Broomy Hill Miniature Railway in Hereford

Visiting another miniature railway on our travels.

On Sunday 8th October we made an unexpected visit to a miniature railway. On our recent road-trip we made a stop in Hereford to look for a miniature golf course at Bishops Meadow (#788 on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour). While driving over the bridge into the town we spotted a sign for a miniature railway, so after finding the minigolf course we had to go to the railway as well. We're very glad we did as it was superb.

The Broomy Hill Miniature Railway is next to the Waterworks Museum and when we arrived just after lunch we found the trains well under steam.

The Broomy Hill Miniature Railway is spread out over a nice area

There are actually two miniature railways at Broomy Hill - a 'normal' miniature railway with larger miniature engines and an elevated track with model engines. Wonderful stuff.

One of the larger trains passes by the line out of Compton High Level Station

We had to have a go on both tracks and so joined the queue to buy our tickets. It was nice to see the railway busy. The weather was lovely and there were a number of groups, families and couples enjoying the afternoon.

The Rules

Ticket number one

The second 2nd Class ticket

If you're a fan of miniature railways then you'll love Broomy Hill.

Broomy Hill was the eleventh miniature railway we've visited since last year!

Riding the Santa Fe

There were plenty of trains running so we didn't spend too long queuing for our go

Broomy Hill Miniature Railway is operated by the Hereford Society of Model Engineers Ltd. Visit their website for more information and opening times.

Some of the model trains

There are plenty of spots for a nice sit down along the lines too.

Howards Halt

What a view

Having a sit down in Compton

Related blog posts:
- Miniature Railways
- Hereford

Link:
- Broomy Hill Miniature Railway / Hereford Society of Model Engineers

Videos:
- The Sante Fe on the Hereford Miniature Railway
- A L.N.E.R. steam engine on the Hereford Model Railway

Happy World Tripe Day

Celebrating World Tripe Day 2017.

Today is World Tripe Day - an opportunity for tripe lovers to celebrate their love of tripe.

There's plenty of tripe at the market in Leeds 

Check out the Tripe Marketing Board's blog for some top tips for celebrating World Tripe Day.

Ever since I first spotted tripe on a butcher's stall at Wigan Market in 2012 I've been following the Tripe Marketing Board with interest. Although not enough interest to have actually eaten tripe. I'm fairly certain that cow's stomach is something of an acquired taste.

Tripe spotted in Stockport

I'm all for truth in advertising, but blimey!

The Tripe Marketing Board is dedicated to educating the public about eating tripe as part of a healthy, balanced diet and was formed as an industry-wide response to the continuing post-war decline in tripe sales in the UK. This was due to the ending of rationing, increasing affluence and a widespread perception that it is not fit for human consumption.

The Tripe Marketing Board tell me that up until the 1960s you could find hundreds of tripe shops throughout Lancashire, with many of the shops run by United Cattle Products (UCP) and offering nose-to-tail food at the attached cafes and restaurants. The country's last remaining Tripe Shop is in Stalybridge. I'll have to go there when I eventually get round to travelling on the once a week Parliamentary one-way rail service from Stockport to Stalybridge.

Visit the Tripe Marketing Board website for more information about tripe. You can also use Tripe Adviser to locate sellers of the delicacy.

Links:
- Tripe Marketing Board website
- Tripe Marketing Board on Twitter
- Tripe Marketing Board on Facebook

Related blog posts:
- Marketing
- Tripe
- Food
- Tripe in Stockport
- There's truth in advertising and then there's this!

Putting Course at Bishops Meadow in Hereford

A visit to the Putting Course at Bishops Meadow in Hereford.

Hole 1

On Sunday 8th October we stopped off in Hereford to visit the Putting Course at Bishops Meadow. Unfortunately the course wasn't open so we couldn't have a game.

Bishops Meadow Putting Green in Hereford

Another unplayed course added to our tour

There's no hole on hole 1

Hole 2

Having a wander around the 18-holes it looked like holes 5-8 to have disappeared as part of some building work.

The fairway of hole 5

The Putting Course at Bishops Meadow in Hereford was the 788th visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006.

Hole 12

On our previous visit to Hereford we played the Adventure Golf course next to the Bowling Alley. That course was #194 on the tour.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Hereford

Adventure Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham

Playing the two Adventure Golf courses at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham.

On Saturday 9th September we swung by Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham to play the two 18-hole Golden Putter Adventure Golf courses.

The second hole on the Red course. One of only two holes I aced on our visit

The courses were the 458th and 459th played, and 771st and 772nd visited on our Crazy World of Minigolf Tour.

You could take an interesting route to reach the cup on this hole

In our minigolf match-up on the Black course I won with a score of 46 to Emily's 56. On the Red course we tied with scores of 43.

The weather in the morning had been dreadful and made for some extra tricky putting!

 

A very soggy green

As well as the courses in Birmingham, Golden Putter has layouts in Wroxham, Rotherham and Warwick. Visit the Golden Putter website for more information, opening times and prices.

The Rules

Cannon Hill Park was really nice and we had a pleasant time having a wander. The mac theatre and arts centre in the park is well worth a visit too.

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Mini Golf at Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham
- Cannon Hill Park
- Birmingham

Link:
- Golden Putter website

Videos:
- Adventure Golf at Golden Putter Adventure Golf in Birmingham 1, 2

Minigolf in Canada, Spain and Portugal. And Beer in Devon

A selection of photos from minigolf courses in Portugal, Spain and Canada.

I recently received some great photos and scorecards from my friend (and coin & token dealer) Nigel Lutt following his travels to Huelva in Spain, Lagos in Portugal, Niagara Falls in Canada and Beer in Devon! Top stuff indeed.

It's always wonderful to find out about new courses - as well having a look at the scorecards players get too!

First up was the Dinosaur Adventure Golf course in Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, Canada. Take a look at the size of that volcano!

That is a BIG minigolf layout!

Next up are some snaps of the interesting looking and motor racing-themed Crazy Golf course in Isla Canela in Huelva, Spain.

A nice looking minigolf course

Nigel in action on the course

Each of the holes is constructed to look like a road/racetrack!

Nigel and Ruth also visited the Pro Putting Garden in Lagos, Portugal. What a brilliant looking minigolf course.

Nigel in action at the Pro Putting Garden

A tricky double plateau hole!

That looks like a tough hole to ace

One of the longest raft rides we've seen on a minigolf course

  

Here's the Pro Putting Garden scorecard from Nigel and Ruth's minigolf match-up.

It looks like the front nine holes were tricky

The Rules

It's always nice to see the types and variations of scorecard in use at courses. Back on our tour of the south west coast of England Emily and I ran out of time to have a day out at Pecorama in Beer. Judging by Nigel's scorecard from the Pecorama Crazy Golf course we could have been there a long time too as it looks like holes 2, 5, 7 and 8 were very tricky indeed!

Nigel's round at Pecorama Crazy Golf in Beer, Devon

What a scorecard! Don't lose your balls

Many thanks again to Nigel and Ruth for the snaps and scorecards from their travels. It's so nice to see the wide-range of minigolf courses there are around the world. There's always something new to see. Check out the more guest blog posts in the links below.

Related blog posts:
- Guest blogs
- Portugal
- Spain
- Canada
- Devon

Links:
- Dinosaur Adventure Golf course in Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls
- Pro Putting Garden in Lagos, Portugal
- Pecorama in Beer, Devon