Sunday 9 August 2009

DEVON BLISS Part 1



Hello again! I hope that you are all enjoying the summer holidays.



We have just returned from a holiday in South Devon. It is an area which I have visited on many occasions and could easily live in as I enjoy being close to the sea. The scenery all along the River Dart is exceptionally beautiful! I particularly enjoyed the various boat trips that we went on, such a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

My first stop was Totnes to visit Amanda's stall. I was not disappointed, not that I thought I might be! There was plenty to tempt me. Unfortunately, I left my camera in the car packed with all our other holiday things so couldn't take a picture of Amanda's beautifully displayed stall.


Jar covers, a tablecloth, union jack bunting, cards... bought from Amanda's stall


and a very pretty night dress for Phoebe also bought from Amanda


I found this lovely 1930's plaster statue of the Virgin Mary on an antique stall at the Totnes market


After our journey down to Devon via Totnes, we arrived at our holiday accommodation

Here is where we stayed in Venn, the setting is beautiful and peaceful. The barn has only just finished being converted and is only a 5 -10 minutes drive from Dartmouth. The owners live just behind it. They were very friendly and ensured that our stay was a pleasant one.


The view from our accommodation

As we were not far from Dartmouth, we popped over there on most days. There are some lovely shops, art galleries and a wonderful French patisserie!


The Quay, Dartmouth


Dartmouth Museum & shops


Bought from a vintage shop called Second Love in Dartmouth


I love the scent of this soap!! I bought it from The Cove in Dartmouth


All aboard




Boat that takes you to Dartmouth Castle


Dartmouth Castle


View from Dartmouth Castle





Back in Dartmouth


Can we do more crabbing please?


The next day....and what happened to the sunshine? A day out at Woodlands (an adventure park for children) We were soaked as it rained the whole day! Why choose that day to visit the Park? Well some of Phoebe's favourite TV characters were visiting on that day only!

During the holiday, the weather was mixed but that did not stop us from doing things. On one of the days we took at trip on the steam train from Kingswear to Paignton and back






View approaching Dartmouth on the way back from Paignton




The cafe at the Kingswear Station

Another place I love visiting is Salcombe. It is colourful and a vibrant place in the summer.



Always have to get a few sweets from here

I also popped in to Amelia's Attic. The interior is lovely and full of gorgeous gifts, jewellery, bags etc.. For some reason I forgot to take some pictures...too busy browsing!




One of the many pretty houses to be found in Salcombe


And another one, both these houses overlook the water

There are many pretty little pubs to discover around the area. We stumbled across this pub, The Trademan's Arms in Stokenham by accident after having taken a wrong turning and ended up having a lovely lunch there. It had been closed for several months and had only just recently re-opened, it is fully refurbished and redecorated.






We went to this little cove near Dartmouth Castle

Despite it being in summer, we still managed to find some areas which were not crowded.


Part 2, soon....which will feature a visit to Greenway, Agatha Christie's holiday house.


Isabelle x

32 comments:

KC'sCourt! said...

Ooooooooooh! You have just brought back lovely memories for me. You see my parents in 1982 built a house in Dittisham so I know the area very very well. I must take a trip down memory lane because they sold the house in 2001. Tell me was it Dittisham you stayed? I seem to recognise the barn.........

Carol said...

What a fabulous holiday you and your family had...even with the rain. What fun in all those neat shope...love finding treasures!

koralee said...

So lovely....I love all your beautiful images and all those amazing little shops....the candy one is my fav!!! So pretty in pink! Thank you so much for sharing your lovely holiday...i so enjoy reading your blog!

Lisa said...

Thanks for sharing so many lovely photos of your holiday. It's good to see you made the most of your time despite the weather!
Lisa x

Clare said...

it looks like you had a wonderful time despite the weather at times, looking forward to part 2!

Lola said...

What a fantastic holiday despite the rain! And such a lot of beautiful pics too - so glad you had such a good time!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend,

xxLOL LOLA:)

btw if you've a moment, do pop over & meet Alfie!xx

Julie Marie said...

Hello Isabelle, I just found your blog, it is lovely...I especially loved the castle...I will visit you again soon...

Sal said...

