Tag Archives: alresford bear

London Adventure

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We travelled to London on a National Express coach, and after arriving at Victoria Station set off on foot to our accomodation while doing some sight seeing on the way.

The first famous landmark was Buckingham Palace, where the King & Queen sometimes stay, but they don’t live there all the time.

A stuffed bear in front of Buckingham Palace, with tourists in the background and ornate gates visible under a blue sky.

Due to the very mild autumn weather all the geraniums in the flower beds were still in full bloom.

A teddy bear wearing a checked shirt and overalls poses in front of a landscaped garden with colorful flowers, with Buckingham Palace in the background under a clear blue sky.

Here I am on The Mall, the road that leads to the palace and where crowds stand when there is some sort of royal event happening. It was closed to traffic hence I was able to stand in the middle of the road!

A teddy bear in a checkered shirt posing in front of a sunny street leading to a large building, surrounded by trees and people walking.

St James Park was looking quite autumnal, and felt quite peaceful. You might be able to spot Big Ben in the distance.

A teddy bear wearing a red outfit stands in a park surrounded by trees and people walking in the background. The ground is covered with fallen leaves, and the sky is clear with a few clouds.

I paused for a little while to watch the swans on the lake.

A teddy bear wearing a checked shirt and red overalls gazes at a serene lake with swans and lush greenery, reflecting the sunlight.

My legs felt quite tired so I stopped for a rest on one of the deckchairs in the park. Being a bear I didn’t realise that there is a fee for sitting on deckchairs! There were two young men sitting nearby, suddenly one said to the other ‘quick, he’s coming’ and they leapt out of their chairs. A deckchair attendant was approaching, so I thought I had best leave quickly too as I don’t carry money. After looking at the sign I realised that there is a fee of £4.50 an hour to sit in a deckchair in the royal parks.

A teddy bear dressed in overalls and a checkered shirt sitting in a green and white striped deck chair, with fallen leaves on the ground.

There was plenty of space as St James Park wasn’t very busy (this was late afternoon in October)

A teddy bear dressed in red overalls and a checkered shirt standing on a bed of autumn leaves in a sunlit park.

I sat on the ground to eat snacks brought from home with a drink from the refreshment kiosk.

A plush teddy bear wearing a red checkered shirt and red overalls sits on the grass in a park, beside a small orange, a snack, and a can of apple juice.

After leaving St James Park we found the new Banksy statue in Waterloo Place, of a human unable to see due to a big flag blowing in his face. Very thought provoking.

A plush teddy bear in the foreground with a historic building and a tall statue of a man holding a flag in the background, under a blue sky with clouds.

I didn’t venture into Trafalgar Square as there was some kind of Chinese festival taking place making it quite crowded. Nelson is still on top of his column.

A stuffed bear toy in the foreground with Trafalgar Square's Nelson's Column and a crowd of people in the background under a blue sky.

Walking on towards Bloomsbury past buildings that all have a history I noticed the shop that used to sell horse clothing.

A teddy bear in front of historic brick buildings with shop signs, including one for 'Shiro.' The buildings feature large windows and decorative plants.

Finally feeling tired and rather warm in the October heatwave, we arrived at Russell Square.

A stuffed bear wearing a red outfit stands in front of a sign displaying a map and information about Russell Square in the London Borough of Camden, surrounded by greenery.

I could not resist paddling in the fountains, and amazingly I did not get wet!

A teddy bear wearing a red checkered shirt and overalls stands in front of a water fountain, with small jets of water splashing around it.

We finally arrived at the studio apartment which was ideal for a short stay in London as we had a little kitchen in the room.

A small teddy bear in red overalls and a checkered shirt, sitting on the steps of a modern white house with a black door and iron railing.
A stuffed bear wearing a red overall and a checkered shirt stands in a hallway with a flower arrangement and a modern chandelier above.
A neatly made bed with white linens featuring a large gray headboard, adorned with a plush bear wearing red overalls and a checkered shirt, sitting on a decorative pillow.
A plush bear wearing a red outfit and checkered shirt stands in a kitchen next to a kettle, two cups of tea, and Biscoff biscuits.

When in London the easiest and quickest way to get around is using the underground tube trains. The London Underground’s first line opened in 1863 and initally carriages were pulled by steam locomotives. Russell Square station is on the Piccadilly Line, which is a long way down underground and known as a ‘deep-level’ line. The station was built in 1906 in the art nouveau architectural style.

A stuffed bear wearing a red checkered shirt stands in front of the Russell Square Underground station in London, with people walking by and a clear blue sky above.

It was quite an adventure getting down to the the trains. A man’s voice announced on the tannoy system that one of the lifts wasn’t working, and warned that there are 175 steps and advised not to use them unless fit. My human likes a challenge and considers herself to be reasonably fit so we set off down the stairs (and came back up them on the return). I hitched a lift in the bear carrier as I was just too slow.

A stuffed teddy bear in a checkered shirt stands in front of malfunctioning ticket barriers at a transit station, while a group of people waits in line behind it.
A bear toy wearing a red and white checkered shirt sits on stairs, watching three people going up the spiral staircase inside a building.
A plush teddy bear wearing a checkered shirt stands on a spiral staircase with tiled walls featuring a mix of white, green, and black tiles.
A plush bear wearing a checkered shirt stands on a staircase in a subway station with a sign that reads 'TO THE TRAINS' on the wall.

Once on the train it departed very quickly from the platform. I didn’t have a seat so I had to hold on tight to avoid falling over!

A teddy bear wearing a red and white checkered shirt stands in a subway train surrounded by seated passengers.

We changed trains at Piccadilly station and I managed to get a seat for the next part of the journey.

A stuffed bear wearing a red and white checked shirt and beige pants sits on a seat in a subway train, next to a window.

