Today I took the dogs for a favourite walk at Topsham, one of those places I never tire of, if you keep your eyes open there’s always something to see.

We started off by checking Vigilant’s progress, you may remember her?It’s a slow and expensive process but she’s looking healthier.

We headed off down the Strand, a pretty street with the river to the right and houses of all shapes and sizes, some with a Dutch influence, to the left.

Some have gardens across the road that lead to the river, I love having a sneaky peep.

They can even grow Housetrees here!
The tide was right out today so the old girls and I scrambled down the steps at,

where Daisy just couldn’t resist the mud.

I pootled with Dido to see what we could find,

Stood on my toes to see into a garden,

where the sculpture seemed to mirror the pudding bushes – but I couldn’t photograph them because the wall was too high. So we walked on to the end of the road,

where the Goat Walk begins. There are benches all the way along, but the sun was hiding under the clouds so we didn’t linger today, except to listen to a young boy telling his little sister about the solar system and illustrating it in the sand.

I think that in days gone by there must have been a big estate behind the wall, with this gate to the path so that they could go goat strolling. There are several big, old houses across the fields.

We turn left and the end and leave the river behind for a few minutes.

Bowling Green Marsh is a nature reserve with an abundance of wildlife, and a rest stop for thousands of migratory birds. Let’s walk up this path,

Wildlife only on the left, but here’s the view.

Not too bad is it? If you have sharp eyes, you can see the train. If you’re ever down this way, check the tide is low and catch the train from Exeter to Exmouth, even Michael Portillo featured it recently on his Great Railway Journeys.

We’ll pop up to the viewing platform,

In case we lose our bearings this might help,

This is the point where the river Clyst flows into the Exe.

Exmouth is on the horizon. I went back to the main path and headed for the bird hide, as usual I forgot to bring binoculars, but  a kind RSPB volunteer let me use his to see some Snipe out on the mud. No photos, I only had my phone, but I doubt that my camera would have helped at this distance.

They are there though I promise, and the chanting was wonderful.

I’ll leave you with this last view, and walk up Bowling Green road to complete my circular walk by the railway bridge where I left my car.

I’m sharing with Jo, she’s probably feeling the chill this week!