Magenta Otter TravelsMy friend Meredith and her husband Eric came from Texas to visit us in our home in Cheltenham (Gloucestershire, England). We took them on a tour of the Cotswolds and then we stopped in one of our favourite places so that Meredith could finally try a REAL Afternoon Tea! Even though Meredith is gluten free, she was able to enjoy the full Afternoon Tea magic at Ellenborough Park in Cheltenham. In this video, we take you along for the whole experience and share Meredith's review of her first Afternoon Tea in Britain. Please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun! XX Dara and Ian
AFTERNOON TEA 101 - For a full explanation of Afternoon Tea, click here: youtu.be/0oU4jWCZmFk
FIRST CREAM TEA - My friend Tracy's first Cream Tea in Britain: youtu.be/TdFFGVyViPk
TEXAS AFTERNOON TEA - I make a full Afternoon Tea for the first time in Texas for my Anglophile friends: youtu.be/-BGtEyKXN9o
BEST AFTERNOON TEA - Our Afternoon Tea at Gidleigh Park in Devon was a lifetime favourite: youtu.be/AHV4OPfdgKk
American Trying Afternoon Tea in the UK for the First Time #england #glutenfreeMagenta Otter Travels2025-07-18 | My friend Meredith and her husband Eric came from Texas to visit us in our home in Cheltenham (Gloucestershire, England). We took them on a tour of the Cotswolds and then we stopped in one of our favourite places so that Meredith could finally try a REAL Afternoon Tea! Even though Meredith is gluten free, she was able to enjoy the full Afternoon Tea magic at Ellenborough Park in Cheltenham. In this video, we take you along for the whole experience and share Meredith's review of her first Afternoon Tea in Britain. Please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun! XX Dara and Ian
AFTERNOON TEA 101 - For a full explanation of Afternoon Tea, click here: youtu.be/0oU4jWCZmFk
FIRST CREAM TEA - My friend Tracy's first Cream Tea in Britain: youtu.be/TdFFGVyViPk
TEXAS AFTERNOON TEA - I make a full Afternoon Tea for the first time in Texas for my Anglophile friends: youtu.be/-BGtEyKXN9o
BEST AFTERNOON TEA - Our Afternoon Tea at Gidleigh Park in Devon was a lifetime favourite: youtu.be/AHV4OPfdgKkEly Cathedral Tour #england #ukMagenta Otter Travels2025-09-12 | Join me for a visit to the beautiful and unique Ely Cathedral! This majestic cathedral is a marvel of medieval architecture and engineering! Please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun and travel adventures. Cheers! XX Dara
I invite you to check out these other cathedral videos I've done below:
Canterbury Cathedral - youtu.be/opR5-cQG-mw Wells Cathedral – youtu.be/_SXB3S1EeVw Durham Cathedral – youtu.be/5tz9gDj2_jc Gloucester Cathedral – youtu.be/GfvmkhQowh8 Norwich Cathedral - Hereford Cathedral COMING SOON!Norwich Cathedral Tour - Beautiful Medieval English CathedralMagenta Otter Travels2025-08-15 | Join me for a visit to the stunning and historic Norwich Cathedral. This grand medieval cathedral is a jewel in the crown of Norfolk and really worth a visit! Please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun and travel adventures!
And please check out these other cathedral videos I've done below:
Canterbury Cathedral - youtu.be/opR5-cQG-mw Wells Cathedral – youtu.be/_SXB3S1EeVw Durham Cathedral – youtu.be/5tz9gDj2_jc Gloucester Cathedral – youtu.be/GfvmkhQowh8 Hereford Cathedral COMING SOON! Ely Cathedral - youtu.be/6Dilans9QGcAmerican Tries Local Norfolk Foods in Norwich England featuring @The_Brit_GirlsMagenta Otter Travels2025-08-08 | I celebrated the 4th of July (American Independence Day) in the UK as usual... but this year I was in a city I have never before visited... Norwich! I was very excited to finally meet my long time friend Julie in person! Julie is a Norwich native who now lives in Arizona most of the year and films videos with her daughter Lucy on their channel @The_Brit_Girls .
