Hi @HelloOutThere smoking has been banned in any pub, restaurant or hotel within the United Kingdom since July 1st 2007. I am sure that when you come over to the UK in the Fall, you will have absolutely no issues with anyone smoking in any establishment as the smoking ban is strictly enforced everywhere. From my personal experience I have never had an issue with this anywhere in the UK and my husband and I eat and drink out a lot! 
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Hi @Crookie your itinerary sounds fabulous!
Liverpool is a very exciting and vibrant city so when you are staying nearby, here are some ideas for things you might like to see and do.
Everyone knows that Liverpool was the birthplace of The Beatles. An excellent way of learning more about the story of The Beatles and their interaction with the city is to join The Beatles Famous Walking Tour Of Liverpool which will cost from £21 per adult. The tour itself lasts for 2 hours and 15 minutes during which time you will wander around the streets of Liverpool passing the famous Cavern Club, the Eleanor Rigby statue, Hessy’s the famous music shop and The Hard Days Night Hotel to name but a few of the recognised sights linked to The Beatles in the city. If this is not enough, there is the world’s largest permanent exhibition devoted to telling the story of The Beatles rise to fame, The Beatles Story. This can be found on the stunning UNESCO World heritage waterfront at the Royal Albert Dock.
Also to be found at the Royal Albert Dock is the Tate Liverpool. Housed in what was formerly a warehouse the Tate Liverpool is now one of the most impressive are galleries in the UK. Another art gallery that you might consider visiting is the Victoria Galley & Museum, located in the Victoria Building, Brownlow Hill. It houses the University of Liverpool’s art and museum collections, donated to and created by the university.
If the weather is kind to you then an excellent way to get a view of the city is the Radio City Tower, which is a bit like Seattle’s Space Needle, and has risen above the city since 1969. Officially this building is called St John’s Beacon but affectionately known as the Radio City Tower as Radio City broadcasts from this location.
If whilst at the Radio City you look to the west you will be looking at the Three Graces namely The Port of Liverpool Building, The Royal Liver Building and The Cunard Building. These three buildings each have their own intriguing history and are one of the reasons UNESCO named this city a World Heritage Site. This area of Liverpool is a must see and isn’t complete without a visit here!
To get a different perspective of the Liverpool waterfront why not take a ride on the Mersey Ferry which Gerry And The Pacemakers made famous with their song of the same name. You can choose either to buy a standard hop-on-hop-off or a combination ticket that includes entrance to other Liverpool attractions.
A short walk from the waterfront in to the city will find you standing before the Liverpool Cathedral, a large 20th century Church of England place of worship, with the world’s highest gothic arches and viewing tower. It was constructed between 1904 and 1978 and is the largest religious building in Britain and the fifth largest cathedral in the world. It can also claim to have the UK’s largest organ and an array of stunning stained glass windows. The cathedral often plays host to art exhibitions and charity dinners so be sure to check the website before you visit.
If the weird and wonderful is your thing then you might like to visit the Williamson Tunnels, a series of extensive subterranean excavations in the Edge Hill area of Liverpool. It is thought that the tobacco merchant, landowner and philanthropist Joseph Williamson had them created between 1810 and 1840. Despite being known as tunnels they would better be described as impressive brick arched chambers. The Williamson’s Tunnels are comprised of two sections, only one of which, Paddington can be visited and visits to this section are free of charge.
This is just a small selection of things to do and see in Liverpool and if anyone else has any other recommendations it would be great if you could please add them to this thread! 
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@Sam_F I have a question, while I’m in Yorkshire I want to go the Yorkshire Dales in hope of seeing ponies and the countryside. I’ve been exploring tours since I don’t drive, any suggestions. I know it’s a national park… just curious if anyone has any ideas. Thanks 
@HelloOutThere and @Crookie Here are some travel suggestions for your upcoming travels to Scotland. 
Starting on the East side about an hour south of Edinburgh you might like to visit Melrose Abbey, a magnificent ruin on a grand scale. This place was so beloved by Robert the Bruce who was King of Scotland from 1306 until his death in 1329 that he chose it to be the final resting place for his heart. If you do visit Melrose Abbey then cast your eyes upwards to see if you can find the Bagpipe Playing Pig! This is one of the numerous gargoyles that adorn this building.
