Thursday 23rd December
We drove to Romsey in the morning to see J’s mum. Wendy came round for a coffee, then we went out to lunch at the Olive Tree.
Around 4pm we set off for Lyme Regis where we stayed the night n the Alexandra Hotel. After dinner we walked down through the town to to the sea and out along the cob. R walked along the top and got very wet when a big wave crashed over the top.
Friday 24th December
We checked out and went for a walk along the beach to where the ammonite pavement would have been visible had the tide not been right in. We took a path up the cliff and walked along the coast path for a bit.
Then we went back to the town and bought an early Christmas present for J (a rucksack) and we had a coffee. Then we drove to Topsham and met D and S.
We had lunch in the Lord Nelson Inn (better than last time we we here) and then walked along the Goat Walk to Bowling Green Marsh. It was now low tide so most of the waders were far away, but good views of Avocets, and lots of ducks in the marsh, including Wigeon, Teal, Pochard, Gadwall, etc.
Then to the Mill End Hotel near Chagford, our second visit. Christmas Eve dinner was a tasting menu with plenty of matched wine.
Saturday 25th December
We walked through the woods along the River Teign
to Fingle Bridge and then up the road to Drewesteignton. It was 11:45 when we got to the Drewe Arms, which didn’t officially open until 12:00 but they served us drinks anyway. Nice little pub, which was apparently closed after the first lockdown and only recently re-opened by the current new owners.
It started to rain and we got very wet walking back to the hotel.
Lunch at 2pm – portions too large!
Sunday 26th December
We drove to Lustleigh and did a good walk up the ridge to Hunters Tor then down to Manaton and along to the Kestor Inn at Freeland for lunch. Back through the woods and crossed the River Bovey on an ancient Clam bridge. Weather much better today.