Come along with us as we graze our way through Norwich... I see lots of historical sites and eat local foods along the way, including Norfolk cheeses, Cromer Crab, and some strawberries grown in Hempnall. I also try Coleman's mustard, famously from Norwich! To see me try that on an alleged "Chicago Hot Dog" at an American restaurant in Norwich, watch THIS video on Julie and Lucy's channel: youtu.be/WADfwhoEapc?si=cC4rMeoZ9l_Dtf0r
To see my 4th of July adventure from last year meeting up with other YouTube friends @GENerationXplorers in Yorkshire, click here: youtu.be/ul0-jK2lV1Q5 Things I Love Most About Living in the UK After Spending 5 Summers in EnglandMagenta Otter Travels2025-07-25 | I've now spent 5 years living in England for 3-5 months each spring/summer. In this video I share the things I love the most about living here and miss the most each year when I return to Texas. Please SUBSCRIBE to join us for more British fun and travels. Cheers! XX Dara and Ian
VIDEO LINKS: My Original "Things I Love" video - youtu.be/VtoJRkIsOUE 15 More Things I Love - youtu.be/1hFlp00Cepk 10 Reasons I Love Cheltenham - youtu.be/cayFSSoHrEk Best Gardens in the Cotswolds - youtu.be/dXZsTYuqaW0 Best Pubs in the Cotswolds (Episode 1) - youtu.be/MFGkJ0EOoBM Snow Drone Video of our Texas Neighbourhood - youtu.be/KNJcnTqvAfk Video of Me Making Scones with My Welsh Friend Emma - youtu.be/xf2IDRD0VQY Me Misunderstanding my Welsh Friend (Misheard "Lyrics") - youtu.be/dzPH2lfxIdATetbury - Cotswold Market Town with Royal ConnectionsMagenta Otter Travels2025-07-04 | Please join me for a walk round Tetbury. This Cotswold market town has a reputation for the quirky Woolsack Races, a lovely market hall, a cheeky pub, fun shops, plenty of restaurants, and the home of King Charles III nearby! Explore this lovely town with me and then check out some of the other "tea towel" locations here:
For more information on the Cotswolds, watch this video which explains what the area is - youtu.be/fhRgENI4o74 AND this video helps you plan a trip to the Cotswolds - youtu.be/1lBpR7efYRcPrettiest Village in the Cotswolds? Castle CombeMagenta Otter Travels2025-06-13 | Castle Combe is one of the most popular villages in the Cotswolds and many regard it as the prettiest village in England. The downside is that it is usually overrun with tourists... especially in the summer! So we visited a couple times EARLY in the morning so that we could film a view of this lovely place and share it with the Magenta Otter Tribe! We hope you enjoy it! XX Dara & Ian
What is the Cotswolds? - youtu.be/fhRgENI4o74 How to Plan a Trip to the Cotswolds - youtu.be/1lBpR7efYRc Bourton-on-the-Water: youtu.be/UhyfDMa29xo Broadway: youtu.be/pxuXWz6pTNk Bibury: youtu.be/nJwx89EKMF8 Stow-on-the-Wold: youtu.be/OPh4zyWIQvc Chipping Campden: youtu.be/iQtL-1bye7sThe Future of My Channel - Changing a Bit #channelupdateMagenta Otter Travels2025-06-06 | I'm so grateful for the 15K subscribers who have subscribed to my channel up to this point! Building a community among the Magenta Otter Tribe has been the most rewarding part of this YouTube journey over the past 5 and a 1/2 years. I hope that more people will "click the bell" and stick with me as things change in the coming weeks and months. And please let me know what types of videos you most want to see on my channel! Cheers! XX DaraLondon Boat Ride on the Thames from Westminster to KewMagenta Otter Travels2025-05-30 | We highly recommend that you try taking a boat ride down the Thames like we did! We had a wonderful journey from the bustling tourist hub of Westminster Bridge to the delightful oasis of Kew… where we visited Kew Gardens. Come along with us on our ride down the river as we see loads of interesting sites along the way and enjoy some beautiful British weather! Be sure to please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun, and check out the videos below for other London recommendations and adventures. Cheers! XX Dara and Ian
Links: London Hotels We Love – youtu.be/gVr0NXxx5G8 Cheap London Hotels - youtu.be/JLa3vmPytuI London Restaurants We Love – youtu.be/Rtt1Q5gAayA Hampton Court Palace vlog – youtu.be/7LPxrzv0HqE Windsor Castle vlog – youtu.be/cABYoPNKml4 Cheese Conveyor Belt in London – youtu.be/NdgSasGEyaECotswold Village Fete - Barnsley FestivalMagenta Otter Travels2025-05-23 | Come along with us as we enjoy the Barnsley Festival on this perfectly sunny day in Mid May 2025. Barnsley is a sleepy little Cotswold village that was buzzing with visitors on this big day of their fete. The festival had it ALL - Morris Dancers, a choir, art stalls, classic cars, tractors to play on, open gardens, a BBQ, a hog roast, cakes and tea, an ice cream cart, and an opportunity to wander the expansive Barnsley Park estate! Please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun ahead ;-) Cheers! XX Dara and Ian
Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:06 Bell Ringers of Barnsley 1:44 The Pig Statue 1:50 Swimming Otter Sculpture 2:24 Big Dogs 2:50 The Pig Hotel Gardens 6:30 Morris Dancers doing their Morris Dancing 7:59 More Open Gardens 8:42 Classic Cars 10:10 Barnsley Village Church and Choir Concert 11:02 Tractor Display 12:30 Interesting Ice Cream 13:50 Barnsley Park visit
Links to videos mentioned:
Stanton Open Gardens - youtu.be/mJ7cHCcKNT8 Best Village Fete and other Super Fun Anglophile stuff - youtu.be/7c-7jDKbjNE Best Pubs in the Cotswolds (Chapter 1) - youtu.be/MFGkJ0EOoBM Sissinghurst vlog in Kent - youtu.be/JWwrGRSbZYEWalking in my Ancestors’ Footsteps in GermanyMagenta Otter Travels2025-05-16 | I love doing family history research and better understanding the lives of my ancestors. My brother Alan (who has appeared in previous DNA and Family History videos with me) shared a lot of helpful info from our family tree. And now it was my turn to take that genealogy work and plan a trip around it! I chose to make this trip to Germany in 2024 because it was the 100th anniversary of my father's birth, and I wanted to see the area where his parents/grandparents were from.
In this video I visit the Minden region of Germany and look for places that were important parts of my ancestors' lives. My father's mother and his paternal grandparents were born in countries such as Prussia that are now part of modern day Germany. On my trip, I visit a large church and two small ancient churches in search of the churches where my ancestors attended Sunday services and were christened and married. I also try to find the farm where my grandmother was born.
