This is a scheduled post, be back soon!
Category: Devon
Wild Woodbury Orchids
Woodbury common is an area of heathland a few miles east of Exeter, with an ancient hill fort known as Woodbury Castle and stunning views of the sea and abundant wildlife. If you know the right place to look and the right time you may just get lucky and see these!
Wild Orchids – Dactylorhiza Maculata or Dactylorhiza Fuchsii – Can anyone clarify?
This is a scheduled post, see you soon!
Messing about on the water
On Exeter quay yesterday I watched these people being taught what to do when a canoe capsized. It was very entertaining but I felt for the young woman – unlike the guy who did it on purpose, she fell unexpectedly and the water was very cold!
Lyme Bay
Saturday was beautiful and we drove through Torbay, stopping near Thatcher’s Rock to gaze at this view of Lyme Bay. The phone camera doesn’t do landscapes well but gives you the feel at least. Stretching across the sea are some of the little places I’ve taken you, my favourites, Exmouth, Budleaigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
Buckland Chooks
I love chooks and these were pecking their way around the courtyard at Buckland.
I’ll be back tomorrow with some photos of the Great Barn.
Coldest Easter Sunday on Record
But I still went to the beach at Sidmouth where it was low tide and bright sunshine. April tomorrow, I’m hoping for some warmth!
An Easter Day Out, Saltram House Devon
A lovely National Trust property, Saltram has been overlooking the River Plym for three hundred years. If it looks familiar, it was one of the settings for 1995 film version of Sense and Sensibility. I didn’t go into the house today but the grounds were beautiful, well worth a visit if you’re in the Westcountry.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Future Tense
Michael Pick says, ‘We spend so much of our lives thinking back, or looking ahead, and even though a photo captures only one moment in time, with a bit of thought it can freeze the process of moving forward, or the promise of things to come. Your challenge this week is to seal one such moment in amber’ and invites us to share to join the http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/weekly-photo-challenge-future-tense/
I thought this was an impossible task at first, but then I came up with these.
A connecting extension to a favourite walk.
On the strip of ground between the river Exe above and the canal, out of sight on the left, Devon County Council are building a new world class outdoor education centre in Exeter. The spiral stairs to the left are the way up the abseil tower which was nearly completed when I took this photo in January and the centre is due to open in April. A real investment in the future.
This is sadly a bit more worrying. The South West Coast Path is a 630 mile walk, one of Britains National Trails. The Devon Red Sandstone section here at Sidmouth which climbs sharply eastwards has been closed because of erosion. The path has become unstable in several places, and some homes are at risk of plunging over the cliff. Diversions are in place for walkers until more permanent plans are made.
Jakes Sunday Post: Bay
As always Jake created a cool animation for his Sunday challenge, check his Bay and join in at http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/sunday-post-bay/
I’ve chosen Torbay, the English Riviera for my entry.
Grand Western Canal
I walked at the canal again today, starting from the Jubilee bridge this time. It does a horseshoe loop that is quiet disorientating, you feel as if you’ve turned around on yourself. It started cold but once the sun broke through it became a gorgeous day for a stroll, towards Halberton. 
The tow path winds its way through the Devon countryside for eleven miles.
With lovely views of farmland.
Under some very old bridges, the Devon section of the canal opened in 1814 so the bridges must be roughly the same age.
It was a muddy day and welly boots were called for – sadly I wasn’t wearing mine! Never mind, it was worth it to see this stunning tree.
There is lots of wildlife, but I took the wrong lens. When I was there a few weeks ago I had the zoom lens and needed the the standard, this time if I had the zoom I could have got a decent shot of . . . I’m hoping the Hobbit will tell me?
If you live in the UK you will have heard about the damage to the canal bank in November last year when many parts of the country suffered severe floods. This gallery shows some of the damage, and the temporary dams that are in place to prevent further problems until the repairs begin. Thankfully Devon County Council have budgeted three million pounds to rebuild the thirty metre breach in the embankment. The work begins in June and will take nearly a year to complete.
Now I’ll leave you with a photo from the end of today’s walk, hope you enjoyed it.
Lucid Gypsy 