Road-Trip, Southwest England (Aug 25)
A road trip spent with old and new friends
Eight nights away, six different locations, visiting five counties in southern England.
Gorgeous sunsets, wonderful catch-ups, and far too much wine!
The initial catalyst for the trip was simple: pick up some house keys for one of Emma’s sons, who will be spending a year in Falmouth doing a Master’s degree. But we decided to turn the journey into something more, a chance to catch up with some family and friends along the way.
We’ve all been there: a goodbye hug, parting from friends you’ve formed a deeper-than-average connection with. A year passes, sometimes more, and the gap is filled only by the odd call, text, or WhatsApp message. Life and distance get in the way. The promises to visit often become a predictable ‘post-script’ to those conversations.
One of our aims on this trip was to meet with some of the friends we’ve made those promises to – and who live along this route. For those we missed – there is always next time.
So what might look like a logistical nightmare to organise turned out to be surprisingly simple.
Friday – Mudeford, Hampshire
We began in Hampshire with a visit to my parents. It was Mum’s birthday week, so perfect timing to join the celebrations.
Being Friday, the bar was open at my Dad’s sailing club, so after a fish-and-chip supper we watched the first of what would be many spectacular sunsets that week
Saturday – Wimborne, Dorset
We’d been meaning to visit John and Lin ever since their wedding near Corfe Castle last year. When we mentioned we’d be passing through, they prepped the hot tub and emptied the local off-licence!
When we arrived, John was laying a patio with his friend Paul, having worked up a serious appetite on a hot, sunny day. After dinner we spent the evening in the luxurious hot tub, drinking wine (and even champagne), stargazing, spotting meteorites and satellites, talking nonsense (mostly me), and dancing — yes, in swimwear. Not a pretty sight: this old-age geezer still thinks he can throw some shapes. Lin won the music battle, so we danced into the early hours.
I felt only mildly guilty leaving John and Paul to finish the patio the next day. We were on a tight schedule — and I didn’t have my work clothes. That’s my excuse, and I’m sticking to it.
Being close to Wimborne Minster we popped into this gorgeous place of worship. Stunning!
Sunday – Tolpuddle, Dorset
We arrived at Steve and Lynda’s early afternoon and, after introducing Emma, headed to the neighbouring pub for a carvery.
I’d met this wonderful couple only a month earlier while travelling solo in Turkey. Steve and I hit it off instantly — two overgrown boys with a shared enthusiasm for similar things. I knew we’d meet again, though neither of us imagined it would be quite so soon.
Steve, now a devoted Dorset resident, took us to see local highlights: T.E. Lawrence’s grave, Lulworth Cove, and the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum.
As a lifelong trade-union member, I’ve long understood the significance of Tolpuddle in English history and have even attended the music festival in years past. But it was a treat to explore more thoroughly on a sunny Sunday afternoon, seeing places I’d missed before.
Their home is beautiful, and they welcomed us like family. We spent the evening chatting before a relatively early night; they had work in the morning, unlike us.
We discovered Steve and Emma share the same enthusiasm for peanut butter, and we all enjoyed the superb selection of fine Gins and Vodkas…. Well why not!
Whilst in the area we popped into Sherborne Abbey another impressive old Christian building.
Monday & Tuesday – Bishops Lydeard, Somerset
Cobblestone Cottage was my home for nearly four years while working in North Somerset, and our last visit here was in 2021. It was the first place Emma and I could escape the chaos of our respective divorces, so it holds special memories.
We returned to see old friends and neighbours.
After a day trip to the rugged coast at Porlock Weir, we joined Stephan and Annette for dinner.
It was wonderful catching up on family news and village gossip. I was sad to hear the butcher’s and garage had closed. Times change.
The next day we visited Dunster Castle and Watermill before enjoying a cream tea at Periwinkle Cottage Tea Room in Selworthy.
Later, we called in on Eleanor, another neighbour.
Eleanor is unforgettable: 90 years old, sharp-witted, widely read, still travelling, and a talented artist – we interrupted her mid-painting. She, Stephan, and Annette were my lockdown lifeline: tea, cake, and conversation over garden fences in those strange COVID days.
