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Next morning we drove from Bowness to catch the car ferry across to Sawry which is across Lake Windemere. We had about a wait of 20 mins and we took a few photos while we were waiting.

Taken before we boarded the ferry

We drove then to Hilltop – Beatrix Potter’s house. We purchased our tickets and our scheduled time for the walk-through was 10:40. This gave us plenty of time to walk through the quaint gardens, and take photos. The garden is just like in the scenes in the movie. Beautiful gardens full of flowers and all sorts of rambling plants. I managed to get a few photos without anyone in front of the house.
In front of Hilltop


As we walked into the house each child was given the book “The Tale of Samual Whiskers” as the drawings in the book replicate many features in Beatrix Potter’s house, like the fireplace, the kitchen, the ratty hole upstairs, the furniture, etc. So it was wonderful to see Braedon find them all in the book and match them to the house. 

Beatrix Potter was an avid collector of antiques and all sorts of bric, brac which today are antiques. Plenty of lovely engraved, ivory wooden boxes and writing boxes. It was fascinating to see her writing desk where her pet rabbit sat and watched her write her stories.
 
I didn’t really want to leave and you could walk through the house a few times and pick up something new each time.

Still, we were in there about an hour. Another look in the shop, some purchases of some of Beatrix Potter's books which have a slip of paper saying “Purchased from Hilltop”.

Our next stop was Hawkeshead, a lovely quaint little village, where Williams Wordsworth was born and raised. We walked through the village and visited the old schoolhouse where he went to school. We found out some interesting facts about school life back in the 1800’s. Such as starting time was 6.00am and finish time was 5.00pm.


Only boys were allowed in the school, girls had to stay at home and often had governesses and tutors.  Each boy could have 3 pints of beer during the day, as the drinking water was not good.  They could smoke four cigarettes (they were neither encouraged nor discouraged from this activity.  They could also participte in cock fighting as well.



They were also allowed to gouge their mark in the wooden school furniture, so we also found William Wordsworth's name engraved on one of the desks. The school was very small in size but at one stage had about 150 boys there, once the railway line was established many of the boys were sent to other better schools and the school eventually close down. Braedon had a try at writing on the slates which was quite funny.

Upstairs there were some old bookkeeping documents that Beatrix Potter found in her shed – as her husband was the accountant for the school. All in all very fascinating.

We left Hawkeshead and drove back through Ambleside and then onto Bowness. Time for a bit of shopping again, and then we purchased tickets for a cruise on Lake Windemere. Which basically cut across the lake on one side and then back on the other – we got some lovely pics of the view from the water. It was absolutely freezing upstairs on top of the boat – however, the views made it worth it. On the way back though Braedon and I went downstairs to have a hot chocolate. It was much warmer so eventually, we warmed up.

We arrived back – still daylight of course, and as promised took Braedon to the fair,  which was open tonight.  Braedon and I had a ride together and then we talked Mum into having a go with us.  Well that was a bit of a mistake,  mum succumbed to peer pressure and as it was a little fast mum was quite ill after the ride.  I must admit even I wasn’t that well as the hot chocolate we had earlier had turned into a thick shake. 

Well after this even Mum and I didn’t feel like much dinner, so Ian and Braedon had fish and chips.  We got back to our B&B at about 8.00 and I had a cup of tea, which made me feel a bit better.
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Once upon a time, nestled along the rugged coast of Devon, in the quaint village of Clovelly, a unique tradition thrived that harked back to a bygone era. Here, donkeys played a vital role in the daily life of the community, a tradition that had endured for centuries.

Clovelly was a place frozen in time, its steep cobblestone streets winding their way down to the picturesque harbor below. These streets were so steep that using regular vehicles was practically impossible. That's where the donkeys came in.

In Clovelly, donkeys are not just animals; they are cherished members of the village. Each donkey had a name and a distinct personality, known and loved by all the villagers. They were small, sturdy creatures, perfectly adapted to the village's unique terrain.

Their primary purpose was to transport goods up and down the village's narrow lanes. Merchants would load their cargo onto donkey-drawn sledges, and the trusty donkeys would navigate the steep, meandering pathways with incredible skill. The clatter of their hooves on the cobblestones and the jingle of their bells became the heartbeat of Clovelly, a soothing and reassuring rhythm that echoed through the village each day.

