Walking on High - The Quantock Hills

Every August I take a week off around my birthday and generally head down to Somerset to spend some time with my family. It often works out well that my family work different shifts and times because there is always usually someone around to drag off an adventure with me. But on this particular Monday it ended up being just me and the pup in the morning so I decided to start my holiday week with a walk up high on the Quantock Hills.

It had rained, I mean really rained the night before so the ground was soggy underfoot and air was steamy and humid. I wasn’t entirely such, having seen the looming black clouds in the distance that I was going to make it through this foray and come out dry the other side but that didn’t deter me. I love summer rain. I think it’s the warmth of it. I just don’t seem to mind going back soggy-footed when it’s warm out.

The colours of the landscape up there were already looking very autumnal. Lots of sandy yellows in the adjoining hay fields and scorched bracken along with the berries and bright pops of heather and gorse flowers made for a lovely combination.

I had passed a family deeply immersed in the bracken picking blackberries, the kids triumphant in their efforts and as I looked closely I saw that there was a mass of berries everywhere around me. Obviously I could help but pick a few to nibble on as I passed through and let me tell you, these berries tasted goooooood! Eating blackberries can be a bit of a gamble as they often are a bit tasteless and watery but not these little pretties. These were flavour packed and yummy. Perhaps the downpour from the night before had helped plump them up, who knows. 

I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the wild Quantock Ponies but alas they evaded me on this occasion. Probably for the best seeing how beagle chops if every so inquisitive (and vocal!)

There was something utterly delightful about knowing that whilst most of the world is enveloped in their busy Monday morning that instead I was enjoying a spot of solitude and peace away from all the mayhem going on in the town below. It certainly was a good way to begin my week.

 

A Field of Flowers - The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company

The heat and I aren’t really friends. With my Casper-like complexion and body that has trouble regulating it’s temperature, at times it makes hot temperatures a bit of a struggle. So when the forecast for this particular day with 32oC it very almost put me off of this trip that I’d been planning for months. However, I am really, really glad that it didn’t!

I had first stumbled upon a photo of the Real Flower Petal Confetti Company (phew that’s a mouthful!) on Instagram towards the end of last year and let me say that once you click on their hashtag you find yourself lost in a world of pretty floral pictures filled with delicate flowers. I think that I’d only been scrolling for about 20 seconds before I decided I had to visit! 

The confetti field is only open for a couple of weeks each year during the summer so I had been patiently waiting for that time to come. Somehow when it did arrive it was a particularly busy time so we ended up planning our trip for the very last day that it was open. As I was already feeling somewhat apprehensive about being out in the heat, we’d decided to go in the early morning when it was cooler. By chance I’d spotted a post on their website warning visitors about long queues and delays so even though it didn’t open until 10am we arrived at 9.20am. Boy am I glad that we did as there was already quite a lengthy queue. I must admit that I was starting to struggle standing there in the baking hot sun for 40 minutes but ten o’clock rolled around, the gates were opened and in we went! 

 
We’d been able to catch glimpses of the flowers from where we had parked and queued but once we were inside…well…it was one stunningly, beautiful site! Row after row after row of pretty delphiniums and cornflowers in every shade of pink and purple imaginable all bundled up together in a sea of spectacularness! The field was already swarming with people so notions of getting a person-free shot were definitely out of the window. That didn’t matter though because the collective joy and excitement of everyone as they explored the field and looked about them with awe created a wonderful atmosphere.

As we shuffled along the pathways I couldn’t help but enjoy the quintessentially English nature of the scene in front of me. Swaths of people dressed in summer dresses and shorts with a fantastic array of sunhats and parasols to help protect our unacquainted bodies from the beating down sun. 

 
We made our way through the pastel rainbow enjoying how every few rows the colours changed and snapping a fair few photos as we went. At the far end of the field was a viewing platform which we climbed up upon to take in the entirety of the scene - such a brilliant addition to the place.

After much admiring and adulation we made our way to the marquees for a much needed respite from the sun and a little refreshment. It was surprising cool under the white tarpaulin which was hugely welcome. We sat there nattering away and partaking in a spot of people-watching. There were so many mini photoshoots going on. Girls in pretty dresses with ribbons in their hair twirling about were looking ridiculously idyllic in a setting like this. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen so many people with DSLRs snapping away. 

By this point the field was becoming very crowded and that coupled with the heat was starting to make things uncomfortable so we had another quick walk through and then made our way back to the car.

I’m so glad that I didn’t let the heat stop me from going on this trip because it really was a magical place and hell of a sight to behold. If you’re a flower lover like me then a real flower confetti place like this is an absolute must to see. As with so many of the places that I go, this one has landed firmly at the top of my “must visit” list again for next year! However my plan is to go back on a weekday, early in the morning and on a cooler day! 

