The UK's first Roundabout

Driving around the UK's first Roundabout.

The UK's first Roundabout as it was in 2010

While back down south at the weekend we visited Letchworth Garden City. It's home to the UK's first roundabout and I can never resist having a drive round it.



Kevin Beresford, a fellow member of the Dull Men's Club, runs the UK Roundabout Appreciation Society. Check out his website for more info.

Related blog posts:
- Letchworth Garden City
- Dull Men's Club

Links:
- UK Roundabout Appreciation Society
- Dull Men's Club website

Minigolf in Letchworth Garden City

Playing the 9-hole Mini Golf course in Letchworth Garden City’s Garden Square Shopping Centre's ‘seaside experience’.

The Mini Golf course at Letchworth Beside The Seaside

While in Letchworth Garden City on Friday 30th of August I walked through the Garden Square Shopping Centre and noticed some red flags in the distance and was surprised and excited to see they were part of a Minigolf course set-up as part of the shopping centre’s ‘Letchworth Beside The Seaside’ event!

The Mini Golf and Games course gets the thumbs-up from me

The 9-hole Swedish Felt type of Mini Golf had been in Letchworth for the week and would be closing at 5pm on the very day I happened to be there!

Hole 1 - the loop-di-loop

A round of Crazy Golf was a reasonable £2.50 to play so I headed out for a round with the gaze of the shoppers on me as I attempted to have a good round on the tough type of Miniature Golf course.

A view of the obstacle on hole 3, hole 7 in the middle and hole 8 in the distance

The layout was of the smaller, more portable type of Swedish Felt but still had some very tough obstacles and fiendishly small holes to putt into.

Hole 4 of the nice and bright Minigolf course in Letchworth Garden City

I started with some OK twos, but hit a four at the third. However I recovered and hit a nice ace on the seventh to a ripple of applause from some of the shoppers enjoying the lovely sunny day and taking a break on the benches near the course. I also aced the ninth to score a total of 20(+2).

Hole 7 - a hole I hit a sweet ace on, even if I do say so myself

After my round I had a chat to John from Mini Golf and Games who has been setting up the course at a number of events over the summer. The course is available for hire and more details can be found on the Mini Golf and Games website.

The course was well laid out, with a nice consistent playing surface and with felt in very good condition. It was well worth a play and with a second round played on the same day half price it’s worth challenging yourself to beat your previous score. I tried, but failed to best my 20 and even though I started well with an ace on the first (a loop-di-loop obstacle – a nemesis of mine) I could only manage a 20 again, as I hit a three on the last.

Hole 9 required a shot that was nicely played and slightly angled to the right to score the ace. Or a wall shot rebound

I’m looking forward to playing the Mini Golf and Games course in future and it’ll be nice to have a challenge match against Emily on it.

The Letchworth public enjoying a round of Minigolf on the course at the Garden Square Shopping Centre

The course was the 321st played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006 and the 536th visited overall. Interestingly the 535th course visited was also a Swedish Felt variety and the last new course played was also fairly close to home as it was in Bedford.

I also learned a bit of Swedish while playing the course as the scorecard had the line "Högsta antal slag per hål: 7" luckily I didn't score a seven while playing the tricky layout!

Back on the 29th September 2007 I played a Putting Green course in Letchworth Garden City – it was the 38th course played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour – unfortunately it’s no longer there.

Links:

- Mini Golf and Games

- Garden Square Shopping Centre

- Shop Letchworth / Love Letchworth

Related Blog Posts:

- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour

- Letchworth-related blog posts

- From the Archives - Crazy World of Minigolf Tour - Course Visit #38 Letchworth Garden City - Putting Course

- A Putting Green from 1943 in Letchworth Garden City

Gluten Free in Suffolk - Ipswich & Felixstowe

While in Ipswich and Felixstowe we managed to find some excellent Gluten Free restaurants and shops.

In Ipswich we went to Church's Bistro & Bar for lunch. They have a dedicated Gluten Free menu and a huge range of options.

I chose the Ham Hock Terrine followed by the 100% Beef Burger. Both were magnificent.




If you're a Coeliac and in the Ipswich area you must visit. And even if you're not, the 'normal' food was great too.

In Felixstowe we spotted that The Good Food Shop sells Gluten and Wheat Free Cakes and food. I had a really nice Iced Banana Cake.

On the way we also went to Cox's of Letchworth - a brilliant Fish & Chip Shop that does excellent Gluten Free Batter. While in Letchworth Garden City We also drove round the UK's first roundabout (six times)!

Gluten Free Fish & Chips in Letchworth Garden City

I had some excellent Gluten Free Fish & Chips today from Cox's Of Letchworth (2 Arena Parade, Letchworth Garden City).

The staff are very knowledgeable and the great thing is, the Gluten Free options are served every day!



Cox's Of Letchworth also do Gluten Free Chicken.

Can't wait for my next visit.