Hairy Bikers Trail

Watched the Hairy Bikers on TV yesterday afternoon; they were in Leicestershire and so we decided to follow in their footsteps.

The Hairy Bikers

Headed out early and made it to Melton Mowbray in time to catch the farmers market - a bit smaller than we thought but we are assured that Tuesdays Market is the big one. A chat to the cheese lady and another to the pork pie lady  and we are off on our adventure. Melton Mowbray is a nice little town with plenty to see and do. We head down the high street and on to the 800 year old St Mary's Church and Anne of Cleve's House which was given to Anne of Cleve as a divorce settlement from Henry VIII, it's still functioning as a pub and worth a visit.

Melton Mowbray St Mary's

Back through the town to The Cheeseboard that has a range of 130 cheeses and the Cheese shop owner is extremely knowledgeable in his subject - we had a great chat about a variety of cheese and he let us taste our way through the range, including unpasteurised cheese which is not available or allowed to be produced commercially in Australia. We bought a Red Leicester, a Clawson Stilton and a Cropwell Bishop Traditional Animal Rennet Stilton  yum yum yum. We also bought a Stinking Bishop - a washed rind soft cheese that smells disgusting but tastes fine.On later tasting - disgusting back flavour - would be fine if you didn't breathe.

Prime selection of Stilton and a Red Leicester

suggested Wedding Cake?

Then on to Dickinson And Morris Pork Pie Specialists to purchase a pie for our Ploughmans Tea. Both the pies and the Stilton and Red Leicester are Protected Destination Products which means they can only be made within a certain area. Impressive.

On to a coffee, surprisingly good, then head to Leicester for a look. Very complicated traffic systems brings us finally to the centre where we park and walk into the city. Leicester is a University town and is bustling with young people and old architecture and streets. It's really impressive with a great market, similar to Melbourne Markets and expanding even further in the near future. Down to the information centre where Ross had the poor lady explaining the city's history from the Romans on. Just recently they have dug up the remains of Richard III who was interned at a Monastery and then 100's of years later a car park was laid over the top. The Leicester Cathedral is worth a look as well.

Back to the car via mall of nice shops and cafes (Ross particularly likes the Slug and Lettuce as a name for a cafe) and we leave with the vow that we will be back.

Ross favourite Cafe name - The Slug and Lettuce

Leicester Cathedral

Fruit and Veg at the markets

a great range of seafood - some very unusual specimens too

Another fun day exploring the Midlands. Home for Ploughmans Tea - cheeses, pork pie, pate, biscuits, fruits, chutneys and pickles. And of course a French Shiraz to help wash it all down. It's a hard life.