Lyme Regis 19th , 20th 21st march
After leaving Portsmouth and its snow we headed to Lyme Regis, a little harbour town in Dorset but on the edge of county Devon.
On arriving we found our hosts of our little cottage desperately shoveling snow so we could get down the driveway into our cottage. We spent one day touring the adjoining areas, Beer , a lovely harbour town and the Colyton, medieval market town which served great scones, jam and clotted cream, typical of the Devon area. Hence the name devonshire teas. Tony said it was the best “cuppa ” he’d had. The following day a wander around Lyme Regis township. The harbour area known as the cob, and the cliffs from the Jurassic period.We found some fossils in stones on the beaches, but Tony and Ivana came home with lots of little treasures and fossils.
22nd , 23rd, 25th In the Dartmoor national Parks
From Lyme regis we followed the coast, into Torquay , visited a miniature village and then off to our stay in a cosy cottage at a small dot of the map called Poundsgate. It is on the edge of the Moors near Ashburton. Typical damp , wet weather with the fog coming in late afternoon making staying in the moors seem very earie.
The following day, a day travelling through the moors , Ashburton, the main town , Widecombe in the moor a sweet little village and Lustleigh a pretty village with lots of thatched roofs. Climbed up to a Tors, a rocky outcrop on top of a hill providing excellent views across the moors, then onto Princetown and the Dartmoor prison museum. The prison still operational and houses 630 of Englands worse prisoners. The scenery through the moors breathtaking especially around scenes with old bridges from 1500’s , room for one car only and crossing the River Dart.
Our cottage in the Moors with view and neighbouring Alpaca
Scenery in the Moors
A very nosey horsey
A cosy pub in the Moors built in 1413, 605 years old!
John and I had a day visiting Kingswear and Dartmouth , a river estuary and harbour, a river cruise and explore of this delightful area. Ivana and Tony stayed in the moors for more walks.
Steam train at Kingswear and Dartsmouth
25th march, 26th to 27th
From the Moors on to Polperro , a small fishing Harbour then via Fowey and the ferry across to the peninsula to where our next 3 nights at Penzance began. A not so cosy cottage for 3 nights. Why the English put their bedrooms in the attic, with sloping roofs to bag your head on is only known to them!!! Still we had a kitchen and Tony once again cooked a great curry, loving his curries and cooking in general.
Polperro
Ferry at Fowey
Visited St Micheals Mount, started in 11th century with French monks , now in the hands of the national trust and a family home. Crossing is by small boat or walk the causeway at very low tide.
St Michael Mount
More country lanes, always narrow making passing oncoming traffic difficult and with high hedges, much to Ivana’s frustration when wanting to take photos. Tony and John becoming jadded with these roads and nervous driving conditions.
Explored the coast to Mousehole and down to Lands End. Next day across the peninsula to St Ives another fishing harbour and a train trip from Lelant to St Ives , seeing scenery of the coastline.
St Ives
Lands End
March 29th 30th Up the Cornwall coast.
Followed the Cornwall coast via Newquay. A seaside town we loved and swam at 5 years ago. This time wet, cold and blowing a gale. Not leaving the same impression on us this time. The weather certainly affects your thoughts on a country, 5 years ago couldn’t wait to go back to England , this year wishing we hadn’t booked 6 weeks.
Via Padstow a another fishing Harbour and home to Rick Stein, a famous English chef.
Padstow
Onto staying at Bude for 2 nights. . A seaside town with a crazy road system but lots of beaches.
Bude
