Saturday 7th October

My luck with the weather continues. The sun shone all day!

I strated out going to Dartmoor. Its a gorgeous and atmospheric place, looks lovely when the sun is shining.





I haven't been to any churches this week. I had targets in Cornwall but other things popped up. Anyway today I ticked St Pancras, Widecomebe in the Moor.






and St John the Baptist, Ashton.





After Dartoor I went to Coleton Fishacre (sounds like Boofy swearing in chat!). It was built in 1926 for the D'oyle Carte family. It's a house i could imagine living in and is kitted out in 20's and 30's furniture and, unsurprisingly, Gilbert & Sullivan memorabilia.

The gardens are superb (best visited earlier in the year) and hilly and lead to a lovely bay.







I spent ages watching Peregrines and Kestrels over the bay before hearing the Kronk Kronk of Ravens. A pair circled over for my first of the year.

I strolled back and had a cup of tea and a piece of apple cake - oh am I going to suffer next week.

My hotel for thte two weekends in Devon has been the Sea Trout at Staverton near Totnes. I didn't think the food was quite as good this time, the beer and house whites were excellent. Works out about £85 for B&B evening meal and a couple of drinks. So ***

Friday 6th October

I left Cornwall in pouring rain, arrived at Buckland Abbey near Plymouth and the rain stopped!!

Buckland was a former Cistercian Abbey and home to Sir Francis Drake. It's very disconcerting when walking around the top floor to see a church arch.

The house has been turned into a museum to Drake, with the top floor (damaged by fire some years back) turned into a mock cabin and containing exhibits on monastic life. The gardens are quite small and it probably doesn't sound very exciting but I like it.







Went on to Slapton Ley. The weather was very odd. Windy then sunny then a rain squall then sun. Lots of Great Crested Grebe on the Ley, Cetti's singing a way and Shags in the bay.





Annoyingly my little travel scope broke!! Where the pod connects to the scope. A visit to in-focus next week.

Thursday 5th October

Over dinner with Jan & Tony last night the chap serving dinner dropped a bombshell. They are not serving food tonight as they are having a Harvest Festival auction for cancer charities (a good cause). So I'm invited out for dinner at J&T's. Very handy, will be much nicer than the National Trust might have served up.

I took Dave's advice "Go seawatching you won't regret it" And got blown to pieces. Saw Gannets, a swallow and Rock Pipits.

Tiring of the excitement I went to Landhydrock. The gardens are stunning and even better in June. The house is fascinating, old Kitchens, Servants rooms, Highly recommended.






I wanted to buy some wine for tonight and the National Trust were selling some from a local vinyard. There were two types and I bought a bottle of each.

The pub is fine, food is pub standard and was ok. Beer from the St Austell brewery was good. The house whites more than acceptable. it cost me about £60 per night including two drinks. and is rated *** by me



Saffy resident greeter.

Wednesday 4th October

Ah well its a nice day so lets try and find that Vireo. Stupid bird showed 20 minutes before I arrived and I spent the best part of 2 hours watching garden birds. Still 2 choughs mobbing a Peregrine was a nice substitute.




I should have ticked some churches but subconsciously I had decided I needed to spend a week in Cornwall sometime in the next 2 years and as the sun was shining I went to Trerice.

After a Sandwich I viewed the Lawn Mower Museum! The house is not grand but the type you might actually like to live in. As the weather is "turning" tomorrow I parked myself in the garden and read. Very relaxing.

As I strolled back through the small orchard I espied a chiffchaff, very nice.

Tuesday 3rd October

An early start and a bit of sea watching. Divers going through and gannets. Off to St Michael's Mount. The tide was in so a boat trip there and back. Stunning views.










As a Red Eyed Vireo had been reported.... it wasn't there and hadn't been seen for five hours. There were 10 people diligently waiting. I went for a walk and the rarest thing I saw was a Chiffchaff.

Decided to stop in to Tregwainton for a late afternoon cuppa and a stroll.






Weather gorgeous.

Monday 2nd October

As I departed Devon it CHUCKED it down but as I drove into Cornwall the sun came out!! Had morning tea with the lovely Jan.

Nice stroll around Padstow harbour. Shag in the harbour and Turnstones pretending to be feral pigeons. Lots of Gulls.








Looking across to the other coast Sandwich Terns whizzed through and a buzzard was hovering.

Spent the afternoon at Prideaux Place (overlooks Padstow). Owned by the Prideux family for 400 years. Intereting guided tour.




I've been very lucky with the weather this can't last!!

Sunday 1st October

I awoke to find it hammering down. Given my plan was to go to Prawle point looking for Cirl Bunting this was not good!

Still by the time I set out it was dry. I hit one more downpour but by time I arrived at Prawle the sun was shining. It was windy though.




No Cirls!! Lots of Gannets offshore. Did find Stonechats, Linnets, Mipits, Rock Pipits and had views of a Peregrine. As I walked back... suddenly hang on.... Yes a nice Cirl Bunting, not quite in full plumage but a nice bird.

I had considered looking around Slapton Ley but instead went to look around Dartmouth Castle.







Nice views of the harbour and across to another castle. Also a Shag in the harbour and a fly through Oystercatcher.

Popped into Dartington Hall. Its an "arts centre" but the gardens are attractive.





It had been dry and mainly sunny all day but as i write this at the hotel the heavens opened!! Got lucky today!

Saturday 30th September

The alarm went off at 5am and I "rushed" about getting ready. It was a leisurely drive down. I went for a look around Buckfast Abbey.



The church was built by the monks in the early 20th century. Its a fine building if not as grand as Downside Abbey.

I'd like to show you some pictures but photography is banned as this is "a house of god". I'd have more sympathy if Buckfast didn't also have a gift shop, restaurant etc.

I then went to visit Saltram House near Plymouth. You can do a little Birdwatching hear so of course.... there were Buzzards overhead, Curlew, Little Egret and 3 Greenshank.

Any ideas?


A digiscoped Little Egret.


The gardens had the usual plus a showy Nuthatch. The duck pond often has Mandarins but not today. Anyway I had a nice Tomato and Vegetable soup and got on with my book.

The house is very fine, what you see from the outside covers a tudor shell (you can see this from the inner courtyard). The house has some lovely pictures and is well worth a visit.

The gardens are parklike and as the sun was shining I carried on with my book.





Had a cup of the and a scan of the Guardian's blog watch had no mention of the quacks of life!!

This is all very civilised! Into my hotel and then a walk.




Summer Berries and Clotted Cream Creme Brulee on the menu. I texted Jan, she'll hate me!

Back Again

Well I'm back.

I'm not rushing to write up 8 days of holidays!! I have 150 photos and I have a house guest today so you'll have to curb your impatience!! I'll take the laptop to work and prepare photos during lunch hour and start putting blogs up over next few days.

Had a great time and was incredibly lucky on the weather.