Day Trip to Teignmouth

Weeks ago we had booked a day out on one of John Martin's day out by coach.  We walk to the bus station starting our trip at 9:30 a.m. arriving in Teignmouth just after 11:30.  We had viewed Teignmouth from just across the estuary at Shaldon when we were driving home from friends in Torquay a number of years ago.

Luckily the day was calm, with no rain.  It was overcast, a little misty at first, and high tide when we arrived. We had a walk along the front to the Point and along the estuary looking for the little restaurant Catch 22 where we hoped to have lunch.  It looked really lovely, but sadly it was fully booked.  We asked where we might find something and they suggested Trade Winds.

We explored some of the little streets, however being Sunday most places were closed, but we did find Trade Winds there and settled down for a good enough dinner both choosing Steak and Kidney pie and vegetables.  The service was excellent and the Patron was obviously well liked as he knew many of the clients by name.  The portions of steak and kidney pie which were delicious were more than ample and I was very pleased that he suggested I opt for the smaller portion. I couldn't possibly contemplate dessert, but later on our walk had an ice cream each.

View of The Ness from Teignmouth Point

After lunch we decided to walk along the promenade which later turns into a walk along the railway.  It was the sort of day where the colour of the sea so closely matched the colour of the sky with the slight mist you had to guess where the horizon might be. The sound of the gentle waves along the beach were calming and soothing as we enjoyed the air, looking out for the few wild wild flowers that grew along the path.  Other promenaders and their dogs were also enjoying the day, and it was amusing the watch the dogs on the beach.  Along the edge of the sea there was not much to look at but I did manage to find three pleasing pebbles.

Looking towards the Parson and Clerk at Holcombe

As you approach Holcombe where the train enters the tunnel, it looks as if the path ends, and there we intended to turn back on ourselves, sometimes walking on the beach and sometimes on the path, as we did on the way down.  However, an old gentleman engaged us in conversation and towards the end, he suggested we went down the steps at the end and under the railway, then after a short walk we would find a nice place for a cuppa and restbefore turning back.

The Salty Dog Kiosk is a little treasure. With a coffee there was a bonus cake, of which I chose a delicious rock bun, but since none came with the tea, I shared mine with Mr S.  It was made by the lady running The Salty Dog, and I would say it would have won first prize at a Village Fete! We sat amongst other walkers some with lovely dogs, chatted, and rested, then got up for our return walk, around four miles in all.

When one books a day out, weeks in advance, the one thing that cannot be counted on is the weather.  If you are going under your 'own steam', then you can postpone your trip.  We considered ourselves lucky in that Sunday it didn't rain.  The day before, for the Summer Fête at the Bishop's Palace , itwas a wash out, and it also rained heavily on the Sunday night through to mid morning Monday.

 

Mace day out - Niwaki and further on to Old Wardour Castle

 Only a few days ago I mentioned to my dearly beloved that I would like to try some tools to see if they would fit my hand.  Having had some Niwaki secateurs for a few years now, yes it is six years now, it is not surprising that I wanted to try a Hori hori. This Friday our day out was to Niwaki Head quarters.  This is situated in a beautiful corner of Wiltshire close to the border of Dorset. it was a lovely drive down through the now greening up countryside.  There was a hint of autumn in the hedgerows with the haws on the hawthorns turning red.

The shop is beautifully laid out with the full range of tools and other items from Japan from workwear to attractive screen printed handkerchiefs.

The tools are well finished and well balanced.  The assistant was really helpful but also gave us plenty of space and time and facility to try things.  If only I had bought these tools many years ago!

In the shop you also get a nice bag to fit each item. Mr S has already fixed up a system so that I can hang the bags to store my tools.  I had also taken my secateurs and some snips.  The snips has started to stick and the assistant sorted those out whilst we browsed, and it was nothing more tricky than removing some of the rust and applying a little Magnolia oil.  I already have the mini clean mate and when I got home I carried out similar cleaning to my secateurs have brought them back to as tip top condition. 

We had a short drive to Pythouse Kitchen Garden where we thought we might have a light bite, but they were serving lunch with a  number of small dishes only.  We turned back and retraced our steps to the  Compton McRae on the same site Chaldicott Barns where Niwaki is situated. We had a lovely large bowl of really delicious squash, miso and sage soup and a couple of thick slices of a delicious focaccia bread. 

Fortified and warmed up we then drove to the English Heritage site of Old Wardour Castle.  The roads were the sort of narrow roads where you note and count the passing points and just hope you don't meet anyone coming in the opposite direction!  The effort was well rewarded.

