Thurlestone to Hope Cove - Sunday 15th July 2012

At last a sunny day in July and it is St Stithian's Day, so we are all hoping the rain has decided to stop???

A couple of weeks ago, we had travelled the roads around Bigbury, Averton Gifford, etc in the kit car and on the way had stopped to admire the view of Thurlestone Bay from a car park perched on the cliff.  Today, we would make the most of the fine weather and attempt a bit more of the SW coastal path. The path was very well defined and the route easy.

View from the car park

Dave managed to walk across this wet patch  before it turned into a river!

The alternative route across the sands   ( see video of Bob later!!)

Thurlestone Sands

The rocks are called The Books

The Footpath can be seen up the hill

Hope Cove

Dave and Bob on the sea wall at Hope Cove

The south west coastal path was well used today!

Bob had a nerve racking journey back along the wooden bridge - see video below

Vintage Car rally at Killerton House - Sunday 27.05.12

The Devon Vintage Car Club certainly gets around!  We joined them at Killerton House together with other car clubs for the day.  Over 250 vehicles were there with entertainment and competition where the best cars were voted for.

The weather threatened rain, but although cold, it was dry.

The DVCC

This car was voted the best one.  The owner had spent 5 years making it, 6 months of which was spent polishing it!  I wonder if he's single????

Killerton House

Pam and Dave relaxing

View of the countryside from Killerton Gardens

Picture taken from inside the ice house

The Bear house -  the family once kept a bear in this little house

We drove to Exeter the scenic route from Plymouth  -  Tavistock, Okehampton and along narrow lanes to Killerton to avoid the rain that was threatening.

Back along the A38 on the way home was much quicker!!  Car performs very well!!!

Encounter with fierce chicken in South Brent

We had a very tasty meal here outside in the garden of the pub.  Bob was kept entertained by the cockrell who attacked the staff as they tried to serve customers!

Bob found this cockrell very interesting!!!!

Turtley Mill pub

 As it was such a lovely evening, we drove a couple of miles to South Brent and walked along by the river.  The last time we came here, there was snow on the ground. ( see previous blog)  Several huge trees have come down since then.

River         at South Brent

the stump left from a huge tree

Stone Circle and row near River Erme - sunday 13th May 2012

Annie, Kevin, Dave and I set off to Yealm steps as a previous walk, but this time we headed east at the top of the Yealm over moorland, until we got to the stone circle and stone row.  This row is the longest in Europe.

We then followed the path adjacent to the River Erme and back to the car.

Delamore, Cornwood saturday 12th May 2012

Delamore holds an art exhibition every year in May.  The weather was excellent when we visited it.  Here are some photos:

Jennicliffe, Hooe, Oreston, Radford, Jennicliffe - Saturday 28th April 2012

This walk was published in a leaflet by Radford and Hooe Lake Preservation Association in 1999 which was purchased in a charity shop. The walk and the history of the area is very interesting.  It starts with a right turn from Jennicliffe car park along Military Road towards Ford Stamford.  Just before you reach the Fort, a small flight of steps leads up to a field behind a housing estate and leads to St John's Hill.

View of the Sound from Jennicliffe Car park

An orchid in the field next to Ford Stamford

 

  Opposite is St John's Church built in 1853.

 Down hill the route takes us to Hooe Lake, this is an interesting place, as Hooe Barn dating from the 1500's nestles amonsgt modern shops and flats.

 Shute Quay is where a spring rose from Staddon was the only fresh water source in days gone by.

Hooe Lake

  Crossing the road and head towards the Royal Oak pub. Hexton Hill rises steeply towards what was Hexton Quarry and Hexton Quay.

 The path leads onto the dam to Radford Castle.  The dam divides the fresh water of  Duck Pond from the salt water of Hooe Lake.

A path leads towards Oreston and a view of Cattedown where the Kings Arms dates from the 1800's.  The water originally came up the pub

Oreston with view of Cattedown

 

  Up the hill, the path was the old Oreston to Turnchapel railway line to the quarry and retracing the route to the castle.

Footpath along the old railway line

 Turning left beside the Duck pond the path leads to Radford  Arboretum which was started in 1975 with the planting of a Californian Redwood.

Radford Arboretum

This walk was about 4 1/2 miles in total finishing back at Jennicliffe.

Staverton, Nr Totnes - Sunday 1st April 2012

Another beautiful sunday and I would call this a stroll rather than a walk!  Lunch at the Sea Trout Inn at Staverton was excellent.  The fish curry was the best ever tastest and no wonder the pub is in the Good Pub Guide!

There are several places of interest here:  the River Dart, the railway station and crossing where the steam railway goes up and down from Buckfastleigh to Totnes, a plant nursery and a picturesque bridge over the river.  Bollards exclude any vehicles over 6' wide.

Anyway, a picture tells a better story than words so here are a few of the area: