Photos

Sorry but for some reason the photos to go with the previous blog didn't upload - fingers crossed this time!

Busy times

Each season on Exmoor is heralded by its own different sights and sounds and autumn has its own special beauty. The trees are now turning yellow and golden and some are laden with berries. The air is cooler which means the dogs are more active than ever with them demanding longer and longer walks (such a pity)! There is the ever present smell of wood smoke drifting across the valleys from log burners, the sound of stags roaring during the rut and the sight of tractors hedge cutting.

The rut this year has been fantastic. We took the dogs over to Nutscale for a walk and in the 2 hours we were out we saw 7 stags with hinds. At one stage we were standing in a bowl surrounded by gentle hills on all sides and saw 3 stags – one was magnificent with looked like a royal head (rites and fore) with long white points.

We are having a very busy week this week with our bed and breakfast guests coming down to make the most of the half term break. Most have been going out and walking and exploring while other hardy souls are girding their loins and preparing for the (infamous) Exmoor Beast. This is either a 60 or 100mile bike race across Exmoor and on some of the steepest hills in the country (definitely NOT for the faint hearted)! Unfortunately once again Derek will be too busy washing up to participate. He is also concerned that his bike really isn’t up to it and he also informs me that his lycra shorts are getting a little on the tight side (too many cooked breakfasts)?!

Some of our visitors have taken advantage of the beautiful weather and have travelled from Porlock to Lynmouth in the open topped bus via Porlock Hill. Today was so lovely that I took mum on a short tour of Exmoor for the afternoon. The scenery was breathtaking and the sky so clear that we could see as far as Dartmoor. The photo is taken from the top of Porlock Hill looking down onto Porlock Bay.

Exmoor Rut

Apart from the increased need to use my glasses to read any form of instructions, forgetting completely the reason why I went upstairs and the ability to fall asleep just as my favourite programme is starting, the other reason why I know I am getting older is that time is going so fast. I try to write the blog each week (less I forget what we have been doing) but the days just seem to race past and before I know it it’s a fortnight since I last put finger to keyboard.

We have had some pretty hectic times being full up with our bed and breakfast guests, friends and family coming to stay plus seeing mums (both) and Lucy. Last weekend Alan and Trish came to stay again bringing their parents. Ronnie is 94 and Hazel a tad younger and they were full of life and laughter. Alan and Trish made the most of the beautiful weather and took them out everyday to enjoy Exmoor in her autumn glory. Other guests did some lovely walks we recommended and everyone went home tanned and very relaxed.

Autumn is well and truly here with the leaves turning beautiful shades of green, brown and orange in the woods. All the geraniums in the tubs are holding on and there is still a lot of colour in the flower beds – the hot weather last week gave everything an extra boost.

The rut has started and the stags have moved out of their bachelor groups and started to be interested in the female of the species! At night with the windows open you can hear the stags roaring – it’s quite a haunting sound in its own way. Up on the moor the stags are very evident with their coats a deep brown and their antlers looking magnificent as they round up their hinds. Derek took these photos at Cods End Moor above Exford last weekend and you can clearly see the colour difference and size between the stag and hinds.

We went up onto Winsford Hill yesterday and there were 3 of this years foals playing chase. They were galloping up and down the paths, bucking and kicking out at one another. All was fine until one slipped over with a crash but watching him I think it was only his pride that was dented!

Lucy has started a new job in a racing stable at South Molton and we popped down on Sunday to meet up with her and take her for a meal. She seems very tired but enjoying the work. Its long hours with little time off but she is riding up to 5 horses a day plus grooming, mucking out, working with horse dentists and farriers, strimming and learning a lot.