Posted by
Sille Bliss
 |
| Inside Exmoor National Park |
It should of been about 3 1/2 hours to get to Lynton from The Lizard Point (see last blog post) but with traffic and taking different routes to try to avoid it, we ended up taking a little over 4 hours. It was LONG.
 |
| Map: From Lizard Point to Lynton, Exmoor National Park |
But once we entered the national park, I was so excited. I had been wanting to visit Exmoor for so long already, especially this location. I knew before I even saw it that this would be my favorite national park in England that I would have visited so far and it didn't disappoint.
We entered from the Barnstable side and had to drive all the way through to the end at the coast.
This place is extremely hilly with sharp turns and narrow windy roads next to huge rocks and steep cliffs. It's kind of scary of you are not careful and with bad weather. But we were lucky to be going in with pretty decent weather.
We entered from the Barnstable side and had to drive all the way through to the end at the coast.
 |
| Map: Barnstable to Lynton |
 |
| At the edge of entering Exmoor |
So this little part of our travels was a belated Valentine's Day stay. We decided to celebrate the week after since we knew we'd be out this way and decided to pick a romantic hotel. You couldn't get any more romantic than this location and hotel. As soon as we entered the driveway of the hotel we were hit by the amazing view. I knew our room and the hotel itself was in a perfect spot for the most amazing views ever but to read about it and see it in photos was nothing compared to the real thing.
We had such a really amazing time here. The whole place was so beautiful. The hotel and our room was perfect. The service was so personable and the food was delicious. I wish we could of stayed longer and I can't wait to go back.
We had such a really amazing time here. The whole place was so beautiful. The hotel and our room was perfect. The service was so personable and the food was delicious. I wish we could of stayed longer and I can't wait to go back.
 |
| Description of hotel view from book author of Alice in Wonderland |
 |
| Framed photo of hotel in lobby - Lynton Cottage |
Did I say the food was freaking delicious? Oh my god, it was the best! Locally sourced and cooked to perfection. It was unbelievable. Thought I'd only share my main course. But there was still starters and dessert that I am not posting but still yum.
 |
| Mussels |
 |
| Smoked Salmon and Eggs - breakfast |
 |
| Morning view from hotel |
In the morning we had a walk down a public footpath from the hotel along the coast. The path started out on a small road along the cliffs one one side and a few houses and fences with some borders on the other side facing the sea.
As you walked further the fences and borders went away and the side along the cliff to the sea got more steep. The footpath was fine to walk through but I can see someone with fear of heights having a hard time.
As you walked further the fences and borders went away and the side along the cliff to the sea got more steep. The footpath was fine to walk through but I can see someone with fear of heights having a hard time.
 |
| A memorial of what looks like a child who died here. Very scary and sad. |
The wind didn't help because it was pretty strong at some points very mild but then suddenly a strong gush of wind would surprise you. That seemed a bit dangerous and scary to me. But it didn't stop the few people I saw walking further around the cliff side corner. Not me, I decided to play it safe. :) Oh, Steve was even more safe and stayed a little more further back where the trees along the steep seaside cliffs disappeared. :)
The views were no doubt completely beautiful and peaceful, a bit intimidating as well. But oh so well worth the visit.
After our walk we took a drive to the Valley of the Rocks. You could get here from the public footpath we were at before around the cliffs but with the crazy unsettling weather up there, it was definitely much safer to drive there directly. Good decision for when we got there the, weather was much more windy and it started to drizzle a lot, but still another awesome place.
Here is a video of our drive from the hotel to the Valley of the Rocks and a sample of just how windy it was there.
The views were no doubt completely beautiful and peaceful, a bit intimidating as well. But oh so well worth the visit.
After our walk we took a drive to the Valley of the Rocks. You could get here from the public footpath we were at before around the cliffs but with the crazy unsettling weather up there, it was definitely much safer to drive there directly. Good decision for when we got there the, weather was much more windy and it started to drizzle a lot, but still another awesome place.
Here is a video of our drive from the hotel to the Valley of the Rocks and a sample of just how windy it was there.
This place was pretty outrageous. I couldn't believe the wind!! The different shades of colors from the fall and winter and the dead trees permanently blown to the side from the strong winds in the valley were unbelievable. It honestly felt like we were somewhere completely out of this world. These colors, the mist in the air that you can actually being blown sideways and gray overcast sky... you wouldn't dare get all these elements in the summer.
This is one place I will never forget and would love to return to. We had a blast. I would love to visit in the summer time. It would be be cool to compare the scenery.
There is sooo soooo much to do here in Exmoor and I'm sad we couldn't do it all but that leaves things for us to do during the summer when we return. On the way out, the drive was horrific and very nerve wrecking... the drizzle and the wind stayed... not as windy as in the valley but still enough to make your car shake a little and that with small narrow roads didn't mix at all.
But the views..... Oh the views!
So we made it out and on the main road home... our jeans were soaked from being out there and it was not warming up at all. So we had to stop on the side of the road and change our trousers to prevent ourselves from getting sick. Once dry and warm we felt much much better. As we got closer to home between Yeovil and Dorchester with that long drive behind us we needed a little recharge. And what's better than some hot tea and scones, cream and jam?? Nothing at all!
We found the cutest little garden off the road with a sign that said 'cream tea'. We passed it up but did a u-turn asap and made our way to it. There was a lady outside the fence emptying out her van with some garden stuff. We asked if she was open and she said, "I could be!" :)
 |
| The Potting Shed |
That was good enough for us. She took us inside the garden gates through the garden to a little shack where there were a couple of tables and a little kitchen area. She really did open just for us. It was pretty damn cool.
She had the most amazing scones and homemade cream and jams and it was oh so cheap. She also had a little menu with soups made with freshly grown veggies from her garden. She was a sweet lady too!