Come along with us to Minden as I explore my roots! And let me know your experiences with doing ancestral village tours of your own! Thanks for watching! Dara
Video Links: Birmingham Family History Vlog (Ian's ancestors) - youtu.be/LCx1xrV8ah8?si=vAfql5125pESe1EF Herefordshire Family History Blog (Ian's ancestors) - youtu.be/t3apMEPWXlM?si=aNiNuTusbaKT14GO Eating German Foods with my Family in Hamburg, Berlin & Frankfurt - youtu.be/YeL9JuyHivc?si=zX8FNG833Y8z9SGRBerlin Vlog - Museums, Meals and MoreMagenta Otter Travels2025-05-09 | This video recaps our time in Berlin in September 2024. Come along as we share with you the museums we visited, the historic places we visited, and the delicious food we ate. And along the way, we'll also share some other quirky things we saw. Thanks for joining us! Cheers! XX Dara and Ian
Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:27 Biergarten and Race Cars 1:22 Berlin Wall and our Hotels 3:00 Checkpoint Charlie 3:29 Marx Engels Forum 3:51 DDR Museum 4:35 Bode Museum 6:46 Topography of Terror - Viewer Discretion Advised 11:22 German Traffic Lights 11:58 FOOD in Berlin 13:42 Preview of What's Next!Trying Spaghetti Eis for the First Time - American tries spaghetti ice cream in FrankfrurtMagenta Otter Travels2025-05-02 | After spending a month in Germany, two days before leaving, I HAD to finally try Spaghetti Eis! We went to Eis Fontanella in Frankfurt to sample this uniquely German treat... ice cream made to look like a heaping helping of Spaghetti Marinara! It was a fun and delicious adventure. If you love travel, food and fun I hope you SUBSCRIBE for more European adventures. Cheers! DaraEating German Cities - A Berliner in Berlin, a Hamburger in Hamburg and a Frankfurter in FrankfurtMagenta Otter Travels2025-04-25 | When a food-obsessed YouTuber is reviewing the plans that her German-obsessed husband has made for their summer travel through Deutschland, she feels compelled to make the obvious video of eating a Berliner in Berlin, a Hamburger in Hamburg and a Frankfurter in Frankfurt! Come along with us and our family as we enjoy some delicious German specialties in these three fascinating cities! And PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to join us for more European adventures! Cheers! XX Dara
Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:41 Berliner in Berlin 5:45 Hamburgers in Hamburg 9:12 Frankfurter in Frankfurt
Link to original Hans & Franz SNL video: youtube.com/watch?v=7Mk1nykjnYAVisiting a PINK Castle in Germany - Schloss Benrath DusseldorfMagenta Otter Travels2025-04-18 | During our month exploring Germany in 2024, we spent a couple weeks in Dusseldorf, a beautiful city which I felt personal connection to because of family connections there. Since Germany is known for having thousands of castles/palaces, we had to visit at least one of them before leaving Dusseldorf! A local person we met recommended Schloss Benrath, and when I saw that it it is a pink castle, I said "LET'S GO!!!" Come along with us as we explore this beautiful "summer pleasure palace" and their vast gardens. And PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to join us for upcoming European adventures! Cheers! XX Dara
Other Video Links: 3 Meals in 3 Countries in 1 Day - youtu.be/zhCm5GPH_Dk Taking the Eurostar from London to Brussels - youtu.be/tWJxvIpDnd8Eating 3 Meals in 3 Countries in 1 Day - Breakfast in Belgium, Lunch in Holland, Dinner in GermanyMagenta Otter Travels2025-04-11 | In a day of fast travel in the summer of 2024, we visited 3 countries in one day - Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany. I decided to eat a traditional food in each place and film each meal for a compilation of my 3 meals in 3 countries montage! So join me for Liege waffles in Liege, Belgium, Poffertjes in Maastricht, The Netherlands, and Scnnitzel and Spaetzle in Dusseldorf, Germany! And PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to join us for upcoming European adventures! Cheers! XX Dara Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:48 Night-before Dinner in Belgium 3:04 Breakfast in Liege Belgium 5:56 Lunch in Maastricht The Netherlands 9:10 Dinner in Dusseldorf Germany
Other Videos to check out: Eurostar from London to Brussels - youtu.be/tWJxvIpDnd8 My 60th Birthday in Brussels, Belgium - youtu.be/U-0ZpASrqWA The English Tourist Diet aka "What I Eat in Day" in England - youtu.be/oLRiqFRfyqYLondon to Brussels via Eurostar High Speed Train - Only 2 Hours! #england #belgiumMagenta Otter Travels2025-04-04 | Come with us as we travel from London St Pancras station to Brussels Belgium in just 2 hours! Please SUBSCRIBE to see more British adventures as well as our travels to Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands in 2024 and Ireland and Norway in 2025! Cheers! XX Dara and Ian
First Time Driving in Europe - youtu.be/Y_yDdwA-v4wEdinburgh Images I Loved from my 2024 trip #edinburgh #scotlandMagenta Otter Travels2025-04-02 | I made this short to remember my favourite sights from our 2024 trip to Edinburgh! Check out my video of the amazing Scottish Castle hotel we stayed in not far from Edinburgh: youtu.be/jXpCH9_elbYBest Photo Spot at Best Hotel Ever - Scottish Castle #edinburgh #roxburgheMagenta Otter Travels2025-03-31 | We loved this swing in front of our Favorite Hotel Ever - the Schloss Roxburgh hotel in the Scottish Borders. Check out this link for a tour of the hotel and to hear about our stay - youtu.be/jXpCH9_elbYOur Favorite Hotel EVER - Scottish Castle Schloss Roxburghe #scotlandMagenta Otter Travels2025-03-28 | We stayed at an amazing hotel in Scotland, not too far from Edinburgh. The hotel is called Schloss Roxburghe. Schloss is German for castle, and this place really looks like a castle! The grounds and gardens were amazing. The staff was incredible. And the breakfast buffet is one of the best we've had. The spa and gym were also top notch.
