Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Fresh Horizons


Winter weather has confined us to a five mile radius for months now but the other day brilliant sunshine tempted us further afield and we decided on the Brendon Valley for a lunch trip. We drove through Porlock along the scenic A39, up Porlock hill on to Exmoor and past the Doone Valley on the left, hidden in a steep sided combe. Just before Countisbury we took a left fork and dropped steeply down and down and down to the Brendon Valley and the East Lyn River.


In the past we have taken friends and family to walk beside the river, crossed over the bridge to the Rockford Arms and then along the road back to the Staghunter’s Hotel. One memorable time I took the girls and we had a picnic sitting on rocks in the midst of swirling waters. A less memorable occasion was when a jutting wall hit my car and quite spoilt my lunch and was the beginning of my dislike of driving.


Today we had a good lunch at the Staghunter’s and reminisced about previous trips here. As usual there were plenty of walkers with dogs, happy to introduce us to their animals and engage in friendly conversation – it’s that sort of place. It has a secret cut-off feeling and would be an ideal spot if one wanted to hide from the world. I once convinced myself that a chap in the bar was Salman Rushdie at the height of the fatwa and all the unpleasantness I didn’t want to blow his cover so didn’t utter. Maybe it was my over active imagination.

17 comments:

mapstew said...

Sounds, and looks beautiful Pat. :¬)

xxx

Pat said...

Mapstew: it makes me long to walk the river walk again. I must try to persuade my son and kids to join me in case I fall in:)

Anonymous said...

What lovely country you live in, Pat. And what lovely photos.

Pat said...

Jack: I really appreciate the photo comment from an excellent photographer:)

Ms Scarlet said...

Glorious!...and I have noticed the jutting walls... and the sheer drops are a little unnerving as well.
I was going to take some pics the other day, but I couldn't get it all into my view finder!
Sx

Pat said...

Maggie: but beware the jutting walls:)

Scarlet: is it all new to you or did you know the area before?

Eryl said...

It looks and sounds gorgeous, I love that secret cut-off feeling.

Madame DeFarge said...

Sounds like a lovely day. Very envious of you.

Pat said...

Eryl: sometimes I think it's like a mini Scotland with better pubs:)

Madame D: there has to be perks about getting old.

Ms Scarlet said...

I only knew the area as a tourist and spent many childhood holidays in Devon/Cornwall/Wales, we never [not even once] went abroad as a family. I found out recently that my Mum and Dad honeymooned in Lynmouth!
Sx

Pat said...

Scarlet: isn't that strange. I remember going up Porlock Hill with Mum and Dad on the motorbike and my brother and I in the sidecar. To the end of their days Mum insisted Dad had to get off and push with Dad adamantly denying it.
All the way from Rossendale to Lands End - they had no money but they sure knew how to have unforgettable holidays.

Charlie said...

Your photos are like something out of a storybook, but they're all real. What a beautiful place you live in, despite the weather. Thank you, Pat, for taking the time to post all of them.

Pat said...

Charlie: when it works nothing makes me happier. Well that's a slight exagerration;)

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Your photos make me realise, if I want beautiful places, I must create around my home. So after months of not doing much to the garden, we are working on it.

I'm waiting for you to announce, Today is my birthday!

Salman Rusdie looks a bit like Jack Nicholson.

Pat said...

GG: since I got Karen I've done hardly anything in the garden. Maybe when it gets warmer. I'd love to see your garden.
It's Monday:)

Nea said...

Beautiful pictures. I love the twist of the tree and the folds of the hills and hedges.
We had a couple of family holidays in Dunster when I was in my teens. We didn't holiday abroad either, but motored around in cars that often had to be pushed up hills. And on the one occasion we did go abroad, the car broke down just before we got to the German border. Fortunately we five children, cramped together on the back seat, were quite happy to get out and stretch our legs as we pushed the car into Germany.

Pat said...

Nea: five children - the imagination boggles but your parents have survived very well. I'm sure your girls love hearing about the holidays you had.