The tube trains travel very quickly and it didn’t take long to reach Regent’s Park, our destination.

A teddy bear wearing a checkered shirt poses at a subway station with a train speeding by in the background.
A teddy bear in a checked shirt poses next to the Regent's Park London Underground station sign.

I was very keen to get above ground again, but enjoyed looking at the beautiful green tiles at Regent’s Park Station.

A stuffed bear wearing a red and white checkered shirt stands in front of a decorative green tiled wall.

My human wanted a photo of me with a red bus behind and the underground sign, but she nearly didn’t get me in this photo at all!

A teddy bear in the foreground with a red London bus in the background, featuring a '453' route sign. An Underground station sign is visible beside the teddy bear, with trees and buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.

Our destination was only minutes away from the station, Regents Park, another of the parks known as ‘The Royal Parks’.

A teddy bear in a checkered shirt stands in front of an ornate gate surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.

There were several heatwaves during the summer and very little rain so the gardens weren’t at their best, but still very beautiful.

A stuffed teddy bear wearing a checked shirt stands among vibrant pink roses in a garden.
A stuffed teddy bear wearing a checkered shirt and white pants stands among vibrant flowers, including orange roses and blue blooms.
A teddy bear wearing a red and white checkered shirt stands on a wooden pathway surrounded by greenery under a blue sky.
A teddy bear dressed in a checkered shirt sits among lush green plants in a garden, with a stone waterfall and blue sky in the background.
A teddy bear in a checked shirt and white pants stands beside an agave plant in a sunny garden.
A topiary sculpture shaped like stacked spheres made of greenery, with a teddy bear sitting on one of the lower tiers, surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges and trees under a clear blue sky.
A teddy bear wearing a red and white checkered shirt sits among colorful flowers in a garden, with a decorative stone planter in the background.
A decorative fountain surrounded by greenery, featuring a teddy bear sitting on the rim of the fountain, with people strolling in the background under a clear blue sky.

After walking through Regents Park we climbed up to to top of Primrose Hill where there is a very good view London.

A teddy bear in a red checkered shirt placed in front of a viewpoint sign at Primrose Hill, with people sitting in the background enjoying the view of a city skyline under a clear blue sky.

I was able to identify quite a few buildings including the BT tower on the far right. When I was a young bear it was known as The Post Office Tower.

A teddy bear wearing a red checkered shirt sits on a grassy hill overlooking a city skyline with skyscrapers under a clear blue sky. People are scattered throughout the park, enjoying the scenery.

A panoramic photo without me in!

Panoramic view of a city skyline against a clear blue sky, with lush green parks and trees in the foreground.

On our way back to Regents Park we crossed Regents Canal.

A stuffed bear wearing a checkered shirt stands on a bridge overlooking a canal with moored boats and lush green trees lining the waterway.
A plush bear wearing a red and white checkered shirt stands in the foreground, overlooking a serene canal with colorful houseboats and lush greenery in the background.

Back in the park again I stopped for a moment of reflection in the Queen Elizabeth II garden and remembered her having afternon tea with Paddington Bear. I think she liked bears.

A plush teddy bear sitting on a bench, gazing at a clear pond surrounded by lush trees under a bright blue sky.

I enjoyed a wood fired pizza sat outside in the sunshine at The Regents Park Bar & Kitchen before setting off back to the apartment.

A plush bear dressed in a checked shirt sits at a wooden table outdoors, in front of a large pizza topped with cheese and tomato sauce, alongside a carton of apple and mango juice.

Seeing one of my favourite bears on stage was the highlight of the trip.

A teddy bear wearing a striped shirt with Paddington Bear on it, standing in front of the Savoy Theatre, with a London bus and a crowd of people in the background during dusk.

Paddington the Musical is currently showing at The Savoy Theatre.

A promotional poster for 'Paddington the Musical' featuring the text 'Most Awarded' and listing various award categories and winners from the Olivier Awards 2024. A stuffed bear resembling Paddington is in the foreground.

The Savoy is quite a small theatre and I had an excellent view of the stage.

A teddy bear in the foreground, with a theater stage set in vibrant red and blue in the background, filled with an audience seated and waiting for a performance.

The show was very enjoyable. Do go and see it if you can!

A plush Paddington Bear doll wearing a striped shirt and red trousers stands against a wall decorated with illustrations from 'Paddington the Musical', featuring a red double-decker bus and other related imagery.

The next day we left our apartment to head for Victoria Coach Station but we had some time to spare so decided to detour to the London Eye.

A teddy bear wearing a striped shirt stands on a bridge, facing a skyline featuring modern buildings in the background with a cloudy sky.

I was a bit worried about going up so high.

A teddy bear wearing a striped shirt stands in front of the London Eye, with blue skies and fluffy clouds in the background.

However once inside the pod I felt very safe.

A teddy bear in the foreground with people enjoying a view from a glass-enclosed observation area, likely on a tourist attraction. The background shows various individuals looking towards the outside, with scenic views of a city and posters visible on the walls.

The pods travel very slowly so you hardly notice the movement.

A plush teddy bear wearing a striped shirt gazes at a cable car traveling above the River Thames under a blue sky with clouds.

The view was amazing and the ride not scarey at all.

A teddy bear wearing a red and white striped shirt gazes at the scenic view of a river and city skyline from a high vantage point.

Big Ben looked quite tiny once we got up to the highest point.

A teddy bear wearing a striped shirt gazes out over the River Thames and London skyline from the London Eye.

I am always smiling so ignored the sign!

A teddy bear with a smiling face sitting next to a sign that says 'Please smile for your photo' in a cabin of a ferris wheel, with a view of the city in the background.

After the ride we continued towards the coach station, passing many landmarks on the way.

