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Friday 19 July 2013

My week

We have been having a bit of a "staycation" here recently in view of the current warm sunny weather.  We managed to keep the diary clear and pretended that we were on a self catering holiday!  I must say the accommodation is very homely and has everything we need, there's been no need to take Thomas to a cattery, no waiting at airports nor needing travel insurance we just get up in the mornings and decide what we feel like doing.

FRIDAY 12th

 First off we went to Exeter to walk along the Exeter Ship Canal as far as Topsham - this was the walk I had hoped to do when I set off on my Bus Pass Trip back in June but as the ferry across the river at Topsham doesn't run on a Tuesday and it was of course Tuesday when I went I had had to cross over further upstream a mile or so where there was a bridge. (That's not us in the distance but another elderly couple!)

 This time it was Friday not Tuesday and according to the Tourist  Information Office as long as we reached the ferry before 3.00 pm when it would stop running due to low tides we'd be alright this time.

 It was a lovely day for a walk with sufficient breeze to prevent us getting too hot.  I was glad I wasn't carrying my big back pack though or it might have been a different story!


There's something cooling about walking beside water I always think.

 It was all very buccolic and peaceful in spite of the fact that it was only a short distance from the city and there were industrial buildings on the other side of the canal and trains too passing on their way to Exeter and pylons in many of the views but the human brain is very good at editing out those!


The noise from the motorway was harder to ignore however - I was glad I was  down here amongst the greenery and not thundering along above!

 Soon the noise was left behind though and the path continued between the greenery and the flowers with the canal just over to the left.

 What a lovely little cottage we spied on the other side of the canal - this view made me wish I could paint!

 We wandered on and soon came to a little bridge across the canal and discovered...


...we were at the cottage and what is more it was a cafe!  How lovely was that as by now it was time for something to eat and a bit of a sit down.  Apparently this is called Lock Keepers Cottage and during July and August is a cafe and the rest of the year can be rented as a self catering holiday cottage.

We decided to eat inside as all the outdoor tables were in the sun and we were by now quite warm.  This was the view from the upstairs room where we chose to sit - lovely isn't it?  I felt as if I had died and gone to heaven and was just thinking that what would make it absolutely perfect would be if there were a few crisps alongside the sandwiches - for some reason I'd been fancying crisps for the past few days and since we rarely buy any I hadn't had any to hand at home.  Well when the lady mounted the stairs carrying our lunch - my hummus and salad sandwich and elderflower presse, and Mr M's ham and salad plus an orange juice I knew just what heaven will be like if I ever get there as sure enough alongside the lovely sandwich with side salad was a little pile of good quality crisps!!  Doesn't take a lot to make me happy does it?!  Imagine what it might be like to rent the cottage and to sleep in this very room with the canal just outside and the distant countryside beyond - I am sure I'd sleep well here!


After a leisurely lunch we caught the little ferry boat with one other person and a dog, which sure enough would not be running after 3.15 today, and crossed the river Exe to Topsham.

 Topsham has a Dutch influence as you can see from the shape of the buildings and very attractive it all is but we had visited earlier in the year and had a good wander round so this time we just caught the bus back to Exeter, bus passes at the ready and after a short wait having just missed one, and from there took the train home again.  A lovely day out.

TUESDAY 16th



On Tuesday we decided to do a walk which Mr M had found on the internet - we needed somewhere that would be shaded as it was set to be hot again.  We duly set off after breakfast for Maiden Newton less than 15 miles away from where we would start our walk.

 The walk was called Chalk stream, Dragonflies and St George  and sounded just about right for a hot day. We wandered along the banks of the River Frome which burbled over the pebbles and looked most inviting being very clear and clean.  This was of course the chalk stream mentioned in the walk title.  We also noticed many dragon flies en route although I didn't manage to get a photo of any of those!


About 11.00 we decided to stop and have our elevenses having come across this bench in the shade.


After our refreshments - a flask of tea and a slice of cake I'd made for just this sort of picnic (notice the designer lunch bag - a recycled frozen pea bag!) - we set off again.

 Through lovely countryside...

 .. and along pretty lanes with wild flowers everywhere.


Here we crossed a little ford - the walk description had said it might be muddy in places and so it was even in the current heat when all around is dried to a cinder - it would require wellingtons to walk this route in the winter I think.

 The path led on past stands of pink rosebay willowherb and frothy cream meadowsweet...


...across this little bridge..


..alongside the river again....


with views of typical Dorset countryside here and there.

 We reached Cattistock in time for an early lunch.  Cattistock is a pretty village with many lovely cottages like this one.  After a sandwich and a drink in the local pub, which was obviously very popular and soon filled up so just as well we were there early, we set off again stopping at the church where we were told we would find St George and the Dragon from the walk title...

 ... and so we did painted on the wall of the baptistry inside!  There is a magnificent 20 foot high font cover here which was installed in the early 1900s which you can see to the left of the photo and isn't that ceiling lovely too.

 It was a lovely little country church with some beautiful stained glass windows including this one in the Arts and Cratfts style and designed by William Morris and Sir Edward Burne Jones.

We left the cool interior of the church and continued on our way, by now the idea of paddling in the chalk stream was most attractive as we wandered along in the dappled shade.


There was even a little "beach" just here though it wasn't really sand.

On the homeward straight now and we were soon back at Maiden Newton where the car was still in the shade where we'd parked it which was a wonder!  Back at home I sat in the garden with my cup of tea and a book and was well content.  I even went as far as to fill a tray with water and paddle my feet in it since I hadn't actually taken my boots off at the river!  Thomas wasn't too pleased though as I had used the tray he likes to drink out of and I had to wash it out and refill it for him as having sniffed it he wasn't going to risk drinking it after my sweaty feet had been in it!!

