What to Pack for Bath, England
AJ
Going on a four month trip to Bath (business and pleasure), and am
really unsure what to pack. I'm stuck on the type of jacket and shoes
for hiking/walking.
What are anyone's thoughts on Jackets and shoes? Is Goretex necessary
or a must? Heavy or light jacket? Any input on hiking shoes? Anything
would help. I'll be in Bath, and hopefully other parts of Europe, from
January to May.
Also, any other suggestions are appreciated. This is my first time
traveling abroad.
Thank you for any input.
AJ
David Boyd
English weather in Winter is somewhat unpredictable and quickly changeable,
but you can be sure of lots of rain, and wind, quite a few frosty mornings
and some occasional spells of snow and day-long icy conditions, but normally
only ever just a little below freezing point.
Because it's so changeable, layered garments are best, IMO. Goretex outers
are good for keeping out the wind and rain, a fleece jacket too perhaps,
some woollen pullovers, etc.
You can buy some good walking shoes and boots locally, some made from
Goretex too.
Regards
David
AJ wrote in message <349C5092...@pacbell.net>...
DocCec
>What are anyone's thoughts on Jackets and shoes? Is Goretex necessary
>or a must? Heavy or light jacket? Any input on hiking shoes? Anything
Shoes are for walking. Go for comfort, not style. Sure, pack a pair of
stylish sandals or something, but concentrate on good walking shoes. I like to
pack a light waterproof (really waterproof, not just water resistant) jacket, a
light windbreaker, and several kinds of things to layer underneth.
Cec
Doc...@aol.com
Steve Clifford
On Sat, 20 Dec 1997 15:11:14 -0800, AJ <ver...@pacbell.net> wrote:
<snip>
>What are anyone's thoughts on Jackets and shoes? Is Goretex necessary
>or a must? Heavy or light jacket? Any input on hiking shoes? Anything
>
<snip>
I've used a walking shoe (as opposed to boot) for all my trips to
England...they are the only shoes I take. I can personally recommend
the "Ecco" line of walking shoe - gortex lined, super light and very
comfortable. They are not inexpensive but my feet have never been
wet! There are several styles and I chose one which I can wear around
town and in B&B's/Hotels without feeling out of place....a good
cleaning is all that is required after a day on the trail.
As the other posts suggest, layering is the key. I use a gortex
jacket for rain and wind-proofing and a fleece pullover for warmth. A
t-shirt or light long sleeve shirt underneath all of this. If you get
too warm you can simply peel off a layer. If you're buying a gortex
jacket you might want to consider one with "Pit Zips", zippers in the
armpits which allow some extra air-conditioning when tackling that
Fell! I usually walk in shorts or light-weight cotton pants. I don't
own gortex pants but there were times when they could have come in
handy....horizontal rain along Hadrians Wall comes to mind.
Last but not least, if you are coming over from Canada or the USA you
might consider purchasing your kit (jacket, shoes, etc.) before
arriving in England. The cost of a good, "technical" Gortex jacket is
substantially cheaper in some parts of North America (Western Canada
for sure). I may be wrong as I haven't checked prices lately, however
random surveys (conducted in cheery pubs full of soggy walkers)
suggested our prices were lower.
Have a great time in Bath and enjoy your walks!
Merry Christmas,
Steve Clifford
http://mindthegap.com
Valletort
Before you go buy some Rockport watherproof shoes. They are lined with Gortex
and are the most comfortable shoes I own. Wear them all the time in these New
England winters. Also, when you get to England buy a Barbour rain jacket. These
are made of oiled cotton and will last a life time. Not cheap. I bought mine
from Peter Jones department store in Sloane Square in Chelsea in 1995 (plus cap
and, again, I wear it all the time in the NE winters).
Bath is a fascinating city. There are some very interesting antiques markets
there (bring money). The architechture is also something else. Be sure to go to
the Roman Baths and the Pump Room. They tend to be tourist traps but - enjoy
anyway.
Good trip.
John Cornelius
Glastonbury, Connecticut.
vall...@aol.com
Researching: Hill, Lang, Manning, Mortimore, Prout, Snell. (All in Devon, Eng.)
Edwin Spector
Valletort wrote:
>..<Good advice snipped...>
> Be sure to go to
> the Roman Baths and the Pump Room. They tend to be tourist traps but - enjoy
> anyway.
Also the Costume Museum, and other little musea around the town.
If you have a car, don't try bringing it into the town centre - it's
rather congested. There are park-and-ride schemes, or just walk.
Bath is in a valley, which climbs north and south. Pollution from
traffic is particularly bad on Saturdays - another reason not to
drive.
You can find more city information from the homepages of Bath
University (www.bath.ac.uk).
Have a good visit.
Edwin Spector
Bath.
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Michael J. Gallagher
AJ wrote:
>
> ... I'll be in Bath, and hopefully other parts of Europe, from
> January to May.
>
Pack your camera; you will definitely want it with you when you visit
the Roman baths.
Barry Ward
Also pack a lot of money if you want to eat in the Pumphouse restaurant
next to the Baths. Can anybody say if the restaurant food, service,
ambience, etc warrants their prices. Certainly it is very popular and at
times there are long queues to get a table - but I have often found that
restaurants that are really popular and which come highly recommended by
everybody are dissappointing and below average - I think it often comes
with the inabililty of the management and staff to cater with the large
numbers of diners.
Barry
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Pilgrim
In article <01bd13d1$3e181460$3053...@baz.powerup.com.au>, "Barry Ward"
<b...@powerup.com.au> wrote:
It's been over 5 years since we have visited Bath, but on the half-dozen
times we have stayed there, we enjoyed a wonderfully funky place called
the Bath Tub. It is on an alley on the west side of the river just off
Bridge Street to the north. Servers and diners were young, food was
robust and cheap, music was good. No pretense. Hope it's still there!
