Saltram Gardens

It was a lovely sunny morning so we decided to go for a walk around the gardens of Saltram House.
The daffodils were past their best but there were still plenty of other spring flowers out.  What was surprising was the number of rhododendroms that were in flower.

The dark red ones were particularly striking as they were  such tall plants.

Berry Head and Brixham then Dartington

We did the walk described at http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/main/walks/index.cfm?fsa=dspWalkDetail&w_id=120 but parked at Berry Head instead of Brixham so started the walk half way round.

The walk along the coast from Berry Head car park to St Mary's Bay was nice, but nothing spectacular.  We then turned inland and headed towards Brixham harbour.  The instructions were very clear and as we approached the harbour the views were spectacular as we looked down over the harbour.  You could see that the port is still very much working as a fishing port with the boats coming and going.

We walked around the harbour looking at the various boats and the Golden Hinde.

We then walked up from the harbour past the marina and towards Berry Head.  We could look around Torbay to Torquay and beyond, but it was hazy so I took no photos.  The path wound up through some pretty woods with cyclamen at the side.  At the end of Berry Head the views along the coast was magnificent.

Parking at Berry Head was £1 per hour.  As we walked past Shoalstone beach we noted that the car park there was £1.20 for 24 hours in winter.  Much better value!

On our way home we stopped at Dartington Hall Gardens.  Some of the daffodils had fiinished, but there were others still out and plenty of other spring flowers.  In particular fritillia, anenomae blanda, cyclamen and primroses.

The swathes of blue anenomae blanda were particularly spectacular.

Buckland Abbey

We picked up a leaflet giving 4 walks around the estate of Buckland Abbey and decided to do the shortest,  (yellow) which they said should take an hour.  It was a pretty walk down into the valley with the stream running by and daffodils, primroses and violets around.  There will be lots of bluebells at the sides of the path in May.  The only downsize to the walk was the steep climb up to the house at the end!

We then walked around the gardens surrounding the Abbey.  One rhododendron was already out.

After a cup of tea in the refractory we decided that we would do some of the green walk.  This took us further up the hill from the yellow walk and the views were amazing.  You could see down the River Tavy valley all the way to the Tamar and Brunel Bridges.

The path took us across fields with sheep.  There were some lambs with their mothers.  We watched as large birds circled above two lambs whose mother had wandered off.  It looked as if they were eyeing them up for supper.  But as we approached the mother sheep called her lamb to her and the birds flew off.

From this top field we also had really good view over Buckland Abbey.

As we did not fancy the hill up to the Abbey if we continued on this walk we turned back half way and retraced out steps.

Next time we will do the other two walks marked out in the estate.

Port Eliot

Port Eliot is a large estate at St Germans.  We chose not to look around the house but walked around the gardens and estate.  There were lots of daffodils and primroses around and a camelia walk.

The estate goes down to the River Lyhner.  

It was low tide and birds were feeding in the mud.

At the edge of the estate you got a good view of the viaduct .

A train conveniently crossed it as we looked on!

This was a very peaceful walk, with very few other people around.  Pleasant, but not outstanding.

Wembury to Bovisand

Having parked at the National Trust car park we walked along the coast path to Heybrook Bay and then on to Bovisand.  The path stayed close to the cliff all the way with views over the Mew Stone, then the Breakwater and Plymouth Sound.

Wembury Beach

Mewstone

Gorse on the side of the path

The Breakwater

Bovisand

Looe

To start the day we walked from the end of the car park in West Looe, along the river into Kilminworth Woods.  It was a nice walk initially spotting birds along the river, but the path was muddy in places and as it gradually climbed into the woods the river was more distant and difficult to see.  Half way along the path to Watergate we decided to turn back.

We then walked through the town to the beach, where we stopped for lunch.  A seagull 'bombed' us, getting mess on Andy's coat.  Was it a coincidence or did it want us to move on?  After lunch we walked back to the river where we stopped to eat an apple.  Two seagulls watched our every move, crying for food, but they kept our distance

We then drove on to Hannafore and was surprised that they are not charging for parking along the point.  It was a very pleasant walk along the sea looking out to St George's Island.  It was unfortunate that I had forgotten my camera, so could not take any photos.

Mountbatten to Jennycliff

A small part of the South West Coastal Path, with beautiful views over Plymouth Sound, and a lovely cafe at the end.

