So ends our 57 day tour of the 4 **lands, Eng, Ire, Ice and Green. Countless miles & kilometres of driving, walking and seaborne adventures that took us to places and sights that have to be experienced to be believed and a host of interesting people along the way.

After a short post-arrival recovery in Chester it was off to Ireland to explore the coastal route around the country for a couple of weeks on the aptly named Wild Atlantic Way. Whereas the Atlantic was, for the most part, far from wild, the same can’t be said for the driving on the narrow cliff edged roads, all the while being confronted with breath taking views. Our hunger for an Irish Stew in Ireland was finally fulfilled in a seafood restaurant run by a couple of Hungarians.
Then it was off the Reykjavik and another two weeks of driving, once again circumnavigating the country. Fortunately, this time we were in a 4 wheel drive SUV, and it came into its own on quite a few occasions, rocky mountain roads, then ice, snow and blizzards all added to the excitement while driving. Iceland really has to be seen to be believed and driving, in our opinion was the only way to see it, although we possibly could have done without having to dig the car out of a snow drift that covered all 4 sides up to the bonnet, TWICE!
Having conquered everything that was throw at us, it was time for a 16 day cruise with Hurtigruten to Greenland to explore the south-west coast and as far north above the Arctic Circle as was possible.
The crossing from Iceland to the coast of Greenland did have its moments but once in the lee of the coast, and ice, it was smooth sailing for most of the way.
Again, being surrounded by the raw nature of the country was something that was really special, and being in total awe of how those first settlers in this land, both Inuit and Viking, survived.
To round our trip off, we spent a week back in England exploring the beautiful surrounds of the Cotswolds.
As for the good, the bad and the ugly, well, I have to say it was almost all good.

The sights, were certainly quite exceptional. The people and new friends we made were special. We learnt about the geology of Iceland and Greenland, we learnt about the very interesting art of church bell ringing, and the universal issues affecting us all no matter where we live.
As for the bad, they were showers over bath tubs with small handheld shower heads, park and pay car parks (in the UK) in wifi deadspots that did not accept cash, so no cards, only a preloaded phone app, and over packing!!
And the ugly, well there was only one, the “maître de” at the airport hotel in Manchester who clearly did not like his job or the people in the restaurant, and the pasta that had all of its life boiled out of it and had the texture of rubber.

Now we are checked in and ready to head home, but this what travel is all about, and no doubt we will be ready to start the planning for the next big trip any time soon.