Britain Update #46
November 15, 2000

Welcome friends, its time to put the kettle on, settle into a comfortable armchair, and enjoy the best of Britain with Britain Update. But before you do, please take the time to forward this newsletter to someone who loves Britain as much as you do.

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Contents
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1. UK Destinations
2. Britrail update
3. UK Weather online
4. New Year's Events
5. UK Travel news

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UK Destinations : Cardigan
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Cardigan - the place, not the woollen garment - is an attractive Welsh market town on the north shore of the Pembrokeshire Peninsula. The town sits above the wide expanse of Cardigan Bay, which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation. The Bay supports a colony of some 130 bottlenose dolphins, and porpoises as well as grey seals are frequently seen close to shore. The area is also part of the Ceredigion Heritage Coast. The town itself has a long and tumultuous history. It was the principal town of the old Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth.

When the Normans first invaded the kingdom in the late 11th century, Cardigan was one of the prizes they aimed for. The Normans built Cardigan Castle overlooking the Teifi River, but the Welsh refused to be beaten. The town was taken and retaken several times during the 12th century. Today the castle keep and two towers can be seen, but the interior is not open to the public.

It was during one of the periods of Welsh ascendancy that the first eisteddfod was held here, in 1176. The eisteddfod is a sort of cultural love-in, a mixture of music, poetry, prose, and celebration of Welsh customs and culture. The Welsh National Eisteddfod is now an annual event held in a different place each year. If the crumbling ruins of ancient castles do not stir your blood, perhaps you'd prefer a newer attraction. The Cardigan Heritage Centre opened in 1997 in a converted 18th century warehouse on Teifi Wharf. The Centre has permanent exhibits tracing the history of Cardigan from the days before the coming of the Normans.

For several centuries preceding the advent of the railway, Cardigan was one of the busiest shipping ports in Wales; busier than even Swansea or Cardiff. Times have changed, and the bustle is now centred around Cardigan's historic Guidhall, now a market place.

Cardigan is situated just north of the border of Pembrokeshire National Park, and the long-distance Pembrokeshire Coast National Trail begins just outside the town. The path can be walked in short sections for an easy introduction to this dramatically beautiful coastline. Nearby is St. Dogmael's Abbey, the remains of a 12th century Benedictine abbey attractively situated on a hillside. At St. Dogmael's the famous Sagranus Stone was found. The stone provided the first clues which allowed historians to decipher early Celtic written language. The Stone can be seen at St. Thomas' Church. In the adjacent churchyard is a memorial to shipwrecked sailors.

Opposite the abbey is Y Felin, a working watermill where you can buy fresh-ground flours. At Cilgerran is the Welsh Wildlife Centre, 300 acres of River Teifi marshland set aside as a low-impact way to allow visitors to study local wildlife species in their natural habitat. The Centre hosts talks, nature walks, demonstrations, and lectures for visitors. In Cilgerran village is Cilgerran Castle, built by the son of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, in the 13th century to subdue the rebellious Welsh. The castle is open year-round.

Cardigan on the web:
Cardigan Online
http://www.cardiganonline.com/
Cardigan Castle
http://www.castlewales.com/cardigan.html

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BRITRAIL UPDATE
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Britrail passes can now be purchased in Britain. Buy them from CAMPUS at 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London. Phone (0)870 240 1010. Details on their web site at http://www.usitcampus.co.uk . These passes are for sale only to non-residents of the UK, Ireland, and Europe, and can only be purchased in person.

[Editor's self-serving note: North American readers can also purchase Britrail passes online by visiting www.britainexpress.com/Travel/britrail/index.htm ]

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UK Weather Online
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By now most of you will have heard about the terrible weather the UK has been experiencing over the past several weeks. With floods putting major roads and rail links under water and disrupting travel, now seems a good time to take a quick look at web sites which offer information about the ever-changeable UK weather scene.

The Met Office at http://www.meto.govt.uk/ is the web site of the official government weather office. A recent redesign has left the site quick to load and very pleasant on the eyes. Its easy to find regional forecasts, and special sections on aviation and outdoor leisure pursuits make it easier to plan activities with the weather in mind. You can even call or fax a question directly to a weather forecaster - for a fee.

