Devon & Cornwall with Oli & Lesley

 Devon & Cornwall 

    Oh we do like to see besides the seaside! With the sun shinning we were ready to explore the beautiful Cornish coastline.

A fabulous day was spent at the Eden Project. In front of us we saw the huge, iconic round domes with hexagonal shaped windows. Inside were different zones of the world. Our first zone was in the rain forest which was full of huge plants and trees and felt humid, simulating the atmosphere of the tropical climate. We took in each area and saw more exotic flowers and even some different species of birds. It was amazing to walk across a high walkway, which overlooked the whole rainforest area. It was truly beautiful. Next, we entered the dry climate dome. This was a hot, dry heat, the perfect conditions for the huge cacti, vines, tomatoes, succulents and strange colourful flowers. The final dome contained artwork which reflected nature, and a tall ceramic ‘seed’ which puffed out smoke rings which were an interpretation of its spores. 

The weather was sunny and warm, so we headed to the coastal towns on Lynton and Lynmouth.  We walked along the promenade, towards the pretty town full of shops where we came to the cliff railway which links the two towns. The railway opened in 1890 and is the steepest and highest water powered railway in the world. We clambered aboard the funny Victorian carriage and began our assent. It was smooth and not too fast which was lovely as we were able to admire the views all the way across the jagged cliffs. 

Our scenic drive took us to the Valley of the Rocks. The valley is a dry one and is U shaped, running parallel to the sea. Here, we saw the rocks that had been carved into shapes by the wind and rain. They are named the ‘Pulpit’ and the ‘Anvil’, because they resemble a church pulpit and a blacksmith’s anvil. We all wondered how they stayed balanced on the valley sides without tumbling down. Next, we headed for Heddon Valley along the narrowest of roads alongside a clear babbling stream at the bottom. 

It was then time for ice creams all round and they didn’t disappoint! Made with Devonshire milk and clotted cream they went down a treat!

It was  game on as we hit the crazy golf course  for a fun but challenging afternoon. 

We headed to the Lynton and Barnstable light railway for a 2pm ride which gave us time for our picnic lunch. Afterwards, we explored the shop and the station platform before it was time to board the train for the short journey from Woody Bay Station to Killington Lane Halt. The whole trip only took 20 minutes, but you got the feel for a steam train, and the smell was so nostalgic.

Our accommodation had a menagerie full of animals and we were invited to go and feed them. First to be fed were the sheep. Each of us were given a bucket with some food in and it wasn’t long before the sheep soon came butting us and nudging us for their breakfast! Next on the list were the ducks and chickens. There were many different varieties from speckled ones, white hens (which lay blue eggs), silkies with head plumes and ragged feathered feet. Amongst the hens was a huge white speckled cockerel called Colonel Saunders. He was very much in charge. It was such a great experience being able to hand feed these animals. 

We made use of the great facilities onsite,

It was another glorious day, and it was a unanimous vote to head to the beach in Woolacombe. As we neared, we came down a steep hill and saw the bright blue sea and golden sands in front of us. We unpacked the van and headed for the beach where we found the perfect place to set up camp. The girls were keen to head straight into the water and some of the boys played a great game of Frisbee. We then went and spent a few of our holiday pennies on the arcade machines. 

It was off to The Big Sheep Farm for a fantastic day out. Our first stop was the animal barn where there were sheep with lambs, chicks, goats with their kids, calves, huge rabbits and guineapigs. All of them we were able to pet and feed. Next, we went for a train ride around the lake which gave us a different view of the park. We took our seats in the show area where Craig the Border Collie would be herding Indian Runner Ducks through, up and into obstacles. First, he showed off his skills getting them through a gate, then up a duck Helter-skelter, a seesaw, a tunnel and the finale getting them into a house and down a slide into a pond. He was a very smart and obedient dog! It was a really fun, filled show. Following on from that we entered the show arena where baby lambs were being fed. The little lambs were waggling their tails contentedly suckling from their mums. A tractor ride was next, and we chugged around the fields with songs playing, spotting lamas, alpacas and more sheep along the way.