Plymouth, England

[MacTosh]

Sailing on RCCL cruise/Jewel of the Sea on Sept 8. Can anyone share info or previous experience regarding best options for sites/excursions in Plymouth, England and/or Holyhead, Wales. The other ports offer many choices but these cause pondering. Any local residents care to share opinons ~ we are open to exploring on our own. :) Thanks, BL

[negc]

We are on this sailing as well (check in on our roll call thread for more information on the folks you will be sailing with and the plans for activities pre-cruise in London, onboard and in the various ports of call. I just finished booking excursions for Plymouth, Holyhead and Cork. We have been to Plymouth, England previously and enjoyed the tour which took us out to Devonshire and the moors and included a stop for tea and clotted cream. This year we are taking the steam train excursion. In Holyhead we are going to Caernarfon Castle and the Snowdonia mountains, and in Cork, we are taking the tour of the Killarney Lakes and Muckross House. In the past, when we were in Cork, we took a private tour to Blarney Castle and Kinsale and a number of folks on this year's trip are doing it this year. There are plenty of folks on our Roll Call that have tons of good information to share with you on the above mentioned three port of call and LeHavre, Dublin and St. John's as well and hope you will check in.:)

[AF-1]

If you post your question on the europe board you will get a good answer. A lot of our european cruise critic members search that board and give good advice.

 

Cheers

[negc]

You might also check the ports of call boards for more localized information on British Isles.:)

[truffles2]

We visited the Eden Project and found it very interesting. You also enjoy a ride through the beautiful countryside.

[suzyluvs2cruise]

Sailing on RCCL cruise/Jewel of the Sea on Sept 8. Can anyone share info or previous experience regarding best options for sites/excursions in Plymouth, England and/or Holyhead, Wales. The other ports offer many choices but these cause pondering. Any local residents care to share opinons ~ we are open to exploring on our own. :) Thanks, BL

 

Like negc said................come join our Roll Call for this great cruise.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=15308383#post15308383

 

 

Also check out the terrific website that Sandy..........sanbmet......... has set up for the cruise It's filled with lot's of great information.

 

http://www.freewebs.com/jewelsoftheatlantic/

[xke_uk]

We visited the Eden Project and found it very interesting. You also enjoy a ride through the beautiful countryside.

 

 

Hi

The Eden Project is a great place to visit.

 

Roy

[madforcruising]

I second, third fourth....:rolleyes: the invitation to the Roll Call:)

[negc]

We received our shore excursion booklet today and there are eight different tours listed that can be booked through RCI. If you check the ports of call board you may find information about independent excursions that will also be available. If you are going to be in London prior to the cruise we are having a Bon Voyage dinner at Porters the night prior to sailing. :)

[greatdanemom]

From Plymouth we did the excursion to Dartmouth, a beautiful and quaint village. We enjoyed walking through the shops and trying different things to eat like pasties...yumm!

 

By the way, check out the Plymouth waterfront and the site of departure of the pilgrims. We were there on the 5th anniversary of 9-11 and were so surprised to see the beautiful floral arrangements that the locals had placed there as a memorial to the victims. It really touched our hearts to see that so far from home.

[Salica]

Hi. I live just a few miles to the north of Plymouth, so hope I can offer some suggestions. Plymouth itself has plenty to offer, part from the shopping area, which is dire. The area known as The Barbican has loads of character dating back several centuries. It is from here that the Pilrim Fathers set sail for America. Lots of individual shops and cafes/restaurants. Also one of the best Aquariums in the world and al wonderful walk along the sea front, known as The Hoe.

Day trips can be taken to places like Dartmouth, a small seaside town which is very attractive, as is Salcombe, an alternative. There will no doubt be a coach trip available to Dartmoor. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty covering 365 square miles, much of which is open countryside with ponies, sheep and cattle roaming freely. The scenery is amazing and September if a fantastic time to visit. If you are able, take a walk away from the road and enjoy the peace and beauty of the countryside. Lots of rivers, steams, tiny picture box villages. Ten miles from Plymouth is the home of Sir Francis Drake, Buckland Abbey, a twelfth century monastery turned into a home, set in beautiful countryside. It is a Natioanl Trust property, therefore well maintained and looked after. There are several other National Trust properties within an hours drive: Saltram just outside Plymouth where Sense and Sensibility was filmed; Greenway, near Dartmouth where Agatha Christie lived and Lanhydrock in Cornwall which is one of the largest NT properties in England, high Victorian but with many earlier parts too.

As someone has already said, The Eden Project in Cornwall, a good hour drive, is one of the top visitor attractions in Britain: essentially a series of enormous greenhouses, but that sounds a poor description of a fascinating place. We go several times a year! there are also some fabulous gardens to visit if you like that sort of thing! several belonging to the NT and some others too. There is a little known gem near to Buckland Abbey called The Garden House, and visits to those two places would make a lovely day out.

I hope this has helped, but if you have specific queries or interests, please come back to me and I will try to help.

[Post Captain]

Excellent ideas posted by Salica, especially Lanhydrock House (one of my favorite places in Cornwall) and Buckland Abbey.