A teddy bear in a striped shirt overlooking a busy street in London, with the iconic Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in the background.

I was a bit concerned about the King’s Guard horse guarding the formal entrance to Buckingham Palace & St James Park, as it was a hot day for a horse.  Apparently though they only stay one hour and then the guards and horses change. One hour seems a long time to stand still but I am sure the horses are well looked after.

A toy teddy bear with a striped shirt posing in front of a mounted guard on a black horse, near a sign warning about horse safety.

After a bite to eat we headed for the coach to return to Bristol.  It was a lovely few days that I will treasure in my memories.

Horace the Alresford Bear 23/10/2026

A Weekend in St Ives in Winter

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As we drove south towards Cornwall from Bristol the rain clouds got less and the sky became a bit brighter. On arrival at the hotel, a rainbow appeared in the distance, so I rushed into the hotel garden to photograph it before it dissappeared. I didn’t know then that there would be more!

St Ives Harbour Hotel is at the top of a hill and car parking is awkward, so we left our car parked on the roadside and a concierge from the hotel parked it for us.

On arrival in our room I was very keen to look at the view from the balcony.

I wasn’t disappointed, then rather amazingly, as I turned around to go back indoors a full rainbow appeared across Porthminster Beach. Both ends were visible but we couldn’t see any pots of gold!

I tried out the bed, which has become a bit of a habit in holiday accommodation.

The humans asked if I wanted a scone. Bears never refuse scones, so I went downstairs with them to the restaurant for a cream tea. This is the point when humans start fussing about whether to put the jam or cream on first…

The climate of sunshine with showers made it absolutely necessary for me to wear my yellow raincoat out and about. I was very keen to get to the beach while it was dry and still light (a disadvantage of UK winter holidays is the short days).

Here I am with the beautiful Porthminster Beach behind me. If it was July the beach would be covered with humans enjoying themselves.

I had the beach to myself, so sat for a little while and looked over at St Ives Harbour. My yellow coat was very useful in stopping my bottom from getting damp.

It was delightful walking through the alleys past all the little cottages.

My human wanted to take a photo of me with the harbour in the background, but the camera focused on me so it is a bit blurred.

Tidal harbours are interesting places as the boats get stranded when the tide is out, but the low tide gives bears an opportunity to have a good look at the various boats.

I rather liked this small nameless fishing boat.

Back at the hotel I enjoyed a mug of tea with a banana on the balcony.

The following morning I was very excited going downstairs for breakfast. At home a bowl of porridge or perhaps a marmalade sandwich is the usual breakfast fare, but hotels are different!

The lift goes up and down inside a cage in the middle of the stairwell. The hotel was built in 1893.

The breakfast buffet all looked very yummy….

I opted for three courses. A bowl of fresh fruit, a croissant and pancakes with bacon and maple syrup. All was delicious and kept my tummy full for a few hours.

After breakfast we went out to explore St Ives. I decided to go down in the lift…

The weather kept changing from being sunny one minute then raining the next, which my humans said is quite often the case in Cornwall. As long as you wear the right clothes it doesn’t really matter. We had a walk around the town and went in a few galleries. I particularly like the glass art in Jo Downs Gallery in the Market Place.

On the approach to Porthmeor Beach I came across an ancient well. The Well was apparently named after a 5th Century saint called St La. ‘Venton La’ means ‘La’s Well’ in the Cornish language.

I walked past the famous St Ives Tate Gallery; we didn’t have time to go in and look at all the interesting modern art exhibits inside.

There were quite a few surfers in the water at Porthmeor Beach. I watched for a while and some of them were very good. Unfortunately my human is unable to photograph surfers with her phone camera, she says they are even harder to photograph than seals!

It would be good oneday to keep on walking and follow the South West Coastpath on to Zennor, but not on a showery February day, so after reaching the rocks we turned and walked back towards the Island.

The Island isn’t really an island as it is attached to the rest of the land, but it does look like an island…

I followed the path on the Island which I hoped would lead me up to the little chapel that sits on the top.

More rain, and another rainbow, just as I approached the tiny St Nicholas Chapel.

There are no records of when the chapel was built, but it is thought to date back to 1434. St Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, so the chapel was named appropriately for the location next to the sea.

We were happy to head back to the hotel as it was raining again, and I was booked in to do an art workshop with my humans. Fortunately I had remembered to bring my painting smock to protect my fur.

The watercolours workshop was run by Barnoon Arts, who have a gallery/workshop in St Ives. Participants painted the view from the hotel in watercolours after having a cream tea (cream teas are very important in Cornwall).

It was my first time painting using watercolours and I struggled with some of the techniques (such as puddling, puddles are best for jumping in while wearing wellington boots).

I did manage to create my own masterpiece featuring Godrevy Island….

After a busy day it was good to snuggle down in a comfy bed with a camomile tea.

The following morning was another beautiful day and another wonderful view from the balcony.

On Sunday morning went to Godrevy in the car, as from there it is possible to walk to Mutton Cove where seals can be seen. Unfortunately when we got there the carpark was full, so instead we drove over to the other side of Cornwall to visit Mousehole, where we parked about half a mile away and walked along the coast to the village.

The streets of Mousehole can get very busy in the main holiday season, but it was refreshingly quiet. I enjoyed wandering around the harbour & cottages and had a delicious crab sandwich in the Mousehole Deli for lunch. I didn’t see any mice there at all.

