Saltram - Snowdrop search

Snowdrops are usually out by the end of January in the South West, but the winter was so bad I wondered if they would be late this year.  However, a nearby garden had some in flower so we decided to see if there were any out in Saltram.

The National Trust magazine said there were some in the woods near Stag Lodge and by the river near Point Cottage.  We therefore walked towards Stag Lodge from the car park, but could not see any snowdrops.  We took the Dell walk down to Point Cottage and soon came to a small clump.

We continued on our walk past the Ampitheatre and bird hide along the estuary bank and then up the hill past the House to the car park.  It was a very pleasant walk, but obviously too early this year to see a big display of snowdrops.

The Eden Project

Overnight the temperature was -5 and although the sun came out to bring it above freezing, it was a cold day, so we chose to spend time indoors and visit the biodomes at the Eden Project.  This was a particularly attractive excursion as they were only charging £5 entrance fee for locals and this gave you free entry for the rest of the year.  A good bargain!

The tropical biodome seemed really hot when we went in after the cold outside.  As usual there were many bright coloured plants and information boards on the use of plants.

The Mediterranean biodome seemed quite chilly in comparison to the previous one, and there were not many flowers out.  We then went across to the education building and sat and ate our lunch while watching a film about the history of the Eden Project.
Outside there were a few daffodils, crocuses and cyclamen out but no great show.  The most specatular bed colourwise was the bank of ***.

You could see bulbs coming through the ground and imagine that there will be a wonderful display when they are all out.  Hopefully we will visit at the right time to see them.

Mount Edgecombe Park

http://www.mountedgcumbe.gov.uk/

We were looking after Oscar today and as it was a lovely sunny day we decided to take the boat to Mount Edgecombe Park.  It is just a 10 minute ferry ride from Admiral Hard to Cremyll and you get a good view of luxury yachts and apartments at the water's edge as you chug past.



We walked from Cremyll through the formal gardens, past the Orangery, and along the South West coast path.  The views were spectacular and we watched boats sail past and looked across to Plymouth Hoe and out to the Sound.

We came to the blockhouse, which was like a small house to Oscar with two doorways and two holes for windows.  He loved playing in it, looking through the window holes and running in and out and around.

Further along the path in the ampitheatre there was a pond where we fed the ducks.

It was then back to the slipway to catch the ferry back to Plymouth.  But we will be back - soon when the daffodils and camelias are out, and in the summer when Oscar can play on the beach and in rock pools.



http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/formal_gardens_map_leaflet.pdf

Torquay

http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/main/walks/index.cfm?fsa=dspWalkDetail&w_id=193

It was a bright, sunny January day and the Devon countryside looked glorious.  We parked on the seafront at Torquay opposite Abbey Sands and walked along the South West Coast Path around the harbour and on to Meadfoot Beach.  There were pavements around the harbour, but just past Living Coasts  we went down a concrete footpath at the side of the Imperial Hotel. 

At the end of this path there were steps up to a path through a wood that followed the coast.  This path was rough and muddy in places but the views were spectacular. 

London Bridge

At the end of the path there were steps up to Daddyhole Plain.We stopped here for lunch, with a wonderful view

The signpost told us we were following the Rock End Walk and we continued  through the Meadfoot Beach car park and down the road back to Torquay Harbour.  This was a much quicker and easier walk although a small portion did not have a pavement.  It was downhill all the way, so would not have been so easy if we had done the walk the other way around.

Before returning to our car we walked on to Corbyn Head and looked out to Livermead Sands.

Gardens of Heligan and Mevagissy

As we walked into the Lost Gardens of Heligan a robin hopped up to us to welcome us and started to accompany us along our walk.

There were not many flowers out in the garden but it was a pleasant walk  countryside  ponds, lakes and through  formal gardens.

Today was a Charity Day - no admission fee but people asked to give to Cornwall Air Ambulance and Hospice.  The helicopter paid a visit before it was called out on an emergency.

The highlight of the visit for me was the Horsemoor Hide where we sat and watched birds feeding right outside.

After several hours at Heligan we went on to Mevagissy and walked around the inner and outer harbour.  As well as the boats moored in the harbour there were birds at the water edge.

Trains and Marbles

As Oscar had be given a train set for Christmas we thought he would be interested in seeing a model train set layout.  We therefore went to Trago Mills, near Newton Abbott.

Before looking at the model trains we walked around the Animal Park and saw the pigs, horses, goats, rabbits and birds.  Not bad as free!

Although the snow and ice had all melted from Plymouth at the beginning of the week there was still piles of snow at the sides of roads and some of the ponds were still frozen over.

Oscar was fascinated by the trains following  them as they went around the track.  He enjoyed pressing buttons to activate lights and sounds in the scenery.  It is an excellent exhibition and well worth the £1 entrance fee.

After lunch eaten in the car we drove across to House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey.  Oscar was fascinated by watching the marbles run, but the things he talked about more afterwards was the Father Christmas on the roof waving and the snoring bear in the shop!

Yelverton in the snow

As there was only a thin layer of snow in Plymouth we decided to head out to Dartmoor to find more.  The main road from Plymouth was clear but the side roads very snowy and slippery.  We therefore decided to stop at Yelverton and walk from there.

The nativity scene outside the church, and carols playing outside the shops, made it feel very Christmassy.

We walked down the West Devon Way which was really pretty in the snow - we will definitely return to do more of this walk when the weather is better.