We started by climbing up the steps near the end of the breakwater.  The first part of the walk is a bit up and down.  On the way back we cut across the road and walked back along the river estuary, which was a much flatter route.

Ince Castle

The gardens of Ince Castle were open for NGS and showed a Cornish Spring Garden at its very best.

Ince Castle is only just outside Saltash on the edge of the River Lyner.  As we drove towards it there were primroses on the banks of the roadside and then the road was lined with daffodils.

As soon as we had parked the car we realised what a beautiful location this was with views over the River Lymer.

As we entered the gardens we were met with a collection of spring bulbs.

To our left there was a wall which had been planted with hellebores.

As we walked through the gardens we came upon one beautiful sight after another.  Camelias and magnolias were magnificent against the clear blue sky.

There were loads of snowdrops and daffodils, with other spring flowers in amongst them for contrast.

You could tell how clean the air was by the lichen growing on the the trees and garden furniture.

In one corner was a 'house' decorated by shells

It was most certainly a wonderful spring Cornish garden.

Bolberry Down to Hope Cove

As we drove through the Devon countryside there were snowdrops and primroses in the hedgerows.  Unfortunately there were roadworks at Modbury and the road was closed so we had to do a long diversion, but it gave us a chance to see parts of the countryside we don't usually view.

We started to follow the walk outlined in     .First we went down the path towards Soar Bay, but stopped when the path became very steep as it went down to the beach below.  Retracing our steps we walked towards Hope Cove and the views were so spectacular that we continued on all the way to Outer Hope.

It was unfortunate that it was misty out to see so that you could not really see far, but you had an impression of the coastline in the distant.  The guide says you can see all the way to Rame Head.

The path was only steep in one stretch as we went down towards Inner and Outer Hope.  This is definitely a walk I would do again, although next time I would ensure we had good visibility so we could appreciate the views even more.

Hope Cove

Cotehele Gardens

As we drove down the Cornish lanes towards Cotehele there were daffodils in the hedges.  But at Cotehele many of the daffodils were not yet out.  However, there was a lovely display of crocuses, with some snowdrops still out.  And in between the occasional daffodil.

We walked out of the gardens and down the hill slightly where there was a bank of primroses in amongst the crocuses.

There were still a lot of daffodils waiting to break into flower.  By the end of the month there should be yellow drifts of daffodils.

Saltash

Having collected tokens from the Herald all week we had a free dayrider on Plymouth Buses, so chose to use it to visit Saltash.

We got off the bus at Fore Street and walked down the hill to the Waterside.  It was an extremely steep long hill!  It was interesting seeing the two bridges over the Tamar from this viewpoint.  We walked up the river estuary to the car park and then back to see the mural at the side of the pub, and statue of Brunel.  It was pretty overlooking the Tamar, but not spectacular.

We then climbed up the hill, going more gradually to begin with, but there were still some steep sections. After seeing the railway viaduct over the creek  we turned into Coombe Park which led to a footpath beside a stream through woods.  At the other end there was another steep section through a residential estate and then we joined Fore Street and found the bus stop.

This walk is too steep in sections to want to repeat.

Lanhydrock

We set out intending to do the walk http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-lanhydrock-great_wood_and_the_avenue-walk.pdf.  First we looked around the gardens around Lanhydrock House.  There were some camelias out and an ocassional rhododendrum.  The magnolias in the magnolia tunnel were in bud but had some time to go before coming into flower. 

The walk goes along the edge of the Great Wood.  There were masses of bluebell leaves and in May I am sure it will look magnificent.  After walking to the end of Lady's Walk we decided to continue on down the footpath towards Respryn.  We soon came to the River Fowey and walked along the river until we came to Respryn Bridge.  Instead of going up The Avenue we continued on and then walked through the woods and came up to the car park.

This is a walk that should be done in May when the bluebells are out.  I would also like to walk along the River Fowey towards Lostwithiel.

Saltram Gardens

Each time we visit Saltram there are new things to see and enjoy.  Today some of the daffodils were out although there are many more still to come and then the gardens will look spectacular.

Camelias, rhododendrums, primroses and other spring flowers were also out, but the highlight was watching the frogs in the pond as they mated.  There was already plenty of frog spawn