farrermog

Haven't read through all the advice here about JA, but this article about a four day P&P Tour may be of interest -

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/willing...331-1ch9h.html

Morgana

Janis is right - it would be such a shame to miss York. Also, although Haworth is a tourist hot spot because of the Brontes, I think it is best visited as a day trip and not used as a base. The countryside and towns around Haworth can be pretty bleak and industrial, although the Pennine Moors have their own beauty. West Yorkshire isn't well visited by tourists compared to North Yorkshire, and there are good reasons for this!
I'd try and rejig things so you have longer in York and then visit Haworth by public transport.

stokebailey

I kind of miss Cholmondley-Warner's knee jerk reaction to any mention of Austen.

kelsey22

Staying overnight in Haworth has the advantage of a ghost tour by a local...does anyone know anything about this? If one got to Haworth early enough in the day is there enough time to walk and see the Parsonage?

historytraveler

I also think three nights in Bath is a bit much. I'd certainly try to find some time for York. As janisj and Morgana have already said, it'd be a shame to miss it when you're so close. With York Minster,the Shambles, the city walls, and museums it is,IMO, one of England's most interesting cities.

tuscanlifeedit

stokebailey, me too. I keep hearing JBA in my mind, and I have been on several JBA pilgrimages in my time.

On the first, as we literally ran from JBA site to site in Bath, DH grabbed my arm, pulled me to a stop, and asked me why I hadn't told him we were going on a Jane Austen Pilgrimage.

Silly guy; if I'd told him, would he have come?

Morgana

Kelsey, the Parsonage Museum isn't large - you can view some rooms upstairs and down, and there's an exhibition area at the back and a small gift shop. Apparently staff often get asked when the latest Bronte novel is due to be published!
They have changing exhibitions and they are usually very interesting. But I doubt it would detain even the most ardent Bronte fan for more than a couple of hours, maximum.
You might want to have a wander down the main street though, and have a drink in Branwell's old local, the Black Bull which is a stones throw from the Parsonage, or visit the church (which has practically been rebuilt since the Brontes were there).
I don't know about the ghost walk as I don't really like such things. Spending some time in the still very spooky and atmospheric graveyard is enough for me, especially when it's quiet and the crowds have gone. The rooks still caw in the tall trees and the gravestones still lean in every direction - apparently over 40,000 people are buried there.

janisj

Maybe if we all use 'Jane Bloody Austen', we'll summon up a new DW/CW incarnation (if he can get through the Fodors security levels)

stokebailey

We'd have to keep explaining to the newcomers: "Once upon a time there was this, well, maybe a little opinionated but in his own way lovable, unless you were one of those who found him infuriating..."

It would get too complicated.

janisj

>> . . . unless you were one of the pantywaists who found him infuriating...<<

historytraveler

I'm willing to try a "DW/CW incarnation". CW is sorely missed here despite his 'Jane Bloody Austen' and how are newcomers ever going to find out about the best pubs in London without his sage advise ?

ElendilPickle

Jane Bloody Austen is one of the things I love about C_W. He was a wonderful host and tour guide around the South Bank, too.

Lee Ann

ElendilPickle

And he gave us good advice on Austen sites in Winchester despite his opinion of JBA.

Lee Ann

JAustenFan

Hello again! I have a couple questions/ideas that I'd like some thoughts on.

One, you have successfully convinced my sister and I NOT to take the one Scottish Highland tour we were thinking of doing. I am looking at two other ones, and was wondering if they are just as bad/touristy as the other:
http://www.graylinescotland.com/tour.asp?tourid=44
http://www.rabbies.com/scottish_tour...our.asp?lng=en (this is one janisj mentioned I think) We are considering the Loch Lomond one, only thing is we really want to see the Edinburgh Castle more than the Stirling one.

We are still thinking about the whole York idea...our current thought is to stay in Leeds, and do a day trip to Bronte and one to York. I'm almost afraid to ask if that's a good idea or not. I've emailed several York B&B, but am finding them all booked for the dates we would want.

Also, thank you for the link for the B&B in Bakewell! I just emailed them to see if they had an opening the day we will be there.

The JBA person sounds like an interesting character...

Thanks!

europeannovice

I remember the advice from C_W. and he is quite interesting and gave good advice with great wit. He and FlannerUK both agreed on the recommendation of 32 Great Queen Street which we really enjoyed. The food, the atmosphere, the drinks--it was all good.

I miss his bantering and humor. Why was he banned from the boards?

janisj

>>Why was he banned from the boards?<<

A topic for another place -- discussions of former Fodorites/bannings can get a thread locked down and that wouldn't be fair to JAustenFan . . .

JAF: I personally would NOT stay in Leeds for York or Haworth/Keighley. The train from York to Keighley only takes an hour w/ a change in Leeds so I don't see any reason you'd need to stay in Leeds.

I wouldn't take the Grayline tour. That Rabbies tour is about as hectic as the timberbush one.

Have you looked at this one? http://www.rabbies.com/scottish_tour...our.asp?lng=en It doesn't try to cover sooooo much territory but still gets a lot of terrific scenery (and doesn't stop at Stirling)

europeannovice

Janis,

Oh! Didn't know that. Wouldn't want to hijack JAustinFan's thread

stokebailey

HI, JA Fan,

The Everton B&B in Bakewell is, as I said, clean and decent, reasonably priced. It's 10 min walk through the park and along river path to the center of town. My daughter and I stayed in their twin room three nights and liked it just fine.
You might also check Fodor's or similar book for other recommendations right in town, but the ones in the books do fill up. The Rutland Arms seems overpriced, possibly due to rumor that Austen stayed there.

Gary, the prop. of Everton, a character, could probably drive you in his cab/van to Chatsworth, or you can take the bus from the middle of Bakewell to the stop about a mile from the house along a pretty path.

JAustenFan

Thanks for all the information!
stokebailey--the B&B sounds really good, I hope they get back to me with a positive response.

Couple of quick questions, does anyone have any recommendations for a B&B in Oxford and York?

About how long would you guess it would take to see Blenheim Palace? Will three hours be plenty of time, or would more time be good?

Thanks!

janisj

3 hours is good for Blenheim. Maybe 90 minutes inside the house (or a bit more depending on if you spend time reading all the Winston Churchill letters/exhibits, or just the most compelling bits)

And 60-90 mins for the gardens grounds. Plus time for either lunch or a break either in the on-site restaurant or in Woodstock.