After Mousehole we called at Marazion, where the tide was low enough to walk across the causeway to St Michael’s Mount. The castle and gardens aren’t open in winter, though I have visited them previously. See https://horacethealresfordbear.com/2017/04/03/st-michaels-mount/

On the beach at Marazion I met an amazing human. Clair Sharp is planning to row single handed across the atlantic ocean in this boat in December this year. She is going to take a teddy bear with her on the journey, and will be raising money for a charity that supports humans who have motor neuron disease. I felt very privilaged to meet her. You can read more about her here: https://coarnishmaid.com/

After the busy day exploring my humans went to relax in the hotel spa, where there is a lovely swimming pool. Unfortunately getting wet isn’t good for my fur or stuffing, so I just sat and watched humans having a pleasant time which was fine.

After brushing my fur and putting on my smart waistcoat and bow tie I was ready to go to dinner with the humans and help them celebrate Karen’s birthday. Karen’s partner who is quite good at art gave her a greeting card with me on the front!

I had salmon to start, then nut loaf (with a yorkshire pudding on top), followed by sticky toffee pudding. Bears are very fond of sticky toffee pudding; it was an excellent birthday meal enjoyed by all.

The next morning it was time to go home, had the sun come out we may have stayed another day, but it was pouring with rain again.

My last meal at the hotel before leaving for home had to be a full English breakfast….

It didn’t take long to pack up my little rucksack ready for the journey back to Bristol.

Despite the rather changeable weather we had a wonderful time in St Ives and I hope to visit again when the days are longer and walk the coastal paths and maybe visit the Tate Gallery.

We stayed at The Harbour Hotel https://www.harbourhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/cornwall/harbour-hotel-st-ives

Horace the Alresford Bear 12/2/2026

South Foreland Lighthouse at the White Cliffs of Dover

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Before we set off to visit the lighthouse I sat for a while and looked across the water to France. The camera didn’t pick up the French coastline very well but I could see it, just 21 miles away.

After a walk along the top of the White Cliffs of Dover I headed back to visit South Foreland Lighthouse.

Cows were travelling along the path in the opposite direction

I could see the lighthouse in the distance. There has been a lighthouse of one sort or another at South Foreland since the 13th Century.

Between Dover and Ramsgate there is an area underneath the sea called The Goodwin Sands, but also known as the Great Ship Swallower. The 10 miles of sandbanks hidden under the sea are constantly shifting around and a great danger to any ships that enter the area. The lighthouse hasn’t been used since the 1980s as now ships have much improved navigation systems which keep them away from the Goodwin Sands.

It was a beautiful sunny day but I did think I might need to remove my hat in the lighthouse just in case it was windy at the top.

Tours have to be booked at the reception desk in the shop, where I also bought a little lighthouse pin badge as a souvenir.

A National Trust volunteer guide met us at the door and then took us down to the basement of the lighthouse to start the tour. She told us many interesting facts. The curved roof was built by filling in the whole building with sand, making it a dome shape then laying the bricks on the top. Once finished all of the sand was removed through the door. The batteries that you can see were a few of many that were used as a back up in the case of a power cut, though the lighthouse was originally lit using oil lamps.

I went up some stairs to the first floor..

Here I am inside the chamber containing the weights that controlled the timing of the lighthouse flashes. It was one of the lighthouse keeper’s jobs to check that the light flashes were correctly callibrated. Each lighthouse had a specific sequence of flashes so that mariners would know where they were.

This specially curved sideboard came from another lighthouse but is of the type that would have been at South Foreland. The oil lights on the top are examples of oil lights used in various lighthouses. The oil used was whale oil (which was rather sad for whales).

I continued up the stairs to the next level….

I sat at the light house keeper’s desk for a little while and looked out at the sea. He would have had a very big responsibility on his shoulders.

Here I am with the winding handle for the weights that were used to turn the lense around. Lighthouse keepers had to wind the weights back up to the top every two hours through the night in order to keep the lights flashing. T

I climbed further up a little ladder right to the top to have a look at the lense. South Foreland Lighthouse was the first one in the UK to have electric lights.

The scientist Michael Faraday spent lots of time at the South Foreland developing the electric lights which was subsequently installed in all the other lighthouses around the UK managed by Trinity House (The Lighthouse Authority).

There was an amazing view from the windows at the top.

I decided to venture out on to the platform for an even better view…

The view was even better outside, especially as it was a clear day.

After coming back down the stairs we thanked the tour guide and went into Mrs Knott’s tearoom for some refreshments which we decided to enjoy outside. The tearoom next to the lighthouse was converted from one of the lighthouse keeper’s cottages and named after the Knott family who were keepers at the lighthouse for many years.

Do visit South Foreland Lighthouse if you are near Dover, it is very interesting. Be careful not to go to North Foreland Lighthouse by mistake, as we did first of all, as that one isn’t open to the public!

For more information see https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/south-foreland-lighthouse

Horace the Alresford Bear 27/6/2025

Exploring Hope Cove: A Winter Adventure

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I was delighted to be brought to this beautiful part of Devon by my humans.

Hope Cove was once a fishing and smuggling village.  During the 18th and 19th centuries the sheltered harbour provided refuge for boats from storms but they had to be very careful due to the rocky coastline. 

The sun was shining when we arrived so immediately I set off to explore.   A group of humans walking by stopped and took photos of me in the boat!

I set off across the Harbour Beach to walk across the breakwater (sometimes called a mole).  Fortunately there weren’t too many steps up!

After walking along I stopped to look at the view.  The large building is the Cottage Hotel which is quite big to be called a Cottage!

I carefully walked back as falling into water is something to be avoided. I was careful not to get distracted watching the yellow labrador dog in the water.

Back on the beach with the sun making the sea sparkle behind me.

Hope Cove consists of Outer Hope and Inner Hope. It was a short walk along to Inner Hope, and on the way we passed this lovely thatched cottage so I stopped for a quick rest and a photo.

Most of the thatched cottages were in Inner Hope….

