Bob Lillie's Travels: May 2012

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Green Lanes and Castles

Green lanes are old byways and bridleways that have developed over the centuries. Some are still in current use by motor vehicles, but some are now only footpaths and bridleways, but can be interesting to walk along. We sound some in the South Hams area of Devon and, of course, in Cornwall. More information about green lanes can be found here:http://www.goldendays.org.uk/find-out-about-green-lanes/

First we viseted the small village of Aveton Gifford where we started walking by the tidal estuary of the River Avon. This link provides more information about the village: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aveton_Gifford

The bridge across the river

some boats and birds

Mum on the track

A tangled web of roots

A view up the beginning of the green lane - going up Drunkards Hill

Closer to the top of the hill

Two views from the lane

The Aveton Gifford Church

Bolt Tail is a promontary near a small fishing village near Aveton Gifford called Hope Cove

Hope Cove

Looking Towards Bolt Tail

Looking at the ramparts of the Iron Age Fort

Looking back to Hope Cove

http://www.southdevonaonb.org.uk/text.asp?PageId=257

http://www.devon-online.com/towns/salcombe/hopecove.html

Berry Pomeroy Castle near Totnes - a 16th Century Palce built on the ruins of a medieval castle by the Dukes of Somerset

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berry_Pomeroy_Castle

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/berry-pomeroy-castle/
and some information about the first Duke of Somerset
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Seymour,_1st_Duke_of_Somerset
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Somerset

Looking up the valley from the castle

A bridge at the beginning of another green lane leading away from Berry Pomeroy

Loventor Manor a Georgian Manor House on a site which can be traced back to the doomsday Book

Looking Down The Green Lane

On a Footbridge

Hedgerow Flowers

Compton Castle near Torbay in South Devon - a fortifies Manor House which dates back to the 14th Century

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compton_Castle

Here are some links relating to former owner Sir Humphrey Gilbert and his half brother Sir Walter Raleigh

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Humphrey_Gilbert

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Walter_Raleigh

Friday 18 May 2012

Around Buckland Monachorum, Tavistock and Dartmoor near Chagford

Mum at the Garden House.

The Garden House is a garden created at the Old Vicarage in the Village of Buckland Monachorum which is on the edge of dartmoor between Plymouth and Tavistock

http://www.thegardenhouse.org.uk/

Next we went to Tavistock which is a market town on the edges of Dartmoor not far from Plymouth. In the middle ages this was the site of a Large Monastry which, after Henry VIII disolved the monasteries, passed into the ownership of the Dukes of Bedford. There are few traces of the Monastry still to be seen. Sir Francis Drake was born a farm not far from here.

The River Tavy looking towards the bridge that leads to the town centre

The entrance to the Pannier Market which operates on most days and can be an interesting browse

The buiding which today contains the museum and also the Police Station, I believe this building dates back to the Monastry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tavistock,_Devon

The remains of a monastry gatehouse that would have led to the Abbotts residence

Then we drove through Chagford another town on the northern edges of Dartmoor and visited Chagford Common and Gidleigh Common where their are interesting prehistoric remains