The BBC Weather Centre at http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather is a worthy competitor. The Beeb is perhaps not as quick to download, but they offer quick and easy access to a lot of valuable information right from the home page. Five day forecasts for 30 different UK cities are available with a single click. You can even download your own "hometown" weather forecast as a screensaver to your desktop and have it update automatically. You can look up forecasts for major sporting events and choose to use a text-only version of the site.

A plain and simple site is Onlineweather.com at www.onlineweather.com/BritishIsles/britishisles.html The design is ultra-simple, but with one click you can access five day forecasts for over 190 cities in the UK, marine areas, or 18 regional forecasts. It's a simple and effective way to quickly gather information.

The winner? Well, it depends on your needs, but I'd have to pick the BBC Weather Centre for its easy access to information and its' attractive layout. Now if we could only get rid of the rain....

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British History timeline
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Can't remember when Henry III lived or the Battle of Bosworth was fought? For a quick look at the major dates in British history, take a peek at Useful Dates in British History at http://www.headley1.demon.co.uk/histdate/ This very simple page packs some useful information into a timeline stretching from 55BC to this year.

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NEW YEARS EVENTS
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For an up to date listing of UK events throughout the year, visit the British Tourist Authority web site at http://www.visitbritain.com/uk/events/events.htm. Here's a few New Year's highlights to wet your appetite:

MOZART BY CANDLELIGHT
For a classy (and early) way to celebrate New Years in London, take in Mozart by Candlelight at the Barbican Hall on Friday, December 29 at 19:30. The Mozart Festival Orchestra dress up in authentic 18th century costumes and perform "quintessential Mozart masterworks" in an evocative candle-lit setting. Prices are £12.50-£28.50. Credit/Debit Card Booking Facility - call: +44 (0) 20 - 7638 8891

A MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS
If you prefer your music with a medieval flair, visit the Tower of London for "The King's Medieval Christmas", which runs from December 27 to 31. Period musicians, music and merriment fill the medieval palace for a Christmas celebration. The performances are part of the London String of Pearls Millennium Festival. Prices are Adult £11.00 Child £7.30 Concessions £8.30 Family £33.00. For more details contact Daytime Tel: +44 (0) 20 7488 5662, Evening Tel: +44 (0) 20 7709 0765, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7680 0687

LONDON NEW YEAR'S DAY PARADE
Billed as the largest parade of its kind in the world, a noisy procession of floats, bands, costumed performers, dancers, acrobats, cheerleaders and clowns travel through London from Parliament Square to Berkeley Square via Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Lower Regent Street and Piccadilly. More information at Daytime Tel: +44 (0) 20 8566 8586, Fax: +44 (0) 20 8566 8494. E-mail: markp@londonparade.co.uk

FLAMBEAUX PROCESSION
To balance out all the big city hoopla above, you could try the Flambeaux Procession in Crieff, Comrie, Perthshire. The Procession is a traditional medieval torchlight walk through the village to ward off evil spirits. Dates: December 31, 2000 and January 1, 2001. Information at Daytime Tel: +44 (0) 1764 652578, Fax: +44 (0) 1764 655422

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UK Travel Tips and News
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WELLINGTON ARCH REBUILT
A £1.5 million conservation project aimed at restoring Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner in London has just been completed. The Arch was built in 1826 to commemorate Wellington's victory over Napoleon. The neo-classical structure was designed by the architect Decimus Burton and is surmounted by the largest bronze sculpture in England. English Heritage revealed plans to transform the Arch into London's first ever permanent exhibition centre dedicated to the capital's sculptures, monuments and war memorials.

When London's famous landmark opens to the public in Spring 2001, visitors will be able to see exhibitions on the Wellington Arch and London's rich legacy of public sculpture as well as gaining access to the new permanent viewing platforms offering spectacular views of the capital.

Got a few quid burning a whole in your wallet? Special hospitality arrangements will be available for anyone wishing to hire rooms in the Arch for corporate and private events. A lift on the ground floor will give full disabled access to the Arch and the viewing platforms.

As well, a permanent lighting scheme will floodlight the Arch's sculpture after dark.

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That's all for now. Until next issue, let me remind you that laughter is contagious. Spread some around.

David Ross
Editor
Britain Express
http://www.britainexpress.com
The UK travel and heritage guide
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Contents © 2001 David Ross and Britain Express