Thursday, 8am. Bideford let you lie in till 10 with the overnight ticket, so I did, before deciding to stay another day, just like in the East 17 Christmas Number 1 (not US). Who wouldn’t like to wake to views like this ? I made myself a coffee and remembered not to spray the campervan… Continue reading A CREAM TEA TICK IN ILFRACOMBE
Month: August 2020
BRINGING THE LONDON PLAGUE TO EX39
Bideford Town FC looked gorgeous as I arrived back at my campervan. One last pint ? Steer clear of Spoons, till the last night at least. Lacey’s Ale & Cider House sounds like a Beer Guide place, doesn’t it ? It even doesn’t sell Doom Bar, which is always popular. “Pint of Old Appledore please”… Continue reading BRINGING THE LONDON PLAGUE TO EX39
NORTHAM – BURNLEY TATTOOS IN DOOM BAR’S PREMIER STOCKIST
Have I shown you this OS extract before ? Very useful. Take a look at that built-up area between adorable Appledore and bucolic Bideford. That’s Northam. No, me neither, but there’s 7,489 souls here. That’s more than Waterbeach. Only one (very non-GBG) pub though. I make that one pub per 17 people but Russ will… Continue reading NORTHAM – BURNLEY TATTOOS IN DOOM BAR’S PREMIER STOCKIST
APPLEDORE – A LITTLE DEAL ?
Yet more, Appledore. With an hour’s walk back to the campervan and a serious chat with Baa Baa Toure ahead, I thought I’d better spend ten minutes writing off the village as the Aldeburgh of the West or something. But it was enchanting, and surprisingly normal. The Royal Plaice combined deep fried haddock and Doom… Continue reading APPLEDORE – A LITTLE DEAL ?
APPLEDORE, NO BORE
Next up on Wednesday night a lovely straightforward downhill walk and a straightforward Proper Pub at the end. Blistering heat, but that only spurs me on, and now I see I made Appledore in 47 minutes rather than the hour plus suggested by a sluggish Google Maps. At the top of the hill the village… Continue reading APPLEDORE, NO BORE
BIDEAWHILE IN BIDEFORD
The Cornwall/Devon Grand Tour moves into its 11th hour of travel as we land in Bideford. A second day of glorious sunshine as I pulled into the Riverbank Long Stay Car Park, in sharp contrast with the downpour we saw on the Saturday. Slight diversion : For a pint of Doom Bar (or lesser equivalent),… Continue reading BIDEAWHILE IN BIDEFORD
WELCOMBE HOME, WELCOMBE
I’m thinking of starting a Peters & Lee* fan club you know. It’ll really wind up all the Tull and Coldplay and Zappa fans who read my blog. I could give free membership to folk who join the Doom Bar NBSS 4.5 club. Welcombe (pop 187) was my introduction to the delights of Devon, though… Continue reading WELCOMBE HOME, WELCOMBE
A MAZE IN THE BUSH
Now I take my snood, to Bude. There’s a book in me somewhere with a title like that. The Cornwall/Devon border is where the OS Map gets interesting, with Lucky Hole, Yeol Mouth and Gooseham competing for Russ’s attention. Loads of new places and lovely long words in the GBG to tick. And some… Continue reading A MAZE IN THE BUSH
TIPPING IN TINTAGEL
Yes, clickbait. There is NO Sam Smiths in Cornwall, even on the west coast beloved by tourists from Rochdale and Bradford. But that’s the mirror that greeted me in the bathroom at the busy looking Hilltop Cafe near Tintagel, which I only mention because they served me a lovely breakfast on the Wednesday morning. My… Continue reading TIPPING IN TINTAGEL
FURY IN QUINTRELL DOWNS
Enough Manchester misery. Here’s some Cornish calamity. And here’s that rolling itinerary I own you; Yes, a mere 8 hours after leaving home, I was parked up for the night in the car park of the Quintrell Inn, enjoying a pint of craft; Five minutes from nauseous Newquay, one stop on the train line, the… Continue reading FURY IN QUINTRELL DOWNS
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