We had a really good journey down to Lymington on the Friday morning. There was the usual slight hold-up at Lyndhurst (and it wasn't possible to take a short cut through the lanes as the road was shut!) but we arrived in just over 3 hours.
Views of Berkshire from the A34
We saw 6 Red Kites along the A34 - a record!and there were loads of Little Egrets on the estuary in Lymington.
We had lunch while waiting for the ferry at 2.00
Leaving Lymington
Waving to the ferry travelling in the opposite direction (trying not to think that would be us in a week's time!).
View of the Needles
Coming into Yarmouth - this is the shortest crossing (only about 40 minutes) and as we usually stay on West Wight the best one for us.
We had hoped to stay in the thatched cottage in Niton again but sadly it had already been booked. September Cottage in Brook turned out to be a super alternative. The location was lovely with plenty of walking opportunities on the doorstep. The interior design was so beautiful, the cottage garden great and it was well equipped and very clean.
There was a "welcome" basket full of home-made goodies - elderflower cordial, granary bread, damson jam, milk and butter etc. and these gorgeous Vanilla shortbread biscuits.
The living room, dining area and bedrooms were full of freshly picked flowers too. The owner lived next door - a lovely lady and very helpful.
After unpacking and doing the necessary food shop we went a walk down to Brook Chine and beach (only 5 minutes away).
I've always admired these cottages on the coast road - what a view along the coast to Freshwater Bay they must have from their windows.
Lots of bramble in flower along the hedgerows - so loved by insects.
Brook Chine - one of several chines along this stretch of coastline#
Down onto Brook beach for a walk in the direction of Compton Beach
Sorry for all the beach photos but it was so good to be back walking on one after a whole year!
*D - photos taken by D with the Canon bridge SX50 HS
Fantastic! Wish I was there as well! That limpit thing as a very trilobite cambrian feel to it.
ReplyDeleteFeel like I've had a beach vacation. thanks
ReplyDeleteSimon Douglas Thompson - Thanks Simon - the place is just idyllic - we love it over there!. You are right about the shell. I actually treated myself to another trilobite fossil while over there - they have so many delectable fossil shops! :)
ReplyDeleteHart - Thank you that is so kind of you :) More sea/beach pictures to come :)
Thank you for packing me into your suitcase and taking me along too! I think I was well behaved? I've always hankered to visit the Isle of Wight, and with all the magnificent places we have on offer, that could take years to explore and discover, I wonder why so many go abroad instead of staying home and supporting the British economy at the same time.
ReplyDeleteYou can never have enough beach pictures! The cottage looks really lovely :)
ReplyDeleteDeborah RusticPumpkin - Ha ha! - yes you were :) and thank you for such a lovely comment :) I am totally biased but Isle of Wight really is lovely and well worth a visit! So much to see and do and such beauty and variety of habitats in a relatively small space. Must admit I wonder too why people go abroad - there are so many beautiful places in this country - many I have never visited too.
ReplyDeletePam - Thank you - there will be more beach pics to come!! :) The cottage was a wonderful discovery and I am glad we picked that one. Would certainly stay there again - so lovely inside and such a great location as we prefer West Wight. Lots of walking close by too.
The beach photos are wonderful and September Cottage looks like a home from home. Lovely to see Red Kites on your journey they look so different in the sky to buzzards, Looking forward to seeing and hearing more of your holiday:)
ReplyDeleteRosie - Thanks so much. Yes, the cottage was really lovely. Hope the posts don't spoil any surprises for you but hopefully they may give you ideas of places to look out for or visit. So envious that you still have your holiday to look forward to as I am missing the island already!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to the Isle of Wight, but the cottage, beach and views are so tempting, looks like another place to add to my very long list!
ReplyDeletePam - Thank you - place is lovely but as I keep on saying I am biased. We prefer West Wight as it is more rural and, hope I don't upset anyone here!!!, less touristy. But the island is relatively small so nowhere is far away wherever you stay.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks very lovely, even Lymington looks a good place to visit. The view of the needles is a beautiful sight.
ReplyDeleteThe cottage is so nice, it's always a risk going some were new, and as we know you would stay here again...
The gifts make a big difference, we had a bottle of wine in the fridge to have while sat in the hot tub. I do like the big vase of flowers though.
Been so close to the sea is nice to I would have loved this, the land look wild and empty of people. What a lovely day for day one...
Amanda xx
Amanda Peters - Thanks so much Amanda. I would like to explore Lymington more - the marshes for birds look particularly interesting!
ReplyDeleteOH was a bit fed up before we went about the location as he does like to have a newsagents in walking distance and a pub a bit closer!! But you really couldn't fault the place - it was so lovely. As you know I would move in tomorrow :)
A bottle of wine is always nice :) But I did like the homemade goodies and flowers and there were even miniature sets in each room with shower and bath stuff etc. and even mineral water :) They had paid a lot of attention to detail.
West Wight is much quieter I think that the east side of the island - easier to escape people!!! and so many public footpaths and places to walk.