Embarking on a road trip with my Land Rover Defender towards its home country, England, is a journey I am excited to take. However, we face the challenge of crossing the North Sea, also known as the Canal. Fortunately, taking the ferry from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, is the perfect solution. It promises a safe and enjoyable journey, offering stunning sea views. So, let’s set off on this adventure and experience the thrill of the open road and the ocean’s vastness.

We were scheduled to cross the North Sea, which would take several hours. The boat was set to depart around 20:30 and arrive in Hull, UK at 8:00 local time the next day. We were looking forward to spending a cosy night in the Ferry cabins. However, despite the comfortable setting, I couldn’t get a good night’s sleep due to my lower back pain. As a result, I ended up staying awake most of the night.

Although there were some bumps along the way, they didn’t ruin the journey. When I saw the land again, I couldn’t help but smile. It was then that I realized we had successfully crossed the canal.

Upon clearing passport control, we were met with the UK’s new, albeit stringent, regulations following its departure from the European Union. Despite waiting in line for an hour, it was all worth it as we finally got to experience the thrill of driving on the left side of the road as we entered the culturally rich city of Hull.

Embarking on a journey to Glasgow, Scotland, we were determined to take the road less travelled, avoiding highways and embracing the winding country roads. We knew this was the only way to immerse ourselves in the local culture and history. Our first stop was Barnard Castle in County Durham, England, where we discovered the Bowes Museum, an art and history treasure trove. Built-in 1892, the museum was designed by Jules Pellechet and John Edward Watson to house the illustrious art collection of John Bowes and his wife, Joséphine Benoîte Coffin-Chevallier.

As we wandered through the museum, we were captivated by the works of some of the greatest artists of all time, including El Greco, Francisco Goya, Canaletto, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, and François Boucher. The museum also features decorative art, ceramics, textiles, tapestries, clocks, costumes, and objects of immense historical significance.

Discover the charming market town of Barnard Castle in County Durham, where history comes alive with a medieval castle ruin as its centrepiece. Nestled on the picturesque north bank of the River Tees, it’s a town that offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity. Experience the beauty of this town with some additional stunning images.

As the church music played in the background, we continued our journey with 300 km still to go. Our destination was Yorkshire and we passed by some old churches on our way to the beautiful national nature park, The Yorkshire Dales.

The Yorkshire Dales is a stunning landscape comprising sheltered glacial valleys separated by exposed moorland. The most prominent rock in the area is Carboniferous Limestone, which is particularly visible in the southwestern region and features Malham Cove. The limestone is overlain by the Yoredale Series, which alternates weak shales, hard limestones, and sandstones, giving the dales their characteristic ‘stepped’ appearance. Additionally, most of the dales contain rivers, and the area is home to seven primary catchments: the Swale, Ure, Wharfe, Aire, Nidd, Ribble, and Lune. The area is also home to several notable cave systems, including the Three Counties, the longest system in the United Kingdom.

Feast your eyes on the awe-inspiring view as we stop to enjoy our lunch amidst the stunning landscape.

Imagine being surrounded by a stunning landscape while you enjoy your lunch, with the sun shining brightly overhead. That’s exactly what we experienced when we stopped our Defender to take a break. As we were admiring the scenery, an old train appeared, and I couldn’t resist capturing a photo of it. Our journey had just begun, and we hadn’t even made it to Glasgow yet. We still had over 100 km to travel, but with so much beauty to see along the way, we were excited for what was to come.

We continued our journey towards the Scottish border, with our first stop being Lanark at the Falls of Clyde. The Falls of Clyde consists of three waterfalls on the River Clyde, near New Lanark in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The area has been a popular tourist destination for many years. Famous writers such as Wordsworths, Coleridge and Sir Walter Scott have all visited the Falls.

In 1802, William Wordsworth wrote a poem about Corra Linn, the largest waterfall. Corra Linn has also been painted by famous artists like J. M. W. Turner. The name ‘Cora’ comes from Gaelic word ‘currach,’ meaning a marshy place. According to legend, ‘Cora’ was King Malcolm II’s daughter who fell to her death while trying to escape imagined danger at the Falls. Near Corra Linn stands the Pavilion, built by Sir John Carmichael of Bonnington, probably in 1708. The Pavilion had mirrors on its back wall, and when the doors were opened, visitors had the illusion of standing beneath the falls.

As we headed towards our resting place, the last few kilometres were a welcome relief after a long day of exploring Scotland’s natural beauty. Our excitement for the adventure ahead was tempered by our need for a good night’s rest. We eagerly anticipated our first day in Scotland, confident that it would offer even more stunning landscapes and memorable experiences.

The breathtaking sights we had seen thus far were just a taste of what this magical country had in store for us.

More to come

Thank you