Breakfast, cooked to order was excellent. Unfortunately, two of our party were under the weather for different reasons but despite this we visited Lincoln Cathedral. It was mum’s birthday and a treat for her but her legs were a little wobbly so she only made it part way around the cathedral, having to sit down whilst the rest of us completed the tour of the Cathedral.

We had elevenses in the Cathedral Café which turned out to be rather cold due to drafts. It didn’t help that the staff kept leaving the outside door open when they served customers in the outside eating area. No matter how many times I shut the outside door, it was open again a couple of minutes later…

After our morning refreshments we walked the short distance into town where mum picked up some items from the chemist. The ladies had a mooch around EWM clothes shop where mum found a lovely gilet which she just had to buy, a birthday gift to herself. We then had a wander around the cathedral square and mum managed to walk to the castle grounds where I showed her the dragons!

At lunch time the party split into two, Mr C, mum and I had lunch in a lovely café Grayz that Mr C and I had enjoyed on a previous visit. It didn’t disappoint.

Mum, on her wobbly legs, enjoyed browsing around antique and bric-a-brac stores and craft stalls. She had become tired so we took her back to her room to relax, then we walked down steep hill.

At the bottom of steep hill, we remembered why we prefer the upper part of the town. The upper town is calm in contrast to the busy and boisterous nature of the lower town.

Rather than walk up the steepest part of ‘Steep Hill’ we took a detour through Temple Gardens with its slow winding pathway upwards.

Mum’s birthday dinner was in The Old Bakery, which is operated as a training ground for students from Lincoln College. We had a lovely evening and the food was delicious.

Mr C drove back to Cathedral View guesthouse where all but Mr C and I retired for the evening. The two of us visited the Wig & Mitre for a nightcap. It was a bit boisterous in the bar area but calm & chilled in front of the fireplace where we chose to sit. Just what the doctor ordered.

Before the alarm went off I awoke to the feeling of a warm presence holding my hands and squeezing them… Soon afterwards the pleasant sound of the Cathedral bells resumed chiming the hours and quarters after being silent overnight.

Breakfast was in the Garden room, although we didn’t see much of the garden due to our table being too far away from the window. The breakfast menu was extensive and all hot food was cooked to order. After breakfast, we made our way to the castle area which is near the Cathedral. The castle has just opened a new purpose built display for its copy of the Magna Carta and this is where we headed first. Displayed with the Magna Carta is the only known copy of the Charter of the Forest. Issued by Henry III, this new document extended several clauses of the Magna Carta and specified greater freedoms in relation to forest laws and the royal hunting forests.

After viewing the Magna Carta, we visited the Old Prison and the prison chapel which are in the grounds of Lincoln Castle. Some of the cells told tales and anecdotes of former prisioners. After the confined conditions of the former prison we ascended to the recently restored castle wall walk to take in the views over Lincoln.

We decided to return to the more peaceful Cathedral. We walked around the outside of the Cathedral and got an impression of it from all angles before taking lunch in the Cathedral refectory. Inside the Cathedral, we took time to explore and to visit the Cathedral shop. Afterwards we walked down the Steep Hill to visit the art gallery and Museum of Archaeology. Both places were interesting and well worth the visit.

Rather than retrace our steps up Steep Hill we wandered through Temple Gardens making our way back to our hotel in order to relax before dining in The Old Bakery restaurant. After dinner and because we enjoyed it the previous night, we returned to the Wig & Mitre for a nightcap before retiring to the hotel for the evening.