September 1 to 10 England

First we had a nice look around the Cotswolds. Again some very quaint & beautiful villages with interesting names – Shipton-under-Wychwood, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, Lower Swell & Upper Slaughter – just to name a few. Winding, secluded lanes with magnificent homes & gardens & the villages separated by rolling fields & forests.

A Cotswold house

Next stop Bath to see the Abbey & the Roman Baths – boy those Romans knew how to relax? Also visited Cheddar Gorge & saw a bunch of people scaling the vertical cliffs before arriving in Glastonbury – an interesting town which has clearly been influenced by the annual Festival – tarot reading, incense, mythical gifts etc. Enjoyed a great dinner of sweet potato & spinach soup & mackerel salad at the ‘alternative’ restaurant.

Next headed to the beach towns of Watchet, Minehead & Porlock Weir. The latter was a beautiful little village set on a pebble strewn bay below a forest covered hillside. Took an amazing little private narrow winding toll road through the forest before crossing through the picturesque Exmoor National Park to Okehampton. Our B&B was originally (1901) a ‘gentleman’s’ residence & later a boarding school before being converted to a B&B – a lovely old place.

Toll Road entrance

Near Porlock

Off to Land’s End (a bit of a tourist overkill) then to a few quieter little coves at Porthcurno, Kynance Cove and Lizard Point. Small but nice sandy beaches in small coves cut into the cliffs – very picturesque. The drive to these was through the beautiful Cornwall countryside of rolling hills & green fields divided by hedges & areas of forest.

Land's End

Our B&B at Okehampton

 

Two lovely but very different walks in the Dartmoor National Park today. The first through Lydford Gorge – the Lyd river flows between rocks & tall forest trees, the trees & rocks are covered in moss & lichen, there is a very pretty waterfall, some tranquil pools & some areas where the water roars through the narrowest parts of the gorge. By contrast, the second walk across the moors at Wistman’s Wood is totally open, walking across grassed slopes with heather & gorse & sheep grazing before dropping down into a small forest of twisted & dwarfed oak, ash & hollies all covered in moss & lichens. We then climbed to the top of the nearby Tor for 360 degree views of the surrounding moors & valleys. All this walking was rewarded with a ‘cream tea’ at the Two Bridges Hotel.

Lydford Gorge

Lydford Gorge

Wistman's Wood

Next stop, Beer, a beach & fishing town situated in a cove below white cliffs. Then Stonehenge & on to Porton (near Salisbury) to stay with Anne’s rellies, Roland & Lis for a few days. Visited some old Batten family historical sites plus New Forest, the Downs & the Fovant Badges (WW1 armed service badges carved into the chalk slopes of the Downs).

After being spoiled by Roland & Lis we headed to Brighton & checked out the Royal Pavilion & famous pier. Then on to Seven Sisters & Birling Gap where we walked along the base & top of the amazing white cliffs before heading to Folkestone to prepare for gay Paris. Our B&B is perched on the hill behind the town at Folkestone & has a view across the Channel. We can see the French coast in the distance.

Birling Gap