From Devon to Cornwall

Its nice to have an eye catching photo first and this is just the photo. A black swan with her 5 baby cygnets in Dawlish

Saturday we cycled to Starcross, just past the pub, to get the train to Paignton, because the train line goes all down the coast and is very scenic. It was a nice little journey, and we are glad that was the point of the exercise as Paignton was very touristy and seasidey! Going the whole hog, we went down the pier, scavenging twopence pieces that had fallen out of the pusher machines, only to put them back in obviously. Stopped for fresh donuts, cooked just for us, before ambling around the harbour to look at the coastal gardens and Goodrington sands. Back into Paignton for fish and chips, one huge portion between us was quite sufficient, before a hot chocolate with all the trimmings in the library cafe by the station and getting the train back.

The Atmospheric Pub in Starcross from the station. We didn't try it but it's names after Brunels original atmospheric railway that was here

Sunday we thought we’d better look at Dawlish Warren, so through the amusements and chip shops to the coast and the beach and sand dunes. Lots of dogs running about on the beach making the most of their freedom before it becomes dog free from April. He managed to keep me from the donuts, but we did share a Cornish pasty before more hot chocolates! Well it has been very cold, though dry! Short video of the walk: click here

Talking of Brunels atmospheric railway, this building, alongside the track at Starcross was on of the engine houses for creating the vacuum necessary to suck the trains along through the tube beneath the rails. The atmospheric system may not have lasted much longer than a year before the lines were converted to steam power, but the engine house building remains, now a sailing club.

Monday another couple of shortish walks, firstly into Dawlish to actually look at it, and to find the black swans. Black swans had been there since the early 20th century, but they died out between the wars. In the late 1940’s Captain GRS Pitman, a game warden in Uganda, donated a pair to the town in memory of his father, a councillor. On walking to the brook, there was activity, and photographing going on, that’ll be a pair of black swans and their five cygnets then. Very cute and mission accomplished, hurrah. We did see another five swans at the other end of the brook, but no more cygnets, but I’d been surprised to see any! They hatched 7 from 8 eggs apparently, but the gulls have had two! (Short video of the walk: click here) A shared sandwich before a shared cream tea and onto the bus up to Powderham Castle, the home of the Earl of Devonshire . A farm shop, lots of deer and another 6km, before the bus back to the campsite (short video of the walk: click here). A last treat, a second visit to the Anchor, for their shared seafood platter, prawns, mussels, razor clams, and a lobster, in lots of garlic butter, a little bit of bread and a few chips! We didn’t manage all the carbohydrate, but did eat all the seafood, just!

On the pier at Paignton. Sometimes these things have to be done!

Tuesday, time to move on, into Cornwall. Will the weather be on our side? Yes it was, a little bit cloudy as we went past Dartmoor, but none of the snow that had been forecast. We’ve come to Par, near to St Austell, mainly to visit the Eden Project, just because it’s somewhere everyone has heard of. This is tomorrow’s day out. Yesterday after arrival we took a walk to the harbour which is very industrial, along the coast behind the golf course and back, stopping for a quick pint and crossword (short video of the walk: click here). It rained overnight, and on and off today (and probably tomorrow) but while Bristol airport has no flights due to the snow we are at 11 degrees! Think we are in the right place! We even managed our trip out this morning avoiding the rain.

On Roundham Head between Paignton and Goodrington Sands. That's Goodrington down there and we're standing on the coastal path in the lovely gardens

On our walk to Dawlish Warren and this view back is of the large campsite we're on, called Cofton Holidays. You can't see where we're parked, is off to the right behind those trees

A swan and ducks on natural pond on Dawlish Warren. The Warren is a sand and earth bank that juts into the head of the Exe estuary as it reaches the sea, reducing the width of the opening to the sea to a couple of hundred meters. It's in a continual state of flux, being built up by silt carried down by the river and then broken down by storm surges in the English Channel. Parts of it are relatively stable as the part nearest land has an amusement park and a golf course on it. Further out it's sand and hard to walk on

Managed to capture this crow after he had just caught a newt (identified by a number of people for me when I put the photo on Facebook. Thanks, Andrew, Heather, Phil and a number of others for your quick identification)

At the furthest most point of Dawlish Warren. Just across the Exe there is Exmouth. Not far as the crow flies, but a long way by road or ferry

Of course no walk would be complete unless Jackie finds a cat to stroke

Or a pony! It was in a compound on the campsite. Didn't spend much time with Jackie, she had no food! 

Our walk the next day into Dawlish was dominated by these 5 cute cygnets. Of 8 eggs laid, 7 hatches but 2 were snatched by seagulls (I know, there's no such thing as a seagull, but we all know what we mean!). Apparently these chicks are still vulnerable to seagull attacks, although they are getting quite big now

Although mum didn't seemed very impressed with the idea, three of them are sheltering under her wing here. Probably very uncomfortable for her

Dad was there too

There's another 5 further down the brook, so they seem pretty well established here

Tea shop time. Another cream tea

And there's giraffes - not real ones, they are part of a crazy golf course. You can see gorillas, and there's elephants, snakes and panda's. While we were waiting for our bus just by here, an old chap also waiting told us that residents in the building opposite complained to the council of the gorillas placed facing them. The council came and turned them round and he delighted in telling us that they are now looking at a gorillas bum! 

Next stop on the bus, Powderham Castle, home of the Earl of Devon. There's been quite a few concerts held here, apparently Status Quo have played here along with people such as Craig David, Noel Gallagher and even Tom Jones

Its home to a great number of deer in the extensive grounds

Needless to say, I have a large quantity of photos I took of there handsome beasts. It's hard to pick out the best, but these young bucks were practicing rutting and we could hear the clashing on antlers almost continually

Here's two clashing

And another  two, unconcerned there was a tree between them

Powderham Folly up on a hill overlooking the castle

This was our amazing meal in The Anchor. A seafood platter to share. The prawns and mussels went on and on. We didn't finish the bread or the chips, but we did finish the seafood and wine!

Very full people and a bin full of shells

Time to move on and we're now in Par, near St Austell in Cornwall

Nice coastal path walk and, tomorrow, a visit to the Eden Project. Looking forward to that