Talking of COVID, here’s a link to some Lockdown diaries I kept of my time back here during those crazy times.
Later that evening we met “work wife” Emma and her husband, Brian. Over three and a half years at Hinkley Point, “work wife” and I probably spent more hours together than we did with our partners; our Emmas have often been on the receiving end of my misdialled calls.
It was so lovely to catch up with Emma again and to meet Brian. All of us are doing very different things these days. It was so nice to see everyone so happy.
———
As we left the next morning we saw the steam train departing from BishLyd station which is always an amazing spectacle.
We packed up our roof tent, which had served us well, with our campsite being only a short walk/cycle to the people and places we visited on both evenings.
Wednesday – Bude and St Neot, Cornwall
Our next overnight stop was St Neot, a tiny village between Looe and Bodmin Moor, home to Richard and Jini and their son Tom. Tom once played rugby with Natty, and Richard was a coach. We’ve remained good friends ever since.
Before heading there, we stopped in Bude to see Dave and Sally, more rugby friends who moved to Cornwall just before COVID to start a new life.
Builders were swarming over their house, so we kept our visit short enough to avoid being covered in dust. Cameron was at work, so we missed seeing him, but caught up with Ben and Sally’s mum.
From Bude we meandered through tiny Cornish villages, stopping to soak up the scenery. The countryside here is lush and green — a sharp contrast to the parched yellow fields of the southeast.
St Neot is small, remote, and charming: one pub and a social club where the beer prices feel like stepping back in time.
We downed some ale and met a few “locals” before heading back for some home cooked food prepared by Richard.
I can see why Richard loves this place so much. He’s very much a local now and is enjoying life in this most beautiful corner of England.
Thursday – Falmouth, Cornwall.
After a late start we drove to Falmouth and picked up the keys for Ben’s digs, a three bedroom terrace cottage on the edge of town. The house has sooooo much potential but the landlord has invested the bare minimum, given it’s often rented by students🙄. If only landlords invested more of their income into the property…
A quick visit to Trago Mills for a few house essentials – and then off to a local bookshop (which doubles up as a pub).
We rounded the night off with a fish and chip supper on the quayside.
We then spent the night in Bens dig’s.
Friday – Porthleven
Friday night and we headed for the Dropped Anchor campsite, a gorgeous little site nestled on the cliffs above Porthcuw, just along the coast from Porthleven.
We arranged to meet Tamzin at a local restaurant in Porthleven harbour – so we cycled the short distance from our site.
I last saw Tamzin in 2021 in North Somerset where we worked together for three and a half years.
Mad as a box of frogs, she hasn’t changed a bit. Tamzin is such a kind person, with a huge heart, massive smile and infectious laugh.
We enjoyed a great evening at a lovely restaurant called ‘The Square’ before heading for the Harbour Inn. It was great both to catch up with what’s happened since I left Hinkley, but even more importantly, to get some hints and tips for places to visit tomorrow!
Rinsey Cove and Praa Beach
Saturday brought us to the village of Rinsey where, after a walk along the South West Coastal path, we found the most amazing beach by the same name (a recommendation from Tamzin).
Wild red flowers lined the footpath and when the path eventually ran out, we had to scramble across the rocks for the last few feet in order to reach the beach with its golden sands
The water was bracing, but how could we not go in for a dip?
This cove is just perfect, directly below an old tin mine, and when we arrived it was pretty much empty.
Rock-pools are everywhere, with starfish and tiny seafish easy to find.
——— Praa Breach ———
Praa beach, was our next stop. It’s a few miles along the coast and significantly more busy. It has lifeguards and is full of families, and importantly has a couple of lovely beach bars!
So after a bite to eat we left the crowds behind and headed for some peace and quiet. We didn’t have to walk far to be rewarded with acres of space and gorgeous scenery.
Homeward Bound
We left the beach at around 5pm, and, taking the direct route this time, got home (south London) around six hours later.
A great week away, with some amazing memories!