Just another place to add to our return list for sure. It was the perfect ending to a very fun, exciting, romantic and memorable weekend.
She had the most amazing scones and homemade cream and jams and it was oh so cheap. She also had a little menu with soups made with freshly grown veggies from her garden. She was a sweet lady too!
Just another place to add to our return list for sure. It was the perfect ending to a very fun, exciting, romantic and memorable weekend.
Posted by
Sille Bliss
And before I start, it's funny how people don't get it when you say things like, "It was cold and so windy out today" or "the temperatures were freezing tonight". I know it's hard to understand but coming from me, I am by no means complaining, I'm merely describing the weather. I'm happy to finally be in a place where I do get actual seasons... and I love them all equally. And when I say that I'm happy to finally be in a place where I get actual seasons, I am in no way dissing my hometown of Houston where it is constant heat, though I don't agree with the weather there, I do love my home of the Lonestar State <3
A view of the Jurassic Coast, heading west.
Anyway, and with that we were on the road on our way back to Cornwall. We were just here the week before, but not here!
We were staying over and our hotel was in Breage, very close to the harbour town of Porthleven and I wanted to visit it really badly. The only time we would have to see it would be before getting to the hotel that evening so I was hoping we would beat the sun, but we didn't, it was much faster than we were. We still went and it was so peaceful and beautiful... I only wish my pictures would of been able to catch exactly what I saw. I wasn't able to get much.
Porthleven Harbour, Cornwall. 2016.02.19
After our short visit to Porthleven we headed to our hotel for the night. It was only a few miles away so not far at all but after driving for 4+ hours w/traffic and stops we were ready to eat and get to bed. We checked into our cozy pub hotel called The Queens Arms.
It was so cute with only 3 rooms with the entrance to them from around the back of the pub. Our room was right on top of the bar area. You could barely hear mumbles downstairs but the place closed its doors by 11pm so that wasn't a big deal. I thought it was pretty cool actually. The pub was located just across from a church with a pretty large cemetery on the grounds and across the street and our bedroom view was directly across it, it was perfect and alluringly dark ;)
After being shown our room we went straight down for some grub and drink! Not before we had a little walk outside in the cemetery, of course!
It wasn't your typical pub but more sort of a posh type. I like typical pub but this was cool too. Usually when I don't find anything I do not care for on the menu I get the fish and chips. In America it would be a burger and fries. They have that here too usually but I always stick with the traditional, you can never go wrong with fish and chips. When I drink now I always get cider, I don't drink beer really anymore ever. I have come to love cider and this one that I had was a weird one... it was a cloudy cider, kind of like a cloudy lemonade. It was OK but I prefer my regular or fruity cider.
After dinner it was time to hit the sack. We slept with the window a bit open and you could hear the church bells ringing every hour.. I though this would go on throughout the night, thank goodness it stopped at midnight.
Rise and shine. Church view at sunrise.
Morning view of the church... so pretty. Even with it being a small old little church rather than a huge new cathedral makes it just as beautiful, if not more.
So we headed down early for breakfast before going to the first appointment. Breakfast was just as yummy as dinner and we were the only ones down so we had the whole dining room to ourselves. The breakfast was also presented with it's cute little jar theme going. Everything tasted so fresh and usually I really don't care for the sausages but these were sooo damn good!
This was such a great hotel. Not only was the room comfy and cute, the food was delicious and the owners and servers were so freaking nice and helpful, with everything. I didn't find anything wrong with this little place. This somewhere to definitely stay at when you are down south in this area of Cornwall. It's only about 7 minutes away from Portleven but also 30 minutes from The Lizard and Kynance Cove. Not to mention all the other beautiful coastal areas around there.
So I didn't think we'd have time to visit the Lizard Point which was my highlight coming down here. We were only 12 miles away and it would of been a shame if we were this close and this far down and not be able to see it.
The Lizard village. Just before getting to Lizard Point you drive through this little village. You can park here and walk down and people do this. I don't see the point when there is plenty of parking closer nearby unless you are here by train or local bus then I can understand.
 |
The Lizard Point is a National Trust site so it is well taken care of. There is a cafe here that was closed at this time of the year (open Mar-Oct). The car park is free if you are a NT member, if not it's a small fee.
|
 |
| The road down to The Lizard |
Once arriving, it was really breathtaking. All the places you see from the cliff tops are beautiful, but there are only a few that do take your breath away. I can only describe it as a moving picture. As soon as I see it, it's like I'm walking into another world. This place was one of these places.
Once we parked the car and walked down a bit from the parking lot to the cliff side the wind hits you. It's weird how suddenly it becomes so windy when you are near places like this. At times you felt you could literally be pushed.
It was so cold up here my hands were freezing. It felt like I was going to get frost bite, plus it was a bit drizzling. The rest of our bodies were bundled up and covered really good. My body was well warm, and my hands would of been too but I had to take pictures and videos first!
 |
| Steve's glasses were almost flying off his face :P |
 |
| Danger Cliff Edge |
I was so sure we'd be the only ones here the whole time. Steve said there would be lots of people. I was reading that in the summer time this place gets so full of tourist. We were practically the only ones here at first, we got here around 10:30 a.m. and there were maybe a couple people here. But once we were walking back to the car to leave you could see surprisingly more and more people coming. I say surprisingly because of the time of the year but Steve was right, there would be lots of people here anyway no matter what the time of the year or how miserable the weather was. I'm still glad it was this time of the year that we came and I'd love to see it in the summer too sometime.
Then from one end of England to as far up as you can get in Devon we go....
Part Two: Exmoor National Park
 |
| More people arriving as we are leaving. |
Part Two: Exmoor National Park
