Some may think we are a bit risk adverse for not trying to go abroad for our holiday in 2022, given our love for foreign parts. So, with friends currently enjoying trips to Norway, Turkey, Sardinia and Vegas, going to Devon doesn't sound quite as exotic.
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| Map of Devon |
However early in 2022 it became clear that there were going to remain challenges to travelling abroad and those who have been affected by flight and airport issues in recent weeks and those who spent 40+ hours near Dover last weekend, may be thinking we have taken the wiser option. It certainly feels like that to us.
Why Devon
We had such a wonderful holiday last year in East Anglia that the appeal of a UK based holiday struck us both as something we would like to try again. Was last year so wonderful because East Anglia is an amazing place, with so much history and scenery, along with good food to explore, or can other parts of England do as well as venues for stays. Well, we shall see as we begin this year's explorations tomorrow.
The final decision was influenced by Drew changing bank. During 2021 Marks and Spencers decided to close its Current Accounts, Drew had been with the bank for a few years and in deciding to change he looked around for the best deals and offers. Virgin Money came out on top and along with their good interest rates (well as good as rates got in September 2021) they offered either a free case of wine, no use to us as we don't drink, or a Virgin Experience voucher for £150. He opted (yes with some advice, that he might call nagging) for that option and over the dark winter nights we looked at alternatives and found the Overnight Stay with a Michelin Eight Course Tasting Menu for Two at Michael Caines' Lympstone Manor. We have loved watching Michael Caines' cookery for many, many years, so a chance to taste it for ourselves seemed just too good.
Once we had applied for the experience voucher and looking for a date to go to Lympstone Manor it was then a matter of looking for places to stay in the area. Staying in Exeter itself seemed one option, but staying beside the sea, with good walking, along with other forms of travel, seemed more attractive. So, we pondered the options and decided on booking accommodation in Exmouth for two weeks. We decided to complete the holiday with another Michelin starred hotel/restaurant, so are breaking our journey home at Whatley Manor, a place we really enjoyed last year on our way to East Anglia and which is conveniently, if you squint your eyes a little, on our way home from Exmouth to Cardiff.
So that's the outline of our trip, we have booked some restaurants already and are likely to find others on the way. As usual we welcome any suggestions for visits from those reading the blog. We seem to already have acquired a list of must visit places including, in no particular order: Axminster, Cullompton, Salcombe, Budleigh Salterton, Dawlish, Swanage, Seaton, Sidmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torquay, Dartmouth, Dittisham, Greenway and Buckfast Abbey, but I am sure there are many more to explore. We might even go reckless and cross the Devon/Dorset border, visit Lyme Regis and become reacquited with the story of the John Fowles' book The French Lieutenant's Women.
Here's to an enjoyable holiday and happy chats in the comments below each post.
Here's to an enjoyable holiday and happy chats in the comments below each post.
Excellent, I enjoyed the river boat trip from Dartmouth to Totnes.
ReplyDeleteIt looks lovely will certainly try to fit it in.
DeleteI went to the Jurassic coast because of the book and the urge to 'find a fossil'. As it turned out my kids found them but not me. My youngest 'arranged' for me to 'find' one fair play
ReplyDeleteHow nice of them to help you - I plan to have a look for fossils, but I don't plan to pick any. Oddly, in a field behind our house when I was growing up, there was a deep quarry that had lots of small fossils - mainly ferns, but fascinating for a kid.
DeleteI remember a final geology student study at Cambridge doing field work in the Builth Quarry - apparently most of the rocks there were laid down when this part of Wales was under a sea and close to the equator - a strange thought.
Wow really!!
DeleteYes, makes you look at the quarry in a whole new way
DeleteBe with you every step of the way, not so familiar with that part of the world, a little more the jurassic coast. FLW my A level text and all the associated writers he was mirroring. Mary Anning of course a trailblazer from those parts. Understand your cautious thinking, my gamble has paid off so far but was prepared to roll with it but as you know, my plans are a lot more fluid and dare I say disorganised!
ReplyDeleteHi Lloyd,
DeleteGreat to see you still blogging. Been a busy holiday season for you and imagine getting to all those places, without the hassle others have had - clearly was worth the risk. Enjoy being in your home from home - have a wonderful 50th tomorrow.
The staying in our home land must be a family trait. I'm looking forward to seeing your Devon experiences. J
ReplyDeleteYou and Martin have helped prompt some of the ideas from your visits to Devon, so hopefully we'll make good use of the advice.
DeleteAm I imagining that you usually do a flickr photo shoot too?
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
DeleteYes, I always use Flickr as well - though in recent years wifi has made that a challenge. Last year I had to go and borrow Robin's, as he wasn't living far away. No problem so far this year - https://www.flickr.com/photos/haydn/albums/72177720300885009 - They are in newest first order.
Sorry I'm late. Did I miss anything?
ReplyDeleteHi Robin,
DeleteGood to have you on board - you, Janet and Linda have been faithful companions since my second blog (2011), I think Janet alone can claim that honour for the first one (2006), though perhaps you did comment on that one and Google has eaten the comments!!
JN is also good at spotting typos.
DeleteTrue, but she lets some go, whereas you are more persistant - and that is good for me.
DeleteYou won't have time to visit Haydn, but across the river from Teignmouth is the tiny crusader church of St Blaise at Haccombe. Attached to the porch door there are some ancient horseshoes, nailed there by the Earl of Totnes in the 17th century following a wager he had with Sir Arthur Champernowne about who had the best horse. The story, recorded in song, is regarded as apocryphal, however, the horseshoes there are real enough... (https://thejonesboys.org/lyrics/the-earl-of-totnes/)
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful insights Tony, thanks for sharing. You are right, we probably won't get to see it, though this evening, due to an accident on the A380 we were diverted via the A1392 and A379 so saw signs for the village.
DeleteGreat song.