Published by Spring Street Publishing, 2017, 272 pages.

Susan Branch and her husband Joe always wanted to go back to England, which they both love and hadn’t been back to since 2004. So in 2012, when Susan turned 65, they booked themselves on the Queen Mary 2 and went on a two-month ramble through the castles and cottages of rural England. This is their diary.

The book is beautifully produced, with over 300 photos and watercolors—Susan is also a painter. But what is striking about it is that the book is handwritten. (I’m a bit of a font nerd so I looked closely at the letters to make sure.) It’s a day-by-day account—a real diary—so there is a lot of detail. And mouthwatering recipes scattered throughout. What I found amazing was that they traveled with 12 bags, which made me feel like a light traveler! They packed everything, including an electric kettle, mugs and tea.

I had mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, there is a lot of useful information on travelling in England. The Branches rented apartments but sometimes stayed in bed and breakfasts. These are described in detail, as are the National Trust houses they visit. On the other hand, there was nothing of the multicultural, multiethnic country that the UK has become. Apart from a few modern things like a GPS in the car, computers, and printers, you could be in 1950s England. In that sense, it is a fairly narrow view of the country. And there are annoying references to “the adorable English” and their “cute” way of speaking.

But, as I mentioned earlier, there are a lot of handy tips for the traveler. And if you’re an American visiting the UK for the first time, this is definitely worth reading. Susan translates a lot of “English” terms into “American”. There are also lists of recommended books and movies about England. And details of how to get to places and where to stay. I know that if I planned a trip like this, I would use this book.

This review first appeared on Women on the Road.