Glorious Hidcote - A Cotswold Gem

Saturday the 28th of May 2016 ....

A visit to the National Trust gardens at Hidcote, in wonderful sunshine and warmth.

Having visited a number of times previously over the last 18 years or so, Hidcote never disappoints.

To visit on a lovely English late spring day we were greeted with the freshness and brightness of verdant spring growth.

Here are a few pictures to illustrate - no need to add words or a commentary - the plants and vistas speak for themselves.

Acers - red

Long border

Distant path

Red brick - memories of grandmother's garden

Welsh poppies - relaxed planting

Lazy path

Woodland peace

English meadow

English orchard

Guernsey 2015 - Holiday reflections

After what is a prolonged period of procrastination, I thought I would put together my account of our summer holiday in Guernsey. With this narrative and accompanying pictures I hope you enjoy the read and perhaps get a flavour for what has become over the years my favourite holiday destination.

24-June:
A straightforward and uncomplicated journey, starting with a pre-booked taxi from home to Bristol Airport, a short flight to Guernsey and a hire car pick-up. After our arrival at the Blue Horizon hotel and quickly unpacking, we made our way on foot along the southern cliff path to the Moulin Huet tea rooms.

Moulin Huet

Moulin Huet Tearoom - open!

We enjoyed this lovely warm and sunny start to the holiday, relaxing in the tea room garden drinking multiple cups of tea and a shared chocolate brownie! On an information sign overlooking Moulin Huet bay, Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1841-1919, spent just over a month in Guernsey in late summer of 1883. He painted about 15 pictures of Moulin Huet bay.

Renoir was here

25-June:
A wonderfully warm/hot and sunny day, with temperatures reaching 23c, with glass like sea. We visited St Peter Port in the morning, with a bit of shopping, coffee and taking in familiar sights.

Taking in St Peter Port - with morning coffee

We departed, and drove to Rousse Kiosk for some homemade lunch.

Taking in the sunshine whilst lunching at Rousse Kiosk

The remainder of the afternoon was spent on the beach; Lynne taking photos and reading, me sleeping and getting hot. After our evening meal at the hotel, we enjoyed a lovely end to the day with a cliff top stroll, temperatures still warm with unbroken setting sun.

Evening setting sunshine

Petit Port

26-June:
We decided to do walking today, as it was much cooler, with more covering cloud. We drove to Le Gouffre, with an obligatory morning coffee at the cafe there. We then walked along the cliff paths to Petit Bot bay for a spot of light lunch. It was a pleasant morning, testing the legs (up and down multiple steps!). We meandered back to Le Gouffre via a series of back roads, green lanes and hidden tracks. Mid afternoon we revisited Icart Point for a number of cups of tea, re-acquainting ourselves with the cafe owner, who we last met in August 2011. He has made more of the surrounding land with additional secluded garden seating areas - a good place to read and drink tea. Cloud cover increased rapidly and with it a brisk wind and short, sharp rain shower.

Icart Point cafe 'rooms' - havens

27-June:
We spent a few hours in Saumarez Park, especially revisiting the Victorian Walled Garden. Much more restoration and rebuilding has taken place since our last visit in August 2011.

Views of the Victorian walled garden

Lunch was taken at the kiosk at Saline Bay, next to Cobo Bay.

A place for lunch - Saline Bay

We sheltered from a brisk westerly wind in the small bay of Le Port Aux Malades, finding a sandy spot for some reading and sleeping.

Time to relax

During mid afternoon we walked the lengths of Saline Bay and Cobo Bay, taking refreshments at Cobo Kiosk.

A walk to Cobo

We climbed up the Guet viewing point - an old fort/battery from Napoleonic times, this offered spectacular views to the north, taking in the whole of Cobo and Saline Bay.

28-June:
Decided to explore the North East corner of Guernsey today. We parked at Beaucette Marina; a former granite quarry. We enjoyed a morning coffee before exploring. There were good, very clear views of Sark, Herm and Jethou.

Sark, Herm & Jethou from Beaucette Marina

We made our way via many pathways to the first kiosk on L'Ancresse Bay; visiting numerous towers and fortifications:- Fort Doyle, Fort le Marchant and some Martello towers.

Look closely ... recent bullet marks, slightly 'off-target' [on purpose probably!]

A clear day, rather breezy northerly wind. Had light lunch at the L'Ancresse kiosk.

Lancresse kiosk

Making our way back to the car, we walked past many run down and overgrown greenhouses, maybe a dozen or more - relics of a former industry.

