Sunshine sunshine sunshine, well almost! Even the “bad” days were nowhere as bad as forecast.
Our long journey down to Devon was broken by a visit to Stourhead, a NT House and garden on the Wilshire/Somerset border. I’ve been there many times, but it never ceases to enthral. It was too hot to walk round the lake, but not too hot to partake at the Spread Eagle, the only NT place I know with a real pub.
Photo © 2025 David Jones
Onwards to the Duke of Cornwall Hotel, a very imposing building with a lot of history. Our room was great, with a bed 10 foot wide! Some members had problem rooms, uncontrollable showers, lack of ventilation, (one room with baby birds on the outside window ledge, preventing the window from being opened!)! The food was good and the service also good, even the one night a second coach load arrived. A short walk after dinner gave us a chance to see a wonderful sunset.
Photo © 2025 David Jones
A short walk after dinner gave us a chance to see a wonderful sunset.
Photo © 2025 David Jones
Wednesday we took the Dartmouth Greenways ferry to Agatha Christie’s former holiday home, a Georgian house with 1950s interiors, and filled with the family's collections. Lots to explore: walled gardens, woodland, camellia garden, fernery and riverside paths. We returned to Dartmouth for some leisurely exploring.
Photo © 2025 Sally Styles
On Thursday we visited the Eden Project. Always plenty to see, including many exotic plants and now very mature trees. While we were in one of the domes, the heavens opened, water streaming down the outside, but it was so hot that by the time we went outside it had completely dried up. We came back via Charlestown, a big disappointment, I have been twice before, and seen tall ships, replica old ships but now an over commercialised rubbish tip. (But the ice cream was delicious!). The harbour was used many times in Poldark and lots of other TV series.
Photo - our Chairman with his defib © 2025 David Jones
Friday took us to Pencarrow House a Grade II*-listed country house and garden containing 160 species of specimen conifers, 700 species of rhododendrons and 60 species of camellias, and an Italian garden, a granite rockery and lake. We ended up with one of the best cream teas I have ever had.
Photo © 2025 David Jones
In the afternoon we went to Bodmin Jail. Built in 1779, Bodmin Jail reveals the gripping tales of Georgian and Victorian crime and punishment. The guided tour ended with simulated hanging, it made you jump! It is possible that some of our members didn’t get out!
Photo - Audrey in a spot of bother © 2025 Janet Baldry
The driver had his day off on Saturday, so we had a day to explore on our own. Plymouth has plenty to offer, the Barbican, the Hoe with Smeaton’s Tower, Mayflower Steps Memorial, plus much more. There are lots of bars and no end of cafe/restaurants. After 14,000 steps I was knackered! Some members met three pirates in the Antique cellars, they appear to have got away with it!
Photo © 2025 Pauline Smith
On our last full day, we went to The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Lost to the brambles of time since the outbreak of WW1, this Sleeping Beauty was re-awakened in 1990 to become Europe’s largest garden restoration project. Today Heligan’s 200 acres are a paradise for the explorer, wildlife, plant lover and garden romantic. The Jungle is particularly impressive with many tree ferns and a rope bridge, I thought I had been transported to New Zealand. On the way back we called in at Mevagissey, one of my favourite harbours. The atmosphere just ambling round the harbour was absolutely wonderful but not as good as an evening visit.
Photo © 2025 Wyn May
On Monday we departed for home, calling in at the NT Tyntesfield on the way. A Victorian Gothic masterpiece, the house exquisite both inside and out.
Photo © 2025 David Jones
And finally a massive thank you from all of us to Audrey for organising another great holiday.
Dave Jones