There and Back

Today, a visit to Morwellham Quay. Firstly, a brief description of today's destination which is an historic river port in Devon that was developed to support the local mines. The port had its peak in the Victorian era and is now run as a tourist attraction and museum. It is the terminus of the Tavistock Canal and has its own copper mine. The open-air museum includes the restored 19th-century village, the docks and quays, a restored ship, the George and Charlotte copper mine which is toured by a small train, a Victorian farm and a nature reserve with trails. In July 2006, UNESCO (the cultural arm of the United Nations) awarded World Heritage Site status to the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape area. Morwellham is strategically sited at the centre of the Tamar Valley Mining District which, together with nearby Tavistock, forms the easternmost gateway area to the rest of the World Heritage Site. The site has been imaginatively preserved to give an impression of Victorian indust...

Buckland Abbey is a Grade I listed 700-year-old house in Buckland Monachorum, near Yelvertn, Devon, noted for its connection with Sir Richard Grenville the Younger and Sir Francis Drake. It is owned by the National Trust. It was founded as a Cistercian abbey in 1278 ] by Amicia, Countess of Devon and was a daughter house of Quarr Abbey, on the Isle of Wight. It was one of the last Cistercian houses founded in England and also the most westerly. The remains of the church are about 37.6 metres (123 ft) long. The width across the transepts is 28 metres (92 ft). The nave and presbytery is 10.1 metres (33 ft) wide. The Exeter diocese episcopal registers show the abbey managed five granges at Buckland plus the home farm at the abbey. A market and fair at Buckland and Cullompton were granted in 1318. In 1337 King Edward III granted the monks a licence to crenellate - that is to build battlements on the walls. In the 15th century the monks built a Tithe Barn which is 180 feet (55 m) long and ...

We had been looking forward to visiting Plymouth and found ourselves blessed with lovely weather today. We left the car at a Park & Ride and got off at The Barbican, which is the name given to the western and northern sides of Sutton Harbour, the original harbour of Plymouth in Devon, England. Boats in Sutton Harbour The Mayflower Steps is a commemoratve area in honour of Pilgrim Fathers who set sail for the New World in 1620. I think this spot is symbolic rather than the actual spot. The Leviathan or Barbican Prawn The Barbican Prawn standing 33ft tall and unveiled in 1996. Official name The Leviathon El Galeon. 17th Century Spanish Galleon Replica The huge ship which sailed into Plymouth in September and moored at Barbican Landing Stage. The full-size replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon was original due to visit the city in August, but it was postponed due to the bad weather. Since September 13, visitors have been exploring the 'living museum', which was scheduled t...

Unfortunately, this was a wet holiday, although we had a reasonable day or two, the weather was mainly dull and damp.  Our accommodation was in a small village called Cudlipptown, just above Peter Tavey and not many miles from Tavistock. We stayed in a converted barn on a rare breeds farm in the `back of beyond` called Broadmoor Farm. Access to the farm was up a very narrow track of at least three quarters of a mile from the main road, which itself was mostly single track! From near the top, the view was magnificent - when not raining, albeit a bit misty. However, we did have some time on the moor and had a few images to record it! The nearest access to the moor was from just above Tavistock and so we drove onto the moor and stopped at one of the first parking spots to take in the view of Coxtor. The sky did help the view although it was still threatening to rain. Another similar view of Coxtor with a few locals in the picture. Just along the road was the village of Merrivale whi...