This Labor Day weekend, we traveled to the North Devon coast. After a lengthy (2+hour long) traffic jam in Bristol and some crazy, unnerving pitch black roads along the coastline, we arrived in Ilfracombe at 10 pm, a waaaay longer ride than expected. Our hotel was old, but decent, slept all five of us comfortably with each child getting their own bed and a full English breakfast was included which is all that really counts. On Saturday, we headed to the beach at Woolacombe Sands, a National Trust site with gorgeous views, rolling surf and the water was actually WARM!!!! Owen and Finn's part of the vacation - check.
These cabanas had female names and numbers.
We returned to Ilfracombe in the afternoon and explored the rock pools there. Evan enjoyed himself here - check.
The beach we went to was only accessible through tunnels which had been carved through the rock - very interesting - and the area we explored was a "women only" bathing area for almost 100 years.
Owen doing his thang.
Interesting statues in Ilfracombe
We found a fabulous Gurkha restaurant that was a buffet for dinner. Basically, it was all kinds of curries and Chinese food, but buffets like these are rare in the UK and we loved it.
On Sunday, we headed out of Ilfracombe towards home the same way we had arrived and the driving was much easier and beautiful and relaxing than the trip inbound. On the way back, we stopped at two National Trust properties, Watersmeet and Dunster Castle. We are members and try to get our money's worth every chance we have.
Watersmeet was an old hunting lodge that is now a lovely tea house and shop amidst stunning woodsy scenery. There are trails and rivers and waterfalls - right up Craig's alley - check. It is situated where the East Lyn River and the Hoar Oak Water meet.
Evan on the trail
Finn in the river
A lunch companion
Watersmeet Lodge
After a hike and a meal, we headed west along the coast some more to Countisbury Hill and through the Exmoor National Park. Just beautiful.
Local fauna and flora
Our last stop was Dunster Castle which was my pick of the vacation - check. This was a very well-maintained castle and has been a National Trust property since 1976. Four items of note are:
1) the paintings on huge expanses of tooled leather in the dining hall which depict scenes from Antony and Cleopatra's lives;
2) the plaster embellished ceilings;
3) the oak and elm staircase in the hall where each balustrade panel is carved from a single plank of elm 23cm thick; and
4) the fact that solar panels were installed behind the castle battlements to generate electricity. This is the first NT property to do so and it is entirely powered with solar energy.
Pictures of the interior were not allowed (rats!) unfortunately for Craig because Owen had run out of steam and refused to tour the castle.
On Monday, the kids went to school and Craig and I ran errands, had a pub lunch and went on a hike in the town of Guiting Power along the Wardens Way.
In case you are lost and have your GPS handy, they mark the postcode.
The last of the poppies
"Baa, ram, ewe!"
These cabanas had female names and numbers.We returned to Ilfracombe in the afternoon and explored the rock pools there. Evan enjoyed himself here - check.
The beach we went to was only accessible through tunnels which had been carved through the rock - very interesting - and the area we explored was a "women only" bathing area for almost 100 years.
Owen doing his thang.
Interesting statues in IlfracombeWe found a fabulous Gurkha restaurant that was a buffet for dinner. Basically, it was all kinds of curries and Chinese food, but buffets like these are rare in the UK and we loved it.
On Sunday, we headed out of Ilfracombe towards home the same way we had arrived and the driving was much easier and beautiful and relaxing than the trip inbound. On the way back, we stopped at two National Trust properties, Watersmeet and Dunster Castle. We are members and try to get our money's worth every chance we have.Watersmeet was an old hunting lodge that is now a lovely tea house and shop amidst stunning woodsy scenery. There are trails and rivers and waterfalls - right up Craig's alley - check. It is situated where the East Lyn River and the Hoar Oak Water meet.
Evan on the trail
Finn in the river
A lunch companion
Watersmeet LodgeAfter a hike and a meal, we headed west along the coast some more to Countisbury Hill and through the Exmoor National Park. Just beautiful.
Local fauna and flora
Our last stop was Dunster Castle which was my pick of the vacation - check. This was a very well-maintained castle and has been a National Trust property since 1976. Four items of note are:1) the paintings on huge expanses of tooled leather in the dining hall which depict scenes from Antony and Cleopatra's lives;
2) the plaster embellished ceilings;
3) the oak and elm staircase in the hall where each balustrade panel is carved from a single plank of elm 23cm thick; and
4) the fact that solar panels were installed behind the castle battlements to generate electricity. This is the first NT property to do so and it is entirely powered with solar energy.
Pictures of the interior were not allowed (rats!) unfortunately for Craig because Owen had run out of steam and refused to tour the castle.
On Monday, the kids went to school and Craig and I ran errands, had a pub lunch and went on a hike in the town of Guiting Power along the Wardens Way.
In case you are lost and have your GPS handy, they mark the postcode.
The last of the poppies
"Baa, ram, ewe!"
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