Review 500! Wowzers…read more I'm chuffed that it's this local landmark, as we walked up to Peel Monument on what was probably the loveliest, sunniest first day of Spring that I can remember. Occupying a prominent position on Holcome Hill, you can see the monument from miles around and it serves as a beacon for walkers or those of us that just enjoying getting up to it "because it's there". It's a memorial to Sir Robert Peel, born in Bury, who twice served as Prime Minister and is regarded as the father of the modern British police. On a clear day, which we were lucky coincided with our visit, you can look out across the Greater Manchester landscape to the towns, villages and moorlands beyond. Sit down on the grass and take it all in. There are public footpaths leading up to it from Ramsbottom; we didn't need a map as you could see it above you most of the time. Alternatively, there are lanes you can park on further up the hill as it's a bit of a climb, but definitely worth visiting.

Whalley Abbey is a retreat house and conference centre owned by the (Anglican) Diocese of…read moreBlackburn. As well as organised events, the accommodation is available for weddings and bed & breakfast. The house is set among the ruins of the 14th century Cistercian Abbey, from which it gets its name - the entrance is via an imposing gatehouse. You can visit the ruins for a small fee (access is free for those staying). The house itself contains some original 15th century fabric but was substantially altered in the 19th century, and refurbished in 2005. The accommodation is all en-suite and very comfortable - my only quibbles were that the shower was a little small, and my pillow was hard (I like squishy ones). But the views were magnificent and the formal rooms very impressive. Wifi is available but the signal strength is variable, due to the thickness of some of the walls. (Clearly not an issue in the 14th century.) The food was nice and plentiful, if somewhat traditional in style, though for those booking for weddings etc there are separate packages with a range of choices. There is ample parking but potential visitors would need to ask about level access (there seemed to be quite a lot of steps).

Towering 160m above both what was once the old-money village of Alderly Edge (now a mecca for…read morePremiership footballers and Wags) and the Cheshire Plain in general, the edge has some of the best views of anywhere in the area thanks to the dramatic edge - a steep cliff-like drop. The edge has historic associations with, somewhat incongruously, mining and wizardry, but these days it's a great place to go for a walk with either the kids, the dog, visitors or even a solitary stroll. There are car parks at both the foot of the edge and the top (the latter is the main one) giving the option of a quick trip to the edge itself and back or a longer, more demanding up-and-down walk.

On my to do list of must sees in liverpool was the Three Graces - The fundamental international…read moresymbol for Liverpool, is the Royal Liver Building, as well as The Cunard and the Port of Liverpool buildings. They are all side by side located on The Pier head in Liverpool. Stunning architecture, all majestic in their own right.

This is the first building you see when your ship arrives at the cruise port. One of the famous…read moreThree Graces it stands out more than the other two. On top of the two towers of the building are statues of Liver Birds which are said to be good luck to sailors and the city. probably one of the most iconic buildings in Liverpool. It is a must see when you visit.

Capernwray Hall, stately home and residence of the Founder…read moreof Toarch Bearer Community, Major Ian Thomas. After World War II where he served as an army officer in Germany with the British Army of The Rhine, he dedicated his life and his fortune, mainly his residence and whole property, the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Lancaster home Capernwray Hall, to serve as the central unit to all his enormous religious activities, founding lots of bible school places and establishing regional and local sections of his Toarch Bearer Fellowship all over the world. Here it all began, in 1946, when he set out to buy the castle and to converte it into what it is now, the heart of his sacred movement.

Good because Eleanor's narration left us wanting more. Inside was out of bounds so we were left…read morewith a half hour outside tour and the mini museum of the witches. We were thirsty for much more history than was given but what was given was great. Eleanor was a born story teller and there is so much more to this history than was given. For 2 pound 50 it was a bargain. What stories this castle could tell.

You'd be silly to come all the way to Lancaster without seeing the castle!…read more The castle is still a working court and prison, but you can take tours there seven days a week if you head around back (near the requisite gift shop.) The keep dates to the 12th century and the history of the castle is very interesting. The guides are well informed and fun to listen to, and there are events here throughout the year. When you finish, it's worth heading out front, putting the castle at your back and taking a walk down the street towards town. On the right, you'll see a sign for the Nice Cafe, and inside that building is the tourism office, which always has more info on things to see locally. If you go a few feet further and look left, you will find the Merchant's Pub, one of the oldest and coolest pubs in town. Grab a burger and a pint and enjoy their patio!

On the side of the road just off the A59 in the tiny hamlet of Sawley is the remains of an ancient…read morecistercian abbey which was founded in 1147. Today very little of the original structure still stands however it is a place of tranquility and stands on the banks of the river ribble on the edge of the forest of Bowland. This is an area of outstanding beauty in my opinion and not as busy with tourists as the nearby lake district.It is an English Heritage site and entry in free.

I went to Sawley on Sunday on my way home from holiday, as a personal pilgrimage. I was touched by…read morethe story of Sawley in the Tudors and the fact that it was a simple, but important small abbey at the heart of a spiritual, close, country community and I was also moved to see that it still is. The site is lovely and majestic. It was also personally moving as it was the site of trauma and drama during the Pilgrimage of Grace, with the abbey being disolved, then restored and then forced into surrender by a royal army, with its abbot hung, drawn and quartered in Lancaster in 1537. I was struck by the extent of the damage caused by both the destruction in the reformation and also the years since, but I was also struck by the beauty of the remains. The abbey is in a lovely setting and it is quiet, not a lot of people there, but at the same time, there were a few children playing in the grounds from the local houses, giving the abbey an air of life, after it had been taken from it all those centuries ago. I was also shocked that the ruins were so full of mourning for the loss of the prayers and songs of days gone by, but I was equally moved by the calm and simple harmony of the sense of place that remained. Lovely, serene, beautiful, and well worth a visit.

A great place to visit the owner is really friendly and great value for money , see my full review…read moreand photos at http://www.kevinsimon.co.uk/?p=2303

The Alan Turing Building is the location where the School of Mathematics of The University of…read moreManchester is based; it also houses the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. As everyone can imagine, it's named after the famous British mathematician and computer scientist Alan Turing. It's quite a new building, completed only a few years ago, in 2007. Many facilities are provided: spacious and well-lit lecture theatres, a cafe on the ground floor, a small library, computer rooms and even showers. The bridge across the atrium is the common room for mathematics academics and graduate students, where morning coffee is served.

The Alan Turing is the place where I spend most of my mathematical life. It's a great building!!…read moreThe worst thing about the building is that some of the offices (including mine) have no windows. However it's not hard to pop out into the main foyer, which with a glass roof certainly does not lack for natural light. There are plenty of top quality teaching rooms with particularly nice blackboards. My favorite thing about the ATB is the atrium bridge area. It a place where staff and postgrads can relax, chat and get away from maths (although you may struggle to avoid mathematical conversation). It location makes in easy to see from the upper level so you can quickly check who's about from your office (and then decided if you want to sit with them)