Dwight Peck's personal website

It's October 2004 -- so it's time for another visit to Devon and Cornwall

Devon and Cornwall, here we come again!

Whenever things start to pile up and get on top of you, it's time to take some time off and go to Cornwall. But . . . .

Devon first

You may not find this terribly rewarding unless you're included here, so this is a good time for casual and random browsers to turn back before they get too caught up in the sweep and majesty of the proceedings and can't let go.

It's off to visit the Tims again at their ancient mill near Berrynarbor on the coast of Devon. Last year Kristin and Dwight propelled the Tims' team to victory in the Berrynarbor Sunday night pub quiz [view it here], but this time we only came second. It was the British sit-com questions that lost it for us. Oh, and the cricket.

Off we go with the Tims from County Gate on Exmoor down toward the coast, bound for a long circuit that, in the end, will include Lorna Doone's valley and a "cream tea". 17 October 2004.

Tim 1 (or Tim 2) leads the way down to the Devon coast . . .

. . . and then Tim 2 (or Tim 1) leads the way back up again, Kristin following along.

Hikers pause to view the Bristol Channel before turning back landward, bound for the "Doone Valley"!

Over the ridge we go, up past "Desolate Farm", still wending inland towards . . .

. . . the village of Brendon on Exmoor.

Brendon, the "carrefour" of the north Devon coast.

Over the ridge to the east we gallop and, then, down upon Malmsmead, "Lorna Doone's farm" they say, after the moody and atmospheric novel by R. D. Blackmore (recently an excellent BBC movie). In Blackmore's famous historically-based romance (1869), Lorna was a daughter of the 17th century outlaw clan of Doone that inhabited the Badgworthy Valley - now called Doone Valley - on the Exmoor and wreaked havoc on their neighbors. Wonderful big strapping, honest fellow John Ridd does his best to free her and put things right with the vicious Doones.

In the absence of genuine 17th century Doones to be put right, the hikers consult and determine by consensus to walk on for a cream tea.

At Cloud Farm, a few miles further up the Doone Valley, where cream teas are much sought after.

Cream tea at Cloud Farm

Then back to the car

A look-in at the Old Church as we head home

Thanks again, Tims.

Devon and Cornwall, 2009

Devon and Cornwall, 2006

Devon and Cornwall, 2004

Devon and Cornwall, 2003