Day Eight – Sunday, 20 May, 2012

Sidmouth – Dartmoor – Fowey

Temperature – up to 17 degrees

Accommodation – Mazirah B&B, Fewoy

Weather – early morning dampness emerging into a dry and clear day.

The drive through Dartmoor was a pretty one with rolling hills dotted with sheep, narrow lanes, flowers in grass with a dusting of colours yet to emerge into full bloom, solid Range Rovers and brave cyclists.

We spent some time trying to find a service station which involved having to make a five mile diversion and a change of course from our planned course over Dartmoor.  After several hours of driving we stopped for lunch at Lostwithiel where roast meals were being served for Sunday lunch.  We had now driven from Devon into Cornwall.

It was then onto the Eden Project where we had a look around however at twenty-three pounds each to enter David and I decided that visiting temperate, tropical and desert gardens in giant domes really wasn’t  our cup of tea.  It is quite a marvellous project as the area was once a mine and it is lauded as a huge environmental success particularly considering it has only been in operation for ten years.

A short drive away is the delightful seaside village of Fowey (pronounced Foy) where Henry VIII built St Catherine’s Castle in 1540 as a major fortification to defend England from an invasion from the French.  In 1415 one hundred archers left Fowey to take part in the Battle of Agincourt so the township certainly has an interesting history.

The delightful St Catherine's Way - a lovely stroll from upper Fowey to the esplanade.

The seagulls are enormous.....perhaps too many fish and chips?



We spent some time at the information centre seeking a B&B for the night however many were booked out for the evening.  We were hoping for one with a wifi connection but after several calls we were just happy to find accommodation!  Paula, a woman in her eighties runs a very tidy and comfortable B&B and she was able to direct us down a lovely walk to the centre of the town via St Catherine’s Way.  It was a pleasant thirty minute stroll and after checking out all the shops we settled on a pub for a small meal after our large lunch.  For the first time we tried clotted cream which is a very stiff cream.  It was lovely with the strawberries and meringue.  David tried Rattler’s cider which is a Cornwall favourite and decided it was certainly good enough to order again!

Many windows are decorated in readiness for the celebration of the Queen's 60th Jubilee.....a sea or red, white and blue adorns many windows.

On the walk back to our accommodation we walked to St Catherine’s Castle which gave lovely views back to Fowey and Polruan the pretty little town on the other side of the inlet.

The remnants of St Catherine's Castle built by Henry VIII to defend England from a French invasion.

When I asked the lady at the information centre what were the local attractions we should look out for she replied that there were none!  However, Fowey has a lot to offer in lovely walks, boat rides, discovering Daphne du Maurier’s country side and just generally soaking up the atmosphere of a very cosy seaside town.