We love the Scottish Borders and were so pleased to stay here. It probably is our favorite hotel ever! Check out the hotel and the fascinating historic town of Jebburgh nearby. It has a lovely abbey ruin and a museum about Mary Queen of Scots.
Please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun and adventures! Cheers! XX Dara and Ian
Edinburgh - youtu.be/TPnPJOr4wDoBath Walking Tour – Highlights of the Mayor of Bath FREE Daily Tour of the City #englandMagenta Otter Travels2025-03-21 | I’m back in Bath today, this time to experience a walking tour of the city that is hosted by the Mayor of Bath guides who conduct FREE walking tours of the prominent sights around Bath every day! Join us for the highlights of this tour and a quick look at some of the wonderful places in Bath. The full tour is over 2 hours, so this is a preview. I hope you come take the full tour next time you are in Bath. Thanks for watching and be sure to SUBSCRIBE for more British fun. Cheers! Dara and Ian
Notes: Photo of King Bladud statue from the Kings Bath is by Smalljim - commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7754710Bath Bun Taste Test – Sally Lunn Bunn vs. Jane Austen’s favourite Bath BunMagenta Otter Travels2025-03-18 | I go to Bath and get one of each… the famous Bath Bun (which was Jane Austen’s favourite) as well as the Sally Lunn Bunn. I taste them side by side to determine which is best, and give you my recommendation on what YOU should try on your next visit to Bath! Thanks for watching and be sure to SUBSCRIBE for more British fun. Cheers! Dara and Ian
Other Videos: My Bath Time video (with Sally Lunn Restaurant report) - youtu.be/FM29Lhoxlw0 Taste test of Craster Kippers – youtu.be/ypNr1SZCuxc Clotted Cream Taste Test - youtu.be/3R409ZBS6gA Pasty Taste Test in Cornwall - youtu.be/dGACq5U4WjE Chocolate Bar Taste Test - youtu.be/Bb-IEck-OTo Marmite vs. Vegemite Taste Test - youtu.be/hX8I4EtixicBladon & Witney – Places to visit near Oxford - Americans Tour Oxfordshire #englandMagenta Otter Travels2025-03-14 | If you are looking for places to visit around Blenheim Palace or the city of Oxford, I recommend going to the historic village of Bladon or the lovely town of Witney. Both places are interesting destinations which are steeped in history. Fans of Winston Churchill will find a pilgrimage to the church at Bladon very worthwhile, and a perfect place to stop in conjunction with a visit to Blenheim Palace. Witney is a market town full of places to visit and shops and restaurants as well. Thanks for joining us as we explore Oxfordshire! Cheers! XX Dara and Ian
CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 0:51 Bladon 7:32 Witney
IMPORTANT LINKS: Blenheim Palace Video – youtu.be/SiRDMeMpkEw Vlog of nearby Woodstock– youtu.be/Sb8DZksrSpM Oxford City & College Tour Video - youtu.be/fK-NdHvMqDsBEST SANDWICH I ever ate! #cheese #meltedcheese #raclette #london #englandMagenta Otter Travels2025-03-10 | I LOVE melted cheese. Raclette is the best melted cheese... and it turned this into the best sandwich ever!Oxford Day Trip – Tour of City, Colleges, Cathedral and Bodleian Library #oxforduniversityMagenta Otter Travels2025-03-07 | I’m back in Oxford for the first time since having my YouTube channel. Come along with us as we spend the day in Oxford - wandering around the city, visiting some of the most famous and beautiful colleges, touring the cathedral, exploring the Bodleian Library, and having a delicious lunch at the Covered Market. And of course, gelato as well! If you are new here, please SUBSCRIBE for more British adventures! XX Dara and Ian
CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 0:43 Oxford City Sights 6:30 Bodleian Library 10:20 Christ Church College 12:46 Christ Church Cathedral 17:30 Lunch at the Covered Market and Gelato at Swoon 19:46 Magdalen College 21:06 Keble College
Link to my Men's Travel Shirt video starring my son Weston: youtu.be/yF6kTmHklJk
Links to favorite items: • Western Rise shirts Henley shirt: https://collabs.shop/9as7qi Short sleeve button down: https://collabs.shop/tpfun2 Long sleeve version of button down Weston showed: https://collabs.shop/xxf7mn • Western Rise link & discount code: Link to their website: westernrise.com/MagentaOtterTravels Discount code for 15% off your first order: MAGENTAOTTERTRAVELS • Packing cubes amzn.to/3X2A3Dx • Western Rise packing cubes: https://collabs.shop/zdiagc • Makeup remover cloth amzn.to/3VkebCx • Large laptop backpack amzn.to/42ya1LG • Collapsible day pack (Eddie Bauer) amzn.to/3WW2R0n • Stanley Aerolight Beverage Bottle amzn.to/3VkNLjZ • Hoodie (women’s) from Eddie Bauer amzn.to/4b21z9F • Hoodie (men’s from Eddie Bauer amzn.to/42WiOYe • Men’s packable waterproof rain jacket (Eddie Bauer) amzn.to/3X1XnRz • Women’s packable waterproof rain jacket (Columbia) amzn.to/3X03qGo • Rab Hiking pants amzn.to/3ZxUPMX • Rollaboard suitcases by It itluggage.com/products/bewitching-cabin-purple-potion • Crossbody bag (fits in backpack) amzn.to/4gjz4Fq • Dell XPS 13” laptop amzn.to/4hBS4At
Disclosure: some of the above links might provide me a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support of my channel!Essential Shirts for Travel - Our Review #WesternRiseMagenta Otter Travels2025-02-25 | For a 15% DISCOUNT ON YOUR FIRST PURCHASE, use my discount code: MAGENTAOTTERTRAVELS Here is the link to their website: westernrise.com/MagentaOtterTravels
And links to some specific Western Rise shirts: o Henley cotton blend shirt: https://collabs.shop/9as7qi o Short sleeve wool blend button-down: https://collabs.shop/tpfun2 o Long sleeve version of wool blend button-down Weston showed: https://collabs.shop/xxf7mn
We are passionate about packing LIGHT and bringing only high quality, versatile, lightweight, durable, EASY CARE clothes with us when we travel. I recently discovered a men's travel clothing brand that shares this philosophy and advocates the "pack less and experience more" mentality. Western Rise clothes are designed for one-bag travel! In this video, my son Weston models two beautiful Western Rise shirts and shares his thoughts about them.