We each had one of those self guided audio guides which took one round the castle with interesting narration about the history of the construction and people who lived there in context of the times.  

The weather was remarkably changeable, at times we needed to find rooms with ceilings to shelter from the heavy downfalls, only venturing further once it was clear.

  

After the castle was damaged during the civil wars and the New Wardour Castle built, the grounds including the 'Romantic Ruins' formed part of the Georgian pleasure gardens on the Wardour Estate.

This banqueting house was built in the eighteen century to entertain The Arundells and their guests as they toured the grounds. 

The views of the lake and trees are beautifully framed and each one has a slightly different angle. 

In the grounds is an eighteenth century grotto, which was partly built from stones from a nearby ancient stone circle.  Having recently visited the stone circles at Stanton Drew it was interesting to make the link and start to understand that over the last centuries stones such as these would have been moved by land owners to be reconstructed for such follies.

Looking out from one of the grotto chambers

We were to have had a long circular walk that goes past the New Wardour Castle, but the rain had delayed us, and we decided set off back home instead.  I found a way to catch a glimpse of the Palladian Mansion's grandeur through this short video presented by Jasper Conran before he sold his apartment there.

New Wardour Castle 

Hauser & Wirth - First Visit

Hauser & Wirth towards the Radić Pavilion

Hauser & Wirth 

For our Friday 'day out'  just over a week ago, we headed out to visit the gardens at Hauser & Wirth near Bruton, which they call the 'Oudolf Field'.  I can't fathom why we haven't been before, as we have driven past them many times, and of course had a stroll round Bruton which is a lovely small Somerset village where we often stop off at 'At the Chapel': a lovely bakery cum café cum restaurant with their wood fired ovens. I can't believe I have not posted a blog about Bruton yet, as we visit quite regularly.

I suppose it may have been that I had wondered when the best time to visit would be, or maybe even whether it would be worth the admission fee if it wasn't quite the right time to visit.  I now would say that anytime would be worth visiting to see what appealed in the gardens and just to enjoy the location of the gardens. Also on arriving we found that access to the gardens and the gallery are free, and at ten in the morning we almost had the garden to ourselves.  Watering was taking place which explains how the gardens were looking in tip top condition, and luckily they have their own water reserves.

As we walked around the beds, our eyes were drawn upwards towards the Radić Pavilion, which is quite a size set on large blocks of stone.  It is a large space internally and very enjoyable to walk on its sloping deck.

Sitting in the cool out of the sun this is the long view over the surrounding countryside.

I took photographs just for my usual notes on plants etc., and it is far more interesting than what can be seen here.  We shall certainly be visiting again soon.

The spent flowers added interesting textures and forms.  Seeing planting in groups like this was a revelation and whereas a single specimen having gone over is probably best removed or cut down in my garden, blocks of plants offer the possibility of keeping the whole block to enjoy its development from flower through to seed and seeing its form in the winter.

I couldn't see names for all the blocks and have ordered the book about the planting of the gardens from our library to learn a little more.

I hadn't seen this plant growing before, and using the Google Lens found it to be Datisca cannabina.. It certainly had a wow factor.

Datisca cannabina

I could finally appreciate the value of growing plants in clumps, and with quite a good range in my garden I have the idea to follow this trend more so.

One bold clump of colour is probably even more effective than many close together, and the foil of green clumps or others with form and texture taught me much. I can understand that careful design and choice of plants is paramount to achieving this effect, and is a signature of the designer 

In places I think two or three different varieties of plants were used together, something that I hope to learn more about from the book.

The waterlilies were lovely as well as the floaters and marginals would be an inspiration for anyone wanting to create or improve on their pond.

I guess planting distance with the clumps of plants helps to get this pleasing cushiony and very pleasing effect.

At the end of our walk we enjoyed a delicious brunch in the courtyard of their Roth Bar. 

The sculptures from the Niki de Saint Phalle & Jean Tinguely looked vibrant in the sunshine and against the clear blue skies. 

There are lots of activities going on that I will be looking over these to perhaps time our next visit to the garden so as to be able to sample those, but then the gardens would probably not be as quiet!

Visiting Buckingham Palace - A Day out at the Start of August

 We have discovered a local coach company which both Mr S and I find very good. We have had several outings, holidays, days out that we have enjoyed and are also looking forward to more. We were delighted they were doing a trip to London to visit Buckingham Palace during August, we added that to our list.