One of the most beloved donkeys in Clovelly was Benny, known for his friendly nature and his knack for brightening everyone's day with a bray and a nudge. He was a favorite among the children, who would eagerly line up for donkey rides around the village, guided by their trusty four-legged companions.

As time marched forward and modernisation threatened to change the face of Clovelly, the donkeys remained a steadfast symbol of the village's heritage and resilience. Generations of donkeys had served the community, and it was clear that they would continue to do so for generations to come.

Clovelly and its donkeys stand as a living testament to the beauty of tradition and the enduring spirit of a community that held onto its roots. In this charming coastal village, the clop of hooves and the bray of donkeys remained a reminder that some things were worth preserving, even in a rapidly changing world.

Braedon agreed to make some pottery for us and we went down to the basement of the shop where he demonstrated his potting skills and sat at the wheel and crafted a beautiful bowl for us.


After this short interlude, we continued down the spectacular winding cobble paths through the village of Clovelly down to the ocean breakwater, stopping periodically to look through the gift shops.  Braedon found a playful kitten outside one of the houses to keep him amused for 5 minutes while the ladies were shopping.

Charlie, is ever willing to carry luggage up from The New Inn to the Visitor Centre car park.  There is a small charge for the service. Mostly, the donkeys are left free simply to provide pleasure and enjoyment for the many visitors.

During the summer, the donkeys carry children around their meadow at the top of the village or can be found in the woods during the winter. This is how it's done now.











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An early night and I felt 100% the next morning, Mum however was still queasy. We still had a cooked breakfast. Today we got up at ready to have breakfast at about 8.30. The usual cooked breakfast is getting a bit much more me and now I am down to a little bacon and beans with toast.

We drove from Bowness to Little Lansdown and took the little road up through all the mountains across what they call the Nutt. It was a narrow, single-lane road, barely wide enough for a single car to pass through. With numerous other vehicles on the road, our journey became quite challenging, involving frequent instances of reversing or pulling over to the side. 

We had initially planned to capture the picturesque countryside, characterised by its rugged, rocky terrain, meandering streams, babbling creeks, and the presence of sheep and goats. Upon reaching Boot, we purchased the necessary tickets for our destination, Ravens Glass. 

The charming little train we boarded was affectionately known as "The Ratty," resembling a miniature version of Thomas the Tank Engine. Despite its small size, it surprisingly zipped along the narrow track, completing the journey to Ravensglass in approximately half an hour.


We arrived at Ravens Glass and walked down to the beach, no water as the tide was out. Braedon of course was off and took away across the sand. 

As I strolled along the seemingly endless shoreline, I couldn't help but notice that Braedon had forged ahead and I new he would be on the hunt for crabs amongst the rocks. Determined to catch up with him, I increased what was my leisurely beach walk. The anchored boats that I passed, sat marooned on the sand, creating a somewhat melancholic scene, like lonely sentinels of the sea.

I caught up to  Braedon and could see his excitement had waned as he struggled to find any crabs or seashells, which left him a tad disappointed. Realising that walking all the way to the ocean might be a bit of a stretch, we decided to retrace our steps toward the charming coastal town and its nearby railway station.

Following a pathway that led us past the station, we stumbled upon the fascinating remnants of the old Roman Baths, a mere half-hour's walk away. It was a relatively short journey, though it did take us past a picturesque field inhabited by serene cows, adding a rustic charm to our excursion.

Upon reaching the ruins of the Roman Baths, we couldn't resist the urge to capture the moment with some photographs. Braedon, as always, managed to strike up a friendship, this time with a little boy riding his bike alongside his mother. They became our companions for the return journey, with Braedon leading the way and us trailing behind. Eventually, we found ourselves back at the station, ready for the trip back. 

We were just in time to catch the Ratty back to the Boot station. We made our way back to the car and took to the little road again. We had plenty of little places to stop to take photos of the landscape – and even found the Roman Fort – Braedon,myself and mum scrambled to the top which I must admit was the steepest climb, plus it was wet and slippery and places were covered with sheep poop, so it was a bit of watch where your stepping!!