This is a sponsored video and I receive a small commission for products you purchase using the links above, but you will not pay a higher price. Thank you for your support of my channel! XX DaraSlow Travel vs. Fast Travel – Our Travel Plans for 2025Magenta Otter Travels2025-02-21 | Welcome to a different kind of video for us… where we sit and reflect on our 32 years of traveling together and 5 years of travelling to Britain and spending months at a time each summer. We have travelled really fast, and really slow and everything in between… so we are here today to share our experiences and to discuss our travel plans for 2025! Please SUBSCRIBE to see our upcoming Europe vlogs from last summer as well as to see our latest British adventures. Happy Travels! XX Dara and Ian
Links: Are We Quitting Airbnb? Our Advice on Travel Accommodation – youtu.be/wni-HpLGJsM My 60th Birthday in Brussels Belgium – youtu.be/U-0ZpASrqWA How To Plan a Trip to England’s Cotswolds – youtu.be/1lBpR7efYRc First Impressions of the UK - youtu.be/t6O9krwNYSIQuitting AirBnB? Our Tips on Using AirBnb and Alternatives for Full-Time TravelMagenta Otter Travels2025-02-14 | Many full time travelers are “quitting AirBnB” and many AirBnB hosts/owners are also quitting. We have watched lots of videos on this topics. While there are some pitfalls and watchouts to using AirBnB, we haven’t totally stopped using the app. In this video we share our experiences and give you our tips on how to best use AirBnB. We also discuss alternatives to AirBnB and explain our approach to choosing lodging when we are travelling full time. Please let us know your thoughts on AirBnB and your approach to finding the best lodging options for you. And if you like discussing British travel or culture, please SUBSCRIBE to join us for our upcoming videos. Thanks so much! XX Dara and Ian
Links: Best AirBnB in Yorkshire, England – youtu.be/nSVNiVKqpnM Cow Shed AirBnB in Kent, England – youtu.be/9StcZ273Y0I Vlog of Rothbury, England including our lovely AirBnB – youtu.be/WITcfRzbRGwNorthleach & Eastleach - Amazing Cotswold churches! #england #thecotswoldsMagenta Otter Travels2025-02-07 | Come along with us to the quiet village of Eastleach and the picturesque town of Northleach to tour some fascinating and ancient parish churches. The two churches of Eastleach are small and relatively simple but full of interesting stories. The church in Northleach is one of the most grand and magnificent "wool churches" of the Cotswolds! I hope you enjoy touring these churches with us... as well as checking out our fancy meal at the gastropub in Northleach. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE for more British fun! Cheers! XX Dara
Yorkshire Pudding recipe video from @BlackCatKitchen - youtube.com/shorts/o5p6s7YNyrg?si=2xcCp_qCfgfnQ2EU Black Cat Kitchen channel page - youtube.com/@BlackCatKitchenBerkeley Castle - Home to Englands Oldest Family Dynasty!Magenta Otter Travels2025-01-31 | Come along with me as I tour a place I've wanted to visit for AGES... the infamous Berkeley Castle! It is not far from our home in Cheltenham, so I've been begging to go here for years. The castle is known for being a key location in British history... an English king was allegedly murdered here! It is also a big and beautiful castle on a grand estate in the lovely Gloucestershire countryside (as you can see from Ian's lovely drone footage at the beginning and end of the video). Berkeley is definitely a location you should try to visit if you are in the area! Thanks for watching. I hope you SUBSCRIBE if you enjoy this type of content. Cheers! XX Dara
Here is my playlist of Gloucestershire vlogs - youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOedWVhYewAWLB_AjFIk6ueIhHwCpo1GmWilliam Tyndale - visiting places from the life of this Christian heroMagenta Otter Travels2025-01-24 | In this video I take you with me and show you some key locations in the life and memory of William Tyndale. Here is a summary of his biography:
William Tyndale (c. 1494–1536) was an English scholar, theologian, and pioneering Bible translator, best known for his role in making the Bible accessible to English-speaking people. His work laid the foundation for modern English translations of the Bible and was a key influence on the Protestant Reformation.
