Thursday 4 July 2013

Deepest, Greenest, Devon now - allright moy luvver!

This morning we left Whitnage around 9.40 a.m., after another very comfortable stay at a nice, quiet little bnb, Brambles at Whitnage Cottage.

Dave and Alison run a very nice place at Whitnage, with a couple of guest rooms in the cottage, and some more very comfortable rooms in the 'annexe' at the back. We stayed in 'The Garden Room', most pleasant.

So, after a splendid breakfast cooked by Dave, we set off for a very nice stroll to Shobrook deep in the Exe Valley. At this point I really must mention Nick Iles, who shifted our bags for two days from Burnham to Bishops Lydeard and then on to Whitnage - cheers Nick, very helpful mate!

Today our bags were moved on by my good friend Lady Lynda, who had very kindly made some marvellous scones AND brought some Devon clotted cream along, WITH some really rather marvellous jam. The scones were a perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea (flask), and made tea stops all the better. The weather has taken a seriously good turn for the warmer, and today's little plod was most enjoyable. Thank you Lynda, you are a diamond!

We were pretty close to the River Exe most of the way, in the delightful Exe Valley, passing early on through Tiverton, then Bickleigh, and then over a few hills towards Crediton - where Shobrook village sits just outside of.
 The River Exe flowing through Tiverton.





 
The River Exe at Bickleigh.
 
Bickleigh Bridge.
 
From Bickleigh we went up into the hills along much quieter, leafy lanes, along a farm track, then down into the lovely little village of Shobrook.The rolling, green hills of Devon providing rather marvellous scenery.
 
The Red Lion at Shobrook - I know already - is a splendid place to stop. Sharp's Doombar readily available, and the food smells very good indeed!
 
Tomorrow is our last lengthy plod - around 23 miles - so an early start will be on the cards!
 
Alec Hawkes - Plodding through Devon  04.07.13
 
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