Wednesday April 5 at 9.15 time for leaving this hotel with the beautiful green surroundings and go more northern. The road had sometimes nice views of the sea - when travelling in a bus you are so high up so you can look over the hedges. A common car tourist cannot see much in the English farming landscape due to the hedges!
The first goal this day was the from TV wellknown The Lost Gardens of Heligan. A guide welcomed us and told about the history of the restoration, he took us through the northern gardens which wasn't especially beautiful this time of the year, he demonstrated the pineapple pits, the ingenious formed glasses of the hotbeds, the beeboles etc.
The rhododendron trees in lots of shades of red and red lilac nuances dominated the colours this time of the year. After the guiding there was free time to walk to the Jungle and the Lost Valley but that walk seemed to be too long for our legs. We preferred to stay at the  Italian garden where the narcissus and other bulb flowers flourished, we strolled around the shop, went to the old Summer House and admired the sea view.
 From Heligan the bus drove to the fishing village Mevagissey where the boats lay in the harbour without any water - the tide was out. We had lunch in a tea house and that took so much of our time so we could not any time to look at the village as we had to walk uphill to the parking place to reach the bus at the appointed time.
Lanhydrock Castle and Gardens
Now the tour was for Lanhydrock  That stop we viewing back find as the best element in the tour. This castle is under the supervision of National Trust. There is a wonderful garden climbing up the slopes behind the castle. One of the most imposing things was a magnolia tree 24 meters high and that was in full blom just now. . Rhododendrons, camellias, cherry trees, larges slopes with narcissus, everything cooperated to enthralling views. And we got time enough - even we with our bad legs and slow of walking had time to stroll around without feeling stressed by an appointed time for leaving.
We looked around inside the magnificient castle too, especially the kitchens were interesting. They said that the childrens appartments and other rooms upstairs were worth viewing too but I was too tired.
The travel went on over Bodmin Moor which is a heath landscape with fairly high hills. In front of us the hills of Dartmoor - snowclad - not at all the right thing in April - definitely we had not gone to Cornwall to see snow - we have enough of that at home! -
The goal was Hotel The Arundel Arms, Lifton, lying by the river Thrushel in Devon, near the border to Cornwall. It is well known among fishing enthusiasts and for the cook. He has won prices as the best cook in southwestern England. The hotel is an old house in a small village. You could notice that it is old because of the uneven stone floors. It is a charming building and the food was fantastic!
April 6
|