Tyndale was born in Gloucestershire, England, and educated at Oxford and Cambridge. Early in his life, he became convinced that the Bible should be available to all believers in their native language, rather than only in Latin, which was the language of the Catholic Church. Influenced by the ideas of Martin Luther, he began to challenge the authority of the Church and its practices.
In the early 1520s, Tyndale set out to translate the New Testament from Greek and Hebrew into English. His work was groundbreaking because it was based on the original texts, not the Latin Vulgate, which was the Church's standard Bible. Tyndale believed that ordinary people should have direct access to the scriptures, and his translation efforts were fueled by a deep conviction that it would lead to spiritual renewal.
Tyndale's translations were completed in exile, primarily in Germany and Belgium, as his work was banned in England. Despite this, his translations spread widely, and many of his phrases and word choices were later incorporated into the King James Bible. His 1526 translation of the New Testament was the first to be printed in English, and its distribution was a direct challenge to the Church's control over religious texts.
Tyndale's religious reform ideas made him a target for both the English monarchy and the Catholic Church. In 1535, he was betrayed by a fellow Englishman and arrested in Antwerp. After being imprisoned for over a year, he was tried for heresy and blasphemy. In 1536, Tyndale was convicted and executed by strangulation before being burned at the stake. His final words were reportedly a prayer for King Henry VIII: "Lord, open the King of England's eyes."
Though Tyndale died a martyr, his legacy lived on. His translations became immensely influential, and many of his phrases were carried over into later English Bibles, especially the King James Version. Tyndale’s work not only contributed to the spread of Protestant ideas but also shaped the development of the English language itself.Starbucks 2025 Valentines Theme is MAGENTA OTTERMagenta Otter Travels2025-01-23 | Thanks for Katy from @WITYTRAVELS for sending me this video from a Starbucks in Manila in the Philippines!Views of Beautiful Britain from Above - Drone footage of the UK #england #wales #scotlandMagenta Otter Travels2025-01-17 | The place shown in the intro (before Clip 1) is Durham Cathedral ;-)
Here are the locations for the other 40 clips that follow:
1. Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland 2. Pistyll Rhaeadr, Powys 3. Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd 4. Birmingham City Centre 5. St Michael's Mount, Cornwall 6. Warwick Castle, Warwickshire 7. Jedburgh, Scottish Borders 8. Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol 9. Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire 10. Lewtrenchard Manor, Devon 11. Bodiam Castle, East Sussex 12. Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire 13. Chilham, Kent 14. Alnwick Castle, Northumberland 15. Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire 16. Highnam Church, Gloucestershire 17 Warkworth, Northumberland 18. Ford, Northumberland 19. Tenby, Pembrokeshire 20. Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire 21. Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire 22. Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire 23. Dartmouth, Devon 24. Arundel Castle, West Sussex 25. Burnsall, North Yorkshire 26 Hever Castle, Kent 27. Knaresborough, North Yorkshire 28. Valley of the Rocks, Devon 29. Crowe Hall and Widcombe Manor, Bath, Somerset 30. Lynton and Lynmouth, Devon 31. Hurlestone Tower, Northumberland 32. Dunster Castle, Somerset 33. The Helford estuary, Cornwall 34. Leeds Castle, Kent 35. Lantic Bay, Cornwall 36. Powis Castle, Powys 37. Tyndale Monument. Gloucestershire 38. Penshurst Place, Kent 39. Conwy Castle, Conwy 40. Canongate Bridge, River Aln, Alnwick, Northumberland
Thanks for watching! XX DaraYorkshire Dales Malham Cove Vlog & Suicide Prevention FundraiserMagenta Otter Travels2025-01-10 | TO DONATE to the UK Suicide Hotline: samaritans.org/donate-now For Mental Health Support in the UK: call 116 123 or go to samaritans.org For Mental Health Support in the US: call 988 or go to 988lifeline.org/get-help
Thank you for joining me on another Yorkshire Dales vlog, this time visiting the stunning natural beauty of Janet’s Foss and Malham Cove! Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:15 Starting the Hike 2:19 Janet’s Foss 4:30 Malham Cove 5:20 Filming Location for Wuthering Heights and Harry Potter 6:39 Suicide Prevention Hotline Fundraiser Information 7:49 Hiking down from the top and First Aid for my skinned shin 10:12 Post-Hike Dinner 10:43 Outro
Links to Other Videos: Birdwatching Vlog from Flamborough and Bempton Cliffs - youtu.be/ul0-jK2lV1Q Grassington Vlog celebrating All Creatures Great and Small – youtu.be/vD6Wz7lfswY Our Amazing Yorkshire AirBnB in a converted Farrier’s Cottage – youtu.be/nSVNiVKqpnM Driving Hazards in the Yorkshire Dales - youtu.be/P9u5-ZjztpATravel in the Cotswolds #EnglandMagenta Otter Travels2025-01-07 | To learn about what The Cotswolds is, watch this: youtu.be/fhRgENI4o74 To plan your own trip to The Cotswolds, click here: youtu.be/1lBpR7efYRcTexas Afternoon Tea with the BEST Scones & Clotted CreamMagenta Otter Travels2025-01-06 | My perfected SCONES recipe is here: youtu.be/a8D8KT_K9VI My easy & delicious CLOTTED CREAM recipe is here: youtu.be/wNS61cHTVhwI Did 6 FitOn Workouts a Week for 1 Year: Here’s what happened. FitOn App Review – Fitness Over 50Magenta Otter Travels2025-01-03 | Happy New Year! I hope you have great health and happiness in 2025! Cheers! XX Dara