Hi Isabelle..I just missed you in Totnes that day... as I came along on a flying visit, to see Amanda... and you'd just left! I looked around for you but no luck.
The weather hasn't been great but it looks like you had a fab time!
Looking forward to seeing your next post too!
Sal ;-)

Lululiz said...

Fabulous holiday photos, thank you for the wonderful guided tour.

The sewing room said...

Amazing photos looked like you had a great time dispite the weather, thank you for sharing hugs Pat

bellaboo said...

Lovely to see all your pics of your Devon holiday.We're off to the South Hams soon.We love the area too.Totnes Market..mmm that sounds good!

Bellaboo

June said...

Hi Isabelle,
What a lovely holiday it looks like you had. I love the little cottage you stayed in and the countryside is amazing. That pub is everything I think Britain to be. So quaint.
I'm so happy for you to have had such a lovely time.
Smiles,
June

Anonymous said...

You certainly found some great holiday accommodation. I haven't been to Devon for years, it looks like you had a lovely time. I'd love to go on that ferry to the castle.
Adele

Lori said...

Isabelle, it is so gorgeous there...your pictures are just lovely...what a wonderful place to visit...i love all of the goodies that you found...the virgin Mary statue is really lovely!!!

debra@dustjacket said...

I so appreciate all the wonderful photos, great job.

Will have to come back for another look :)
xxx

Les Cotrions said...

Oh Isabelle! You seem to have had a great holiday! Faboulous places you show...I'd like tp be there! I'm lookong forward to see the part 2!
Happy new day!
Vale

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Looks like you had a fantastic time,

Welcome back,

Victoria x

Anonymous said...

We went to Devon and Cornwall one year on holiday - it's nice to see it again in your photos.

The last photo of the cove makes me think of the book "Rebecca" by Daphne DuMaurier.

Looks like you had a wonderful time!

Funkymonkey said...

I don't know the Dartmouth area. It will have to be added to my list of places to visit. Your holiday home looked lovely.

Tracey

celiajuno said...

Love these photos, thank you for sharing.

Donna Flower said...

Glad you all had such a lovely holiday despite the mixed weather. South Devon is wonderful.

Love your finds and glad to see the blue fabric you bought from me peeking out from underneath. That was from Devon too ;-)

Anne Marie said...

fabulous post!! I loved it!

I have never dreamed of going there...but I think now, I must start!

how absolutely beautiful your pictures are, and to think, you actually vacationed in such a beautiful spot-
oh my

can you believe that I love it?

dreaming here.......dreaming away........

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Isabelle,
So glad you had such a lovely time in Devon. Isn't Dartmouth fab? - so many great places to eat there too. We had almost the identical holiday to you last year! (Woodlands wasn't such a wash-out though, sorry ;-))
Love the treasures that you found,
Niki x

Tarnished Royalty said...

Breathtakingly lovely there, truly!
Phoebe looks just like a "little Isabelle."

Anonymous said...

So many beautiful things to see here! I love it all...especially your plaster Virgin Mary statue...

Julia said...

Dear Isabelle

I have just devoured your last (most recent) posts and Im almost in tears of delight at your photographs - I always feel as if Ive been blessed with a little visit to these lovely places the way you write and share your pictures - and these are so special, I used to live just over the hill from Dartmouth so very nostalgic for me to see all those beautiful places. Very glad you all had such a nice holiday!

Love Julia xxx

Unknown said...

I bet those photo's don't do it any justice either! i have been on the coastal path before but am staying in a lovely bed & breakfast Devon, short breaks are the best you can keep the trashy themed parks and queues, I just want to be far away from noise and relax and fish

{Love, Love, Love} said...

South Devon...home sweet home! x

William said...

I'm glad you visited Dartmouth Castle Isabelle. My wife and I stayed in some nearby Devon Accommodation and visited this historical site with its spectacular sea backdrop and for us it is one of the best attractions in the county. The Wheddon Cross walk is also very appealing.

Steve PP said...

Beautiful photos, Isabelle1 You really have captured that South devon feel. Have you ever spent much time up here in North Devon?

Thanks for sharing!

Tim Trent said...

Lovely to read your blog about South Devon. Here's hoping you come back soon. You might also like to pop back to the Dartmouth Museum and see the huge refurbishments we've done since 2009 when you come back.

Peter woodfellow said...

What lovely pictures were going to Devon this year for the 6 weeks hope it does not rain at all.