Mum took some photos and we had a bit of a look around and then made our way back down. We couldn’t work out which way we came up and it was difficult trying to find the track back down. 

As I descended to the base of the mountain, a realisation hit me like a sudden bolt of lightning! I should have brought the camera. Without much hesitation, I made a snap decision to embark on a swift return journey up the mountain, opting for a slightly different path that happened to be wetter and muddier. I left my mother and Ian at the bottom and set off with Braedon by my side again. 

Upon our arrival at the gates this time, we took a moment to explore the surroundings. I must admit, by the time I ascended the mountain for the second time, I was feeling quite exhausted. Nevertheless, I managed to snap some photographs of Braedon, capturing the essence of our adventure. Soon after, we began our descent.

We continued on after this and made our way back to Bowness, a quick rest and freshen up and we headed out to dinner, this time a pizza and Italian place – Braedon is now into eating most of a pizza himself so we ordered three pizza’s between the four of us and nice bottle of red wine. Braedon again got very chummy with the locals and sat up at the little bar and was doing a little supervising. All the children get a lolly pop – so that's what he was really waiting for I think.

We walked back to our B&B and there were still a few shops open so I bought a few more little things here and then we called it a night.
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We arrived at Bowness at about 4.00 pm and started looking for a B&B, There were a lot of ‘ no vacancies’ signs, but also plenty to choose from that were available. 

We picked one that was called Rose Villa, which was a lovely old stone B&B – walls made of slate. We booked in here for three nights, unpacked the car and all our bags, and then went for a quick walk into town. There was a fair in town but it was shut tonight, Braedon was disappointed but it looked like it might be open the next night. We were told by the owner of the B & B that that pub served excellent meals so we gave this a go, and rightly so the meals were huge. We called it a night at about 8.30.

After a good night's sleep and another hearty cooked breakfast, including the egg Braedon, had collected the afternoon before we set off up the hill to Warwick Castle. 

Along the way, we checked out the graveyard of the local church. Not that we knew anyone buried there but just the history on some of the headstones was fascinating. Some of those buried there were born in the early 1700s and further back. After a few photos, we set off to the castle and walked to the gate and entrance, making it there for opening time at 10 a.m. A short wait in the cue entertained by one of the staff in period costume extolling the not-to-miss events of the day saw us gaining entry to the castle.


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We picked up a hire car again from Heathrow and then met Joyce downstairs for breakfast- she was leaving today to catch a train to Lincoln.  We were going to go over the Linda's after breakfast and pack for our trip to Scotland and the Lakes District. We are hopefing  leave about 12.00.   We managed to re-organise our clothes and re-pack and left for the lakes. So we were on a schedule so far.

We stopped at Stratford on Avon first for a quick break.  We had been here before, however, I wanted Braedon to see it all again, as he was a baby the last time we were here.  I love the Christmas shop and this time I bought a fairy on a vintage chair for Tia.  Braedon also picked up a snow owl for himself and Kody.  There are some gorgeous things in this shop, however, luggage space is a bit of an issue now so I am reluctant to get too much.

Santa's in the Christmas Shop





 Fairy in the Christmas Shop

Mum and I in the Main Street

Braedon in the hat
Anne Hathaway's cottage



 












 
Clock Tower Stratford-On-Avon

 
 
Back view of Agincourt Lodge

We went into a toy shop and tried on this little hat.  I tried to explain to Braedon that William Shakespeare was born here, but of course its all a bit out of his level of comprehension.  Still I'm sure he took a few things in. 

We took a look at Anne Hathaway's cottage and also the Shakespeare theatre. 

We needed to leave to continue onto Warwick now.  We had booked the Agincourt Lodge which was a Bed and Breakfast. We found it without any trouble. We checked in and took our luggage up to the top rooms.  

We walked into town and were surprised that the town was very quiet and not quite the touristy town we had thought.  Still we were going to the castle in the morning.  We had dinner in a local pub and Braedon again was chatting up the bar staff.  They were quite obliging and didn’t seem to mind. 
Back yard of the Agincourt Lodge

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We met Joyce for breakfast and she told us that Ashley was coming over to pick up some duty free cigars. Ashley is Ian's Nephew - we met in the lounge area of the Ramada Hotel. Some catch-up chit-chat about what's happening. Some drinks and lunch - Braedon is quite happy to have some quiet time playing his DS game.

