Saltram Gardens

Today was Mothers Day and Saltram was crowded with families enjoying a stroll in the estate, but the gardens were relatively quiet.

Different varieties of daffodils were out on the left hand side of the Lime Walk, although those on the right had all finished.

Some of the azalea's were now out and the camelias and rhododendruns were continuing to look good.

There were lots of other flowering trees out as well.  The mimosa was particularly bright.

Every time we visit Saltram there seems to be something new.  This time I found a path that I don't think I had been down before that had loads of camelias.  I was particularly excited to see a pink and white specimen.  I have been trying to buy such a plant but not being able to find one, but at least now I have a photo of it.

After walking around the Gardens we walked up the hill towards Stag Lodge and followed the path to the Dell walk.  There were some very striking rhododendrums at the top of the hill.

Although the main paths down to the river were crowded with families there was hardly anyone on this walk.

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.