I had a good wander around…

Then stopped for a sit down, but the bench wasn’t being warmed by the gentle winter sun so I didn’t stay there for long.

Lots of water from a nearby stream was gushing down next to the lifeboat slipway

There were beautiful calming views of the Harbour Beach to look at on the way back, but I also had to keep an eye on the steps!

A wonderful thing about winter adventures is the lack of humans everywhere. There were a few about as it was a Sunday, but not as many as there would be in summer.

This splendid cottage is in Outer Hope.

We followed the coastal path south, and once up high paused for a while to look at the wonderful view.

South Milton Sands is just over a mile away from Hope Cove and has a long sandy beach.

Even in winter it was relaxing to sit on the sand and look out to sea. The rock in the distance is the Thurle Stone, it has a hole in the middle so looks like an arch when viewed from another direction.

Right next to the beach we found the aptly named Beach House! I had a very yummy slice of carrot cake there…

After walking back to Outer Hope my human suggested a photo, I was a tad tired and kept getting blown over by the wind so I sat down.

Our accomodation was in the Hope & Anchor Inn which overlooks Mouthwell Beach.

The room was very cosy with a large comfortable bed for me to rest my paws on before supper.

My nut roast supper was delicious, but I assure you readers that the Yorkshire pudding really wasn’t as big as my head. The camera did weird things and focused on the things in front of me and made them look bigger.

Going to sleep after such a busy day was no problem at all…

The next day healthy breakfast! Avocado on toast with sundried tomatoes, something I haven’t had before but very tasty.

Before going home I explored Mouthwell Beach which is next to the Hope & Anchor Inn. It was low tide so all the rockpools were exposed.

My human nearly got wet feet while taking this photo, the tide came in over her toes, so we moved back a bit. My wellington boots float when in water as I am not heavy enough to keep them on the ground.

I was able to stand here for a few minutes as the log stopped the water from pushing me over, and I was stood on a sand ridge.

Clambering about over the rocks was fun, though done cautiously just in case as seaweed and algae can be very slippery.

The low tide had exposed lot of creatures that live on the shoreline, including Oarweed (Laminaria digitata), Limpets (Patella vulgata) and periwinkles (Littorina littorea)

I was exploring the little cave when my human called me to take this photo!

Winter is a wonderful time to go to the seaside, it isn’t warm but if you dress appropriately for the weather you can keep warm and have a lovely time and have plenty of room to explore!

I stayed at The Hope & Anchor Inn https://hopeandanchor.co.uk/

Horace the Alresford Bear 12/2/2025

A Winter Getaway at Durdle Door: Bear’s Experience

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The mobile home at Durdle Door Holiday Park was just the right size for a small bear (and some humans)

My first job on arrival was to unpack my suitcase, which didn’t take very long…

Then I settled into a comfy chair to relax and read for a little while.

It wasn’t long before supper time. We were self catering and the mobile home had an enormous range cooker to prepare meals on.

The humans don’t spend too much time cooking when on holiday. Our first supper was a Charlie Bigham Red Thai Curry, with brocolli and carrots. It was very good for a ‘ready meal’.

The next morning the humans got me up very early to go and see the sun rise at Durdle Door.

To begin with there didn’t seem to be much sign of the sun, it was hiding behind the clouds.

Then all of a sudden it appeared through the ‘door’ in the rocks and was a wonderful sight to witness.

I didn’t look at it for very long as staring at the sun isn’t good for a bear’s eyes.

After climbing back up all the steps I stopped to have another look at the wonderful view.

Back at the mobile home I tucked into some bran flakes followed by marmalade on toast for my breakfast.

Later in the day my human took me out in the bear carrier to Lulworth Cove, which is just over a mile away from Durdle Door along the coast path.

Stair Hole is next to Lulworth Cove, where there are more cliffes with interesting holes in.

Lulworth Cove has lots of geological history going back millions of years, and the different layers visible can be seen. When the rocks were all underwater continents collided and tipped them up sideways.

A huge river of glacial meltwater was thought to have cut the gap out to the sea which can be seen in the photo below.

I sat for a while on the beach somewhat in awe of the forces of nature.

Later back at the mobile home I looked up ‘Lulworth’ in the Douglas Adams book that I have been reading, ‘The Meaning of Liff’ which gives meanings to many place names. I was delighted to find Lulworth mentioned there!

After so much exploring I was very tired and had an early night.

The next day I spent watching the world go by and left the humans to go out walking on their own.

When the humans got back, with tired legs, I cooked a meal for them. I used what I could find in the fridge and started off chopping up leeks.

I fried up the leeks in olive oil and added cherry tomatoes and spinach. While this cooked I put some pasta in a pan to cook.

After adding the tin of red salmon, some pepper and some mascarpone cheese I mixed it all together.

I decided to grate a little cheese to be sprinkled on top.

The result was delicious and the humans enjoyed it too.

The following day it was time to go home, so I packed up my little suitcase and made my way to the car.

I had a lovely few days at Durdle Door, which I think that although the weather was a tad cold, winter was a good time to visit as the holiday park was quiet and there weren’t lots of humans everywhere as there can be there in summer.

Horace the Alresford Bear 4/12/2024

RNLI College & Hotel: A Bear’s Perspective

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I arrived all prepared for an overnight stay with my special bear sized suitcase.

After checking in I said “Hello” to a large gathering of RNLI Bears!

I wondered about treating myself to some splendid RNLI yellow wellies, just like the ones that the lifeboat crews wear, but unfortunately the smallest were too big.

The room was on the 3rd floor which is a lot of stairs for a small bear, so I waited for the lift.

It whizzed upwards and I was soon on the way to the room.

There was an interesting view of various lifeboats from the room window.

I always test beds long before bedtime. This one was very comfy.

I was very careful not to spill any tea on the white sofa!

