Author: nealpp

  • Exploring around us

    Seems like we have a welcoming committee in the morning, as soon as we opened the curtains downstairs along came the two Labradors outside the door for a fuss!! After a long drive yesterday we thought it would be good to find some local food, and have a look around the two towns/villages nearest to…

  • Into the Cotswolds

    We left Devon and Greenway behind to travel up to the Cotswolds. With us not being able to get into the next cottage until 4pm, we decided to have a look if there was anything of interest on the route. We found a National Trust property which sounded very impressive, and it certainly was! The…

  • Buckfast Abbey

    Last day in Devon and the weather wasn’t too cracking! We decided to have a drive up to Buckfast Abbey (http://www.buckfast.org.uk) and then call to a couple of smaller castles on the way back down to Greenway. However, when we got to Buckfast we were very impressed. It’s a lovely layout they have for visitors…

  • Greenway

    Today was Greenway (http://tinyurl.com/ntgreenway) day!!! Even though we’d popped down a couple of times already (mainly for cream teas) we spent the entire day in the gardens and house. We went around the house first. This was superb as the rooms weren’t barred off and nothing has changed since Agatha and Max Mallowan lived there…

  • A wander to the coast, and a bit of operetta

    Today we decided, as the weather was glorious, to have a walk. We decided to follow roughly a South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty walk across from Greenway to Churston, and then back again through the close village of Galmpton. The scenery was stunning and we had a lovely walk. It was particularly great…

  • Train, boat and bus tour

    There are many firms doing various tours around the area, especially with the River Dart being so long and beautiful. We chose one which seemed to be firstly the most professional and secondly included the steam train and a river cruise. The journey started on the 9.45 steam train from Paignton to Kingswear. As well…

  • Butterfly and Otter Sanctuary / Sharpham Vineyard

    Today we tootled up above Totnes to visit firstly a Butterfly and Otter Sanctuary (http://www.ottersandbutterflies.co.uk/). This was a very enjoyable visit. The butterflies come from various countries and are many were hatching from their chrysalis. Outside the otter sanctuary had a number of mostly rescued otters. There were some British ones whose cubs are then…

  • Saturday in Torquay

    Decided to have a day in Torquay today. As well as a nice seaside resort there are many locations special to Agatha Christie or places which appeared in here books. We took in the Torquay museum (which had a special Agatha Christie section), Torre Abbey (a ruined Abbey which had been transformed into a Georgian…

  • Leeds to Devon

    Not a problem journey-wise, and stopped off on Thursday night at a splendid B&B in the A45 near Rugby called Home Farm (http://www.homefarma45.co.uk). It is run by a very friendly couple, Diane and Harry and their prize-winning dogs! A very comfortable night, and superb freshly cooked full English breakfast helped us to continue with the…

  • Harrogate

    Wedding Anniversary day!! Decided to spend today chilling out around Harrogate where we are staying in the Old Swan, which was the hotel Agatha Christie was discovered after her 10 day disappearance. The hotel has recently been refurbished but is still in the character and style of a previous age; a wooden revolving door, caged…