kevin mills

Moreton Corbet Castle is a ruined medieval castle and Elizabethan manor house. It is now looked after by english heritage though is still owned by the Corbet family. Visiting is daylight hours and is free . Apart from a car part there are no facilties on site. The castle or what remains of it still has some wonderful architectural detail, particularly in the elizabethan manor part. The castle was once stormed by legendary Knight William Marshall on behalf of King John. The walls also show pock marks from musket shot from the civil war. A really fascinating place and well worth a visit

Tamworth castle is an impressive construction but ultimately what you get from it depends on you. Me personally , I was there luckily before a school party, so rooms that would have been restricted were open. Also I got to spend some quality time with a small portion of the Staffordshire horde (no photos allowed) . Volunteers, and building were excellent however there was a lot aimed at kids which detracted from the whole experience for me .

Limited parking (which is chargeable) , nice little shop and cafe , but really the views around the upper derwent valley are spectacular, which is what you come for. Walking along the reservoir side is relatively flat and an easy walk. I went midweek and it was relatively quite. A must see place.

Recently re opened after a 22 month refurbishment, Leicester cathedral has come more to the publics notice because of being the final resting place of the recently found King Richard III. The cathedral itself is substantially smaller than most others I've visited, but it is just as interesting. With some wonderful burials , windows and stories. King Richard III tomb is simple and beautiful, some may question if he deserves such a burial due to the alleged murder of the prince's in the tower. There are a couple of things , that hold it back for me , the recent refurbishment , although needed has taken some of the beauty away and the fresh paint near the roof seems quite garish. Secondly , although the volunteers were knowledgeable, 2 were exceptionally rude, barging into discussion I was having with other volunteers, without an apology or an excuse me. The cathedral is free to enter and as the refurbishment ages it will look better. However it is still worth a visit.

Great stately home but only open on selected dates through the year. Volunteers were excellent, there is an audio guide or you can read along on your phone. Beautifully looked after a d a fascinating history . There is also a courtyard with craft shop, book shop and cafe. There is a car park opposite the hall and don't forget to look at the plague houses and church to see the villages history