Last weekend we decided to have a little trip away before the start of the school holidays and spent a few nights in North Devon. We had a tiny self contained apartment above this old coach house which was very comfortable and well equipped.
The Coach House is in the grounds of an old rectory, home to a delightful young family and their various animals.
On our first day we visited Rockford in the Brendon Valley on the edge of the river Lyn.
And after a pleasant walk along the footpath by the river we rewarded ourselves with lunch in the Rockford Inn.
Day 2 started off in Lynton and after a browse round the shops and craft centre we took the Cliff Railway down to Lynmouth.
In 1952 the two rivers that meet at Lynmouth flooded following torrential rainfall causing the worst flood disaster in UK history. There is a memorial in the town and the memory lives on of all those killed in the disaster which devastated the small town.
Nowadays it is a thriving tourist centre and always very busy.
The Cliff Railway is the UK's only fully water powered railway. Built in 1888, it remains the world's highest and the steepest fully water powered railway and one of three examples left in the world.
From Lynton we took the scenic coast toll road
to Hunters Inn in the Heddon Valley. We took a short walk through the woods but didn't go as far as Heddons Mouth on this occasion. I loved this moss covered stone wall.
Last stop of the day was at Combe Martin one of the longest villages in England, which ends at this delightful bay.
Couldn't resist a picture of these gorgeous Hydrangea!
Sunday was a quieter day spent lunching with family and taking a gentle stroll.
Monday was our last day away and our luck ran out weatherwise. After visiting the pretty hamlet of Malmesmead in the Doone Valley - famous of course for the novel Lorna Doone - the rain came down and followed us all the way home.
That bridge I can tell you is a pretty tight squeeze and we used the ford to the left when we left Malmesmead.
If you have got this far then thank you for coming along on the journey.
Nice break, Lin. I love Lynton and Lynmouth, must visit again this autumn.
ReplyDeleteYour trip sounds absolutely devine and your photos are wonderful. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love travelling with you. You find such interesting places.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely break away Lin & such delightful places you got to visit & stay at. Your photos are just wonderful. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful vacation and thank you so much for taking us along. Those hydrangeas were magnificent!
ReplyDeletelooks like a fabulous trip... there is always so much to see
ReplyDeleteHugz
What a wonderful getaway. I didn’t know about water powered railways before. Very interesting!
ReplyDeleteA lovely place to visit and great to have gone before school holidays.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks like a very lovely trip.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteWhat a quaint place to stay....looks like you had a lovely time...beautiful hydrangeas....stunning!
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