete slabs. The box is hidden under the edge in the corner of the playground. This is a visible, trafficked location. Please be stealthy. We made a big show of taken pictures of the pub, to make it look like we had a reason to be here.

This box and my other one were done as a tribute to the great poet, playwright, bard, as the 23rd of April is the day he was born (1564) and died (1616).

There's another stamp in this area. Be sure to look for that one too. Also, I have another letterbox hidden in Shottery, and there is another one there too. Don't miss those. ;-)

Stonehenge:

Stonehenge (Wiltshire)

Box #52922

Planter:	TeamKing
Location:	Wiltshire Sp4 7de Amesbury, ENG (United Kingdom)
Plant Date:	August 30, 2007
Clue Last Updated:	August 31, 2007

Status:	active (Last found: Jul 16, 2009)

It's in the middle of a field. Some of the stones - Persil bluestones - are from the coastline of Wales and were somehow transported here along with local stones. They were then erected into permanent position with mortise-and-tenon joints carved into the stone. Many of the stones are strategically placed in relation to the solstices. (The summer solstice on June 21st is a popular day to visit.) A ditch and bank surround the stones - called a henge - hence the name Stonehenge. It was built during the Stone and Bronze ages between 5000 and 3000 years ago. These are a few things we do know. What we don't know is. . .what exactly is it?

Stonehenge is a National Trust and World Heritage site. It's an icon immediately identifiable to everyone. Most people consider it to be a temple of some sort that is arranged to the solstices. The whole area around Stonehenge has a fascinating history of burial mounds, the Curcus, and even Woodhenge which is about 2 miles away. A self-guided audio tour takes you around the stones. Then you can walk around the surrounding fields to visit the mounds. Be sure to take a lunch and blanket and enjoy sitting out in the countryside. Parking costs 3 pounds and admission is 6.30 pounds for adults.

To get there:
From London - take the M25 to the M3 going west. Then get on the A303 which will have signs when you get close. Stonehenge is off of the A344 in Wiltshire county just over the Hampshire border.

To find the box:
Stand in the parking lot with your back to Stonehenge. Go to the furthest corner away. From here, jump over the fence and go right down the gravel road. You'll see about 4 small trees on your right before the road continues down to a treeline. Go to the last tree on your right. Microbox is camoed and wedged into the trunk branches about 3 1/2 feet up.

(trying out a new gps - box is at N 51.10.948 W001.49.544. Interestingly, this is the only time I have ever seen ALL the satellites bars lock in)

London:

British Nostalgia: Black Cab

Box #151151

Planter:	Ukusa
Location:	St. James's Park London, ENG (United Kingdom)
Plant Date:	July 29, 2010
Clue Last Updated:	July 29, 2010

Status:	active (Last found: Jul 30, 2010)

Head away from Buckingham Palace down The Mall. You'll pass Prince Charles' Kensington Palace on your left and St. James's Park will be on your right. Walk until you come to Marlborough Road then turn and enter into the park through the black and gold gate. Enter through the right opening and stop on the threshold. Turn right and follow along the fence behind the bushes. (You will be going to the right of the Royal Parks sign.) You will continue on the path for four of the large paved squares and/or up one step. Lean down and look left to the backside of the shrubs base. The letterbox is a small plastic box under a stick and leaves. Please make sure it is completely covered when you are complete.

Girl Scout Troop #353 LbNA #: 55069

Placed by: VIENNA (Contact the Placer)	Your status: (none)
Placement date: Aug 10 2010
State: Other International
County: Other International
Nearest city: London
Number of boxes: 1

Clues

Girl Guides Center
17-19 Buckingham Palace
open 9am-430pm
closed Sundays

Our troop joined the 100th anniversary
of the Girl Guides in Leeds on 31JUL10.
Thousands of Girl Scouts from around the
world were there to join in the celebration.

This hand carved stamp is for this celebration.
Green stamp pad is preferred.
Locate the address above next to one of the
most busiest tourist stops in London.
Once you enter the store go to the back right
where you will see a swing door with a sign: staff only.
On the right bottom of the floor is a fire extinguisher.
Behind this in a gap between the drawer box and wall
is the box. Reach in with your fingers.
This store you are in is small and requires your
best skills in being STEALTH.
Don't make it obvious to the staff or muggles
that you are looking for something. Replace
it where others will be able to reach it with
their fingers. Good Luck and enjoy.

Ireland with a Tinge of UK

Cost

U.S. Cost

Airline Ticket

$1,400.00

Heritage Card

21.00 €

$27.30

Heritage Island

6.99 €

$9.09

British Heritage Pass (15 days)

85.00 €

$110.50

Paris Museum Pass (2 days)

€ 32.00

$41.60

Dublin Bus Rambler 3 Day

13.30 €

$17.29

Trinity College Tour (HIE)

8.00 €

$10.40

29 Georgian House (HIE)

3.00 €

$3.90

National Museum

0.00 €

$0.00

Dublin Castle (HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Kilmainham Gaol (HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Garden of Remembrance

0.00 €

$0.00

Newgrange/Knowth (HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Old Mellifont Abbey (HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Monasterboice

0.00 €

$0.00

Hill of Tara (HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Trim Castle (HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Reginald's Tower (HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Blarney Castle (HIE)

