Burnham on Sea

It rained for a few hours in the night but it had stopped by the time we left the Blue Anchor campsite. Rosemary had read about a food festival at Burnham on Sea, so that is where we went for a couple of hours. We left mid afternoon with the object of finding another overnight stay but the weather remained dull and overcast well into the midlands. So we came all the way home instead and we arrived back home at about 6:30pm.    

Lynton and Lynmouth

Heading towards home and seeing some more of North Devon and Somerset on the way. Drove up to Lynton to park then took the cable car down to Lynmouth. Browsed the shops, took some photos, had a pastie and took the cable car back up again. Then I made the mistake of going to Hunters Inn down a road marked "Unsuitable for caravans" to get to the Heddon Valley and the inn. It was unsuitable for practically anything. The NT warden cheered me up by saying 'you should never have come down there - there's no passing places! The proper road out of the valley back towards Combe Martin was much better with excellent views along the coast.  

Joined the A39 again and stopped off at Watersmeet where we walked down the steep path to the river and had tea on the lawn at the NT Edwardian cafe. Finally negotiated Countesbury Hill and Porclock Hill, stopping briefly for Exmoor pony pictures and found a site near Minehead for the night just before sunset. An interesting day!        

Ilfracombe

Took the bus pass into Ilfracombe for a couple of hours in order to get some cash and have a fresh crab sandwich. Sea food is still landed at the harbour every day. A grey murky day does not do much to help lift an ageing seaside town. The controversial Damian Hurst sculpture of Verify at the harbour entrance seems strangely out of place here. On the plus side, still no rain and its warm and sunny at times. We had a DIY cream tea, from the excellent site shop, in the evening sun back at Damage Barton.

Clovelly

Moving on today from Cornwall back to Devon. Drove A39 stopping at the picturesque village of Clovelly. The last time we were here was over 40 years ago and it is much more commercial now. We walked down the steep cobbled streets to the quaint harbour to find a film crew doing some seafood ads for Youngs. Took the land rover back up the hill and had fish and chip lunch. Looked around Clovelly Manor gardens where Rosemary did a bit scrumping/foraging before we continued on to the Ilfracombe area for a couple of nights. 

It was hot and sunny on the quay at Clovelly, but it's murky at Woolacombe. We are on a dual club affiliated site at Damage Barton for two nights.

Bude and fishing

Wall to wall sunshine this morning, what a difference between north and south coasts again. Took the van into Bude and I went for a wander and a paddle while Rosemary did the shops.
Then we went fishing for the afternoon on the sites fishing lake. Didn't catch much but some regulars had the same problem - so it wasn't our problem. It turned cloudy later with a brief shower.

Bude

Headed to north coast and found the sun at Bude. Parked up near beach and walked along the cliffs to Lifes a Beach cafe for a fishy lunch, then back along the beach. The surf was up took some surfin photos. Found the Woods Farm site easily and were given a nice pitch with distant sea view. Walked down into the valley to find the fishing lake and struggled back up the hill. Good place to see the sun set and it's the autumn equinox!

Abbfest 2

Walked up to the festival again at the garden centre which had switched from food to crafts and stuff. Still warm but much brighter.

There were 151 real ales from 31 local brewerys and only 200 staggering yards from the van.  Hardly anyone on this site has towing hitch - lots of seasonal vans.

Abbfest

Started early to head for Newton Abbot food, cider and beer festival otherwise known as Abbfest. Opened by Edwina Currie and featuring several celebrity chefs including one of Rosemarys favourites Michael Caine. We are staying at a small but very attractive site just 200yds from the festival entrance. 

Disappointing grey and humid day but the Hog roast was good.

Birthday in Glastonbury

Always wanted to go to Glastonbury but seem to have missed the festival by about 3 months. Lots of interesting things to see and do, all a bit hippy and mystical. My cappuccino was OK with just a hint of incense or something. Maybe it was in the sprinkles but it seemed to make the van go slower :-)

We headed for Devon and stopped overnight at The Trout Inn which is a free Britstop near Tiverton where we had dinner. Met an interesting old chap in the bar who had played cello in the Halle orchestra for many years. Family had pots of money!

Wells Cathedral and Ask

We were offered a lift into Wells while waiting for the bus on a rather wet morning. Wells is a lovely compact, historic, city boasting a fine cathedral which is very well presented for visits. Its also free in marked contrast  to York and Canterbury which are both expensive!. The garden of the nearby bishops palace was the source of water (ie the well) for the city's inhabitants, in days of old. 

We had lunch in ASK Italian restaurant (with a voucher of course) at a nice table overlooking the palace garden entrance.  We had a quick shop at a new Waitrose and walked back to the site. A good day but we had walked a few miles and knew it!

The cathedral from bishops palace gardens

Wells Touring Park

looking towards Wookey Hole

Set off at midday for Somerset on a bright day. GPS took us through the centre of Bristol for some reason! Eventually arrived at a nice listed site in walking distance, about a mile, of Wells and Wookey Hole.

Birthday Break to Devon

As its customary to disappear for our birthdays I decided we would go to Devon and Cornwall until the weather gets too wet/cold/miserable, or the 29th September which ever comes first.
Booked a site next to Abbfest beer and  foodie festival for the weekend.
Found a Britstop at a nice country pub for my birthday meal out on Friday.
Hoping the weather settles down a bit so that we can set off on Wednesday stopping at Wells overnight.
 

Much Wenlock and Croft Castle

Stopped off at Much Wenlock on the way home to call at Rosemary's favorite butchers shop. Here is a typical review . It was my turn to experience the hi-tech automatic loo, with voice guidance, in the car park.

Then to Croft Castle for a late morning coffee break (too early for lunch unfortunately) and a few photos.
We went to the castle, its a NT property, in 2002 for a fungus forage in late October. The grounds have many old mossy trees making it very damp and ideal fungus growing conditions. Dodged the heavy showers to look round the walled garden where Rosemary "found " some apples. 

Hereford Fishing

We had a day fishing at the C&CC site between Ledbury and Hereford, to catch some carp. I caught lots of rudd and Rosemary had lots of roach, but neither of us caught a carp. Really warm day for the start of autumn but it rained heavily overnight.

Fishing trip

Just off to Hereford for a spot of fishing. Rather a late start as the cavity wall insulators decided to be late.