Links to other videos: My 60th birthday in Brussels - youtu.be/U-0ZpASrqWA 6 Good Things about Getting Older - youtu.be/PXp0ftbQ20cHosting my First Afternoon Tea – Best Friends Tea Party in TexasMagenta Otter Travels2024-12-31 | I had a special Birthday Afternoon Tea at my home in Texas to celebrate Tracy and Debbie’s birthdays! They both have birthdays at the beginning of December. And they are both my besties! And they both came to visit me in England this past summer! And they both love scones and clotted cream! And I was anxious to practice my recently-acquired scone and clotted cream making skills! So join me for a peek at the celebration and here the birthday girls give a review of the food! Cheers and Happy New Year! XX Dara
And here is the video of Tracy sharing her first impressions of the UK - youtu.be/t6O9krwNYSI
And here’s the video of Tracy’s first ever cream tea - youtu.be/TdFFGVyViPkHow to make the BEST British Scones – Step by step recipeMagenta Otter Travels2024-12-27 | This video shares my journey with getting to the BEST recipe for authentic British Scones. I share tips for making the lightest, fluffiest, and most delicious scones ever. I also share what to avoid in choosing a recipe and approach for making scones for your next cream tea, afternoon tea or high tea. Here are the chapters in the video, followed by my perfected recipe and instructions. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:29 Cranberry Walnut Scones 2:53 Plain Buttery Scones 8:39 Paul Hollywood “Easy Bakes” Scones 13:19 My Perfected Scone Recipe
MY PERFECTED RECIPE STEP-BY-STEP: Preheat oven to 375 F (convect) or 200 C fan
Combine the following and set aside for at least 5-10 mintes: 150 mL (2/3 cup) milk 2 tsp vinegar 40 g (1/4 cup) dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, sultanas or currants) – OPTIONAL
Beat together in a bowl and set aside for egg wash later: 1 egg
Sift together the following: 335 g (2 and 2/3 cups) all purpose flour 1 ½ tsp baking powder ¼ tsp baking soda
Into the flour mixture cut in the following and work with fingers until it is a crumb texture and the butter is well integrated: 115 g (8 Tablespoons) COLD regular salted butter
Then mix into this flour/butter mixture: 30g (2 Tablespoons) granulated or caster sugar
Make well in middle of the mix and then pour into that well the milk mixture. Stir with a knife until combined, do not overhandle or overmix to avoid tough scones.
Turn out the dough onto a floured work surface. Bring the dough together into a lump and flatten so you can then fold it 3 times. This helps make the layers for flaky scones.
Flatten into an oval that is 3 cm thick. Using a 2 inch (5cm) scone cutter press straight down/up WITHOUT TWISTING so that the scones will rise well.
Put the scone circles on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the TOPS ONLY with egg wash. Getting egg on the sides keeps them from rising.
Bake for 15-18 minutes until the tops are browned and the middle of the scones are no longer doughy.
To Reheat scones later: 5-10 minutes in a preheated 350 F (180 C) oven or 10 seconds in the microwave.How to make the BEST Clotted Cream – Step by step recipe and instructionsMagenta Otter Travels2024-12-20 | This video shares my journey with getting to the BEST recipe for authentic Clotted cream, just like the delicious cream you eat on scones in the UK when having a cream tea or afternoon tea. Now you can have amazing clotted cream even if you don’t live in Britain! It’s easy to make once you know the tips on how to make it just right. But it takes some experimenting because I had to try several times to get perfect clotted cream. So join me for an explanation of how to make it just right!
MY PERFECTED RECIPE WITH HELPFUL TIPS: Into a 3 quart saucepan put: 1 pint heavy cream (see note 1) 1 tsp butter Cook on medium heat, stirring with a whisk occasionally till it bubbles and then whisking frequently after it starts bubbling to avoid scorching. Simmer on medium for 12- 20 minutes until the cream has reduced, feels thicker, and is just starting to congeal on the edges of the pan. See notes 2-4. Poor into a 2-cup container (see note 5) and let cool until slightly warm. Then cover and put in the refrigerator overnight. A glass bowl with a lid is perfect. You won’t know until the morning whether the cream has clotted. See notes 6-7. Notes: 1. Use cream that is over 33% fat, or at least 5-6 g fat per Tablespoon. In the US, use heavy whipping cream. In the UK, use double cream. 2. When you have cooked the cream long enough, as you tilt the pan and scrape the bottom of the pan with a spatula, you’ll see a trail through the thickened cream. 3. If the cream doesn’t feel thicker or look reduced, you haven’t cooked long enough. 4. Cook the cream JUST until it's really feeling thicker. Don't keep cooking beyond that! If the cream is so thick it is looking thick like custard, you’ve cooked too long. 5. The cream will be about 70% of its original volume when you have evaporated enough water from the cream. 6. Clotted cream below should be thick but smooth and silky. If it is grainy, you cooked too long. If it is hard like butter, you cooked way too long. If it is runny, you didn’t cook long enough. Clotted cream that is slightly too thick to spread just needs to be left on the counter to warm up a bit before spreading on scones. 7. You will probably have to try this recipe a few times to get the right cook time for your specific type of cream, your pan, and your stovetop. For my pan/stove/cream I need to simmer for 14-16 minutes.Grasmere & Tarn Hows – Americans Hiking in England’s Lake DistrictMagenta Otter Travels2024-12-13 | In our final Lake District vlog, we take you along to visit the charming and picturesque village of Grasmere followed by a drive through the stunning countryside and a hike around Tarn Hows. Please SUBSCRIBE to follow along with our travel adventures, culture videos, and taste tests. Cheers! XX Dara & Ian