Moving North you will come to Edinburgh, Scotland’s compact, hilly capital. I have tagged @Catgoddess_99 as you mentioned you will be heading that way. Edinburgh has a huge number of things to see and do but here are just a few ideas to whet your appetite. Berthed in the docks on the northern side of the city you will find the Royal Yacht Britannia. She served as a Royal residence for over 40 years, covering a distance of over 1,000,000 nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royal Family where they entertained prime ministers and presidents. You can explore the 5 decks of the vessel from Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite room, the crew’s quarters and the gleaming engine room. Please note Royal Yacht Britannia will be closed from March 11th to the 23rd 2024 due to the redevelopment of the Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre.
A must see is the building that dominates the skyline from anywhere within the city and that is the beautiful Edinburgh Castle. Due to its location in the city centre it is reachable by bus, tram and train. Castle Hill, upon which Edinburgh Castle sits, has had fortified structures built on it since the Iron Age. The Castle was home to kings and queens for many centuries. Queen Margaret (who was later made a saint), died here in 1093. The chapel built here in honour by her son, Kind David I, is Edinburgh’s oldest building.
Whilst in Edinburgh you can take a stroll down the Royal Mile, in the heart of Scotland’s historic capital. The Royal Mile runs through the heart of Edinburgh’s old town connecting two royal residences, the Castle and the palace of Holyrood House. It is home to parliaments old and new, a cathedral and churches, and a vast range of visitor attractions, walking tours, shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs. Ancient buildings, cobbled closes, hidden gardens and secret underground streets offer an unforgettable visit in to Edinburgh’s past.
A place that @Maeve might also be interested in on a future visit is the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh which is located just one mile from the city centre. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is one of the finest botanic gardens in the world and offers visitors 72 acres of tranquil stunning scenery. Here you can explore the world-famous Rock Garden or stroll amongst magnificent Giant Redwood trees.
A short distance to the North of Edinburgh is another city with Royal connections, where the Prince and Princess of Wales attended university, St Andrews. St Andrews as I am sure you know already is home to the famous golf course, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The Old Course at St Andrews is considered the oldest golf course in the world and St Andrews Links is the largest public golf complex in Europe. We had a fabulous dinner here at the Fairmont St Andrews and they have a great pre dinner cocktail bar here too! Another must dining experience whilst you are in St Andrews is the Seafood Ristorante which serves exquisite seafood on the shores of St Andrews.
Moving inland to the North near the village of Ballater you will find Balmoral Castle. This has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852, having been first leased in 1848. Access to the Castle is limited only to the Ballroom though you are free to enjoy the wonderful gardens at your leisure.
Scotland is world renowned for its whiskies and its many distilleries scattered across the country. One of these can be found to the West of Balmoral nestling on the edge of the small village Dalwhinnie which is located at the head of Glen Truim and the northeast end of Loch Echrit on the western edge of the Cairngorms National Park. Dalwhinnie Distillery, built in 1897, is the highest distillery in the country and takes its name from the Gaelic, “Plain of Meeting” as it is named for its location at a junction of old drove roads, between two mountain ranges. Here you can enjoy a Whisky tasting with a difference, paired with chocolate.
Scotland is also known for Loch Ness and its mythical animal, Nessie, that allegedly lives in Loch Ness, a large freshwater lake that contains more water than all the lakes of England and Wales combined. About halfway down the Loch on the western shore is the village of Drumnadrochit. In this location at the old Drumnadrochit Hotel Mrs Aldie MacKay reported seeing a ‘whale-like fish’ or ‘water beast’ in the water of Loch Ness in 1933. Just outside the village on the shore of Loch Ness are the beautiful remains of Urquhart Castle a large, ruined castle dating from 1509, with a visitor centre and cafe. It is worth a visit and a stroll for beautiful views over the Loch.
For steam train enthusiasts or anyone who enjoys beautiful views of the Scottish countryside I highly recommend taking a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train. Described as one of the greatest rail journeys in the world this 84 mile round trip takes you from Fort William in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain to the coastal town of Mallaig and back. If there is time the train will stop on the 21 arched Glenfinnan viaduct, a location made famous in the Harry Potter films, which overlooks Loch Shiel and the Jacobite Monument. This train gets exceptionally busy so book well in advance.
