Day 34  - Blue Anchor to Brendon

 

Date: Friday 16^th April 2010   Distance: 23.27

 

We set off at 09:30 for the 3½ miles to Dunster. We were too early for the castle to open so we looked around the village. There was an unusual village green(but can’t remember why)  sandstone church and a dovecot, all beautifully tended by volunteer villagers. The whole village was integrated by colour of stone, and interesting buildings.The Fudge shop was disappointingly closed. The teashop had pineapple guava, apparently the only one in the country growing outdoors. The Castle was probably the best National Trust property we had seen in a while. Children were allowed to play the dinner gong, all the attendants were very friendly and were offered a chance to play snooker. We didn’t experience any of the ghosts said to inhabit castles bathroom. Yes, one bathroom! I loved the leather wallpaper that looked like it was coloured yesterday. You could hold a deactivated gun if you wished.

 

We cycled to Minehead where we bought a sandwich, pastie and drinks for a picnic lunch. Then it was up, up, up through gorse strewn Exmoor and arrowed hills. We hardly cycled until we got to the top then took a bridleway down to Selworthy Green through woods and over rocky terrain. Cottages were all very picturesque with thatch. We rehydrated at teh tea shop then it was on to Allerford, another pretty place with 2 museums. Next in Porlock we passed the veteran car shop. Everyone seems to talk about Porlock Hill ( and now in 2015 we do a morris dance by that name!) and it was up, up ,up again. The cycle path avoids part of the toll road “No walkers or horse riders!”, and much of the climb was off road. Even though it was the cycle path, there were very few sign posts. It required good map reading and preferably a compass-why did we leave it at home? Despite this we went the correct route.

 

 

A long grassy path with steep sides dropped gently down into the valley. It was along for several miles following the river to the Staghunters Inn at Brendon. The bike went into an outbuilding with a split door like a stable. It was a very sociable place. Lots of people seemed to come time and time again. A lovely couple from Thames Valley had been coming for 60 years. They served a beer here called “Proper Job” a  powerfully hopped beer, Bob had several. Pat had the Exmoor Ale, a lighter brew. Food here was fine and Pat especially liked the Sherry trifle.

 

Our room was very hot at night but we enjoyed looking out at the stars – billions of them! It was a proper dark sky except for the pinpricks of light. A lovely place!