WEDNESDAY 17th


This time we decided to go to Weymouth - knowing that once the school holidays begin it will be heaving with holiday makers and we usually give it a miss then till September.  There were still plenty of people on the beach although nobody watching the Punch and Judy just yet.


We were headed for the Rodwell Trail - an old disused railway line between Weymouth and Portland which we had walked this time last year almost to the day but this was another shady walk.  It's obviously been a long time since any trains stopped here!


We enjoyed the walk, level and easy and much of the early part at least being in the shade.



We stopped for lunch at Sandsfoot Castle where we were lucky enough to find a table in the shade of a tree at the little cafe hut and we sat enjoying our sandwich and drink looking out across the harbour.


The castle was built by Henry VIII  - well probably not him but his minions! - after the Reformation as he feared attacks from the Catholic continent and had several such castles built along the south coast - mustn't it be awful to be powerful and rich but afraid of attack all the time?  I'd rather be me!


The Trail continues along the coast to Ferrybridge where we got a bus back to town and then home in time for Mr M to watch some more of the Tour de France with his cup of tea...

 ...whilst I took mine out in the garden along with my book The Road to Tholonet by Monty Don which I can recommend if you are interested in France, the French and gardens.

THURSDAY 18th

Was decreed a "domestic day" as it was too hot to go far although I did walk the half hour walk into town keeping in the shade but I nearly expired on the bus coming home and wished I'd decided to walk back as well as I am sure it would have been cooler!  No photos as Thursday involved some indoor games sorting out my photos, some ironing, and some sitting in the garden with yet another cup of tea and my book!


19 comments:

  1. Ha, looks like we had a similar sort of staycation Jane! :)
    The little cottage/ cafe is so pretty! I don't eat many crisps myself but I do like some with a salad sandwch.
    I'm amazed at how similar are paths were, even down to the fact that my Hb liked to get home to watch the Tour too!
    Thanks too for the book recommendation as I do like France, the French and gardens. :)
    Lovely pics!
    V x

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  2. What a lovely few days you've had! It's been incredibly hot here too and I've been housebound as husband's been out so no holiday feel I'm afraid. Fortunately, the house is very cool. I've enjoyed your staycation photos.

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  3. What fantastic pictures. How long did it take you to walk the Exeter walk? Looks brilliant.

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  4. Sounds like the perfect holiday :) - lovely when the accomodation feels just like home ;)

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  5. It all looks lovely! I have had this week off work but spent most of the time indoors- TOO HOT. We have been enjoying eating in the garden in the evenings though, and the best thing we've ever bought is the summerhouse-shady when its hot and a comfortable place to watch the birds and bats when its not. (Love the frozen pea bag!) C x

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  6. smashing post Jane. You can't beat the West country.
    I shall be book marking the places you showed, it all looks such a lovely place to visit.

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  7. That brought back memories - it's a lovely part of the country, but Weymouth will always be the place where we temporarily lost our daughter on the beach - it was so busy and she wandered off while we put our deck chairs up. All ended well thank goodness, but I haven't been back since - must take her there again - she's fifteen now!

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  8. What a lovely, interesting post. I do enjoy reading about your trips/rambles.

    Your posh lunch-bag is a very good idea.

    That church is very pretty but I should hate to have to removed the font cover myself!

    Enjoy your weekend.

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  9. I love reading about all the rambles you take in the English countryside. Makes me want to plan a vacation there. Lovely lanes and canals. Walking alongside waterways is always beautiful.
    The book sounds interesting - I'll be looking it up.

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  10. What a great bunch of photos, I've enjoyed walking with you! Lx

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  11. Jane, as ever it is all so interesting and written in a way that makes me feel I've done it too. The one thing that always strikes me is how much you must love doing these things together. This post is the perfect advertisement for a staycation!

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  12. This just emphasises that all you need is the right weather. There is nowhere better than England when the sun shines.

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  13. Oh what a treat! Thank you so much! I misss the footpaths and the views but lovely to see it through your eyes!

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  14. Thank you for another wonderful walking travelogue. The cottage does make a good painting scene.

    I carry a freezer pack in my backpack and use an umbrella as a parasol when out walking in the heat and/or sun. The freezer pack adds weight, but it keeps the food chilled, and me for a cool break.

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  15. I found myself thinking how lovely to be sitting drinking the elder flower presse and looking at the view from the stunning little cottage. What a find Jane!
    Like the others who have commented, I have found this blog post such a lovely way of taking a walk alongside you.

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  16. Ahhhh so much just on your doorstep you lucky thing. Wasn't that the cutest cottage? So glad you are having some great weather though 30+ is too hot in my book and definitely not the weather for walking. Hope the sunny weather continues with temperatures a little lower. Can't wait for your next excursion

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  17. I've been 'off-line' for a bit, but I have thoroughly enjoyed catching up especially reading about your staycation. What a delightful part of the the country you live in, and yes, the little Lock Keepers Cottage looks wonderful, what a bonus that you were able to stop for lunch. Looking forward to your next trip. x

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  18. Isn't this wonderful country of ours just perfect ... such variety, such delights ... who needs to go abroad!

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  19. It was 101F today. We were out for our walk early this morning and wandered around the garden for (maybe) 3 or 4 minutes this evening. Your adventures are like fairy tales - I love them and hope someday they come true for me... Thanks for the lovely break.

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