Rick van Vliet
Hi Barry-
We stopped at the Pumphouse, but our mission was just to have a spot of
tea, and listen to the music (and rest the weary feet).
I agree that service wasn't great, but the ambiance, and just being
there was worth the few pounds for three of us.
Just my 2-1/2 cents worth,
rick
Nephela
Barry Ward wrote:
> Also pack a lot of money if you want to eat in the Pumphouse restaurant
> next to the Baths. Can anybody say if the restaurant food, service,
> ambience, etc warrants their prices. Certainly it is very popular and at
> times there are long queues to get a table - but I have often found that
> restaurants that are really popular and which come highly recommended by
> everybody are dissappointing and below average - I think it often comes
> with the inabililty of the management and staff to cater with the large
> numbers of diners.
I ate at the Pumphouse a couple of summers ago. It was rather costly,
in fact, I believe a friend and I actually shared a salad. It was all
we could afford at the time. I remember the Horrible water from the
baths was not worth the price. Waiting wasn't too bad, but the food was
not worth the price. I agree with your statement above.
-Nephela
WFW2
I have to comment in regard to the Pump Room. I was there in October of 1997
and had one of the most delicious meals I have ever had and the price was quite
reasonable by English standards. Service was excellent. Unfortunately my
lunch partner collapsed (not due to food) and the staff were superb in
assisting. Paramedics were on scene in 5 minutes. Had a tour on the way to
the hospital in the ambulance which is not the vehicle of choice, but saw parts
of Bath that are not on the tourist path. A sincgle day in Bath is not enough.
Plan to spend at least one night.
Bill
N J Millard
Hi,
I'm from Bath and, believe me, the Pump Room is not the best (or cheapest)
place to eat in Bath. My advice is to go in there for a traditional Bath
Bun and a sample of the Spa water (an aquired taste; me, I love it!!) but,
if you want a wonderful snack go off the beaten track, explore the streets
and you will find some wonderful eateries. Go to the Canary Restaurant
and indulge in their cakes and sublime hot chocolate with whipped cream.
Go for the ethnic restaurants; investigate the delis, Vegetarian,
Indonesian and Italian Restaurants as you go up from the Theatre Royal to
the Circus and along to Milsom Street.
As for time to visit - you'll need at least 2 full days to really
appreciate its beauty. Get your bearings on a trip on an open top bus
(the red ones are the best value for money), but then take to the road and
just walk. Bath is such a compact city you can pretty much walk anywhere
comfortably. Take a stroll through Victoria Park and the Royal Crescent,
explore the Roman Baths, the smaller Cross Baths (in the street opposite),
the Museum of Costume (and the American Museum at Claverton Down if you
have more time; their gingerbread is heavenly), walk across and around
Pulteney Bridge and the Abbey, walk up the hill to Camden Crescent and
Lansdown Crescent (steep hills but wonderful views), take a stroll along
the Kennet & Avon canal (highly recommended). Best of all, and off the
beaten track mainly because it is hell to get to and you can't park there,
is the sublime Prior Park with stunning views across Bath and the most
wonderful Palladian Bridge which just takes your breath away. In the
evening (especially in Summer) take a guided walk (my favourite is the
Ghost Walk from the Garricks Head but the Bizarre Bath walk is great fun
and the Jane Austin walks are wonderful) or go and see a play at the
Theatre Royal (usually big, often starry pre-London productions).
Bath is a wonderful city - hope you enjoy it.
N.J. Millard
nmil...@hfnet.bt.co.uk
Rachel Matthews
In article <19980101213...@ladder01.news.aol.com>, wf...@aol.com
(WFW2) wrote:
> A sincgle day in Bath is not enough.
> Plan to spend at least one night.
Didn't see the original post on this, but I certainly agree! And, pack
your swimsuit (yes, swimsuit!) There's a beautiful rec center that is (I
think) city-run which has a gorgeous indoor pool. Anyone can swim for a
small admission price and after a day of walking it makes for lovely
relaxation. We were delighted to find out about it.
Have fun!
Rachel
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Judith Nicholls
In article <rachel-1101...@aus-usr-27.outer.net>, rac...@net-result.com (Rachel Matthews) wrote:
>In article <19980101213...@ladder01.news.aol.com>, wf...@aol.com
>(WFW2) wrote:
>
>> A sincgle day in Bath is not enough.
>> Plan to spend at least one night.
>
>
>Didn't see the original post on this, but I certainly agree! And, pack
>your swimsuit (yes, swimsuit!) There's a beautiful rec center that is (I
>think) city-run which has a gorgeous indoor pool. Anyone can swim for a
>small admission price and after a day of walking it makes for lovely
>relaxation. We were delighted to find out about it.
I didn't either. But to make it clear, one doesn't bathe in the baths -- they
are closed to bathing (polluted, in fact). They are open for observation only
now. Therefore this pool is not filled with natural Bath spring water...
Happy traveling!
Judy Nicholls
Four Winds Travel Services, Inc. 630-851-4336, FAX: 630-851-5402
2206 Ogden Avenue, Aurora, IL 60504 tra...@4windstravel.com
http://www.4windstravel.com
Francis J. O'Donnell (Northampton HS)
In a previous article, tra...@4windstravel.com (Judith Nicholls) says:
>east.sprintlink.net!news.sprintlink.net!Sprint!207.241.0.194!news.wwa.com!686
But she's right, there IS a great swimming pool open to the public!
--