There are a number of islands off the West Coast of Scotland and two we particularly love are the Isle of Skye and the Isle of Mull. On your way to the Isle of Skye you must make a stop at Eilean Donan Castle which is beside the A87 outside the village of Dornie. As one of the most iconic images of Scotland Eilean Donan is recognised all around the world. This beautiful fully restored 13th century Castle lies on an island at the point where 3 great sea lochs meet.
The Isle of Skye is the largest island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago and since 1995 it has been possible to drive on to the island via the Skye Bridge over Loch Alsh. One of the ‘must sees’ on the Isle of Skye is Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. Architecturally it is a building of high importance, containing the work of at least 10 building periods ranging from the 1200’s to the 1850’s and is the only Highland fortress to have been continuously occupied by the same family for 800 years, the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod.
Another must, if you can get a table because it gets extremely busy is The Three Chimneys Restaurant, one of Scotland’s most famous. Housed within a 100 year old stone cottage it sits on the shore of Loch Dunvegan in northwest Skye. The restaurant has one numerous awards and is well known worldwide for high quality island produce and friendly yet professional service. I can personally vouch for this having dined there on many occasions in the past.
If you enjoy hiking then you might enjoy the 3.8km walk up to and back from the Old Man of Storr on the Trotternish Ridge. The Old Man is a 55 metre high pinnacle of basalt rock which is all that remains of a 2,800-million-year-old volcanic plug.
Another place we particularly like on the Isle of Skye is Portree, the largest town on, and capital of, the Isle of Skye. During the 18th and 19th centuries Portree was the harbour from which many poor and destitute Highlanders set sail for North America. Today Portree is a thriving tourist destination with its colourful waterfront buildings.
This is a photo overlooking Loch Portree
Finally, in this article, the Isle of Mull which is only accessible by taking a ferry, is Scotland’s second largest island of the Inner Hebrides. Tobermory is the main town on Mull, and is a picture postcard of a place with the brightly painted buildings along the main street to the pier and the high woodland fringed hills surrounding the bay.
On the edge of town sits the Tobermory Distillery established in 1798 which produces an island single malt Scotch Whisky. However today they do not only produce whisky but also gin, an award winning Tobermory Hebridean Gin. We partook in a tasting of this and found it to be very agreeable!
If you wish to stay in a Scottish Castle during your stay on the Isle of Mull we can highly recommend a stay in Glengorm Castle which is located 4 miles north of Tobermory and is set in its own grounds with magnificent views over the northern coastline. They also serve a delicious full Scottish breakfast in the morning!
A trip to Scotland would not be complete without sampling some Scottish Tablet. This is a medium hard sugary confection, usually made from sugar, condensed milk and butter, which is boiled to a soft ball stage and allowed to crystallise. It is often flavoured with vanilla and sometimes has nut pieces in it. Tablet differs from fudge in that it has a brittle, grainy texture, where fudge is much softer.
This is just a snippet of things to see and do in Scotland and please feel free to add on this thread and share your experiences of your travels in Scotland 😊
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Skye and Mull are both amazing. I visited both in 2016. Skye for me was very otherworldly, rugged and ethereal. Mull also wonderful.
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WOW WOW WOW. THANK YOU!
I scanned this post and will pay more attention as I continue to make early tentative travel plans. 
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Hi @HelloOutThere you are very welcome
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Thanks Sam, we love Edinburgh having visited previously. We enjoyed a champagne high tea on Britania! We spent a few days in Melrose last year, a lovely place and wandered around the abbey ruins. It was surprising to learn little Melrose was the birthplace of rugby sevens. This was shortly after visiting Lindesfarne on Holy Island so we felt like we should have been on a pilgrimage like St Aidan! Thanks for your ideas, we have no set plans as yet so will see where the roads lead us, high or low.
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@Catgoddess_99 did you take the passenger ferry to the Isle of Iona from Mull when you visited?
The Isle of Iona is simply stunning! 
and @HelloOutThere this is another place you must take the passenger ferry and visit if you do go to the Isle of Mull.