Important links to check out: Lake District Vlog of Ambleside & Hiking Low Fell - youtu.be/BqLJreUVktw Grasmere Gingerbread Taste Test and Review – youtu.be/9E9IsRGTYCM Yorkshire Dales Road Trip through Burnsall – youtu.be/iND9x4VpEJw Visit to Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales – youtu.be/vD6Wz7lfswY Road “Hazards” Driving through the Yorkshire Dales - youtu.be/P9u5-ZjztpAAmbleside & Low Fell - Americans Hiking in England’s Lake DistrictMagenta Otter Travels2024-12-06 | I’m finally taking a trip to the Lake District with my friends in the Magenta Otter Tribe! Come along with us on our road trip through Ambleside, Windermere, Thackthwaite and everywhere in between! We endure a lot of rain and I make my second attempt at hiking Low Fell with my energetic husband who LOVES mountain climbing! Please subscribe to follow along with our travel adventures, culture videos, and taste tests. Cheers! XX Dara
Important links to check out: Grasmere Gingerbread Taste Test and Review – youtu.be/9E9IsRGTYCM Yorkshire Dales Road Trip through Burnsall – youtu.be/iND9x4VpEJw Visit to Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales – youtu.be/vD6Wz7lfswY Road “Hazards” Driving through the Yorkshire Dales - youtu.be/P9u5-ZjztpAWiltshire Wonders: Iford Manor Estate & Gardens and Corsham CourtMagenta Otter Travels2024-11-29 | Not far from Bath, and the lovely town of Bradford-on-Avon which I showed in last week's video, are two wonderful places we visited and want to share with you... Iford Manor Gardens and Corsham Court. Come along as we share with you the stunning gardens of Iford and the charming market town of Corsham with its stately Elizabethan manor house.
Please SUBSCRIBE for more British fun and adventures! Cheers! XX Dara & Ian
Important Links: Our video of Bradford-on Avon - youtu.be/_sgjtOiwOOI Our vlog of Avebury, also in Wiltshire - youtu.be/Wq-JHtJRKBEBradford on Avon – Is it a Best Place to Live in the UK?Magenta Otter Travels2024-11-22 | I heard that Bradford on Avon is an amazing place to visit and live… so Ian and I went to see for ourselves. Should we consider moving from Cheltenham to BOA? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Join us as we explore Bradford on Avon, on two separate trips… the second one with our friends Christa and Joel. We visit the town centre, some ancient churches, the enormous tithe barn, The Shambles, The Tory, Newtown, and more! Please be sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on all the British fun and discussions ahead! Cheers! XX Dara (and Ian)
CHAPTERS: 0:00 Intro 2:05 Town Bridge 5:19 The Shambles 6:23 Famous Churches 11:27 The Tithe Barn 13:38 The Canal Walk 15:27 Newtown 18:31 Historic Mills 20:03 Conclusion: Are We Going to Move to BOA?
Relevant Video Links: Why we Love Living in Cheltenham – youtu.be/cayFSSoHrEk Flats we ALMOST bought before moving to Cheltenham (“Ones that Got Away”) – youtu.be/ijxlCU1kECQ Tess’s Bradford on Avon Video on Hip Over Fifty – youtu.be/rjKkhs32r90?si=xWOObmoW6YTUbeIc My vlog of Avebury, also in Wiltshire - youtu.be/Wq-JHtJRKBEFavourite British Sayings from THE NORTH I Learned from TV Shows #anglophileMagenta Otter Travels2024-11-15 | This video shares MORE British words and sayings that I love. I focus on sayings from the North... Northern England, Scotland, and even Northern Ireland. I share terms that I learned from watching British TV shows, as well as sayings that were shared with me by subscribers. I hope you enjoy the video, SUBSCRIBE, and join us for more British fun and travels coming soon. Here are the links that I mentioned in the video -
My Merch Shop: magenta-otter-travels.printify.me/products NOTE: When ordering MERCH be sure to order products titled USA or UK - based on where you live - to minimise shipping costs.
Video Links: York Minster Full Tour - youtu.be/UmF4-FM8gqs Yorkshire Dales Road Trip & Beautiful Burnsall – youtu.be/iND9x4VpEJw Knaresborough Vlog – youtu.be/GZnrYN9C6XA?si=0uAXN8BCXpdb2OSa Harrogate Vlog – youtu.be/e2ahiLlAJPg?si=t0C4dsHPD-q5WR0e Pasty Quest in Cornwall – youtu.be/dGACq5U4WjE What I Eat in a Day (Cornwall & Devon) - youtu.be/oLRiqFRfyqYYork Minster - Full Tour of One of England’s Best Cathedrals #yorkshireMagenta Otter Travels2024-11-01 | York Minster is one of the biggest, best, and most famous cathedrals in the UK. I’ve been wanting to visit it for years, and was chuffed to discover that Cath, a friend of the channel, was a guide at the Minster and willing to give us a tour! Come along with us as we tour the minster and discover why it is such a fascinating and historic cathedral in England. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to join us for lots more British adventures and discussions! Cheers! XX Dara and Ian Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:49 History 1:26 Nave 5:00 The West Window 6:19 The Pilgrim Window 8:21 Bell Founder’s Window 8:46 Five Sisters Window 10:06 The Great East Window 13:10 The Chapter House 15: 00 The Quire 18:59 The Undercroft 20:34 The Crypt 21:29 The Tower 23:44 THANK YOU, Cath!