 

To these, I'll just add another of my favorites, Cotehele (pronounced Co-TEEL), one of the best preserved Tudor homes in England, and in a truly glorious setting:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele/

 

http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/cornwall/houses/cotehele.htm

 

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

 

There's also Mount Edgecumbe House & Gardens (though, personally, I'd rate this below Lanhydrock and Cotehele):

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

 

http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/mountedgcumbe

 

http://www.aboutbritain.com/MountEdgcumbeHouse.htm

 

http://www.cornwall.com/attractions/mount-edgecumbe

 

http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/parks-and-open-spaces/mount-edgcumbe-house-and-country-park/?page=9961

 

[billsgal]

Take a look at the date of his post.....it is six years old! The Jewel hasn't done that route in a long time (I know because we were supposed to be on that cruise)and we missed Holyhead because the weather was too bad for the tenders. Because of that missed port call, the town fathers decided to build a pier, but I don't know if that ever happened.

 

I would make some suggestions for Plymouth, but I don't think the OP is still waiting around for an answer.....at least I hope not!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[billsgal]

Duplicate post

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[negc]

Hi. I live just a few miles to the north of Plymouth, so hope I can offer some suggestions. Plymouth itself has plenty to offer, part from the shopping area, which is dire. The area known as The Barbican has loads of character dating back several centuries. It is from here that the Pilrim Fathers set sail for America. Lots of individual shops and cafes/restaurants. Also one of the best Aquariums in the world and al wonderful walk along the sea front, known as The Hoe.

Day trips can be taken to places like Dartmouth, a small seaside town which is very attractive, as is Salcombe, an alternative. There will no doubt be a coach trip available to Dartmoor. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty covering 365 square miles, much of which is open countryside with ponies, sheep and cattle roaming freely. The scenery is amazing and September if a fantastic time to visit. If you are able, take a walk away from the road and enjoy the peace and beauty of the countryside. Lots of rivers, steams, tiny picture box villages. Ten miles from Plymouth is the home of Sir Francis Drake, Buckland Abbey, a twelfth century monastery turned into a home, set in beautiful countryside. It is a Natioanl Trust property, therefore well maintained and looked after. There are several other National Trust properties within an hours drive: Saltram just outside Plymouth where Sense and Sensibility was filmed; Greenway, near Dartmouth where Agatha Christie lived and Lanhydrock in Cornwall which is one of the largest NT properties in England, high Victorian but with many earlier parts too.

As someone has already said, The Eden Project in Cornwall, a good hour drive, is one of the top visitor attractions in Britain: essentially a series of enormous greenhouses, but that sounds a poor description of a fascinating place. We go several times a year! there are also some fabulous gardens to visit if you like that sort of thing! several belonging to the NT and some others too. There is a little known gem near to Buckland Abbey called The Garden House, and visits to those two places would make a lovely day out.

I hope this has helped, but if you have specific queries or interests, please come back to me and I will try to help.

 

Do you realize that you are responding to a thread from 2008? How you even found something that old or, having done so, thought there was any value to reviving it or providing information that is no longer of any use to the original posters is beyond me.

[MADflyer]

While only the Phoenix Amadea is visiting this season, this might be helpful to Prestige Cruise passengers next season as the Oceana Nautica and Regent Seven Seas Voyager call in 2015.

 

Hopefully more lines will follow in future years.

[negc]

While only the Phoenix Amadea is visiting this season, this might be helpful to Prestige Cruise passengers next season as the Oceana Nautica and Regent Seven Seas Voyager call in 2015.

 

Hopefully more lines will follow in future years.

 

Did Holyhead ever build the pier that was talked about after the Jewel was unable to tender her passengers into the harbor in 2008?

[klscaz]

Do you realize that you are responding to a thread from 2008? How you even found something that old or, having done so, thought there was any value to reviving it or providing information that is no longer of any use to the original posters is beyond me.

 

I found the information valuable as I am traveling to Plymouth on the Nautica in June 2015. I always search the forums prior to posting a question.

[maryup]

We will be in Plymouth on September. We would like to hire a driver to take us to gunisslake. Can anyone give us some suggestions how to do this. It is about 8 miles fron Plymouth

[John Bull]

We will be in Plymouth on September. We would like to hire a driver to take us to gunisslake. Can anyone give us some suggestions how to do this. It is about 8 miles fron Plymouth

 

 

 

It is extremely probable that you can just pick up a cab at the port, though it's likely to be quite a lot cheaper to pre-book a private-hire cab.

 

Two well-known & reputable operators in Plymouth are

http://www.plymcabs.co.uk/

and

http://www.taxifirst.net/about

 

BTW, Gunnislake (spelling) is about 18 - 20 miles from Plymouth.

It's important that you fix up for the driver to return for you at a pre-determined time, Gunnislake is a quiet little place.

 

There's a cheap (about £6 return) but infrequent (2 hour frequency) direct train service from Plymouth, but there's no taxi rank at Gunnislake station.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/At-the-station/Gunnislake

 

I'm intrigued why Gunnislake :confused:

Years since I lived in the area, but I don't recall anything of interest there.

JB :)

[Bob++]

There's a cheap (about £6 return) but infrequent (2 hour frequency) direct train service from Plymouth, but there's no taxi rank at Gunnislake station.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/At-the-station/Gunnislake

 

I'm intrigued why Gunnislake :confused:

Years since I lived in the area, but I don't recall anything of interest there.

JB :)

 

Amazing really that the rail link has survived at all: It really is the end of the line.

[maryup]

My father was born there and came to US when he was 25. My grandparents are buried there. I want to go to the grave sites and see their house.

 

Thanks for the information