We arrived in plenty of time for our scheduled tour starting at 2 p.m. and had decided in advance to put up a packed lunch and enjoy that in some nearby park. We are just 'Country Mice' and probably could have found a nearby restaurant, however with good weather forecast the promise of sitting in a park after a coach ride was certainly appealing.  We had been warned by the coach office, not to take any bags other than a normal sized handbag, as those had to be left at the start, and with the end of the tour exiting further along Grosvenor Place where the coach was to pick us up, that would entail too much time in our opinion. So on the coach we decanted our picnic from our cool bag into one of those bags that fold into a small thing which when we had eaten out lunch would be back in my handbag.

We had about two hours in St Jame's Park, and found it altogether delightful, except I had never seen such crowds of people.  There were also a large variety of water fowl on the lake including this attention grabbing Pelican.

Several other Pelicans were further along but you just could get near enough for the throng of people choosing to take selfies with them!

As you approached Horse Guard Parade the border and beds became more vibrant, and the long border of one's left was magnificent.

There were so many different plants behind the first rank of plants with many more to add interest for the weeks to come.

On the left hand side of the path, was an 'Exotic Jungle Garden'.  So many plants and so well arranged as if in a Victorian or Edwardian garden.

And they had a nice variety of Coleus including the one I am looking forward: Plectranthus scutellariodes Skeletal, common name: Coleus Skeletal.

As we were about to curve round the east end of the lake we could see what we recognised from televised ceremonial and military events and went a little further onto Horse Guards Parade, and marvelled at the architecture surround the large open space. It is amusing that whilst I am writing this I brought up an aerial view of the park and parade ground, and have just realised why there were police officers and officials around the southern end of the ground: this area is  the back of 10 and 11 Downing Street!

Mr S loves a cannon, and it is a very impressive commemoration...

 Back around the the southern shore and the Duck Island Cottage gardens.

We made our way then along the southern shore of the lake, and went up to await our tour which started at 2 o'clock.  Of course no photographs of the interior were permitted, and several of the rooms were being refurbished, but this left many more rooms and much art to take in and admire.  In fact we both agreed we went through far too fast.  After St James's Park, we had thought the gardens of Buckingham Palace would be equally magnificent from a planted bed perspective.  After the event I realise that part of the garden is not open to those with only a house tour ticket, so something for another time perhaps.

To pass the time, we enjoyed a royal cuppa and piece of cake on the south-west facing terrace  but sadly served in a paper cup and on a paper plate!  Afterwards an amble along a path which was well cordoned off with attendants along the line to ensure no one veered off the path.  From this path one got the impression of a delightful lake with many trees.

On our way out of the city I caught a glimpse of some very different styles of architecture, and I managed to catch a picture of the Sculpture at Princes Court, Brompton Road.

For a cost per head of £55 per person including coach travel and entry, this was a really lovely day out for Mr S and I. 

Friday visit - Barrington Court

 It was very hot, and I didn't take many pictures.  

Verbascum and Verbena along the back of the workshops

Part of the house was shut off, and it was really too hot to linger around the gardens.  Of particular note were the trees and also a small enclosed garden which had many forms of white Cosmos from the lovely white cupcake form, through the doubles and tall and shorter varieties. 

After a cuppa, we made a tour of the workshops and we have a great mouch around there and years ago I started to investigate pancheons and found on a visit there many years ago that they did manke Pancheons, I have one from my grandmother which was probably her grandmothers, so I bought a little bowl this time.

I picked up a large patty pan with deep scallops, it was a thing of beauty....

I could tell it was still tender, so sautéed it with some added walnuts, dressed with walnut oil and a little balsamic vinegar, it made a great lunch or two.

After one lunch served hot, the ret was refrigerated and enjoyed the second day. It was the weekend of the dearly beloved's archery tournament, so I feasted on tapas style dishes including the Patty pan, on both days.

On the way home from Barrington Court we stopped off for lunch at The Rose and Crown at East Lambrook, where we order the roasted beef pies, yes they were proper ones with pastry top and bottom, served hot, but oh dear: the pastry was as hard as anything, the beans had been held in tepid water, and quite honestly we wished we had settled for something in East Lambrook Manor gardens, even a modest scone would have been better.  After dinner we sauntered over, and I had been under the impression that its future as a garden and venue open to the public was unknown, but I am delighted to say that East Lambrook Gardens and plant nursery it is fully open, and how better to celebrate this than buying a few plants to add to the garden.

It would have been rude not to have done....