Abingdon

Most visitors to this area would probably just opt for visiting Oxford and I suspect Abingdon gets overlooked.  But its well worth a half days visit .  Ironically it is twinned with Colmar, France, where we stayed last year.

I was based on a campsite in Eaton and enjoyed a good day of cycling the local lanes and trails.

The Guild Hall

The Abby 

Being on the Thames the Thames towpath cycle route goes through Abingdon.

If you arrive here by boat there is free mooring for 5 days.

The parish church and Alms houses

Castle, trains and sea

Corfe Castle

 Cromwell destroyed this gate tower during the Civil War.  They blew away the foundations of the left tower  so that it slipped down the slope.

However its now in the safe hands of the National Trust.

Safe however until the Vikings arrive.  Whilst we were here there was a Viking and Anglo Saxon reenactment, with daily battles.

The old village of Corfe is worth a walk around.

Corfe is home to the Swanage steam railway, with trips between the towns, and all run by proud volunteers.