an exmoor b&b owned and managed by sue & andy north
guest house and b&b, lynton, north devon
34 lee road, lynton EX35 6BS tel: 01598 753328
The new 401 bus service started yesterday, running on Sundays and Wednesdays until the 31st August. It leaves Lynmouth car park at 11.05, going to Dulverton via Watersmeet, Hillsford Bridge, Simonsbath Pottery, Exford, Withypool, Winsford and Tarr Steps. It arrives in Dulverton at 12.20 and there is a return service at 15.30, which sounds about right for a look around Dulverton and some lunch! It might be possible to walk back to Tarr Steps and get the bus from there at 15.48. Or just get off at Hillsford Bridge/Watersmeet and walk back instead of having to walk both ways . . .
A group of our guests recently walked an unusual way to Watersmeet. We thought we had mentioned all the different ways (last July's blog) but we have never known anyone go this way before. It is actually from one of the books that are easy to get in Lynton, and we have a copy in the lounge. It goes via Summerhouse Hill (where it is possible to visit the alpaca farm) then to Hillsford Bridge and Watersmeet. It is easy to follow especially with the Croydecycle maps also available in town.
This month's blog seems to be all about tea rooms and cream teas, however we just have one more to mention, which opens now until the end of August every year. It is the tea gardens at Lee Abbey and it is truly idyllic. We went the hard way by climbing the ridge in the Valley of Rocks that leads to 'Ragged Jack'. It is a hard climb better suited to goats, but when you get to the top (there were a surprising number of people up there) the views are wonderful. The Lee Abbey tea garden is in a useful location as there is nowhere else to go between the Valley of Rocks and Hunters Inn. The picture of the tea gardens makes it look unsupported, but everyone was behind in the shade!
It is always interesting when our guests are artists, and recently our guests Francis and Joan spent almost the whole week in the Valley of Rocks painting. Francis' oil paintings of Wringcliff Bay have been drying on the patio all week, and he was kind enough to let us take some pictures to show here.
Some guests told us about a good place to have a cream tea last year, and we finally got round to trying it today! It is in the garden of the Post Office and Stores at Challacombe, near the Black Venus. There is a sign leading to it on the road between Blackmore Gate and South Molton. It is worth stopping in if you are in the area, or even making a special trip (it is only a 15 minute drive from Lynton).
Our guests, a family from Sweden left today and they enjoyed their first visit to North Devon. We enjoyed watching Anders and Linda doing poi spinning, which is a form of juggling with chains and flags. Sue even had a go! The idea is to start with something soft (less painful when you hit yourself), then build up to the metal sets . . . and then the fire! Thanks to Linda, Maria and Anders for the Swedish candy cars. It's true 'the only way to stop them is in your mouth!'
We were reminded of another wet weather place to visit yesterday when some of our guests enjoyed a visit to Dartington Crystal at Torrington. It is possible to watch the craftsmen working with the molten crystal as well as other live demonstrations, or even have a go yourself. There is also the Pavilion Care and the factory shops selling crystal and glassware, branded giftware, tableware and speciality foods . . . great for presents! We always have flyers in reception. Torrington is one hour by car from Lynton.
Chambercombe Manor, in Ilfracombe is an interesting place to visit when the weather isn't so good. We have mentioned it here before. If the weather is good it is still worth visiting to have a walk around the gardens and try one of their excellent cream teas. Their 'Serving Wench' is a one-scone version (pictured) which we tried when we visited today to make sure it was as good as we remembered.
Our guests Tim and Giles have been back taking more pictures in the Valley of Rocks at night. The pictures are part of a series of Nightwalks at picturesque locations, exposed by huge hand-held torches . . . see last month's blog 5th June and Tim's website at http://www.timknowles.co.uk
The setting-up and then the actual walk takes quite a long time, so it was lucky we had a couple of mostly dry nights . . . although it must have been cold!
