Tagged: train
Celebrating World Heritage Day
Today is World Heritage Day, a day organised by UNESCO to celebrate global international heritage. This got me thinking about places which I have enjoyed visiting which have an official world heritage site designation (individual country designations can be seen on the UNESCO website)
I compiled a Flickr set of photos from visits in the last year or so, including UK and Indian sites.
“Let Glasgow Prosper”- an interesting London crest
On getting the train to St Pancras from Brighton, I noticed this little welcome en route for my journey back home. How interesting, a variation on the “Let Glasgow Flourish” I am used to seeing, and an unexpected piece of the far North in the South East!
Southern Travels
I had meant to post this earlier but I have been a little tired from all the travelling and absorbing new places! Along the lines of a previous post on views from the East Coast main line train, I am adding a few from the Bristol to Brighton train.
First of all a musical sighting.. I was wondering why I had had various Bonzo Dog band songs in my head when I was staying in Bristol, now I know as I had been seeing buses with signs for Keynsham, the title of one of their albums!
Tell me more about the…
I also enjoyed passing through Bath, as you can see a little of the sweeping crescents and houses clinging to the hill, constructed with that famous creamy Bath stone. Here is a glimpse through the window, over the cricket ground.
Bath spa
I was really happy to see this…
White horse.. there in the top right corner on the hill!
I think this is the Westbury white horse, though do correct me if I am wrong. I have happy memories of seeing the Kilburn white horse when I was little, so I do like spotting these additions to the landscape.
South East Scotland and North Eastern England Coastal Train Views
I absolutely love the view from the train on the way along the coast in the North East of England. Even on a stormy day (which it was), the view is wonderful (although taking photographs from a seat window is particularly challenging, so I hope the seat shadows and light will be excused, this is not meant to be a “quality photography” post, but an “ooh.. look at that!” post).
From Edinburgh Waverley station one gets a wonderful view of Calton Hill and Calton Gaol; enormous crenellated buildings on huge rocks loom which above the station and gradually give way to the townscape of the city (look out for the Meadowbank Stadium and its velodrome whilst heading out East). As you pass on towards Dunbar one sees the beautiful red pantile roofs and dark stone buildings (typical of the Lothian and Borders townscape). Dunbar station has a lovely mosaic stating the name of the station, made from pebbles which are painted white, just incase you don’t know where you are. I don’t know any other station which has an official railway typefaced sign directing you to a wishing well either!
Onward south, one is greeted with wonderful views of the coast, at times the track clings to the cliffs so one can get a peek into the secretive coves and bays of the borders with that distinctive red rock tinge.
Southern Scotland coast from the train
When one reaches Berwick one passes through the site of Berwick Castle and crosses the great Royal Border Bridge designed by Robert Stephenson. You can see the “old bridge” (1611) and the “new bridge” (1928):
Berwick-upon-Tweed from the train on a rainy day, old and new bridges
On a fine day, keep an eye out for the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and the very top of Warkworth Castle (it was too stormy on my visit, as you will see from this):
North East England coast from train (near Berwick-upon-Tweed)
Onwards again, Alnmouth comes into view with its colourful houses facing out towards the railway and the view of the harbour sands.
Alnmouth from the train on a rainy day, but still beautiful!
In Newcastle you zoom past the Byker Wall and past the old castle, with fine views of the Sage and the Millennium Bridge.
Newcastle from the train
Don’t forget to wave at Antony Gormley’s the Angel of the North!
The Angel of the North from the train, on a rainy day
To Durham… home of truly spectacular views, taking in a the cathedral and castle- it’s not every day you pass a World Heritage Site on your train journey (infact Edinburgh Old and New Towns to Durham Castle and Cathedral could be called the World Heritage route).
Durham World Heritage Site from the train on a rainy day
Crenellated Arts 