Tasvistock

As a break from driving we decided to take the bus from Plymouth to Tavistock.  We had been wanting to do this for a few weeks since we learnt there is a duo ticket that meant both us of could travel there and back for £8, which we thought was good value.  We caught the double decker bus by Plymouth Railway Station and enjoyed the view from the top deck during the journey.

After coffee in the Wharf coffee shop we started by walking along the river to the centre of Tavistock.  There was a lot of water coming down the weir.

We spent a pleasant hour looking around the pannier market, the stalls outside and other shops before a fish and chip lunch.The market is certainly a very interesting place to visit.

We then walked up to the viaduct and onto the old railway line that is now a cycle and foot path.  From here we had an elevated view of Tavistock.  After going under several bridges we came to a road which we followed downhill until we came back to the main road by Drakes statue.  Another time we will walk up the canal from here but today we made our way back to the centre of Tavistock.  We had intended to walk along the canal but we noticed some purple by the river and so went to investigate.  It was masses of crocuses that had been planted at the end of  Meadowlands.  A lovely cheerful site.

Tavistock is definitely a good destination for a day out from Plymouth, and with buses every half an hour it is easy to use public transport.

Brixham and Dartington Hall Gardens

The weather forecasters said that today would be the warmest day of the year, but, apart from Torbay, Devon and Cornwall was going to be misty.  We decided to believe them and drove to Brixham.  Sure enough as we got closer the drizzle stopped and the sun came out.  We parked in a residential road just before the town centre and walked down to the Harbour and around to the Breakwater.  We were hoping to see some seals, dolphins or even sharks that are supposed to visit the bay, but although we walked all along the Breakwater and back we did not sight any.  We stopped for lunch at the Breakwater Bistro at the end of the Breakwater and had a wonderful view across Torbay.

Following lunch we walked back to the harbour and out along the other side of the bay where we had seen seals in the past, but there were none there today.

We then returned to the car and drove to Dartington Hall to view the gardens there.  As you entered the courtyard you were greeted by bright crocuses.

The crocuses were also out under the tree in front of the Hall, but they looked better from a distance that up close as they weren't that closely planted

In the gardens themselves there were loads of snowdrops as well as more crocuses and some daffodils.  The witch hazel and Christmas roses were also in full bloom.