Another year older ...

The only way to spend a birthday, in good company in a Landmark Trust property. This year, accompanied by Marilyn n Marion, we headed west to Pembroke and the tiny city of St David.

The cottage at Tower Hill St Davids is situated just above the close wall at St David’s and has an amazing view of the cathedral and ruin of the bishops palace, A place of worship that was already ancient when the Normans built their cathedral beside it. The cathedral also houses the tomb of Henry VII father, Henry VIII grandfather, which it is said saved the cathedral from the reformation. St Davids is the smallest city in the UK. 

With the cathedral at one side and the Farmers Arms at the other it caters for both spiritual and worldly needs.

The coastal footpath round St Davids Head is stunning and culminates in ancient stone fortifications and cromlechs. We followed this with a trip to Strumble Head with its remote lighthouse. 

Coetan Arthur is a Neolithic burial chamber dating from about 4000BC. It has a huge capstone almost 20ft (6m) wide, supported by a side stone over 3ft (1m) tall. It was almost certainly built this way, with one end resting on the ground, as an 'earthfast' megalith. It mimics the shape of Carn Llidi behind it. This coastline has a rich prehistoric past. There are also remains of ancient field patterns, enclosures and defensive banks dotted all around.

Then more cromlechs from the impressive Pentre Ifan 

to the smaller St Elvis.

Had a great meal at the wonderful Sloop at Perthgain with its picturesque harbour and amazing slate and loadstone works whose gigantic stone skips flowed crushed stone directly to the harbourside and waiting ships.

For breakfast and/or lunch 35 @ Solva is to be highly recommended for food and friendly service.

Cosy in Coombe for Valentines

Our 7^th Landmark (+ completed jigsaw as Landmarkers will know :) so heading soon for double figures, and again a complete treat. A cottage over a ford by a mill complete with millstream and open fire – what more could you ask for.

Coombe is a small hamlet at the forgotten junction of two wooded valleys in North Cornwall. Mill, millhouse and anciently picturesque cottages cluster in orchards around the ford of a shallow stream, just half a mile from the sea at Duckpool, where half tide exposes a sandy beach. The hamlet once belonged in part to the Grenville family of the long-demolished Stowe Barton, and its souls were later under the care of the Reverend Stephen Hawker, celebrated Vicar of Morwenstow. Landmark’s presence at Coombe (and only Landmarkers populate it today) preserves the hamlet and its exceptional setting in a joint scheme with the National Trust, who own most of the surrounding land and coastline.

Right opposite our front door is the start of a country footpath that takes you along the river, you can do a short circular tour or like us take the linger route to Sandymouth. But a word to the wise if your tempted. We took the beach route to our local seafront at Duckpool. You need skills in rock climbing, absailing and stout waterproof boots as the route resembles the giants causeway in crazy paving! You’re well advised to return via the coastal footpath from Sandymouth.

 

Q. What is the connection between Cheltenham and Bude?

The GCHQ listening station at Bude, the ears for Cheltenham, dominates the skyline top of the hill from Coombe. This could contribute to the lack of TV, wifi and moby signal though I suspect the geography of the valley is the issue. But makes for a wonderfully peaceful break where you have to make your own amusement – not difficult at Valentines with an open fire, good food n fizzy wine. 

The weather was unseasonably clement and Sunday was spent walking the 3 ½ mile snowdrop paths at Hartland Abbey from Blackpool Cottage (used as the setting for 'Sense and Sensibility') to the walled garden, a must. We were eating lentil burgers in the sun on the lawn whilst the middle of the country was under a snow warning.

even the rhodies were trying to bloom .

The local village of Morwenstow was a great find. The Bush Inn was very friendly with fine real ale and locally sourced produce, an olde world tea shop at the Rectory, an amazing church (with very accomplished bell ringers) a gothic church house and a hast head memorial to those who perished in the wreck of the Caledonian. Along the cliff footpath was Rev Hawkers Hut. Hawker was regarded as a deeply compassionate person giving burials to shipwrecked seamen washed up on the shores of the parish, and was often the first to reach the cliffs when there was a shipwreck. Prior to this, the bodies of shipwrecked sailors were often either buried on the beach where they were found or left to the sea. The figurehead of the ship the 'Caledonia', which foundered in September 1842, marks the grave in Morwenstow churchyard of five of the nine-man crew. Hawker described the wrecking in his book Footprints of Former Men in Far Cornwall. Nearby stands a granite cross marked "Unknown Yet Well Known", close to the graves of 30 or more seafarers, including the captain of the Alonzo, wrecked in 1843.

 

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Bridge Cottage, Peppercombe

Well where did my 60^th year go :-/ but go it did!

As has become traditional with birthdays and/or valentines Marilyn arranged another (our 6^th) Landmark Trust stay – this time at Bridge Cottage, Peppercombe, Horns Cross near Bideford.

Peppercombe is a steep and wooded valley, through which a stream meanders down before spectacularly tumbling down to a beach in a fine waterfall. Gently sloping paths reach the shore.

 

The cliffs here are particularly dramatic, formed from an outcrop of red Triassic stone, with the whole magnificent North Devon coast line curving away in both directions and Lundy on the horizon.

Bridge Cottage, built in about 1830, stands in woods at the top of the combe. It had been empty for years, with a tarpaulin over its roof, but the walls of cob and stone were sound. The kitchen and parlour have stone-flagged floors and fireplaces, while the bedrooms follow the line of the roof. It had a small but perfectly formed real fire. There were rustic views from every window.

The weather was at times messy but did give rise to this double rainbow across the bay.

At the top of the path stands the Coach and Horses. Real Ales, fine food and a great host. Also close by are Bucks Mills, the picturesque Clovelley and ...

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Valentines by the Tor

Yes, another Landmark Trust - it's a great way to celebrate togetherness.


An impressive place the Parish House @ Boltonsborough, not far from Glastonbury and in the shaddow of the Tor. Built in about 1500, on the edge of the churchyard, it has long served the village of Baltonsborough for meetings and festivals, both formal and convivial.

The wooden floors and beamed arched roof are amazing. 

Birthday, Bath n Beckford Tower

It started on the rooftop Thermae pool in Bath.
Quite an experience n we reckon the views must be panoramic if the mist ever lifts.

Then on to Beckford Tower, a Landmark Trust - our third and most luxurious yet, a real des. res!

If ever you needed a landmark to your bed on the way home from the pub on a dark evening the tower has to be it.

The Scarlet Drawing Room was incredibly atmospheric, warm and comfortable. All creature comforts were catered for - and the key to your own tower thrown in for good measure, though there were 154 steps to the top:

then the Belvedere with panoramic views over Bath (when the mist lifted :)

Robin Hoods Hut

T'was in the village of Goathurst on the edge of the Quantock hills on the anniversary of my 58th birthday ...






This is why it was quite difficult explaining the building. You entered via the back door. It appeared a reasonably furnished though dour hermitage, thus designed do that when you opened the front door the contrast was breathtaking. You stood on a 12'sq diameter paved patio under an 18' high umbrello and looked out on a panorama that stretched from the Cheddar Mendips, past Weston, over the Severn estuary and past Minehead.







Our neighbours had a fine house too :)









Robin Hoods Hut looking back up the hill from the village.

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/news/robinhoods.htm









50yds from the bedroom door, along the yellow brick road, a wooden hut fashioned after a druids temple, housed a wonderful bathroom suite with lashings of hot water. Quite unique.



If you fancy the Landmark Trust and like this one you'll love Whiteford Chapel -http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/featured/whiteford_temple.htm