DATES: 20 TO 24 SEPTEMBER 2022 INCLUSIVE
I’d booked this few days away some time back, unusually for me starting on Tuesday 20th, rather than Monday 19th. Such prescience……
Last time I was here ( see my blog North Devon – 2022) there seemed a lot more to see, so I moved a bit further south and centred my activities in the Barnstaple area.
‘Base camp” was at the Camping & Caravan Club site at Umberleigh. I continued to have luck with the weather – nice blue sky….
What was even nicer was that Tuesday evening is when the fish and chip truck turns up – how could I refuse ! Very nice F + C as well…. Saved cooking.
A good excuse for a glass or two, watching the sunset.
I was also trying a new lighting set up for the tent which seemed to work OK, as well. Small spike mounted solar powered ones for the ground ( ie. anti guy rope tripping over department) and a rope of small LED’s powered off my USB power bank. Good stuff.
On Tuesday morning ( 21st) I went to a bee farm, yes seriously. The Quince Honey Farm (near South Molton) started off much smaller in 1949, but moved, only been in existence on it’s present site since 2019. Apart from “making” honey to sell ( they have more that 4000 hives scattered around the vicinity), it’s also a great educational resource to learn about bees and other pollinators. The garden’s split into different areas to provide a diverse variety of forage throughout the year. Just everything about bees, fascinating really. I shall never look at my garden in the same way again.
There is (of course !) a shop and a restaurant, so it’s quite the destination. There weren’t any children in our tour group, but I can see it would be very informative for them.
There was a tour of the honey factory with tasting to start ( with different honey gathered from different parts of the South West, eg Exmoor) followed by beesewax and candle rolling, a walk round the garden and a beekeeping demonstration ( where the young lady tour guide got kitted up and the hive was taken apart and all the various sections show with bees and honeycomb present, etc).
I was surprised that brambles were so good for producing nectar – you live and learn. Followed by broad beans and lavender apparently. There will be more lavender in my garden next year.
Altogether quite an unexpectedly fascinating morning – I bought lots of honey in the shop……..
Oh, and a beautiful sunset to end the day
Thursday 22nd was a cycling day. I’ve “done” some of the Tarka Trail cycling route before, but not started from the Braunton end of the southern “loop”. So just decided to see how far I could go before collapsing in a heap or chickening out, which I suppose are the same thing !!!!!!!
Bit hazy to start, but brightened up as the day progressed. Dear readers, I did not complete the whole of the loop, but got as far as Bideford. The route from Barnstaple south is along old railway lines along an open estuary, so a bit exposed and windy, but still delightful. Stopped at the cafe there, then trundled back – nearly 50km in all – not bad for an old fella….
A bit sore the next day, but that wasn’t going to spoil my last day ( Friday 23rd). I’ve always wanted to go to Clovelly, but somehow always went past or some other excuse. I arrived early on yet another brilliantly sunny day.
No excuses but there will be plenty of pictures, as it’s that sort of a place. Really lives up to its reputation, IMHO. Yes, it has the inevitable shop and restaurant, but not really too overtly over the top.
Anticipating that the way down as reportedly VERY steep ( especially after the day before’s strenuous activities) the full compliment of walking sticks was deployed. Not too bad on the way down, but VERY necessary on the way back up.
Anyway….
This house was halfway down and what a view from the garden !!!!!!
As we continue down. And down……… Its ALL very photgenic.
Part way down is the cottage that Charles Kingsley used whilst living in Clovelly, now a museum. He was a Victorian Anglican clergyman and writer whose successful fiction ranged from social-problem novels to historical romances and children’s literature. Very small rooms by today’s standards.
Any further down we go, towards the harbour.
Eventually, you get this first view of the harbour – spectacular. And the welcome sight of a pub with outside seats, TBH could have stayed there for the rest of the day, sitting in the sunshine – beautiful !
Somewhat reluctantly ( the sun was REALLY that pleasant…) it was time for the ascent. Not too bad, but I was glad of the sticks on the cobbles. On the way, I stopped to say hi to the donkeys. Not used today, you can get a lift back up by Land Rover – what a cheat !
After a refreshing coffee and sandwich, it was back to base. A great day out, well worth the effort.
Incidentally, the guy who now runs the fudge shop used to be the postman for the village – fancy going up and down that all the time. In his 80’s now, but fit as a flea (as the saying goes) – wonder why ?????
So that’s the end of that week. Also, the end of my camping season.
I’ve called a halt to my camping exploits for 2022 , so no more sunset pictures for a while !!!!!!
All in all, packed in:
1. 39 nights away in 3 different countries at 10 different campsites
2. Two multi-day race meetings ( Silverstone Classic and Goodwood Festival of Speed)
3. Loads of cycling – seemingly more than 90 km
4. Plenty of walking as well – 80 km at the Silverstone Classis meeting alone
5. Eight railways/trams/funiculars – heritage and national
6. Lots of great places been and seen – Isle of Mull/Tobermory, Ravenglass, Oban, Clovelly, Lynton/Lynmouth, Llandudno/Great Orme, Llyn Peninsular, Bala, Dolgellau, etc.
So now my 2022 travel blog is complete – at last !
Not too bad for an old man approaching 76 – roll on 2023. Perhaps I’ll get to complete my much planned 42 night Outer Hebridean adventure…..