This afternoon we headed over to Ealing to check out the shops there. They had similar shops as they had on Oxford St, London, such as Primark, Next etc. I bought another two bags and picked up another carry-on bag as our little red one now had a broken handle and was very awkward to carry. I also picked up a top and some black tights. This is the most I have ever bought on a trip so I am hoping it will all fit.

We have already discussed the option of shipping some things back – but I think we will have room as I plan to leave some things here with Mum that I won’t wear again. I still have clothes here that I left here last trip. Mum is over here every two years and the extra clothes left here come in handy. This was our last night in the Ramada Hotel as tomorrow we were going to pick up the car from Heathrow, head over to Linda's to pack, and leave for the Lakes District and Scotland.
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On the way
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Today meeting Annette early at Marble Arch on Oxford Street to do a bit of girly shopping.  Loved the shops here, bought some tops and a few other bits and pieces.  The sales are on and the clothes are quite lovely designs and also not expensive so I picked up heaps of bargains.  6 T-shirts - 3 each for the boys for a pound each.  Funny captions on them.

At about lunch time we met up with Ian and then off to meet Joyce at Waterloo station.  Linda had arrange to meet us there so we could catch the comcab back to Northolt.  We met up as planned, found Joyce off the train and then got our cab.  We arrived back at the Ramada Hotel and checked MIL for a nap.

This night we decided to eat in the Ramada bistro - Braedon had pizza yet again.
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Today we met my uncle Eddy for breakfast in a little breakfast Cafe that served a mean bacon and eggs.

After this, we walked down to St Mary's Church Tower. St Mary's has one of the most beautiful spires in England and the baroque design porch around, is very ornate. Braedon, Mum, and I climbed to the top tower.

We found ourselves facing a winding, circular stairway that led to the summit, with only a rope to assist us in our ascent. Braedon, full of enthusiasm, was practically racing to the top, while we struggled to match his pace. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on our side, and we couldn't quite keep up with his energetic climb. 

I couldn't help but feel a bit anxious about what awaited us at the summit, so both of us were determined to bridge the gap and catch up with Braedon. We finally got to the top and it the wonderful view across the city in all directions. We walked around the different sides and took heaps of photos to make sure we covered everything.  We saw Ian and Eddy way down below and waved.

We then made our way down to the  Alice in Wonderland Shop and bought some gorgeous drawings and a few other bits and pieces.  I fell in love with this little shop.  

We then made our way down again and decided to walk up to Christchurch. Christchurch is a unique institution, one of the largest colleges in the University of Oxford, and the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford. What we wanted to do was look at the Dining Hall where scenes were filmed from the Harry Potter movies.  Of course, it only opened at 2.00pm and we needed to make a move.



 

We continued along from Oxford, making our way to Bideford in Devon.  The trip was uneventful which is strange for British motorway driving, but we did take a detour into Bath.  Even though time was a bit tight the attraction of the Roman Baths and its reasonable closeness to the M4 drew us in.


The most difficult part was driving through town to the parking area.  We parked and walked to the baths through the winding streets full of summer holidaymakers. After reaching the entrance to the baths there was some confusion about lines outside, whether or not they we actually lining up to go in or just milling around.  A Kiwi gentleman in front of us went up to check and discovered that the lines were associated with tour groups, so we made our way to the door and stepped back thousands of years to when the Romans were inhabitants of many British cities and towns.

We took the audio tour and they even supplied a children’s version for BT which was a good initiative. The Roman Baths catered for both men and women (in separate baths) using warm spring water that had bubbled up from the bowels of the earth. It also included a steam and smoke room where you could relax and unwind after a hard day of concurring.


They were all extremely interesting and time got away from us a little.  We decided to jump into a cab back to the parking station and got back on the road to Devon. We were about two hours behind our schedule but it was thoroughly worth the visit. 


