We took a quick and early drive to the Lake District, where we visited our only destination of the day, Warwick Castle. Since I didn't find Dover Castle extraordinarily stimulating, I was keeping my expectations low. This was probably a good choice, because I was blown away by Warwick.

I think most of our group headed straight to the dungeon, torture chamber, and ghost tower. I was no exception to that rule, and I started with the dungeon. You had to duck through a small hole in the side of building to get in, and then climb down the most decrepit staircase I have ever seen. I really had to concentrate on not tumbling down. The bottom opened up slightly and left you standing in a small, dark, damp, stone room. The only object in the room was hanging in the middle of the ceiling directly above your head, was a set of body chains. If that was your punishment, you would be locked in them and hung-up there until you rotted away.

The dungeon led directly into the torture chamber, the first thing you saw was The Rack. On the rack you were bound by your wrists and ankles, and stretched apart. This was an extra creepy exhibit, because every few minutes sound effects started.The first time I heard them, I nearly jumped out of my skin. There were also wall stocks, floor stocks, oubliettes, and a pair of spiky metal boots that were bolted on and then filled with hot lava.

Next was the ghost tower. I was all set up to go up, feeling very brave. I walked into the first dark room, the stair that led up to the ghost tower were just a few feet away, and all of the sudden I was running as fast as I could in the opposite direction! I didn't stop running until I was completely clear of the entire thing. I heard it wasn't too scary, but I am happy with my choice not to go up.

The peacock garden was lovely. The bushes were beautifully constructed into peacock shapes. There were quite a few peacocks just wandering along, showing off their feathers, and wanting to be looked at. The gardens led straight into the conservatory.

The conservatory was lovely, it housed amazing plants and flowers from all over the world. The first thing you saw, upon entering, was a very large, very grand vase, called the Warwick Vase. The original, it is generally agreed is Roman, made in the 2nd Century A.D. For twelve years it stood in the middle of the castle courtyard until 1784 when the Earl decided it should be housed in a special building and began building the conservatory. It was completed in 1786 and the vase was housed there, until it was donated to the Glasgow Museum in 1979 as part of the Burrell Collection.

From Warwick we headed the Keswick Country Hotel, where we spent two nights.