Nether Stowey

We dropped off the car at the garage and walked back. I felt I was living the story 'We're going on a bear hunt', as there were so many 'Oh No's. First we went through a field of thigh high swishy swoshy grass, which was fine until we got to the end of the field and discovered a herd of cows, calves and a massive bull blocking the exit. Matt shooed them away and we ran onto the lane. Then we came across a flood, and, unable to go through it, we had to go around it. This involved climbing a bank by the side of the road, but the bank had gaps in it, which we'd have to jump. I have a little fear of jumping gaps, and couldn't do it, so we had to find an alternative route, which took us through a field of elephant grass. Here we came across another obstacle - mud, squilchy, squelchy mud, which we had to go through. Emerging back onto the lane we were met by yippy yappy dogs, but once past we were only 100 metres from the house. Safe at last! But Oh No... here we came across a big white van blocking our way. Eventually we were back. Not the way I'd intended to spend my Sunday morning, but a mini advernture nonetheless.

Valley of the Rocks

Just an hour from the Harrisons is a stunning part of Devon coastline named Valley of Rocks, where Exmoor meets sea, and the views of moor, valley, water and Wales in the background, stretch as far as the eye can see in places. The rocks are stacked precariously along the coast, and we spent a delightful afternoon walking amongst them, climbing them and photographing them. It reminded me very much of the October holiday I spent walking along the Gower coastline, although this side of the channel appears to behold fewer stretches of sand, favouring ancient woodland instead. We finished the outing by passing through Lee Abbey Estate, stopping on the rocky beach to play games. It was lovely, right up until the moment when I fell into the river and covered myself with green slime. But this is an enchanting piece of Britain, and perfect for a sunny, cool afternoon.

Bossington

Dodging the drizzle, we made our wet way to Bossington for a Sunday stroll. Our optimism paid off, as we were greeted by a storm which seemed to hang perpetually over the sea and never quite break over us. We stumbled across pebbles up and down the beach, then sat in a tea garden, saluting the Queen and her Jubilee celebrations with cream tea. The garden was very pretty, made all the more so by the tame birds which came to share our crumbs. Bossington is very quaint, with tea gardens a-plenty and miniature donkeys too. Definitely worth a visit. As we got back to the car to head to Porlock Weir the drizzle descended and we left our sunlit oasis behind - for now at least.