After a very busy Bank Holiday weekend with our bed and breakfast guests we were able to get out yesterday and have a wonderful afternoon in the sun. We went down to the river at Larkham Foot for a stroll (very energetic swim in Soda’s case) to start with as it was so hot. We then went into Winsford and stopped for afternoon tea at Karslake House. We were informed that would be a slight delay as the scones were still cooking in the oven! It was pure bliss to sit in the garden overlooking the village and have a cup of tea and warm scones (cooked by someone else) while soaking up the sun.

After we managed to rally ourselves we went for another walk just up the road on Winsford Hill. The moor looked so beautiful in the early evening sunshine with the beech trees catching the rays of sun and casting shadows on the fields. There were plenty of Exmoor ponies about and the swallows were diving catching the flying insects. It was so clear that we could see the Sidmouth Gap down on the south coast of Devon (approx 50 miles away).

The weather is set to be good for the next week so from our vantage point we could see farmers busy cutting their second cut of grass for hay. Fields of corn have been harvested and are now being worked down ready for re-seeding. The dogs were totally oblivious to everything apart from the possibility of smelling a rabbit (the chances of catching one being a million to one but the anticipation is great)! Charging in and out, up and over bracken, they had a brilliant time.

We went home the long way via Ashwick and Draydon Railing as we just wanted to see as much of the moor as we could in the evening sun (and I didn’t want to go back to the ironing)!

Beautiful Exmoor walks

As Derek was coming back from Molland Moor over Dunkery, he had to stop to take these fantastic photos looking down into Porlock Vale towards Allerford and Bossington. The heather is looking at its best at the moment and the bees are hard at work taking the nectar back to their hives. When we walk through the heather the smell of honey is lovely.

The picture of Cloutsham Farm was also taking from the slopes of Dunkery. Cathy and Dave live and farm here and before we moved to Exmoor, we spent many happy holidays in their self catering cottage.

I had a lovely walk on Wednesday from Stoke Ridge, through Dadycombe over to Nutscale, followed Nutscale Water up to Chestford Bridge and then back over Embercombe and then back across Stoke Pero Common to the truck. During the walk I saw several Exmoor ponies and a lovely herd of Red Deer. It took about 2 hours and the dogs absolutely loved it – lots of lovely smells and rivers to soak in. Even dear old Abby who is 15 cantered along the whole way. It really is a dog’s paradise!

We had a busy week – going out for lunch with friends from the village who are sadly moving away and then for dinner with Mike and Dawn who regularly come to stay. Lucy came up for the night I think it was more to see the dogs and horses than to see her aged parents!

Exford show

We have had a great week with lots of bed and breakfast guests and plenty to see and do. On Tuesday evening we went out with Lori and Julie to The Stags Head for a meal and a catch up. On Wednesday it was the highlight of the Exmoor social calendar as it was Exmoor show.

The show is held at Court Hill above Exford and it has the most magnificent views. Although a little cloudy to begin with, the sun came out later on and it was a lovely day with lots of Exmoor ponies being shown, show jumping, sheep classes, great produce tent, parade of hounds and the annual award for the best pair of antlers! We met some of our guests including Helen who came down to stay again. Our friend Derek was showing 7 of his Exmoor ponies (not sure who was leading who looking at the photos)!

It was with great trepidation that I entered Soda into the terrier racing competition. She did seem very keen in the first instance but clearly hasn’t quite got the hang of it. As the trapdoor went up and all the other terriers hurtled down the track after the lure, Soda came out backwards and seemed more intent on greeting everyone rather than chasing!

In Minehead they have had a spectacular display from The Red Arrows. Julie our neighbour plus some friends walked up the hill behind Wootton Courtenay and had a birds eye view. The hill is quite high and it was if they were on the same level as the planes!

Last night Derek took Helen up to Aldermans Barrow for a walk with the dogs and earlier in the week we took Julie and Lori for a walk up onto Cloutsham. It’s lovely to introduce people to areas of the moor, beautiful views and wildlife that they wouldn’t normally see.

A very happy day

I can’t believe that it has been over 2 weeks since we last updated the blog. We have been very busy looking after our bed and breakfast guests – some visiting us for the first time and many others enjoying return visits. Tea and homemade cake together with a catch up chat when they arrive always goes down well!

We have also enjoyed 2 more weddings. Ryan and Gemma had a beautiful day and the sun shone. They had a reception in the garden under a marquee and everyone had a great time.

Last Saturday we attended the wedding of Alex (Tim’s best friend) and Helen. It was a very happy and lovely day. Helen looked beautiful and Alex was the personification of the handsome groom. Tim was best man and I know I am bias but he really did a brilliant job making sure everything went according to plan. Despite being a little nervous, he gave an excellent speech – witty but delivered with great affection for both Helen and Alex. He made us feel immensely proud.

The Brown family scrubbed up quite well. Lucy looked quite the sophisticated young lady in a little black number while Bexs (Tim’s partner) looked beautiful in Greek style dress. Derek and Tim were suited and booted and all was fine until the music started.
Well I like a dance and what are parents for apart from embarrassing their children? Suffice to say that both Tim and Lucy were mortified to see their mother performing on the dance floor. Later on Lucy danced with her father and actually said it was ‘awesome’! How things change over the years!