This is a photo I took from the ferry as we were arriving in Iona.
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You are very welcome @Crookie
Hi @Catgoddess_99 if you would like to see wild ponies then four Exmoor ponies have been introduced to Malham Tarn. There isn’t a tour here as such but you can get there by bus. Buses run to Malham from Skipton via Gargrave minibus 210/211 on Monday to Friday; DalesBus 75 on Saturdays and Cravenlink 884 from Bradford, Ilkley and Skipton on Summer Sundays and Bank Holidays (from Easter until mid October). If you are looking for the original Dales Ponies then the Dales Pony website will give you dates for forthcoming events.
If it’s just a day trip out and about in the Yorkshire Dales National Park then there are several to choose from on Trip Advisor. These are all day tours which start from various locations but usually York and if you are a fan of the tv series “All Creatures Great and Small” you can find tours catered to take you to the filming locations.
I hope this helps.
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Thanks for all the great info!
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@Catgoddess_99 you are very welcome
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Horses are one of my favorite photographic subject’s, especially wild or semi-feral just roaming. Heres an image I tool last February while on a kitty sit in Reno Nevada of a wild Mustang herd In Washoe Lake State Park
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That’s a stunning photo @Catgoddess_99
@Catgoddess_99 Beautiful!
Smoking is absolutely prohibited in UK and Ireland (and the rest of Europe). You often find smoking areas outside pubs but once inside they should be smoke free.
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@Catgoddess_99 and @HelloOutThere As @Twitcher and @Crookie mentioned, Whitby is a great coastal town to spend some time. It is steeped in history with its narrow cobbled streets and alleyways leading down to the waters edge. It sits on the Yorkshire Coast at the mouth of the River Esk.
This port was where Captain Cook learned his seamanship and where his first vessel, HMS Endeavour was built in 1764. She was launched as the collier Earl of Pembroke which the Navy purchased in 1768 for a scientific mission to the Pacific Ocean and renamed her Endeavour.
If you take the 199 steps from the town towards St Mary’s Church they will lead you to the ruins of Whitby Abbey and you will be rewarded with a beautiful view back across Whitby town. There has been a church on the Abbey grounds since the late Bronze Age, but the ruins you see today are the remains of the Benedictine Abbey that was founded after the Norman conquest. In the 13th century the site was completely rebuilt in the Gothic style. As money would permit the Abbey was added to and enlarged but wasn’t completed until the 15th century. Sadly like many beautiful Abbeys it was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries that took place between 1536 and 1540 on the orders of Henry VIII.
Bram Stoker visited Whitby in 1890. During his stay, he visited various parts of Whitby and heard local tales that then inspired characters and storylines for his novel that we all know, Dracula, published in 1897.
Whitby is renowned for its Fish & Chips! You will literally be spoilt for choice and here are a couple of our favourites. Trenchers, which is located right on the Harbour Front by Whitby Lighthouse, is where you can enjoy some fantastic views whilst tucking in to your chippy tea as it is known in Yorkshire. The Magpie Cafe is housed in a distinctive black and white building overlooking the harbour with views towards the Abbey and St Mary’s Church. The property was built in 1750 as a Merchant’s House and during its history it was for a time, the pilotage where the pilots would wait for orders to bring vessels in to the harbour. The building is reputed to be haunted by a ghost called Albert who worked at the property when it was Harrowings Shipping Office. 1939 saw the premises start its life as a cafe which was then turned in to the Magpie Restaurant in 1990. The Magpie’s cod and haddock comes fresh from a local fisherman and is cooked in beautifully crisp and bubbly batter - made using their own secret recipe and fried in beef fat. @Crookie do you have a favourite place that you found for fish and chips?
Something else that Whitby is famous for is Whitby Jet, a gemstone made from decaying wood under extreme pressure. Whitby jet is a stunning semi-precious black stone that has been used in the manufacture of fine jewellery since the Victorian age and it can only be found along a 7 mile stretch of the North Yorkshire coastline. A Jet souvenir became a “must have” item for Victorian holidaymakers but its popularity soared after Queen Victoria began wearing it in remembrance of her husband Albert in 1861.
If anyone has any other suggestions for Whiby please feel free to add them to this thread.
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