Hestercombe

A few weeks ago we saw a Gardeners' World feature on Hestercombe in Somerset, so we decided to pay a visit. We've found giving up our National Trust membership quite liberating - we'd only tend to consider going to their sites on the grounds we'd have to pay for anywhere else, so having to pay everywhere means we can go (theoretically) anywhere. Anyway, Hestercombe is lovely, well worth a visit. ...
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Cornwall 2016

We spent a week in Cornwall (or more specifically The Lizard), ambling around various villages and coves. Kynance Cove was as glorious as ever - I think this was the third time I've been there and there have been spectacular waves every time. A lovely place. Porthcurno and the Minack Theatre are favourites too. Mullion Cove was new to us, as was Coverack where a chance spot of a notice in a shop window led us to the Terence Coventry Sculpture Garden - chock full of really interesting modern sculpture. ...
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Fast Rabbit Farm

On Saturday I visited Fast Rabbit Farm in Devon with friends - a large garden (no rabbits that I saw), almost too large to photograph well! It's not the sort of formally planted garden I often visit - much more of a sprawling wild place. Rather nice though, and I didn't even get round all of it. There's also a plant centre, where I took most of the flower photos. The afternoon was further improved by a viola recital from my friend Rachel, which was particularly lovely in the setting. Oh yes, and it was a clothes-optional day so we were all able to enjoy the garden as nature intended. ...
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Exmouth Boat Trip

Friday was a lovely evening for a boat trip up the River Exe from Exmouth - warm and sunny but with some good clouds to photograph, good company and nice food - all with some really nice live music. I've been on similar trips the last couple of summers but instead of turning round at Topsham, we went all the way up to Countess Weir (apparently) - something only possible a few times each year. This included passing under the M5 bridge, which was wonderfully lit by the evening sun. Less nice was the sewage treatment plant... As usual, we seemed to attract a bit of attention from passing boats (we even made it into the Exeter Express and Echo) - have these people never seen a naturist boat trip before? ...
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Weston-super-Mare

Despite having lived in Bristol for almost 20 years, I think I've only been to Weston once before. Last week I got together with a couple of old photography friends (we met on a course at the Watershed back in about 2001) and went down to Weston for the day to catch up and take a few photos. I quite enjoyed the traditional seaside resort ambience, a week or two before the main summer holidays begin so it wasn't horribly busy. A nice mix of shots of the seaside thing, the pier and people. ...
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