Day Trips from Manchester

In Brief.  For something completely different from a day trip to a civilised National Trust property, the Hack Green Nuclear Bunker in the Cheshire countryside provides a glimpse into the somewhat bygone age of the Cold War and the threat of nuclear devastation. Hack Green was to have been a government regional headquarters in the event of a nuclear war, and contains the minimum infrastructure for communication, coordination and life support for 160 civil servants. It's a stark reminder of how very bleak everything could quickly have become. Afterwards, the historic town of Nantwich is close by, with an opportunity to have lunch in a 400 year old hostelry and to both find out about and take home some Cheshire cheese. British air-dropped nuclear weapon. What's Here? Hack Green is approached down typical country lanes, and is a large, windowless concrete building, designed to withstand some measure of bomb damage.  Inside it is substantial, hosting among other things a canteen ...

In Brief. The Jaguar Breakfast Club is a large but low-key gathering of Jags and their owners that meets monthly, often at the grand British Motor Museum . The Jaguar Breakfast Club meeting mostly seems to involve wandering around looking at each other's machines, with a chance to compare notes or experiences. The museum provides some more structured input, with a huge collection of British vehicles and associated stories. The museum ... and some Jags. What's Here? Jaguar Breakfast Club  gatherings tend to have themes; I attended the 10th Anniversary of the launch of the F-type, something that is guaranteed to be unique! Driving down, even from some way out there seemed to be an unusual number of supercharged Jaguars on the road and in service stations, and indeed there was a vast collection of F-types present along with a variety of other Jaguars, mostly modern but occasionally ancient, and a fair range in between.  Ahead of the meeting it was said that the club had arranged...