Easter break – Day 1

This morning we packed and took off for our Easter break. We braved the M25 and M3 motorways along with everyone else but made good time and headed south to our first stop, the village of Lepe, south of Southampton. It was a glorious day and we ate our picnic lunch on a stony beach overlooking The Solent and the Isle of Wight. James had fun throwing countless stones into the water and was very sad to leave and continue on.

We had a lovely drive through the New Forest, famous for its gorse-covered moors and ponies. The little villages along the road looked so inviting, especially the ones blessed with a river or lake. The ice-creameries were doing a roaring trade!

Heading west we pulled off the A35 and detoured to a small village called Puddletown. It was here at the ancient St Mary’s church that my ancestors, Thomas and Edith Toogood were married in 1836 before emigrating to Australia. We strolled around for about an hour and I really felt a sense of my own history here.

At last we arrived at our farm B & B at Rawridge, north of Honiton. Two dogs, Chester and Rosie, greeted us at the gate and they became firm friends with James. I guess anyone who’ll spend hours throwing a ball would be welcome! We settled into our upstairs room then took off again to the nearest pub (well it had been a long day!) The Sidmouth Arms was located in Upottery, a few miles from home and we had a quick look around the village in the evening light before going in for dinner. Martin and I enjoyed a pint of Otter Ale, a speciality here and brewed only 2 miles away.

Photos are here.