Holiday Memories 2015 - Dreamy Devon and Beyond

Dorset we enjoyed with its picturesque coast, towns and countryside. It will be a county that we will continue to visit. But I do have a love affair with Devon, the pull of the area becoming stronger with every visit.

Yealm Cabin

I did wonder when we rebooked to stay in Yealm Cabin this year whether it would be as good as last year. All doubts were banished when we arrived. And the week was if anything better, I think because we knew what to expect, although it is difficult to analyse why.

View from Yealm Cabin

The cabin itself is about a mile away from the main road. The view from it is mainly of fields - not a
view that constantly changes, except for the clouds. Yet we could sit there for hours, just looking - it was so good for the soul, with occasional visits from rabbits and birds - one of which flew into the cabin and then out before I'd realised what it was.

River Yealm

Then there were the walks! Down a path beside the cabin we were able to get to the River Yealm - a suitable soggy route to Yealmpton and a satisfying self-righteous sort of distance to have a bitter shandy and a full Sunday lunch as a reward.

One evening we took a walk 'round the block' to experience the beauty of the area, walking at one point along the banks of the River Yealm, seeing in an hour and a half only one person and some interested sheep.

Gates of Burgh Island Hotel

We also had the chance to visit the glamorous sounding 'California Cross' (which had a Camping and Caravan site, a pub and a garage), Modbury and Burgh Island (of Agatha Christie fame), driving down roads so narrow, you had to breathe out to ensure there was enough space to drive along. Hats off to my dear husband who performed a very nifty manoeuvre to ensure a refuse lorry could pass.

And then it was back home to Seaford, staying again in Dorset.

Our site at the 'Runt in Tun'

Our three weeks away left us hungry for more adventures when we arrived home. And so, in September, we were off again. Our destination this time was not so far away - to Heathfield, staying in a field  behind the 'Runt in Tun' public house. What was only going to be 3 nights turned into 6, with a friendly pub, great food and walks nearby in a lovely part of Sussex. It was a very relaxing and funny time with lots of laughs each day. And the question started to develop for both of us - what about a complete change of scenery? What about moving house?

Holiday Memories 2015 - Dorset Beauty

When the weather isn't that brilliant and we're still in winter mode, it is so good to think back to our most recent holiday, part of which involved travelling through Hampshire and Dorset to get to our destination, a log cabin in Devon.

Except this time, we didn't just drive through Dorset. We stayed for a few days on our way there and back. And what a surprise that was.

For more years that I care to think about, I have driven through Dorset, the usual thought being 'Oh, this is a pretty county - must stop and have a further look,' only that was about as far as it went. I can also remember seeing signposts for Corfe Castle and wondering what it looked like. So when Alan mentioned a stop in Corfe Castle, courtesy of the Camping and Caravanning Club site, I was pleased to have the chance to visit what, in my ignorance I thought was just a small village.

First Glimpse of Corfe Castle

Imagine my surprise to see us following the directions to the campsite and to find an immense hill with the remains of a castle on top, looking broodingly down at us. I was thrilled.

2nd Glimpse of the Castle

The camp-site was about 20 minutes walk from the town and on our way down we were treated to the teasing sight of Corfe Castle, which dominates the whole town. On the day before we left we visited the ruins of the castle itself. An impressive structure even ruined as it is, with amazing views of the Purbeck countryside as well as the steam railway going down to, Swanage and the town itself.

Even better was the public house right at the foot of the castle which produced the most mouthwatering food!

On our way back, we had booked at a different Camping and Caravanning Club site, based at Moreton in Dorset. We must have enjoyed it because we had originally booked for 3 days and stayed for 6, meeting lovely people and seeing some fantastic sights.

The Church at Moreton

Visiting the church at Moreton itself was an experience. Bombed in the 2nd World War, as a result of which all the stained glass windows were smashed, it had been decided to renew the windows with etchings by an artist called Laurence Whistler. The result is a bright and light church interior. When we first visited, the sun was streaming through and the first impression was 'Wow!'. I found that the more I looked at the windows the more I was struck by the detail of the designs and how it matched in so well with this old church. Incidentally, the funeral of T E Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) was held in this church and we had the privilege to visit his grave in a cemetery a short walk away.

Stair Hole at Lulworth Cove

Finally, we visited the Jurassic coast and Lulworth Cove in particular. For someone like myself who was brought up in St Ives, Cornwall, I was in my element. I love being beside the sea and seeing all those rock formations was awe inspiring, thinking about the energy and time taken to produce the 'lulworth crumple'. What was interesting was that my dear husband was not so enamoured with coastal views, having loved all the things we had seen inland. Well, we're all different, aren't we?

It is wonderful having such beautiful memories to look back on, and even now I'm transported back there by reviewing the photographs today.