If you’re thinking of making a visit to the Real Flower Petal Confetti Company here’s some information that you may find useful and a few tips to bear in mind:

Location: Wick, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 3NZ

Entry cost: £2.50

Links: www.confettidirect.co.uk, instagram.com/realflowerpetalconfetti #realflowerpetalconfetti #confettifields

DO check when it’s open and it’s worth double-checking this just before your visit in case things change. Because of the heatwave and dry temperatures they were no longer selling any confetti for people to buy on site.

If you can, DON’T go on the last day that it’s open as it very quickly gets to the point where really it’s too busy to enjoy.

DO go early in the day to try and beat some of the crowds. As we were leaving, the queue of cars had backed up for miles through the little village of Wick.

If the forecast is hot, DO bring a hat, suncream, umbrella, water etc as apart from the couple of small marquees there is no shelter.

DO wear footwear that you don’t mind getting grubby - it was super dusty underfoot and my white sandals were rather brown and in need of washing afterwards!

DO check out the their hashtags and handles on social media (see below). Have a look before you go to give you a flavour of what you’re in store for and then again after. It’s so fun seeing different perspectives of the same place and trying to spot yourself in other people’s pics. Plus I’ve never seen SO many photos tagged from a place from just one day - there were hundreds!

Flooding at Tirley

We’ve had a lot of rain here in Gloucestershire the last little while. I don’t really mind that much, in fact it feels like for a change that the weather is doing what it should be doing at this time of year, that is, if you believe the old adage, “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers”. Boy I hope we do have May flowers and plenty of them! I’m actually surprised that we’ve managed to get this far with the amount of water that’s fallen before having any significant flooding.

My drive to work takes me across the Gloucestershire countryside and through a few spots that are susceptible to flooding, Tirley being one of them. There have been many times over the years when I’ve had to take a different route because I’ve driven round a corner and been faced with a river running across my path. So far though, it looks like all of the work they have been doing to clear the ditches etc is working because although the rivers have completely burst their banks and the fields are full the roads have remained open.

I decided on this Friday afternoon to have a little stop on the way home and to take a few snaps of the flooding. I pulled the car over in a lay-by, donned my wellies, climbed over the gate and made my way up the hill to get a better view. I have to say that flooding is awesome. Good old mother nature taking over and making mince-meat of our silly little, small-minded human notions like roads.

It was such a lovely, warm afternoon and luckily, up on the hill it was pretty dry on the ground, so after a little wandering I found a spot near a beautiful, big old oak tree and plonked myself down to take it all in. I ended up sitting there for quite a long time listening to the birds and just doing nothing. There was really no reason to move so I just kept on sitting there and it was glorious. In fact at one point I even indulged in laying back and having a little daydream.

Ironically, despite the masses of water in front of me and the still bare trees and hedgerows, this really felt like Spring. Maybe it was the warmth, maybe it was seeing the first butterflies of the year fluttering about or maybe it was just being somewhere remote in the countryside and being able to sit and enjoy it. Whatever it was, I’m really glad that I took some time just to stop and notice how wonderful it was.

A Wander Down Broadway

Broadway is one of those iconic Cotswold towns that you see in pictures time and time again but oddly enough, I’ve only ever been there once. It’s been on my list to go back to for ages but for some reason I always seem to pass it up in favour of somewhere else. But not today, today we went!

There is something about the Cotswolds at Christmas time that is just ludicrously magic. There are not many places that look better in the Winter months but pretty little Cotswold villages definitely fall into that minority. There’s something about those old stone cottages that lends itself to that cozy feeling that we crave at Christmas. 

I’m just going to lay it flat out, Broadway is beautiful. If you love pretty English towns, particularly Cotswold ones then you will not be disappointed with this one. It has everything you’d want from such a place - a lovely high street with features like red pillar boxes and old fashioned street lights, tiny little independent shops sharing wares from local merchants and makers that you won’t find anywhere else, an array of eateries offering scrummy food using local produce and most importantly, oodles and oodles of Cotswold charm. I was in heaven.

Like so many other gorgeous places that I've visited, I made a note to come back again when it’s quieter so that I can explore and snap away in peace without too many people in my way. But for today, I embraced the bustle and happy weekend atmosphere that was in the air. 

 

My friend and I pottled up the street enjoying the Christmas window displays and cooing over the goodies on offer. We went in a few shops that took our fancy and were happy to find really nice gifts to buy, not lots of your standard tacky souvenir tat. Then it was time for a spot of lunch.

We found ourselves a nice looking cafe and where I enjoyed a blimming marvellous bowl of parsnip soup. Just what I’d needed to warm me up as the biting wind had really got under my skin. We sat and chatted and then just listened to the hubbub around us, taking in other people’s conversations and enjoying a quiet Sunday lunchtime. 

 Then we made our way back down past the remainder of the shops, stopping finally at the Broadway Deli. Now this was a treat. If you’re ever in Broadway, please go in. It’s a higglety pigglety building with creaking stairs and low ceiling rooms full of unique, yummy treats. It’s got such character that you really just have to experience it for yourself. I love finding places like that.

