Got away for our day about 10am and it was already about 24 degrees, though it dropped back to near 20 just north of Bude where we could see sea fog clinging to the coast. Plan for the day was to head into the northwest corner of Devon and look around the Hartland area. Got off the main road and onto some very minor roads looking for the Docton Mill gardens for some morning tea. Nerida and Dana had cream tea and thought the scones were very good, while I had lemon drizzle cake which was very light and lemony.
From here headed towards Hartland itself and thought about looking at the abbey, but at over £15 for the three of us we decided not to for something we weren’t that interested in. So we continued winding through minor back roads and when we saw a sign to Hartland Point lighthouse, decided that would be our next stop. Some very thin roads again with lots of grass growing in the middle.
A short walk out to the lighthouse.
Views would be amazing in clear conditions, but between the haze we’ve had all week and the sea fog to the south the horizon was rather blurred. Could just make Lundy Island out in the distance, about 12 mile offshore. Nerida noticed something i the water near the lighthouse and after a lot of looking through the 300mm lens of the camera and blowing up images we worked out that there were a couple of seals in the water. A couple of kayakers came along and the seals went to investigate them.
From here we headed east along the north Devon coast towards Clovelly, which ended up being busier than normal as they had a festival on, though it meant there were stalls and entertainment down at the harbour. The walk down the cobbled streets was certainly interesting with how steep it was. There were even donkey rides, so Bob would have been happy if he was here.
In the harbour itself they had some caracal’s that people were mostly falling out of rather than moving about in. Some photos from Clovelly. Rather than walk back up we took the Land Rover service which was well worth the £5 for the three of us.
Back in the car and headed back south for a stop at Sandymouth beach which we’d worked out was meant to be a proper sand beach, at low tide at least. When we got there, while the car park was in sun, the beach itself was shrouded in sea fog. Very eerie.
Water was damn cold too once we found it and had a paddle. It was surreal the number of Brits sunbathing and swimming in the fog.
Had a coffee at the National Trust cafe at the car park, then back home.
Long drive tomorrow as we head back east to Oxford.
