Fowlmere RSPB Reserve

With the garden and local walks dried up in all the heat and lack of rain, we thought that Fowlmere with its abundant water supply might produce a few more insects and possibly a bird or two. Certainly there were plenty of butterflies including my favourite little gem, the Brown Argus. Also Common Bblue, Small Heath and Speckled Wood. A sprinkling of other insects including a Volucella zonaria - Hornet Mimic Hoverfly, and a matching coloured Bug, Common Blue Damselfly and Ruddy Darter. Phil watched a young Water Rail for a long while.

Saying Goodbye to Saunton and the Animals

We visited Saunton Beach on Thursday morning and then returned to the house to feed and say goodbye to all the animals. Meredith was particularly sad leaving the tortoiseshell cat behind.

Lynton and Lynmouth

On Tuesday, we went to Lynton and took the Cliff Railway down to Lynmouth. It is reputedly the steepest railway in the world and uses water ballast to drive the carriages on their cable. 700 gallons are available to load at the top of the incline and eject at the bottom. We walked along to one of the beaches on the opposite side of the Bay where few other tourists ventured. The final visit was to Valley of the Rocks

Saunton Sands as the Rain Clears

On monday, the morning rain cleared at lunch giving a dry but still cloudy afternoon rendering amazing reflections on the wet sand

Saunton Sands in Rain and Sun

On Sunday, having fed the animals that we are looking after for week (24 sheep, 3 goats, some Hens, a duck  and 2 cats), we went to nearby Braunton for tea and then for a walk on Saunton sands. It had been raining all day and there were still showers around which gave great backdrops for the Kite surfers etc. 

Beaumaris Castle and Church

We spent the last day in Beaumaris exploring the Castle and Church.

Beaumaris Castle was the last of Edward I’s massive building programme in North Wales but he never got round to finishing it as his finances were needed elsewhere in Scotland. It would have been twice the height! Technically perfect and constructed according to an ingenious ‘walls within walls’ plan, Beaumaris Castle was a 13th-century innovation and has been a World Heritage Site since 1986.

St Mary and St Nicholas Church. The handsome 14th-century church in Beaumaris was erected shortly after Edward I built the castle, to serve the castle garrison and the people of Beaumaris town. The oldest parts of the church are the nave and aisles, and the west tower, all of which date to the 14th century. The alabaster tomb of William Bulkeley (d. 1490) with his wife Elin, is impressive as are the wooden carvings on the misericords.