Stoke Beach

I love the coast round here, but this is an area I hadn't explored before. It is rugged and remote, yet only a short drive East of Plymouth.

The Folly

A while ago now (we've had problems with our internet connections ... ) we crossed the water to Mount Edgecombe. We parked at the top and walked down the hill through the extensive grounds. This is the view across to Plymouth from the Folly with Drake's Island in the centre and Jenny Cliff to the right.

Dyrham Park

We used to visit Dyrham regularly, but not at all since moving away from the area. So it was a delight to find ourselves in the vicinity again recently.

Low tide on the River Axe

I love this place, it's my sanctuary and bolt hole.

A perfect day

As the sun began to go down, so the beach emptied and the temperature fell ... just the perfect place to be.

The way home

... so we took our picnic over the hill, had a lovely day in West Bay, and then walked back again!

The way there

I don't do hills, but this footpath from Eype to West Bay (part of the South West Coast Path) is only a mile long, and the views are fantastic.

Flying high

I can't imagine how this must feel ...

Rainbow

Taking pictures

I find that when I have my camera with me, I look at things from a different perspective - through a frame. And I like to take pictures that are framed by their surroundings ... this is the Great Pond at Forde Abbey which dates from monastic times.

Black & White

This is one of Dad's pictures. He died over 20 years ago and I still miss him. Photography was his hobby, he developed and printed all his own pictures (I wonder how he would have coped with the digital revolution?) and always in black and white. This is an iconic image to me ... it was taken at the Dorset Steam Fair (then held at Stourpaine Bushes) although I can't remember the year. Many of his pictures are lost now - the prints deteriorated and the negatives destroyed - but I will always have this image in my head as part of my memories of him.