5.00 €

$6.50

Staigue Ring Fort

1.00 €

$1.30

Derrynane National Historic Park(HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Ferry (with 5 people)

1.00 €

$1.30

Dunbeg Fort

3.00 €

$3.90

Kavanaugh cottage

3.00 €

$3.90

Beehive huts

2.00 €

$2.60

The Blascaod Centre (HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Tarbert-Killimer Ferry (5 people)

4.50 €

$5.85

Cliffs of Moher (HIE)

6.34 €

$8.24

The Burren Centre (HIE)

4.80 €

$6.24

King John's Castle

4.50 €

$5.85

Rock of Cashel (HC)

0.00 €

$0.00

Ferry

30.00 €

$39.00

Beaumaris Castle (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Conway Castle (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Rhuddlan Castle (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Flint Castle

£0.00

$0.00

Valle Crucis Abbey (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Stream in the Sky Aqueduct Cruise

£11.00

$14.30

Inverlochy Castle

£0.00

$0.00

Glenfinnian Monument

£0.00

$0.00

Glenfinnan Viaduct

£0.00

$0.00

Invergarry Castle

£0.00

$0.00

Urquhart Castle (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Loch Ness Exhibition Centre

£6.50

$10.14

Culloden Battlefield (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Edinburgh Castle (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Palace of Holyroode (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Military Tatoo

£20.00

$31.20

Dryburgh Abbey (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Chester's Roman Fort (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Chatsworth (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Shakespeares Birthplace (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage (BHP)

£0.00

£0.00

Christ Church College

£8.00

$12.48

Avebury (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Stonehenge (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Bath Abbey

£2.50

$3.90

Roman Baths (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

Lyme Regis

£0.00

$0.00

London Travelcard

£23.10

$3.90

Jewel Tower (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

British Library

£0.00

$0.00

St. Paul's Cathedral (BHP)

£0.00

$0.00

British Museum

£0.00

$0.00

National Gallery

£0.00

$0.00

Chunnel

£39.00

$50.70

Metro Pass

€ 28.90

$37.57

The Louvre (PMP)

€ 0.00

$0.00

Arc de Triomphe (PMP)

€ 0.00

$0.00

Eiffel Tower

€ 13.10

$17.03

Notre Dame (PMP)

€ 0.00

$0.00

National Museum of the Middle Ages (PMP)

€ 0.00

$0.00

B&B's (10 nights-Euro)

€ 300.00

$390.00

B&B's 12 nights-Pounds)

£360.00

$561.60

Rental Car (6 days Ireland)

€ 62.50

$81.25

Rental Car (9 days U.K.)

£162.00

$252.72

Food (22 days)

$880.00

Ireland Gas (900 miles) $6 mph

$70.00

UK Gas (1600 miles) $7 mph

$140.00

Total

$4,261.55

24 month

$177.56

36 months

$118.38

Optional:

Guinness Storehouse

13.50 €

$17.55

Hook Head Lighthouse

6.00 €

$9.36

Llechwedd Slate Caverns

13.50 €

$21.06

Snowdon Mountain Railway

25.00 €

$39.00

Rosslyn Chapel

£7.50

$11.70

Parliament

£14.00

$21.84

Tower of London

£17.00

$26.52

Churchill War Rooms

£14.95

$23.32

Train to Versailles

€ 5.80

$7.54

Chateau Versailles (PMP)

€ 0.00

$0.00

Train to Fontainebleau

€ 15.60

$20.28

Chateau Fontainebleau

€ 0.00

$0.00

HC-Heritage Card
HIE-Heritage Island Explorer Card
BHP-British Heritage Card
PMP-Paris Museum Pass

Vacations to Go....

Owain Glyndwr Hotel, Corwen The Square, Corwen, LL21 0DL http://www.owainglyndwrhotel.com/index.html Double or Twin 75, Quad 112

Dublins: Black Gold (It's Good For You!) LbNA #: 35236

Clues

Dublin Castle

Ducks in Dublin Series#3 The Bective Abbey LbNA #: 14028

Clues

Travelers Among You

Hill of Tara: Ducks in Dublin Series#4 The Hill of Tara LbNA #: 14026

Clues

Celtic Gryffin LbNA #: 20913

Clues

Cork: The Gift Of Gab LbNA #: 35237

Clues

Edinburgh: Bella

Corcomore Abbey

Spirit of Ireland

Skellig Michael LbNA #: 54445

Clues

The Watchful Puffin LbNA #: 54440

Clues

Cliffs of Moher:

Moher Migrators

Gráinne Ni Mháille! The Irish Pirate Queen!

Burrens:

Boot on the Trail

Shamrock Shindig

Rock of Cashel: St. Patrick

The Bard

The Quill

Stonehenge (Wiltshire)

British Nostalgia: Black Cab

Girl Scout Troop #353 LbNA #: 55069

Clues

Owain Glyndwr Hotel, Corwen
The Square, Corwen, LL21 0DL
http://www.owainglyndwrhotel.com/index.html
Double or Twin 75, Quad 112

Dublins:
Black Gold (It's Good For You!) LbNA #: 35236

Hill of Tara:
Ducks in Dublin Series#4 The Hill of Tara LbNA #: 14026

Cork:
The Gift Of Gab LbNA #: 35237

Edinburgh:
Bella

Rock of Cashel:
St. Patrick