Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.: 2021

Autumn in Somerset

I've done some daft things in my time but I think driving all the way down to Somerset for a weekend stay was near the top of the list. I have wanted to visit the area in autumn for some time due to its many areas of deciduous woodland and I suppose the uncertainty of the past two years has given me the inclination to just go and do things, mainly because you just don't know what the future may hold.

I'd have loved for Sal to have come with me but she wasn't in a position to do so, consequently I just bit the bullet, booked three nights in the excellent Dunster Castle Hotel, packed my bag and set off!

I had an itinerary worked out, I wanted to go to Tarr Steps, Watersmeet near Lynmouth and go for a walk in Horner Woods near Porlock. In the end I only managed one out of three but the things I did do, more than compensated.

On the way down I stopped off in Watchet just to say hello to the place. Me and Sal have started staying there every year and we use it as a base to tour Somerset and parts of Devon. Its a friendly little town with some cracking pubs, a great little deli, is home to The West Somerset Railway and, if you are lucky, gives the best sunsets imaginable.

I then travelled a few more miles down the road to Dunster and settled in to my hotel before going down to Minehead for a walk along the seafront. Unbeknownst to me there was an event on at Butlins so all the holidaymakers were arriving which meant I was stuck in a traffic jam for ages which I found quite ironic as I had travelled half the length of the country and had no trouble at all with traffic until then.

On my first full day, I didn't get to Tarr Steps (see Tarr Steps), due to drizzle and basically miserable weather, but I compensated for that by going for a lovely walk in Whits Wood at Nutcombe Bottom, which was only a couple of miles from Dunster and then, in the late afternoon, went to Porlock Weir where I sat out in the drizzle and had a very enjoyable coffee.

On my other full day, I did go to Horner where I parked up and did a short walk but didn't venture far in to the woods as I wanted to go to Watersmeet, Lynmouth and Watchet. There are only so many hours in a day, especially at this late time of year, so something had to give.

The weather was kind to me all day, which meant that the autumn colours at Watermeet was just spectacular. It is the meeting place of Exmoor's East Lyn River and Hoar Oak Water and from there they flow through a steep wooded valley to The Bristol Channel at Lynmouth.

I then drove in to Lynmouth where I parked up and went in search of some food. The only place I found was an ice cream takeaway which was doing hot Cornish pasties. Not feeling very confident, I bought one and to my surprise it was absolutely lovely.

Still having an hour or so's light left in the day, I drove back to Watchet and visited the new East Quay Arts development which has proved very controversial with the locals. The construction is, to say the least, different and not traditional in any way shape or form but I really liked it and managed to have a coffee there just before it closed. I have added a few photos to the end of the blog you get an idea of what it is like.

And that is my weekend in a nutshell. I enjoyed myself, fit lots in but I missed Sal's company.The autumn colours certainly lived up, and even exceeded my expectations. I called in to Watchet the next morning, bought a sandwich and Scotch egg from Sam's Deli and hit the road back up North.

Nutcombe Botton

Whits Wood, Dunster

Autumn Leaves, Dunster

Hartcleave Plantation, Exmoor

Dulverton

Hartcleave Plantation, Exmoor

Horner Wood, Porlock

Horner Water

West Luccombe Farm

Packhorse Bridge, Horner

Horner Wood

Packhorse Bridge, Horner

Porlock Bay from Exmoor

Watersmeet

Horner's Neck Wood, Lynmouth

Watersmeet

East Quay

Watchet Sunset

Early Morning on Derwentwater

One of the benefits of winter is that you don't have to get up at some unearthly hour to get sunrise photos. These were taken between half seven and half eight on a still Derwentwater morning. Some were taken from Crow Park looking down the lake and the others were taken from Isthmus Bay which is further round from Crow Park. Some were taken hand held and some using an ND64 filter, slowing the shutter speed by 5 stops.

Met a couple more photographers down at Crow Park and one at Isthmus Bay, all were very excited about the conditions!

Derwentwater from Crow Park

Isthmus Bay

Derwentwater from Crow Park

Looking towards Catbells

Grizedale Pike

Derwent Isle

Making Waves

An Autumn Tour of The Lakes

Some photos from various Lake District locations which were take last October during a drive out in the car. My route firstly took me down to Ullswater via the Matterdale and the Aira Force road. I didn't stop at the Force but carried on down to the Lake.

My first stop was at Mossdale Bay near Glencoyne, for a walk down to the shore and then through the woods to the boat house where there were, as the photos show, some beautiful autumn colours.

As I neared Brothers Water, the reflection looked absolutely perfect to I parked up at set off along the riverside path. The Lake was only about a half mile from where I parked but in the short time it took me to get there, the reflections had all but disappeared!

Feeling rather disgruntled, I went over The Kirkstone Pass and down to Windermere where I followed the Lake down to Newby Bridge before stopping at The Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway for a coffee and a bite to eat. I had intended travelling on the steam train but, true to form, my luck was out and the railway line had closed for the season.

Feeling even more disgruntled, I drove up the west side of Windermere, through some beautiful autumn woodland, and then had a short stop at Esthwaite Water before heading back to the caravan. Instead of staying on the main road through The Lakes, I took the small back road round Thirlmere, where I got some lovely reflections of the Helvellyn fells in the reservoir so all was not lost.

All in all, a long day which hadn't gone exactly as planned but still very enjoyable.