Blackpool and the lakes

45 of us set off  on Bank Holiday Monday with bags full of waterproofs and layers of warm clothing in preparation for the cold winds that assail Blackpool. We enjoyed a coffee stop at the Farmers Market services near Gloucester then lunch at Trentham Gardens Shopping Village. It started as a lovely day and got hotter and hotter. We arrived in Blackpool with blazing sunshine.

The Queens hotel was on the Promenade with the sea just across the road, perfect for a stroll before breakfast. There was a good choice on the menu and all the staff were very friendly and willing to help. In the evening there was entertainment starting with Bingo, 4 member of our party won various games, followed by an MC who warmed up the audience with songs and jokes creating a lovely friendly atmosphere and a female singer with opportunities for dancing.

On the Tuesday there was a morning trip to Fleetwood Market then we had been booked into the Tower Ballroom for tea but unfortunately this had to close so we were offered Circus tickets instead. Surprisingly this turned out to be quite good. There were a variety of acts including 2 high wire acts, one of which saw a man suspending himself from the trapeze at one point by just his heels!, a couple of acrobats, a juggler, a contortionist who had us all confused as to which bit of her we were watching and the finale was a couple on roller skates doing incredibly dangerous looking things on a small platform over the flooded ring with fountains round them. The downside was the ‘clown’ who seemed content to amuse himself. However we were treated to a drink and snack in the interval. It was such a lovely sunny day lots of people decided to walk back to the hotel.

Wednesday saw us wake up to a thick mist so we couldn’t actually see the sea over the road. We drove north to Lancaster through farmland and pretty villages while the mist lifted. Lancaster was a thriving City then after lunch we drove through the beautiful Trough of Bowland. There was quite a lot of woods carpeted by bluebells and rolling hills with amazing views. A truly delightful drive. We stopped in Clitheroe before returning to Blackpool along the Ribble valley.

Our last day took us to Bowness-on-Windermere to enjoy a cruise on England’s largest lake and browse the shops. Again it was fantastic weather so the ice-cream sellers had a field day.

Alas it was time to leave. On the return journey we stopped for lunch at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield. Run by the Royal British Legion it is an amazing place and we did not have tome to do it justice.

Thanks to all the group for making the holiday so successful, and thanks to the weather for letting us see and enjoy the beauty of the country.

45 of us set off  on Bank Holiday Monday with bags full of waterproofs and layers of warm clothing in preparation for the cold winds that assail Blackpool. We enjoyed a coffee stop at the Farmers Market services near Gloucester then lunch at Trentham Gardens Shopping Village. It started as a lovely day and got hotter and hotter. We arrived in Blackpool with blazing sunshine.

The Queens hotel was on the Promenade with the sea just across the road, perfect for a stroll before breakfast. There was a good choice on the menu and all the staff were very friendly and willing to help. In the evening there was entertainment starting with Bingo, 4 member of our party won various games, followed by an MC who warmed up the audience with songs and jokes creating a lovely friendly atmosphere and a female singer with opportunities for dancing.

On the Tuesday there was a morning trip to Fleetwood Market then we had been booked into the Tower Ballroom for tea but unfortunately this had to close so we were offered Circus tickets instead. Surprisingly this turned out to be quite good. There were a variety of acts including 2 high wire acts, one of which saw a man suspending himself from the trapeze at one point by just his heels!, a couple of acrobats, a juggler, a contortionist who had us all confused as to which bit of her we were watching and the finale was a couple on roller skates doing incredibly dangerous looking things on a small platform over the flooded ring with fountains round them. The downside was the ‘clown’ who seemed content to amuse himself. However we were treated to a drink and snack in the interval. It was such a lovely sunny day lots of people decided to walk back to the hotel.

Wednesday saw us wake up to a thick mist so we couldn’t actually see the sea over the road. We drove north to Lancaster through farmland and pretty villages while the mist lifted. Lancaster was a thriving City then after lunch we drove through the beautiful Trough of Bowland. There was quite a lot of woods carpeted by bluebells and rolling hills with amazing views. A truly delightful drive. We stopped in Clitheroe before returning to Blackpool along the Ribble valley.

Our last day took us to Bowness-on-Windermere to enjoy a cruise on England’s largest lake and browse the shops. Again it was fantastic weather so the ice-cream sellers had a field day.

Alas it was time to leave. On the return journey we stopped for lunch at the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield. Run by the Royal British Legion it is an amazing place and we did not have tome to do it justice.

Thanks to all the group for making the holiday so successful, and thanks to the weather for letting us see and enjoy the beauty of the country.