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| Porlock |
We drove up Porlock Hill which is incredibly steep (1:4 gradient) As a child I spent all my holidays in my granny's little cottage on this hill on a hairpin bend At the top you arrive on Exmoor, where we stopped to pick heather.  |
Porlock (this conversion is now a 5 bed house and was recently on the market) |
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| Porlock church |
The Exmoor ponies are wild and free to roam but their numbers are managed with grids/gates to ensure even coverage of the landscape/vegetation. We were lucky enough to encounter a group of ponies.
We drove on to Lynmouth, which I loved as a child, mainly for the funicular cliff railway built in 1890 and powered by water, to get people up the steep hill into the small village of Lynton above. It's always been a tourist attraction but I hadn't been on the ride for over 45 years! Hubby had never been before and loved it. Payment is now by contactless card and the little yellow tickets I remembered from childhood are now displayed in their museum! Rather than ride back down the cliff, we took the very steep, woodland walk back down with beautiful views of Lynmouth harbour below.
We had ice cream made at a local farm and then sat on the harbour side and shared chips.
On Sunday we had planned to go to the beach but there was torrential rain and dark skies so we decided to beat the traffic and go home (it took 5 hours but an improvement on the outward journey which, due to heavy traffic, had been 6 1/2 hours).... souvenirs were some 'Bees Knees' cider from a local orchard and a very large bunch of Exmoor heather picked whilst chatting with the Exmoor ponies!
Hello Betty, looks like you had a lovely time. It must have been so exciting as a kid to stay with your granny in that cottage. Porlock Hill, I know the one!!! We encountered it on a trip to Devon a couple of years ago. Terrifying to drive - I thought the car was going to topple backwards. And what a bum burner it must be to walk! The railcart looks like great fun. I have a feeling I visited Lynmouth as a kid (would have to confer with the elders). You look great in orange and beautiful in that Monsoon dress. Lulu xXx
ReplyDeleteI am sure if you went up Porlock Hill, Lulu, you didn't stop there so must have been to Lynmouth (unless your parents were hoping to lose you on Exmoor of course)... yes I used to listen to the noise of cars backfiring as they struggled up that hill - just think, one of those cars was yours!
DeleteHow very fun! I would want to move there! You look great in orange. I love it! Thank you for sharing your getaway with us!
ReplyDeletewe are thinking of moving their! not sure as it's where my grandparents lived and so I have maybe too much association with the area but thinking about it.
DeleteNot sure if I mention this or not. But my part of my family came from the village of Wetheral, Carlisle. I like colorful painted doors.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on and stay safe
Carlisle isn't near there but it's a beautiful area too - Cumbria has some amazing countryside.
DeleteLove all the photos. Those murals are lovely. Love the historic buildings and stone roads and railway! Wonderfully enchanting! I know the Lorna Doone story I saw as a musical.
ReplyDeleteI loved the story as a child although it's sad - never seen the musical - should think that would be something.
DeleteMemory Lane! In the late 40s and 50s all our family holidays were taken in the West Country as we had to visit my dad's sister living in Exeter on the way or way back. Bigbury, Ilfracombe and Truro featured a lot. Lesley
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have memories going back that far - mine only stretch back as far as the 60s and I think it hasn't changed much.
DeleteWhat a nice getaway. It's a lovely part of the world, though it is ages since I've been there. Sadly lorna Doone was never a favourite of mine.
ReplyDeleteLorna Doone is a sad story I know :) but I could imagine her walking across the moors in all that heather :)
Deletei LOVED this trip dear Betty ,thank you sooo much for taking aong ,i really enjoyed !
ReplyDeleteviews are Gorgeous!
Porlock sounds amazingly beautiful place to visit indeed,ride that you enjoyed after 45 years looks fun :)
i liked the wall mural so much .
oh you look quite young and more pretty in orange which i though is pink at first :)
your pose in second dress is lovely and elegant wow!!!!!!!!!!
such a pretty dress and you carried it so well :)
blessings!
Thank you Baili - I think I will always enjoy visiting the area. Isn't that wall mural fabulous! If I ever get a suitable wall I would like one too!
DeleteWhat a lovely weekend away you had, some fabulous photos. I've never been to any of those places. Lymouth looks really pretty, I love a narrow cobbled street!
ReplyDeleteYou look fabulous in orange and an absolute goddess in your Monsoon dress! xxx
I hope you get to visit some time Vix there's so much to do. You have been close of course (Glastonbury) it's not too much further along the A303 :)
DeleteA good trip indeed!
ReplyDeleteAnd a nice Monsoon dress too
Thanks GZ I couldn't believe my dress was half price - very pleased.
DeleteWhat a fabulous holiday. These towns are so charming and the scenery is just fabulous -- all the better for you since it was home base for your youth. As one who comes as a tourist to the UK from the US, we tend to see spots that are less local (still lovely, interesting and fun) but this is just something where one could see something so beautiful where people who live in the UK visit, not necessarily the big cities. Much as if you were coming to my state and seeing spots we go on holiday. The photos are great -- love the harbor and the funicular railway, your Monsoon dress, everything! (Thanks for stopping by today, too!)
ReplyDeleteA lot of tourists do go to that area to see Exmoor - some people like the horse riding and the walking (some ofwhich are guided so you don't get lost!) you need a hire car though :)
DeleteLove that you visited your Grandparents' grave and left the heather for them. Looks like you both had a lovely time away in such a lovely place. You look beautiful in your Monsoon dress and you really suit anything orange! Thanks for sharing. xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Anne. Yes I always go to the grave - I feel like my grandmother is 'there' - she always used to take a walk up the woods behind the graveyard and I feel like she is there - in a good way:)
DeleteWhat lovely places to visit especially where you used to visit as a child. It all looks beautiful and so clean.
ReplyDeleteThat orange dress suits you perfectly.
Hugs, Julia
Thank you Julia :)
DeleteExcited to have stumbled across your blog a few weeks after taking a family holiday in this same area! I clutched the seat all the way up Porlock Hill, I must admit! And we enjoyed several lovely markets and events in Dunster - my fiance liked it so much he wants to move there. So nice to see your pictures and reminisce.
ReplyDeleteOh - and we also enjoyed a flagon of Bees Knees 😂
ReplyDeletewhat a great trip, I've been pondering a trip that way and now you have made my mind up!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place...would love to visit someday
ReplyDeleteGreat trip, superb photos of beautiful places such as Porlock Hill, Lynmouth, wall murals, peonies,the funicular, the harbor.
ReplyDeleteAbove all, your new, lovely dress bought on Sale, which greatly becomes you.
What a lovely little getaway, it looks so relaxing. That orange colour really suits you Betty! :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I could go again, this is such a nice place.
ReplyDeleteIt’s nice to relax in Summer.
I love your dress!
To answer your question yes women can go in Abu Dhabi mosque with something on their head.
Enjoy your week!
What a fabulous trip - I've been to some of those places, and saw some on TV recently. Well done you! X
ReplyDeleteOh, that looks a lovely break away.
ReplyDeleteLoved all of your photographs and I like your new dress :)
All the best Jan