After finishing my tea I set off to have a look at the grounds. The RNLI college is where lifeboat crews do training and they stay in the hotel while doing various courses. Other humans are able to book the unused rooms. They also do tours of the site but they were all booked up, so we will try and do this when next in the area.

I had a good look at the various lifeboats that were all around.

I love deckchairs, especially stripey ones, so I had sat for a while in this one before going back to the room to get ready for the evening meal.

On Sundays the evening meal at the RNLI hotel is from a carvery. It was all very tasty and filled up my tummy.

I felt quite tired after such a busy day (we visited Brownsea Island before checking in) so it wasn’t long before I needed to go to bed. I took my special new pyjamas from the suitcase.

The new pyjamas fit me perfectly. They were made to fit Paddington, but he just happens to be the same size as me, so my human ordered handmade Paddington sized pyjamas for me from an online auction site (details of the seller listed later).

It wasn’t long before I was fast asleep.

In the morning at breakfast there was an excellent choice of food. I ended up with a bacon roll, a bowl of fruit and a very yummy pastry that had lots of chocolate inside.

Before leaving I went outside to watch crew members being trained. Some of them were learning to tie knots, and some to throw ropes. I think the rope throwing must need quite a bit of practice.

If you are visiting Poole this is a splendid place to stay. The Hotel profits help support the work of the RNLI rescuing humans that get into difficulty in the sea.

More information about the RNLI College & Hotel: https://rnli.org/rnli-college

My pyjamas were purchased from this seller: https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/padd-on-t-net

Horace the Alresford Bear 3/9/2024

Camping with Growler

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Growler hadn’t been camping for many years and was jolly pleased that the humans had agreed for him to come along with me taking care of him.

We let the humans put the tent up then enjoyed mugs of tea in the sunshine.

We were having hot dogs and salad for our supper. Growler likes fried onions with his hot dogs. We cook using an electric induction hob which is much safer for me with no flames to worry about.

Growler really enjoyed his hot dog, and he washed it down with a glass of red wine.

It wasn’t long before it was time to go to sleep. Our camping bed was very comfortable. We slept on a self inflating air mattress. Growler commented that such things hadn’t been invented when he was a young bear (he is 66 years old).

The next day we were up quite early for a walk across the moor to Tavistock.

I helped Growler up onto this moss covered log for a photo…

We stopped for a while to watch the sheep. They all had very colourful sploges of paint on their sides.

There are lots of streams on Dartmoor. We somehow managed to reach the stones in the middle of this one without falling in!

After walking a while Growler had very tired legs, and I must admit my legs were feeling a tad worn out too. Fortunately our human was wearing the bear carrier and we both managed to fit in!

When we arrived in Tavistock we enjoyed a mug of tea and a biscuit at Dukes Coffee House next to the Pannier Market.

We were only away for a couple of days but had a splendid time.

Horace the Alresford Bear 17/8/24

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye Adventure

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Our first brief stop after crossing the border into Scotland was Loch Lomond.

We stretched our legs at Luss…

..and tried on some tartan caps.

After which we continued our journey on to the Bridge of Orchy

Our accomodation for the next couple of nights was the hotel, so we made our way up the steps. For more about the hotel see https://www.bridgeoforchy.co.uk/

After checking in we tried out the huge bed…

Nye wanted to see the bridge that Bridge of Orchy is named after, so we set out in the rain to find it. It crosses over The River Orchy…

The mountains behind us were barely visible in the mist and clouds.

You may know I am fond of a full English breakfast. Scottish breakfasts are very yummy too, there would normally be an egg but I didn’t feel like eggs when I ordered! Nye opted for scrambled eggs with smoked salmon.

The humans went out to walk some of The West Highland Way. We stayed in the hotel and watched the clouds go by from the bedroom window.

After leaving Bridge of Orchy we stopped briefly at Glen Coe Visitor Centre after driving through some amazing scenery. The clouds and rain had blown away for a while and we could see the mountains in all their glory.

At Glen Coe Visitor Centre the Scottish National Trust have recreated a typical turf and creel house. We were fortunate to get there just before a coach party of humans arrived! Read more about it here: https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/glencoe/highlights/turf-and-creel-house

We had a few minutes peace inside by the fire before lots of tourists appeared.

We said ‘Hello’ to a highland cow before making our way back to the car quite quickly as the sunshine had brought out the midges.

After stopping at Fort William for the humans to collect food, and then driving through more wonderful scenery and across the Skye Bridge we arrived on the Isle of Skye. After travelling past more mountains and lochs and some small towns we finally reached the holiday home where we would stay for the following week at Storr Lochs.

It was a rather splendid cabin overlooking the sea. See more about it here https://www.thebayskye.co.uk/

The cabin was very nice inside, and the humans very quickly cooked a meal for us.

We spent quite a while just looking at the view….

Our first outing on Skye was to The Skye Museum of Rural Life. There are lots of croft cottages there set up to show how humans used to live years ago.

We had a peep through the window in one croft cottage before going in.

It looked very cosy inside.

The Crofters didn’t say much though!

The thatch on the cottages was held in place by very large pebbles.

Crofters often used half of the cottage to house a cow in order to get milk.

We were hoping perhaps a human might push us around in the wheelbarrow, but it didn’t happen….

Here we are inside the Blacksmith’s cottage.  You may notice the enormous bellows to the left of Nye. The bellows pumped air into the furnace, increasing the heat and oxygen supply to the fire and helped to shape the metal. It must have been very hot work.

We also visited the Post Office and General Store.

The Weaver’s cottage was also very interesting…

There were humans of all nationalities at the museum and it was getting quite busy, so after having a look inside all the crofter’s cottages we left to visit another place. Too many humans are a problem sometimes as they accidently end up in my photographs!

