All across the mostly rural West Country of England, villages and hamlets are tucked into the folds of the rolling hills, moorland, and valleys. The attractive homes range from slate roofed houses to converted barns to ancient thatched cottages. The old thatched cottage with roses around the door has always conjured up the true heart of English country living.
Below is the village of Branscombe, Devon where the hills swoop down to the sea. In January of this year you may have heard about the beaching and break up of the huge container ship Napoli off the pebbled beach. 25 containers washed ashore and huge crowds of scavengers descended on the beach to carry off everything from BMW motorcycles to disposable diapers! The tiny picturesque village was then closed to streams of traffic trying to maneuver through the narrow lanes by potential beachcombers and media hoards. Half of the ship remains off the beach and it's hoped it will be removed soon. The beach is still being cleaned up and looked quite good when we visited. Luckily the seabirds did not suffer too much from the oil spilled.
Remaining half of the Napoli off Branscombe beach on an October afternoon.
Carrying the groceries home across the cliffs of Branscombe - Brits are great walkers. Note how the always green fields of England run all the way down to the cliff edge by the sea.
Time for a cuppa! The little thatched tea room right on the beach - with such a delightful painted sign - the owners live here year round.
Leaving the village, cottages line the lane. I came across this wonderful garden in a little valley. Tended with loving care - and a lot of hard work I'm sure - cooing white doves on several dovecotes, a Summerhouse, and a bridge crossing the brook.
The 12th century Norman church within view of the clothes line - wouldn't you just love pegging out the washing to dry with a view like this?
Hope you enjoyed a visit to this village~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~more to come later on other West Country places of great interest.
Below is the village of Branscombe, Devon where the hills swoop down to the sea. In January of this year you may have heard about the beaching and break up of the huge container ship Napoli off the pebbled beach. 25 containers washed ashore and huge crowds of scavengers descended on the beach to carry off everything from BMW motorcycles to disposable diapers! The tiny picturesque village was then closed to streams of traffic trying to maneuver through the narrow lanes by potential beachcombers and media hoards. Half of the ship remains off the beach and it's hoped it will be removed soon. The beach is still being cleaned up and looked quite good when we visited. Luckily the seabirds did not suffer too much from the oil spilled.Remaining half of the Napoli off Branscombe beach on an October afternoon.Carrying the groceries home across the cliffs of Branscombe - Brits are great walkers. Note how the always green fields of England run all the way down to the cliff edge by the sea.Time for a cuppa! The little thatched tea room right on the beach - with such a delightful painted sign - the owners live here year round. Leaving the village, cottages line the lane. I came across this wonderful garden in a little valley. Tended with loving care - and a lot of hard work I'm sure - cooing white doves on several dovecotes, a Summerhouse, and a bridge crossing the brook.
The 12th century Norman church within view of the clothes line - wouldn't you just love pegging out the washing to dry with a view like this? Hope you enjoyed a visit to this village~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~more to come later on other West Country places of great interest.
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WHAT A MAGNIFICENT LITTLE PLACE! This is what I think of when I imagine England, Scotland, Ireland, etc. Many of the old MGM movies that were shot in authentic places, always had me pining for the quaint, cozy little willages! Since visiting your blog today, I have "scrolled" through these charming little streets and I'm still not content. I must do it again!
ReplyDeleteI also love hearing the way the British phrase things. It's so much more interesting! Now, doesn't "pegging out the washing to dry" make "hanging up the clothes with clothespins" sound like a whole lot more fun?
That Sea Shanty Te Room in Branscombe looks AMAZING!
THANKS SO MUCH!
KJ
This is all so enchanting! I would love to visit this village and have a cream tea in that tea room. It all looks picture postcard. I go to England quite often but have never been down in Devon. I think it will have to be in our planning one year.
ReplyDeleteWe are heading out early to the cottage. I have not been up there the whole month of October and really miss my Cranberry Cottage. I can't wait to see it again and hopefully there will be lots of color in the trees still.
