Using the Railway Line & with History

Before leaving Somerset entirely behind let me share with you the current use of this disused railway station just a few hundred yards from where we were staying.
It's 8.30 in the evening and the light reflects that

Many of our local railways were closed down in the 60's and quite a number are now used as walking or cycling paths

This one at Donyatt Halt has a little added interest

See the war time Pill Boxes behind the station

This statue is in memory of all the children that were evacuated to this area during the second world war

They would have arrived at this station carrying a small bag or suitcase not knowing when or if they would see their parents again

My husband was one of them at just 8 years old although living in the North he was evacuated to Yorkshire

For myself, I was just a baby so was evacuated to Wales along with my Mother and Grandmother

Here on the station we can read Doreen's story (one of the children who arrived here) by clicking until you have a full screen

The Mother's letter is heart breaking

It begins - At 11.0 am on 3rd September 1939 Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced  on the wireless the dreadful words, "Britain is now at war with Germany"

Immediately a long planned Government Evacuation Scheme sprung into action.

3,000,000 people, mostly children were evacuated....

and finishing on a lighter note, Somerset being Cider country, this was a hospitality gift left for us at the cottage

Minehead, Somerset

Have often wondered about this seaside town so as it was just 4 miles away from Dunster castle and village we decided to end our day here. It is certainly not what I expected but interesting all the same. I invite you to walk with me.

We have already walked from the centre of town with it's amusements and shops and are now making our way along the front to the other side of the headland you see here. The hills of Wales can just be seen on the other side of the Bristol Channel

It gets prettier as we near the headland with it's houses scattered around the hill

We pass some interesting houses facing the sea

And here we pass a monument depicting the West Country Coastal path

We reach the harbour

and look back to see how far we have come

we began our walk on the far side of the bay where the pointed white building is in he distance

This is after walking all day around the Dunster castle gardens and village. I have to say I am beginning to feel leg weary

Had to come to the far end of the headland though just to see what is here

Gosh it is a long way back

We stop for tea and cakes

and what do we find when we begin walking again

We flag the train down and what a delight to just sit knowing that this train will take us back to our car on the far end of the promenade. A few more minutes drinking tea and we would have missed it.

Dunster Village, Exmoor, Somerset

Dunster is a breathtaking medieval village crammed with history, beauty and atmosphere on the edge of Exmoor national park.

Cecil F. Alexander wrote the hymn "All things bright and beautiful" here in 1848.

You will be seeing some random photos taken as we walked around the village and up and down the main street.

As you can see the pavements here still have the original cobble stones.

We choose The Castle Hotel for lunch and these photos bring back memories of Alan tucking into a fine lunch while the best I could manage with my recent dental surgery was sausage and mash.

 Cute tea rooms opposite the hotel

See the castle (last post) behind the trees

The Conygar Tower behind the trees at the opposite end of the village

Lots of shops and exclusive galleries selling gifts and toys, hand-made confectionery, clothing, designer jewellery, antiques, second hand and new books and local arts and crafts.

The old Yarn Market

Once the trading centre of the village and surrounded by houses that were once occupied by affluent merchants 

Hope you enjoyed your visit and the next post will show our last visit of the day before making our way back to our cottage

Definitely one of those walking days

Dunster Castle and Gardens, Exmoor, Somerset

With the forecast here full of warnings of severe weather from the tail end of Hurricane Katia, it's nice to revisit a day in June.
Apparently Katia crossed the Atlantic so quickly if retained much of it's power. Most of the destruction is forecast for the north and west.

Here we are walking (not us in the picture) up to Dunster Castle in north Somerset on the edge of Exmoor national park.

There has been a castle here since Norman times, meaning it really has seen it's fair share of treachery, bloodshed and often death, not least during a massive besiegement during the Civil War. The Lutrell family lived at the castle for over 600 years.

We pass the old stables

and make our way through the kitchen gardens with St. George's church in the background where a nunnery and cottage have stood for 550 years. The church is home to the Lutrell tombs and the longest Rood Screen in England. The bells chime a different tune daily on the hours of 1, 5, and 9 and can be heard throughout the village.

However it is the castle with it's beautiful grounds and views that we will concentrate on here

The 13th century gatehouse is the oldest part that still survives

The walk up to the top is circular and steep

but well worth it for the views over the Bristol channel with South Wales on the other side

The castle is home to some incredible leather hangings that portray the famous love story of Anthony and Cleopatra.

The National Trust has looked after the castle and grounds since 1976

The Orangry

With it's interesting shadows

and views in all directions

We continue up and up

and up the narrow stairways until we reach the top turrets

We shall now be walking down and going into Dunster Village for lunch, more walking, before driving to the coast to the seaside town of Minehead which will be covered in  another two posts.