Our next destination was to have a look at some interesting mounds known as ‘The Fairy Glen’.

The Fairy Glen is a geological wonder consisting of a group of conical hills that look man-made but are, in fact, remnants of an ancient landslip. We decided to climb to the top of one of the mounds.

There was a splendid view at the top of the other mounds along with crofter’s cottages in the distance.

On arriving back at the cabin we enjoyed some Scottish shortbread biscuits on the deck.

We were able to see The Old Man of Storr from our deck, but only when he wasn’t covered in cloud. The Old Man is on the Trotternish Ridge which was formed over 600 million years ago by a massive landslip. He is visible in the photo below behind us. The humans tried to walk up to see The Old Man close up, but the conditions were too foggy so they came back down again.

We set up the binoculars to get a better look….

The Old Man looked quite eerie with all the mist drifting around.

On the longest day, the summer solstice, we got up very early to see the sun rise. In Scotland in summer they have about an hour longer of daylight than we do in Bristol. The island in the sea is called Raasay. You may notice a pipe and a small concrete building. We were staying right next to the Storr Lochs hydro electric plant, built in 1952 and upgraded in 2017. It is one of the smallest hydro schemes in Scotland but apparently if there is a problem with electricity supplies from the mainland, this small plant keeps the lights on in Skye.

We didn’t go everywhere with the humans as long walks aren’t really our thing, but we joined them on their trip to Dunvegan Castle. The Castle has been occupied by the same family, the MacLeods, for 800 years. For more information see: https://www.dunvegancastle.com/

There is a seal colony in Dunvegan Loch, we like seals so were very keen to go out on a boat to see some of them.

We climbed into the clinker boat and waited for the skipper to start the engine.

The problem with trips to see wildlife is that sometimes the wildlife may be elsewhere! The skipper was very pleased to finally spot one seal on the rocks…

Here is a close up of the seal, who was due soon to have a baby seal.

After going back to the castle we explored the gardens. Here we are sat on the Dunvegan Pebble, which took us by surprise as it goes round and round like a roundabout.

We had a little rest in a rather strange chair…

I made sure that Nye didn’t get too close to the water as he has been known to fall in.

In the garden museum I found some ancient gardening tools. This bear sized contraption was used to trim the edges of lawns.

There was lots of catmint growing in the knot garden. The weather is very unpredictable on Skye, so it must be a difficult environment for gardeners.

We found a waterfall in the water garden…

Also some interesting purple cones on a Korean Fir tree.

In the woodland garden we found an old Elm tree with a two bear sized hole in it….

Nye was very useful (he has a strong head) and helped me look through the window in this tree stump for a photograph…

The tractor made from logs was intended for human children, but we enjoyed sitting in it.

On the way back to the cabin, after driving through Portee we came across some more highland cows, so stopped to say ‘Hello’ to them…

Back at the cabin the following day, the Black Face sheep had all settled right outside our bedroom window. There are lots of sheep on Skye, the black faced ones are very hardy and able to tolerate all winds and weathers.

We also saw this sheep everytime we went out:

When it was time to go home the sun was shining very brightly and got us all up very early. We had a lovely time on Skye, but had to start the journey back towards England.

Our next destination was Loch Ness, where we had booked a B&B for a couple of nights. Nessie the Loch Ness monster has been living with us in Bristol for as long as I remember, but we thought she might like to return to her home so decided to set her free on the shores of Loch Ness.

We said our goodbyes as she headed for the water….

After leaving Nessie in the Loch it was check in time at Balachladaich B&B. For details see https://www.lochnessbedbreakfast.co.uk

The B&B was on the shores of Loch Ness, so as soon as we arrived we went down to the beach to see if we could spot Nessie swimming around. To our surprise she emerged from the water…

Nessie said she wanted to stay with us, and come back to Bristol with us.

Nye gave Nessie a big hug…

…then we took Nessie back up to our room at the B&B.

The breakfast was continental style, which was good for me as my tummy cannot cope with too many full Scottish breakfasts!

The weather was getting a bit warmer so it was necessary to try on our midge protection gear, but fortunately we didn’t need to wear it.

One of the highlights of our time in the Scottish Highlands was walking alpacas. Right next door to the B&B is Loch Ness Alpacas, where humans (and sometimes bears) can take an alpaca on a trek along the shores of the loch. For more details see https://www.lochnessalpacas.co.uk/

We walked 8 year old Apollo, a very gentle and well trained alpaca.

Thirteen alpacas live at Loch Ness Alpacas, these guys greeted us at the end of the walk. They roam freely in a big field which includes the shoreline, and sometimes go into the Loch for a paddle.

We enjoyed Loch Ness but had to move on to our last Scottish stopover in Moffat, where we spent the night in a coaching inn built in 1792, The Balmoral.

The Old Stables were situated in a courtyard behind the hotel, and we stayed in a one of the ‘cottages’ in the stable.

We were delighted to find a large box of chocolates waiting for us inside!

In the morning I enjoyed another cooked breakfast while Nye opted for a bacon sandwich (he doesn’t eat quite as much as me). We discussed the lovely holiday that had nearly ended.

We didn’t drive all the way from Moffat back to Bristol, but stopped again in Manchester for a few days, and on the way to Scotland we stopped in Grassmere.

We are very fortunate bears to be able to travel with our humans to such lovely places. Scotland is well worth visiting but it is a very long way from Bristol!

Horace the Alresford Bear 30/6/2024

Mini off-road bicycle tour to Devizes

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My human found room for me in one of her bicycle panniers enabling me to go from Bristol to Devizes on an off-road bicycle adventure. I stayed tucked inside the pannier as the bicycle rolled along the Bristol to Bath cycle path until I heard the sound of a steam train. I got out very quickly and managed to wave to all the people on board.