I hope your weekend is beautiful and inspired. I will look forward to catching back up with you again on Sunday.
~~ Heidi ~~
How absolutely gorgeous! I am enjoying seeing the photos of your wonderful trip.
ReplyDeleteOh Mary, what a beautiful villa… green luscious valleys, beautiful setting of the land against pleasant rolling hills. Did you get to see some roses? England is known for its magnificent roses… from miniatures to hybrid teas, shrubs to climbers and patios to floribundas…
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to travel but I bet it feels good to be back home.
Thanks for stopping by my site... and by the way: Coffee in the gazebo with that special someone on a beautiful morning sounds deliciously romantic to me...
It’s been a pleasure meeting you
Thank you for the invitation to have a cuppa and to sit on your porch. That village is so nice.
ReplyDeleteI will have to get Heidi to take me there someday. I have been around a lot of England and Scotland, but never to Devon.
Nancy
Thanks for sharing the lovely picture. I would love to visit a place like that. I would think i had died on gone to heaven.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think I have my lineage sorted out (Scottish, Irish, Norwegian) I still feel I must be English somewhere along the line too. Why else do I feel so drawn to these gardens, the green hills, the thatched cottages? Thank you for sharing so I could take a vicarious, virtual, armchair (or desk chair trip) to England.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the one thing I couldn't get used to would be the cottages set right up against the road!
Julie
I have always loved Devon and Cornwall. My parents took us on holiday to Cornwall when I was little... and as a young adult in university I spent a week in a tiny Devonshire village. The STARS were magnificent!
ReplyDeleteI miss being able to walk everywhere like mad... I still don't drive, and it is such a handicap here in the states!
My parents live in a village with a 12th Century Norman church... I used to love sitting at my window and listening to the Bell Ringers practising on Thursday evenings :)
So beautiful! The green is so green! It must be lovely to live in a place such as this. To be surrounded by such natural beauty all the time - that's heaven!
ReplyDeleteManuela
Hi Mary!
ReplyDeleteI did a wee tribute to your blog on mine-- with a link of course. When I love something, I am compelled to share it or shout it from the roof tops! I really did enjoy my visit here today! So fun-- and what a place of discovery!
KJ
I visited England once a few years back. I adored the countryside and villages (did NOT like London). Your pictures make me want to fly across the pond right now and get back there!
ReplyDeletesigh, Mary!! Thanks so much for sharing this glorious piece of England with all of us. I may have mentioned before, that after spending a week in Winchester, and two weeks in Scotland, I have fallen in love with the UK. thanks for giving me a bit of a "fix"...looks like you had a lovely time.
ReplyDeleteI added you to my blog give away!
xo Lidy
Love the pics of Branscombe Mary ... you'll have to tell me how to get there ... maybe I'll visit next year ... along with Cockington ..
ReplyDeleteMade me homesick ...
Oh, this is just what I imagined it must look like there in the tiny villages. It is so quaint and beautiful. This is where I would like to be set down for a visit, I think. My son is going to London to complete a grad school project in December. Maybe I should try to chperone him! :)
ReplyDeletePlease show us more of your pictures.
After having just traveled to Italy this summer, I can say it's a good thing I didn't go to England (Excluding the airport of course) I don't think I could have stood to leave. It must be so nice for you to visit. Thank you for sharing. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteWow-your tour makes me see England through new eyes! Your photos are stunning-I'm glad you had such a special time!xx
ReplyDeleteThose thatched cottages with the lovely gardens are typical of my memories of Devon, I spent many childhood holidays in Torquay and Paignton and I always loved visiing Cockington with its beautiful thatched homes. Devon is a beautiful county.
ReplyDeleteMary, Oh how fabulous! I love it all.. Thanks so much for sharing all these gorgeous photos with us..
ReplyDelete~Mary~:-}