Tuesday 16 October 2012

Keele and Leek

On Sunday, we went on what I hope will be our last Uni visit for the young man, to Keele University in Staffordshire.  

 It isn't the young mans first choice of uni but it was a lovely little uni, but in the middle of absolutely nowhere.  The atmosphere was great, but I couldn't imagine how students manage here without a car.  He liked the place, but is a little unsure about the course as they offer dual subject degree's which I had never heard of!
 If he ends up here, you might end up with a lodger Rosie!!!
 On our way home, we decided go go back the scenic route via Leek as I have never been there and I have read so many great things about it on so many of your blogs.
 Not much was open by the time we got there, but I loved what I saw and so we will be making a return trip.
 It had so many great little buildings.
 The war memorial is enormous and quite different to any I have seen in the UK before.
 I loved the neat rows of workers cottages in the town centre.

 We were delighted to find ourselves driving through "The Roaches" an area I have read about so many times on both Rosies and Louises Blogs
 The scenery was truly spectacular and we vowed to spend more time around these parts too - a fabulous area that we have never explored.


In answer to Mr D's question, I do get a lot of inspiration for places to visit from blogs, magazines, the internet etc.  I do a lot of research too.  I am constantly amazed at the diversity and beauty of places we find - often right under our noses.

10 comments:

The Curious Cat said...

I really like this area of the world - went there a few years back! xxx

greenthumb said...

What a lovely place. Those workers cottages are so pretty.

Lisa said...

Very picturesque. I hope the young man is happy with his final choice, where ever that may end up being.
Lisa x

Rosie said...

Lol, I'd better find the fold up bed! Leek is a lovely little market town with so much to offer and so many lovely buildings and individual shops. Glad you saw the Roaches too. Did the Winking Man wink at you as you passed by? Keele does have a nice campus and it isn't too far into Newcastle-under-Lyme town from there by bus:)

Jo said...

It looks lovely. We were uni visiting at the weekend too, I'll be glad when this year's over and he's settled in at wherever he ends up.

HippieGirl said...

Those worker cottages remind me of something you would see in that cartoon Wallace and Gromit. I'm not sure why. And as for the pics of the country, there's just something vaguely beautiful about the English countryside

Anonymous said...

Home and Colonial! I remember being sent there to shop for my Mother on Saturday mornings - and the Maypole too. Lovely memories, thank you.

tlcukjourney said...

Gorgeous photos!

Louise said...

Hi Diane, thanks for your comment. I've had a very busy week and have been ill so I'm just catching up!

Did you actually visit the Roaches? From your photos it looks like you followed the A53 out of Leek (probably getting caught up on the terrible traffic at the moment!) and then drove right by the Ramshaw Rocks and the winking man before heading through Longnor and perhaps Crowdecote? I know the Dove Valley well too, that was a sort of second home as my grandparents lived in Longnor. Loved your photo of Chrome and Parkhouse hills - such magnificent views!

You must come back and explore the Roaches themselves, they really are stunning and there's a lovely tea room too - I'll me you for a cream tea if you like!

I went for a walk years ago in the woods around Keele and it was very nice. I'm not familiar with the area but Dave goes to Capoeira at couple of times at the uni. It looks like a nice building. I didn't realise it was in the middle of nowhere though, I thought it was quite close to Newcastle, but as I said, I don't know that area.

John Going Gently said...

you DO get around old gal, don't you?