Saturday 5th July
On our way back to Wetherby we called in to see Doreen at her home in Trowbridge.
Friday 4th July
We travelled further west along the coast today and stopped at Exmouth. We walked the length of the front and watched some very skilful kite surfers.
Further up the coast we turned into Topsham and parked near a working boatyard where several boats were being repaired. There were many small boats on the river and some activity here though the town was very quiet.
The church building is very unusual in that different parts are made of different stone.
We drove back to Budleigh and went to the special open evening at the museum. Lots of information about the lace makers, Victorian costumes, smuggling and local geology is displayed here as well as files of local interest. The day ended with heavy rain and some of the largest waves that we have seen here splashing up on the shingle.
Thursday 3rd July
We walked from Budleigh Salterton to Sidmouth along the South West Coastal Path today, about six and a half miles. We stopped in the bird hide by the estuary for 20 minutes watching herons, cormorants, swans and ducks as well as seagulls.
The path was interesting, the views lovely and the weather fine until we were caught in a thunderstorm just outside Sidmouth but we were under trees at this point and able to shelter.
Wednesday 2nd July
This morning we walked into Budleigh Salterton and explored the shore and beach. It has the feel of a busy town as well as a holiday centre.
There was a good variety of birds in the estuary and we watched a couple of overs of cricket nearby. The trees on the clifftop reminded us of the Suzy Cooper pottery designs.
We spent the afternoon at Bicton Park Botanical Gardens which cover 63 acres. The glass houses contain temperate, hot and tropical buildings as well as this magnificient Palm House which was built in the 1870's.
There is a train ride through the grounds, huge trees, a pineatum, American, Italian, rose and Mediterranean gradens as well as a fernery and grotto.
This building is called The Hermitage and is at the end of the nine acre lake which was dug and lined with stone by French prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars. It was built in the early 1900's. The windows are made of very old stained glass and the floor is made from the thigh bones of deer.
The church is at the bottom of the Italian Gardens.
Tuesday 1st July
This morning we drove down some steep and very narrow roads to Branscome. We walked the length of the beach towards the remains of the Napoli, which sank in a storm last year when most of its cargo was looted. Two cranes were working on deck and a smaller ship was moored alongside before moving towards Exmouth. We could see two tugs and a large vessel just off the coast, with a Navy vessel on the horizon.
At the other end of the beach a lot of people were climbing the coastal path and later on a hang glider flew over the cliffs there for quarter of an hour.
We drove on to Budleigh Salterton which looks interesting and will be our base for the next four days.
Monday 30th June
This morning we returned to Seaton and took a 20 minute ride on a small tram on the Seaton Electric Tramway. We passed through a wildlife sanctuary in the estuary and had a good view in all directions.
Thieves had stolen about a hundred metres of copper cable from the tram lines so we had to stop at Colyford and walk by the river to Colyton station. We had a look round an antique and collectables centre before having a cup of tea at the very pretty station which had lots of hanging baskets.
We drove on to Axminster and had lunch at the River Cottage Shop in the High Street.
We spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening under the hot sun on the beach at Beer. Gulls were feeding their chicks on the cliff ledges behind us and we enjoyed watching the yachts being launched from the beach.
Sunday 29th June
This morning we drove to Seaton and parked where the River Axe meets the sea and watched half a dozen small yachts being launched and many larger yachts at sea in the distance. The front has a wide promenade behind a steep shingle beach and gradually filled up with families as we walked its length and back.
As we watched comings and goings in the harbour a siren sounded and the smaller yachts were brought ashore. Dark clouds were building up and it looked as though it might rain.
We drove through lovely countryside to the next large town, Sidmouth. Again we walked up and down the promenade. There are some very big four star hotels here and some grand houses, including some with thatched roofs. It is the first place where we have seen croquet being played. A path has been recently built around the headland leading to a small bay.
Here at high tide the sea crashed up and over the footpath.
Saturday 28th June
This morning we walked to the Cobb in Lyme Regis, then up to the top of the cliff and along part of the South West Coastal Path. Once we reached the end of the woods the views out to sea were superb. Lots of other walkers were out too.
We walked back to the car park through the gardens.
Down the coast at Chalmouth it was very windy with a choppy sea. As the tide was going out we walked along the beach back towards Lyme Regis looking for fossils.
We found some fossils in stones that Alan broke open and Glenys found a small section of an ammonite lying on the beach.
On the way back we watched some beach fishermen and then a family flying a kite.
Friday 27th June
This morning we drove to Abbottsbury and explored the village. There is a shop which is a selling studio for several woodworkers and had impressive furniture, clocks, mirrors and lights. It is an interesting village with a wide range of houses.
We then followed the coast road to the end of Chesil Beach where we watched the fishermen.
We drove to Bridport for lunch and looked around this typical market town.
From here we went to Lyme Regis for a walk down by the sea front before finding our hotel. It's a lovely country house hotel with a beautiful garden, good food and interesting guests.
Thursday 26th June
We drove up the hill to the lookout and Hardy Monument which is named after Lord Nelson's officer who lived nearby.
Further down the valley we crossed the causeway to Chesil Beach. The pebbles are much higher and steeper than they appear at a distance. They vary in colour but not much in size and are very difficult to walk on.
We explored Poundberry where there were many cars parked on the streets but nobody walking around, which felt very strange, so we didn't stay long.
We enjoyed walking around the village of Cerne Abbas which has many old picturesque buildings, little alleyways, streams and a millpond.
Just through the village is the Crene Abbas Giant cut into the hillside. Part of it is overgrown which is a shame as it is the main reason why people visit the village.
Wednesday 25th June
This morning we drove into Dorchester for a look round and on our way passed through Poundberry which seemed deserted and felt like a film set. Dorchester is a busy town with some lovely old buildings. We drove on to Lulworth Cove and spent a couple of hours on the narrow beach watching the boats and a group of people in kayaks surfing the waves at the entrance to the cove.
We decided to walk to Durdle Door up a steep stone path from the cove.
It was very windy at the top with stunning views on the return journey.
These and the colour of the sea which reminded us of the coastline up Highway One in California.
Tuesday 24th June
We drove through some pretty villages to Portland and parked at the top overlooking Chesil Beach.
We followed the coastal footpath for a couple of miles. The weather was very hot and the sea was an unbelievable blue. Underfoot the path was very rough in places, there were lots of remains from the mining and lots of wild flowers.
We drove to the southernmost point of Portland Bill, found a sheltered place and relaxed by the lighthouse, watching the sea, for several hours. We saw fishing boats, a range of birds feeding (including a seagull eating a crab) and a rescue helicopter.
In the late afternoon we drove to Weymouth and walked up the beach and back down the promenade, taking some time to watch the start of a volleyball competition. We tried to remember which hotel we stayed in 32 years ago on our way to Guernsey but we couldn't decide which one of two it was.
When we reached the dock we found that there were thousands of people there already as it was the gathering of the tall ships ready for the start of the race on Monday. There were sailing ships there of all shapes and sizes and from all over the world.
The church building is very unusual in that different parts are made of different stone.
We spent the afternoon at Bicton Park Botanical Gardens which cover 63 acres. The glass houses contain temperate, hot and tropical buildings as well as this magnificient Palm House which was built in the 1870's.
We drove on to Budleigh Salterton which looks interesting and will be our base for the next four days.
We drove through lovely countryside to the next large town, Sidmouth. Again we walked up and down the promenade. There are some very big four star hotels here and some grand houses, including some with thatched roofs. It is the first place where we have seen croquet being played. A path has been recently built around the headland leading to a small bay.