My human stopped for me to pop up again at the entrance to the first of The Two Tunnels. Trains used to use the tunnels many years ago but now they are for cyclists and walkers.

I had a peep through the tunnel before climbing back into the pannier to be transported through.

After emerging from the 2nd tunnel, which is a kilometre long, we stopped for a picnic lunch.

The humans pedalled on following signs for Bradford on Avon. At Monkton Coombe they had to take the bicycles down steps that go through the school. I got out of the pannier to get a closer look at the cricket pavilion which is thatched and very pretty.

We got onto the canal path at Brassknocker Basin. I do like that name!

Just along from the basin the canal goes over the river Avon on the Dundas Aqueduct.

I peered over the edge to see the river running underneath. There is something fascinating about aqueducts.

With me back in the pannier the humans pedalled away until we arrived at Bradford on Avon. It was refreshment time so we went into The Lock Inn.

I opted for a banoffee ice cream, which turned out to be much bigger than expected. It was absolutely delicious. I don’t have ice cream often but when I do I really enjoy it. Yum yum yum….

I also enjoyed some iced tea which I shared with my human.

The canal path alongside The Kennett & Avon canal gets quite narrow and bumpy on the way to Devizes. I popped up out of the pannier on one of the many bridges while the humans were having a rest.

There is lots of wildlife – the swans paddled over to see me but didn’t hang around when they realised I didn’t have any food!

A few miles on we spotted a heron. Can you see it?

Finally we reached the Caen locks, a flight of 29 locks, one of the longest in the UK. It takes a boat about 6 hours to get through them all to the top of the hill.

The bicycles got to the top of the hill in about 15 minutes. Here I am looking at the last lock.

Our hotel was just a couple of miles from Caen in Devizes.

The humans put their bicycles into the bike store then we all went inside.

After a good night’s sleep in a comfy bed I enjoyed a yummy full English breakfast.

After breakfast the humans were keen to get pedalling as the weather forecast was for a hot day. We didn’t stop until we got to Bradford on Avon again, this time at The Canal Trust Cafe. I managed to make room in my tummy for a cream tea…

It was very interesting just to sit and watch the various canal boats going towards the lock.

After leaving the cafe my human’s partner discovered that his bike had a puncture. Being a bear of many skills I climbed out of the pannier and helped fit a new inner tube.

The next stop was Avoncliff aqueduct.

It didn’t seem long before we were back at Brassknocker Basin.

The humans decided to cycle back to Bath along the canal. At Bathampton we had a picnic snack of pizza left over from the night before (the humans went out for pizza after doing so much pedaling).

My last photo from the adventure was taken in Bath. Bath was very busy with tourists everywhere so we didn’t stay there for long.

I got back into the pannier and rode all the way home along the Bristol to Bath cycle path. I do like it when the humans take me on long bicycle rides.

Details of the routes:

Bristol to Bath https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/bristol-and-bath-railway-path

Two Tunnels Greenway https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/bath-two-tunnels-circuit

Kennet and Avon https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/kennet-and-avon-cycle-route

A year ago I did another mini-tour, The Taff Trail, which was quite tough for the humans in places! See https://horacethealresfordbear.com/2022/08/12/the-taff-trail-brecon-canal-by-bicycle-pannier/

Horace the Alresford Bear 11/8/23

Tintern Adventure

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I started off my Tintern adventure at The Old Station.

Before setting off to explore further I climbed up the steps of the signal box.

There are tables and chairs inside the signal box, apparently humans can hire it for functions. From the top of the steps I could see the cafe, which used to be the ticket office.

The signal operating levers are still there.

Just along from the Old Station there are some interesting wooden sculptures. I spent a while reading the information boards about them.

There are six statues altogether, known as the Circle of Legends. (Not one of our best photos but we were having problems getting good images due to the strong sunlight)

Sir Geoffrey of Monmouth was busy reading

Here I am with Sabrina, the goddess of the river. Sabrina’s Welsh name is Hafren

Part of the joy of exploring in Spring is the wild flowers. There were lots growing next to the river bank as we walked towards The Abbey.

Tintern Abbey was founded a very long time ago by monks in 1131. After King Henry VIII ended monastic life 500 years ago the lead roof was removed and the buildings gradually became ruins. Welsh Heritage (CADW) now look after the ruins.

I spent a while reading the sign explaining who ruined the Abbey.

The Abbey must have been very well built to be still standing after 900 years.

In the gift shop there were many dragons waiting for humans to buy them.

In order to continue on our planned walk we had to cross over the river. Fortunately there is a bridge not far from the Abbey.

The Bridge used to carry the railway to the Wireworks in Tintern. It is now just for pedestrians and has recently been restored.

Once across the bridge we set off through the woods to find The Devil’s Pulpit.

It is quite a climb up from the valley, especially for bears with small legs.

I had to stop for a drink a few times.

Finally we found the Devil’s Pulpit. Legend has it the devil looked down onto the monks in the Abbey below tempting them to leave the monastic life.

The view is certainly amazing.

I was getting a tad hungry so ate my lunch in a shady spot nearby.

We continued along Offa’s Dyke path.

Offa’s Dyke path stretches for 82 miles along the border between England and Wales. It was created over 1200 years ago by humans working for King Offa.

It wasn’t long before we reached Brockweir, where I took this lovely photo of the River Wye from another bridge.

After walking back along the banks of the river we arrived back at The Old Station, where I enjoyed a very tasty Welsh ice cream.

I had a splendid day out though my legs did get a bit tired climbing up to the Devil’s Pulpit!

For more information about visiting Tintern Abbey see: https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/tintern-abbey?lang=en

Horace the Alresford Bear 18/6/2023