It was good to see one greenhouse complex growing cherry tomatoes. We ended our day with afternoon tea and cake at Icart Point tea gardens, sheltered from an increased wind.

29-June:
A lazy, slow start, walking to Saumarez Manor and gardens. We paid to walk through the tropical gardens with many privately produced sculptures
on display - and for sale.

Afterwards we got a few provisions and walked to Moulin Huet bay, spending time on the beach. It was very hot and humid with a sea mist rolling in for about an hour.

Decided to practice my pebble stacking skills.

Slightly overcome with the heat and humidity, we headed back to the Blue Horizon hotel and spent a relaxing hour cooling off around the swimming pool. After our evening meal, we took a late stroll towards Petit Port bay, with plenty of warmth left in the glorious setting sun.


30-June:
Forecast to be a hot day. It was a pleasant warm start, walked via road and cliff path to Jerbourg Point, with morning coffee taken at the Jerbourg Hotel. The views were glorious, clear and sunny.

Herm from Jerbourg

We watched someone attempting to launch themselves from the viewpoint with a paraglider only to see him gracefully perform a rapid descent into the overgrown vegetation (brambles, hawthorn, nettles) below!

We walked back to the Blue Horizon hotel, taking the car to Portelet harbour. A small lunch purchased from the kiosk there was had on the beach in the shade (the temperature was quite hot now 28-30c).

Portelet - almost tropical!

Taking cover in the shade

Entertainment for the afternoon was provided by the driver of a flatbed truck who attempted to cross the beach to the fishing boats/working area. The truck got stuck in soft sand and after 2 hours of digging, struggling and failed attempts to be towed back, a local fisherman used his tractor to facilitate a rescue!

Stuck!

We returned to the hotel to cool off next to the pool, temperature being approximately 30c. Rumbles of thunder during the evening didn't amount to much.

1-July:
A trip out to Bruce Russell jewellers with ... a morning coffee and stroll around the gardens; much work having been completed since our last visit in 2011. Saw a few aircraft land and take off at the airport as the runway is quite close to the garden's boundary.

We bought some lunch items and made our way to Saviour reservoir. We walked around the entire perimeter of the reservoir, with a mix of sun, warmth, then cool, and mist with a strong wind.

Not sure this is the best seat to take in the 'view'

We went back to Portelet Port for a cup of tea and real Guernsey ice cream cornet. The weather now being a complete contrast to yesterday.

Many people are now leaving the Blue Horizon hotel, familiar faces that we are just beginning to talk with... soon to be our turn to leave...


2-July:
A very wet start to the day - raining until mid-day. We visited the Oatland centre, morning coffee, bought a few things (map & mug). We visited St Peter Port Candie Gardens, had lunch in the restaurant.

The weather improved with very hot temperatures. After lunch we went to Jerbourg point viewing point where with clear conditions we viewed Herm, Sark and Jersey. Also the coast of France was visible and with binoculars many coastal features were clearly visible.

After our evening meal, we drove to St Peter Port, strolled around the harbour taking many photos - gazing at all the 'wealth' moored up.

Wealth

3-July:
Our last day of the holiday - we decided it would be walking the south cliff paths. Starting at St Martin's point (Jerbourg) we walked around Jerbourg Point and on-wards around Moulin Huet bay to take morning coffee and cake at the tea rooms.

St Martin's point (Jerbourg)

Distant view - Moulin Huet

Steps down to Petit Port

Steps...

More steps...

Striding out

Then on-wards to Saints Bay - just in time for lunch and a rest in a borrowed deck chair. It was warm, sunny and the beach was empty with a retreating tide. We had met a couple walking at the Moulin Huet tea rooms, who also dropped into Saints Bay for lunch.

Saints Bay + Cafe

A quiet beach - Saints Bay

Leaving Saints Bay

Suitably rested, we then walked to Icart Point, ascending some 304 steps en-route. There were some stunning views to be had. We approached Icart Point as the wind got up.

And more steps...

Did I mention steps???

Clear conditions allowed good views of Petit Bot, Jaonette and Le Bette. We stopped at Icart Point tea garden for our last tea and cake, having a friendly chat and banter with the owner.

A view from Icart Point

Finally, one last push back to the hotel via the back lanes and green lanes. En-route we bumped into the couple we met earlier who had managed to walk to Petit Bot (some distance!) We walked together, parting at the lane to the Blue Horizon hotel, where they continued on to the Jerbourg Hotel.

After our evening meal, one last cliff top stroll then back to pack for our return home tomorrow....