Buckland Abbey and Lopwell

It was a dull day with heavy showers forecast, so we did not want to go far so we chose to go to Buckland Abbey, which is just outside of Plymouth in the Tamar Valley and on the edge of Dartmoor.

Just as we arrived it started to rain, so we ran down to the reception ar a and were disappointed to see that the Abbey itself did not open until 11.30am.  We did not want to wander around the gardens in the rain if we could help it so we went into the shops in the courtyard.  As well as the National Trust shop there was a gallery with lots of lovely paintings  and embroidered pictures from Richard and Anne Woodgate. (www.annewoodgate.com  www.richardwoodgate.com.) There was also a second hand bookshop  and a garden room giving details of plants that could be seen in the garden.

By the time we had browsed through these rooms in the stables the rain had stopped so we were able to go into the gardens.  There was little to see in the Kitchen garden but the Cider House Garden and Wild Garden had plenty of daffodils and other spring flowers out.  

From the gardens we could see out over the fields where the sheep were grazing.  There were banks of daffodils flowering there.  It would have been good to walk around the estate to see what flowers we could see but the ground was too wet and the weather too threatening.

We often visit Buckland Abbey to walk through the woods but we have not been inside the Abbey for many years.  As we weren't able to go walking today we decided to spend the time exploring  inside.  Just inside the Abbey we watched a video that gave a brief history of the Abbey and told about the life of Sir Francis Drake.  We then walked around and were impressed with how well everything was laid out, with clear, brief explanations.  We could see that it would be a interesting place for children to visit.  The room guides were very friendly and knowledgeable.  We found the explanation about the ceiling in the dining room particularly interesting.

After some delicious soup in the restaurant we headed on to Lopwell Dam.  There were lots of wild daffodils in the hedges and in some of the fields which made it a pretty drive.  Once at Lopwell we could see that the water was coming fast over the weir.  It was a pity is was such a grey day or we could have crossed the river and walked in the nature reserve or towards Bere Alston.  Instead we sat in the restaurant and watched the river and the rain and hail!