Monday, October 03, 2011

To the Beach

My help who was born and bred in Somerset spoke glowingly of Dunster Beach

Friday's dawn looked promising so we decided to explore. Dunster Beach BTW - like Dunster station is quite a cock stride from the village of Dunster.
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At first I thought it was new to us but then remembered a long walk with #1 son from Minehead to Watchet when we passes the beach huts.

Looking towards Minehead.

There is Grabbist Hill with the little castle thing on top. Behind and to the left is Dunster village

The good weather brings out all the hordes of people - as you can see.


Looking the other way - the Quantocks and probably Bridgwater.

It must be fun to have a beach hut. The sea in front and a lake and the little steam train behind

There are the ducks - we missed the geese

The bridge looked inviting so I accepted.


And here's the lake

I set off on a nature trail - careful badger's crossing.

I could hear the little puff puff but didn't catch a glimpse

I can't resist bridges. One of our favourite occupations is to gaze at the water below and sometimes play Pooh sticks.

At the Smuggler's I had to try the caramelised orange brioche with sticky toffe ice-cream to make sure it really was that good. It was.
I almost aborted this post; although my computer said I wa on line - I wasn't.
For hours! Strange things afoot. I must publish before it disappears.
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24 comments:

Ms Scarlet said...

I am taking my parents property hunting this weekend [if I survive a wisdom tooth extraction], I have this area earmarked.
Sx

Granny Annie said...

Wonderful, delightful, interesting photographs. Two questions: 1. What are Pooh sticks? 2. Where were the hordes of people in the pictures?

Pat said...

Scarlet: let me know if you want any (reasonable) local knowledge. We came in 1985 and are still learning but have never regretted the move.

Pat said...

Granny Annie: 1."Poohsticks is a game first mentioned in The House at Pooh Corner, a Winnie-the-Pooh book by A. A. Milne. It is a simple game which may be played on any bridge over running water; each player drops a stick on the upstream side of a bridge and the one whose stick first appears on the downstream side is the winner."
MTL and I have played it on the actual little bridge in Sussex.
2. "Hordes of people" is my feeble attempt at irony.
Now I hope you are going to start the game over there:)

Ms Scarlet said...

I will, Pat, thank you.
Sx

Anonymous said...

Looks like the perfect place for a Fall weekend.

Cheers.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I'd live happily in a little beach hut. Less cleaning too :-D

Have you ever seen a badger? Are they fierce, angry, ferocious creatures?

Pat said...

Randall: I think you are right.
I watched Billy Connolly on Route 66 the other night purely because he was going through Missouri and St Louis.
We visited a wolf sanctuary, a great soul food restaurant - the owner was a singer for Ike Turner and he failed to shoot turkeys with two beautiful twin sisters.

GG: they look surprisingly roomy but I believe you practically have to be a millionaire to own one now.
Our French son saw a badger in our garden late one night. A lady up the lane religiously feeds them. When you see the great holes they make I wouldn't want to grapple with one.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Another gorgeous area of your beautiful countryside....! And I LOVED the 'hordes of people'...lol....That first cottage looks like it is just one room...! And no doubt costs a fortune being on the water....! Lovely pictures, dear Pat, of a very lovely area....! That desert looks quite scrumptious though I would have preferred Chocolate, myself....

Macy said...

Don't you love the way a good walk gives you an excuse to pile into caramelised brioches?

Minnie said...

Gorgeous photos, Pat. I never got to Dunster Beach, so thank you for making it up to me.
I have cantered all along the top of Gribbist Hill, tho' - was exciting!
Wonder where my next move will take me: could be interesting, finding out. Sadly, it won't be Exmoor or the Quantocks/Brendons - but one can dream (and visit your blog)!

Unknown said...

Pat, is the castle thingy on top of Grabbist a dove cot, or is my memory skidding a bit?

LL Cool Joe said...

I always wanted a beach hut, but now I'm not so sure.

You cracked me up about the hordes of people. I should show you a photo of Brighton and see if you can spot the difference! :D

Pat said...

Naomi; I'd love to see inside one of the huts. I wonder if they have a mezzanine floor with that upper window?

Macy: the walk was rather shorter than the brioche required. Never mind - I'm going to lose three pounds by Saturday week.

Minnie: I didn't realise you didn't know where your move would be. Or are you just teasing?

Mike and Ann: I think it is an Iron Age hill fort but its a long time since we went there.

LL Cool Joe: why Joe - what changed your mind? Glad you got my little joke.
I've seen a photo of hordes on Brighton beach when Fat Boy Slim was gigging.

GYPSYWOMAN said...

i always have such a wonderful time wandering your beautiful countryside - thank you, pat!

angryparsnip said...

Like Gypsywoman I too have such a wonderful time wandering the beautiful countryside with you Pat !

cheers, parsnip

kenju said...

The dessert is very tempting!! I bet it was delicious. Your scenery is always so charming, Pat.

Pat said...

Gypsywoman: my pleasure:)

Parsnip: pity we can't do it all together.

Judy: it was - I'm now trying to work it off:)

GYPSYWOMAN said...

i'd meant to mention when i was here last that the little green beach cottage rather reminds me of the magnificent time i spent living on the bay here - albeit my own cottage was white and sat on pilings - but the water was just that close out my front door [due east] and on the back side [due west] was a huge wildlife reserve with marshland as far as the eye could see, straight into the crimson and purple sunsets - sigh!!!

Sheri said...

The lake and bridges are lovely. Can't say much for the beach, but I'll take a brioche, please.

Pat said...

Gypsywoman: that must have been idyllic. This green hut stood out - the others are white.

Sheri: we do have sandy beaches - but this isn't one of them:)

Unknown said...

Beautiful!

Pat said...

John.g: thank you:) Hope to have a change of scene in a couple of weeks.

Minnie said...

I never 'tease' about being homeless, Pat.