Sitting in our lounge at Daymer Cottage, Lee, North Devon. It’s getting dark, the children and the Murrays have gone to bed, and the lights are coming on in what I suppose must be Wales. Amazing clifftop situation with a great view.
We arrived at about 3.30pm after a rather fraught journey from Lulworth Cove, using lesser roads to avoid traffic but thereby lengthening the journey. Dot felt ill after much delicate navigating, so we resorted to the main roads around Axminster and made reasonable progress north-westwards, though the traffic remained heavy. Meanwhile the Murrays and David had an even harder time of it, with David badly delayed by full motorways.
Our welcome supper arrived just after 6pm. Oliver and I took some photographs outside (rather nice setting sun), while Amy posed.
We had spent a couple of nights at Lulworth, where I had booked bed and breakfast at the Lulworth Mill House. We found ourselves in an annexe called the Boat House, with a fantastic view of the cove. I suspected this was a mistake, and so it proved, but we were able to keep the room (though it wasn’t cleaned on the Thursday, for which we got a £20 reduction). Two good meals too, in the Dandelion bistro, which turned out to be the same place.
Had to park quite a way from the hotel, but we did get a season ticket for the main parking area at Lulworth Cove, so that wasn’t too bad. Spectacular coastline. On the Thursday the weather was fine enough for us to walk the very steep hill path to Durdle Door, where we lingered awhile and saw a snake.
We returned to Lulworth for a cream tea (forgetting that I hate clotted cream) before driving via Weymouth to Portland for a great view of Chesil beach and the Olympic marina as it began to rain. Drove on to Portland Bill and the lighthouse, monolith and Pulpit Rock, where I took some nice pictures during a lull in precipitation. Very good day altogether, marred only slightly by dozy Dorset drivers.
Weather has been rather better than anticipated. Missed most of the heavy rain, and it remains warm.