spring – TRAVEL WORDS

Just Back From… Dorset

And Surrey…

(Please click on the photographs to enlarge them)

Short stopover en route at Sidmouth on the south Devon coast (The Red Coast).

The OH and I often had a spring break – either April or May. Sometimes heading for Surrey where we would spend time with my daughter and the grandchildren (if they were around) and David would often catch a train to spend a day with his daughter in London or a longer stay at her home in Colchester.

Brewery Square in Dorchester (known to the locals as Dorch) where shops, restaurants, a gym, a cinema, a Premier Inn and residential apartments can be found

This year I had to do this on my own. Thinking about whether I should move nearer to family I chose to stay in Dorchester for a week, the historic county town of Dorset and home of the Victorian novelist Thomas Hardy, before moving on to Surrey for the early spring Bank Holiday. Dorchester gave me an opportunity to explore some of east Dorset which I haven’t visited in many years. I liked the old part, hated Poundbury (soulless) but wasn’t keen on all the traffic. It does have excellent transport links with two railway stations with a route to Bristol and one to London.

I walked along the River Frome. I walked around the town. I ate dinner at a lovely country inn, I walked on the Jurassic coast (shingle) had takeaway coffee and ice-cream (not at the same time) visited Wareham and Studland and several gardens. The weather remained dry, though not always warm, and I stayed in a lovely pristine quiet converted stable in the old part of the town. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought it might be. Before I met David I often had solo holidays and even when I accompanied him to conferences I spent many a day exploring on my own. The hardest part is during the evening and eating out alone. I just pretended I was away for work! And ate in the cottage most evenings.

Poundbury – designed by King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales with a mix of Victorian and Georgian architecture. This is Queen Mother Square. It’s a strange place. No road markings and free parking. Lots of cars, hardly any people. Streets were empty, playground was empty. A lot like a film set. But a good coffee shop in the Buttercross.

Continue reading Just Back From… Dorset

Azalea Steps

Isabella’s Plantation

The Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park, Surrey, is a 40 acre woodland garden set within a Victorian woodland plantation planted in the 1830’s. First opened to the public in 1953, it is best known for its evergreen azaleas, which line the ponds and streams and at their peak of flower in late April and early May.

My previous visit was in late August 2022 and the floral offerings were somewhat disappointing although it was still a lovely place for a walk. The timing was perfect this month though, as the long queue to the car park indicated.

Let’s take a walk and immerse ourselves in the glorious colours of this garden.

Especially for Jo (I know she loves rhodies!) and her Jo’s Monday Walks

Just Back From… Surrey

During another brief stay with my daughter in Surrey over the early spring bank holiday I took the opportunity to visit some different places in the region. First of all we decided to break up the journey by overnight stops each way. Although it can take as little as 5 hours, with unexpected traffic delays it can be much longer and by breaking up the journey we only had fairly short drives.

Hindon

First stop was at The Lamb in Hindon, Wiltshire. Just over 3 hours away. We went for a meal there last year during our Wiltshire holiday and liked it. The village is very pretty and close to the A303 so not far off route. The first thing we did after checking in was to get a couple of (very expensive) G&Ts and sit outside on a very warm day! Luckily we found some shade. Then before dinner we had a stroll up past the church. The room itself was one of those with wonky floors so you always feel as though you are on a boat. The stairs leading up were steep and narrow, not the best for elderly folk carrying a suitcase. I was surprised that the (young) chap taking us up didn’t offer to carry one! Dinner was okay, again expensive, but this area does seem to cater for weekenders from London (only 1½ hours away).

St John the Baptist church

A thatched cottage

Wisteria

Winkworth Arboretum

As my daughter works on a Thursday I took myself to the arboretum in Surrey, not far from Guildford though my Google map seemed to take me the most long-winded route through narrow lanes and little villages I have never heard of despite living in the area for 7 years. The bluebells were looking good and probably what attracts people to this place at this time of year. I had forgotten how steep the land is and fell foul of an ongoing issue with my right knee which has started to lock when going downhill which is very painful and makes it difficult to continue walking. On a very hot afternoon I was most grateful for the shade of the trees.

Azaleas

Bluebells

Hever Castle and Gardens

Childhood home to Anne Boleyn this place in Kent was added to and changed over the centuries. In 1903 it was bought by William Waldorf Astor and the castle was restored and the pleasure grounds created. My daughter and I had a lovely afternoon exploring the gardens and the castle. More about this place soon.

Isabella’s Plantation in Richmond Park

Spring is the time to visit this place. It is a riot of colour with banks of azaleas and rhododendrons. No wonder then it was full of visitors. Here’s a few of the amazing blooms, but I will do another post with more photos.

Of course time was spent with the family, visiting a garden centre and choosing plants for my daughter’s front garden, helping in the garden, sharing meals and best of all talking. I even saw something of the grandchildren this time!

Returning home our overnight stop was in Ilminster which is practically half way. We didn’t arrive until evening and ate at a local brewery chain so we didn’t explore the town and no photos were taken even though the hotel was pretty enough and our room had lovely views over the surrounding countryside. After breakfast we decided to head straight home.

All in all a good trip with pleasant driving conditions and mostly decent weather.

festival of spring #6

Seen in south-east England over Easter – so much blossom lining the suburban streets and the parks alongside the River Thames, from the purest white and the palest of pink to a deep magenta red.