Waxwing

Waxwing
"To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."

From "Auguries of Innocence"

by William Blake

Monday 15 July 2013

Holiday - Cottage and Hound's Tor, Dartmoor - Friday, 5th July

Nearly at an end of holiday postings :)

This is the cottage where we stayed in Uplyme about a mile from Lyme Regis. I would certainly stay there again - the decor and furnishings were superb, it was very well equipped and very clean.




View from decking at the rear of the house - was hoping to see Barn Owl and/or badger at dusk but sadly no sightings.


Neighbour's hens


Secret Garden at the side of the cottage.


I thought this print in one of the bedrooms was superb. It shows the parish of Uplyme with details of interesting features and paintings of wildlife to be seen. Sadly, now out of print - otherwise I would have bought one!


David and I thought this was a Knight's Templar statue but the lady who owned it called it a "Gate Man". Have googled the term but can't find any references so if any one has information would love to hear it.





We took a detour to Dartmoor on the way home to visit Hound's Tor - an atmospheric weathered granite outcrop







This tor is said to have been the inspiration for Conan Doyle's story "The Hound of the Baskevilles" and one of the episodes of the BBC TV series with Bernard Cumberbatch as Sherlock was filmed here.

A two part story of Doctor Who called "Sontaran Experiment" was filmed here in 1995











About a quarter of a mile away there is a deserted medieval village which David and I wanted to visit but unfortunately we didn't have time.




A few photos of Dartmoor ponies around a nearby Visitor Centre - not easy taking pics as there were a lot of cars and people about!!









Finally, succeeded in getting one of the foal on its own.


It was a great holiday and we shall certainly return to the area as there is still a lot to see and do. I would also like to stay in East Dorset as there are a lot of places that side I would like to visit such as Durdle Dor and Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle, Studland and Arne and Brownsea Island.

9 comments:

Em Parkinson said...

That medieval village is somewhere I used to take Origami boy a lot when he was a toddler. He used to like clambering in and out of the 'houses'. Sorry to have missed you!¬ You probably passed pretty close to us on your travels.

Ragged Robin said...

Em Parkinson - Sorry to have missed you too - I did think about you when we were there. Gosh you live in a beautiful part of the country. Its such a long time since I was last there.

Shame about the medieval village as David and I really wanted to visit but it was a long journey home!

Caroline Gill said...

Judging by your comments on Em's blog, our respective relations probably knew each other in Widemouth back in the 1940s/50s/60s/70s!

SeagullSuzie said...

Another place we need to get out and visit properly. We drove through part of Dartmoor to get to Princetown and I took a look at the lovely visitor centre there. I love the way the ponies are all over the road and just stroll across. The cottage looks very pretty and interesting too.

Ragged Robin said...

Caroline Gill - That is so interesting. Not sure if you will see my comment but I'm adding a bit of extra info below and would love to hear from you if any of it rings any bells with you or relatives.

My great aunt and uncle Doris and Sydney Saunders owned the White House for decades. (they were the wealthy part of the family!!!! and used it as a holiday cottage for years although they did live there full time in the 1970's. They certainly owned it as early as mid-late 1950's as mum and dad took my brother and me as baby and toddler there on holiday. Sadly, they eventutally sold it - I think to the Marks? family who lived on the farm and I have just done a google search and am wondering if it is now a holiday cottage called The Lookout??? Not sure as I thought a member of Marks? family was living there. I will look into it more!

My great aunt Olive Brownsell lived with her second husband Bert for a while in the 1970's in a bungalow in The Crescent in Widemouth itself.

Seagull Suzie - Thank you. You are so fortunate to have such lovely places on your doorstep. Hope you enjoy exploring soon :)

Wendy said...

Lovely photos of Dartmoor. The medieval village sounds fascinating, I wonder why it became deserted?

Ragged Robin said...

Wendy - Thank you. Apparently its a 13th century stone hamlet abandoned in the early fifteenth century. One website on legends of Dartmoor suggests that many factors led to the desertion of medieval villages. Deteriorating climate conditions and the Bubonic Plague (Black Death) were the 2 most common. These 2 factors occurred quite close together in time.

Unknown said...

This place look so interesting. The view around this place is so beautiful and calm. holiday cottage skipton

Ragged Robin said...

Nikks George - Thank you yes - the views were beautiful.