 The light was already fading and it wasn’t even 3pm as we made our way back to the car. We headed through this cute little shopping centre with quaint, white-framed windows and even though there were actually a few high street brands in this part like Seasalt and Weirdfish, the shops were still tastefully incorporated into the feel of the town.

And so that was our little trip to Broadway. Seeing at it’s not even forty-five minutes from my home I can see me going back in the warmer weather for sure.

Sudeley Castle Grounds near Winchcombe

I decided to take a Tuesday off. There was no real reason for it really, just a whimsical fancy that I indulged. Unfortunately it was a pretty grey, dank day but I still went out for a wander. I wanted to go somewhere a little different, not just one of the usual haunts I go to when a quick dog walk is needed, so I ventured over the hill to Winchcombe to walk around the grounds near Sudeley Castle.

It’s a walk I’d done a handful of times before but not recently so it fit the “somewhere different” bill. I had the pup with me which always makes for a slightly different walk where I have to be on alert and training her the whole time as she has a few issues with her behaviour which we’re still working on. So it wasn’t my usual leisurely stroll, snapping away but I did still manage to get in a few pics. Luckily Luna pup has learnt that fighting against me whilst there’s something I want to snap is a futile game and she generally sits and waits very nicely. 

 We walked down the long sloping entrance driveway towards the castle and then around some of the surrounding fields. Apart from a few other walkers it was relatively quiet. The place had that off-season feeling where staff were probably inside winding down from the summer and prepping for the festival period ahead. We made our way along the edge of the castle passing the children’s play area to the right of us. Now when I say play area, I don’t mean a couple of swings and a slide, er no, this is a full on Mecca of wood and ropes galore and much more akin to an adventure playground. It looks fab and one summer eve I have the full intention of sneaking in there and having a little play.

Unfortunately the rest of the grounds had sheep grazing on them which made things a little difficult with a dog with hunting instincts in tow but we managed to go a little ways to take some photos of the front of the castle before heading back. There is something about the views around these grounds which I’ve always thought seemed very “English”. You know, like a typical English countryside scene, something you’d think of when you thought of picturesque postcards. It’s a lovely spot with quite a unique vibe to it that I always enjoy.

Hestercombe Gardens

I’ve been venturing out lately with my old Nikon D40 which is about ten years old. I was about to sell it or trade it in and put the money towards a new lens for my Canon so a couple of weeks ago I thought I’d take it out for one last spin and an unlikely thing happened. I found myself absolutely loving using it. Now, don’t get me wrong here, the quality of the photos of the D40 are nowhere near as good at my 6D but, there’s just something about using that camera that I really enjoyed. Perhaps is was the old familiarity, I mean, I did take at least 10,000 shots on that thing. Maybe it’s the slightly hazy, warmer tones it produces, or even just the quality of the photos or using a zoom lens (me and my 50mm prime have been inseparable for a couple years now). Who knows, I don’t even really need to know why, I am just enjoying using this old friend of mine again.

Sunday morning just past I took the D40 (and only the D40) along to one of my favourite spots. I was down in Somerset for the weekend visiting family and I managed to sneak a precious hour on Sunday morning to visit one of my most favouritist places - Hestercombe Gardens. 

I’ve been a member of Hestercombe for a couple of years now and I love it there. It’s a little bit like this secret place that’s always so incredibly peaceful and I’ve come to think of it as somewhat of a sanctuary for me. Even in the thick of winter when all the flowers have gone it’s still a pretty little land to wander around. But hey, we’re not quite in winter yet and so I was greeted by a most marvellous sight of golden autumn leaves through the beech woodlands. Now, anyone who’s been following me on Instagram for a while will know that I have a bit of a thing for trees, and beech trees are hands down my favourite. Wandering about under their canopies as there burnt orange leaves fell down around me reinforced that adoration even more. 

The thing about Hestercombe is that actually, it’s not really a secret place at all, in fact it’s a very well known spot and so there are generally always people around but that’s ok. One of my favourite things is watching kids run around spots like this tearing about with the sheer joy of playing in the outdoors. And there were quite a few families there doing just that on Sunday. In fact, it’s pretty rare to see someone else on their lonesome ambling around. I often feel like a bit of an outsider being there on my own but at the same time I have a sort of sense of belonging and authority when I’m there too, like I’ve got special permission to be walking about with my camera snapping away. 

I did the usual route that I do when I don’t have a great deal of time. Up the high path towards the waterfall, up the woodlands a little way, back down past the lakes (always with a “hello” to Hester the resident swam, across the lawn in from of the Orangery and then finishing with a lingering wander through the gardens. I have visited this place umpteen times now and I love that there is still always something new to see, or something to see again in a different way because the seasons have changed it. Every time I visit this place it gives me something that perhaps only someone who experiences the same thing when they visit their special place can understand. And it keeps me going back there, time and time again.