Road Trip - Day 6 - Cornwall, Devon and Somerset

Today the plan was to wrap around the coast up to Minehead, the place where I'm staying tonight, but I decided to change plans, yet again! I ended up hitting a couple of spots on the coast and then driving through Devon and Exmoor National Park. The scenery was beautiful! The road wound back and forth through the hills and pheasants around every corner. In my favourite section there were tall trees with brilliant green moss covering low stone walls. The moss contrasted sharply with the dark red fallen leaves piled between the trees and against the sides of the road. The road didn't allow for pulling over for photos so the image is only in my memory.

I held up my camera at various points throughout the day and snapped shots of the roads I was driving on (no worries - I slowed down when there were no other cars around). The most beautiful portion was through madly winding roads so I couldn't get photos, but this album gives a cross-section of images for those who are curious. Link Here


When I left Bath on Wednesday, the first place I stopped was a home and garden shop to buy some cheap wellies. They've been helpful at a few mucky places along the way and I wore them most of today. I kept hitting pockets of heavy rain so all the paths were muddy. I love being able to tramp around through wet grass, gooey mud, and deep puddles without a thought.

First stop today was a little random spot on the coast called Hartland Point. The lighthouse was closed so I wasn't able to get down to the beach, but there was a still a great view from the top of the hill. The rain held up while I was walking and just as I returned to the car, the downpour returned.

Hartland Point, Cornwall.

I tried going to a couple of other spots just off the main road but they didn't provide the views I was looking for. I decided to head to Minehead and visit some places in that area. I called the B&B and the owner suggested I go to Porlock Weir. Along the way I saw a sign to a National Trust site called Selworthy. The estate was open to exploration for free – a cluster of thatched-roof cottages, an old church, and walking trails into the hills. It's a probably a great place to go for a long walk, but I didn't have much time so I wandered around the village, stopped briefly at Porlock Weir, and settled at the B&B in Minehead for the night.

Tomorrow is my last day wandering the countryside and I return to Hook on Monday.

The view from the parking lot at Selworthy.

I passed some people walking two of these puppies so I had to stop and get some love.

A cottage at Selworthy.

The sun setting over the cottages at Selworthy.
I kept expecting Hobbits to appear.

The graveyard at Selworthy.

Porlock Weir.
As the waves crashed over the rocks, the stones rolled and made a sound like thousands of people applauding in the distance.