We encountered a little light rain on the way down to Bideford but it didn’t dampen our enthusiasm, Braedon was looking forward to being near the beach and Ian to meeting cousins he had only talked to online prior to coming to the UK this trip.  We found our hotel the Village Inn pretty easily due to the assistance provided by the Navman.


We checked in about 6pm and due to the long summer days, there was plenty of light to catch an ocean view from our room.  There were only four hotel rooms in the inn so while not many stayed there, the regulars at the pub made up the numbers.  We met Graham and Kath for dinner at the inn after a get-to-know-you drink and some discussion we decided to stay at the inn and keep chatting.  It was like we had known each other for years.  We talked and caught up with years worth of stories and tales. Enjoyed a lovely meal and parted company at about 10pm with the view to meeting at Graham and Kath’s for lunch the next day.



We woke reasonably early and had breakfast at the inn.  After we took Braedon to the beach as we had promised the evening before.  He had promised Kath he would bring her a crab, but not to cook.  With the high tide at 8am, there wasn’t too much beach exposed at 9 a.m. The wind was howling through from the southwest with more than a chill in it! We ventured down the many steps to the beach. A photo opportunity was to catch Braedon scramblling cross the rocks. Unfortunately, no crabs are found in the rock pools.


We decided to spend the rest of the morning in one of the most interesting and picturesque village in Devon called Clovelly.  

Once upon a time, nestled along the rugged coast of Devon, in the quaint village of Clovelly, a unique tradition thrived that harked back to a bygone era. Here, donkeys played a vital role in the daily life of the community, a tradition that had endured for centuries.

Clovelly was a place frozen in time, its steep cobblestone streets winding their way down to the picturesque harbor below. These streets were so steep that using regular vehicles was practically impossible. That's where the donkeys came in.

In Clovelly, donkeys are not just animals; they were cherished members of the village. Each donkey had a name and a distinct personality, known and loved by all the villagers. They were small, sturdy creatures, perfectly adapted to the village's unique terrain.

Their primary purpose was to transport goods up and down the village's narrow lanes. Merchants would load their cargo onto donkey-drawn sledges, and the trusty donkeys would navigate the steep, meandering pathways with incredible skill. The clatter of their hooves on the cobblestones and the jingle of their bells became the heartbeat of Clovelly, a soothing and reassuring rhythm that echoed through the village each day.

One of the most beloved donkeys in Clovelly was Benny, known for his friendly nature and his knack for brightening everyone's day with a bray and a nudge. He was a favorite among the children, who would eagerly line up for donkey rides around the village, guided by their trusty four-legged companions.

As time marched forward and modernisation threatened to change the face of Clovelly, the donkeys remained a steadfast symbol of the village's heritage and resilience. Generations of donkeys had served the community, and it was clear that they would continue to do so for generations to come.

Clovelly and its donkeys stand as a living testament to the beauty of tradition and the enduring spirit of a community that held onto its roots. In this charming coastal village, the clop of hooves and the bray of donkeys remained a reminder that some things were worth preserving, even in a rapidly changing world.

Braedon agreed to make some pottery for us and we went down to the basement of the shop where he demonstrated his potting skills and sat at the wheel and crafted a beautiful bowl for us.


After this short interlude, we continued down the spectacular winding cobble paths through the village of Clovelly down to the ocean breakwater, stopping periodically to look through the gift shops.  Braedon found a playful kitten outside one of the houses to keep him amused for 5 minutes while the ladies were shopping.

Charlie, is ever willing to carry luggage up from The New Inn to the Visitor Centre car park.  There is a small charge for the service. Mostly, the donkeys are left free simply to provide pleasure and enjoyment for the many visitors.

During the summer, the donkeys carry children around their meadow at the top of the village or can be found in the woods during the winter. This is how it's done now.












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Hi! I'm Julie Hyde

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      • Day 22 - Bowness - The Lakes
      • A Visit to Picturesque Clovelly
      • Day 22 - Eskdale and Ravenglass
      • Day 21 - Warwick Castle
      • Day 20 - Trip to Stratford on Avon, Warwick
      • Day 19 -- Meeting with Ahsley and Shopping
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      • Day 18 - Shopping with Annette
      • Day 16 - Oxford and Bath
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