Holiday – Page 14 – Neil Baldwin's blog : Warning contains walking, technology, photography, holidays.

Eelsfoot Inn and Minsmere weekend.

First I would like to thanks Steve for this post hes texted me to check if I was OK as he had not seen any posts for a while. Angela also gets a mention as she also mentioned the lack of new material. So spurred on by our fans here is a post for our weekend away at the Eels Foot Inn, yes another weekend at the excellent pub.

We left work on the dot and went back to base camp grabbed our luggage and set off to Hotel Baldwin where Kev n kids, had delayed thier departure so we could doa a quick “Say hello and wave good bye”. Mum made an excellent pasta dish despite having been eaten out of house and home.

We were up in good time as the cleaner were due at 09:00 and we had to get to the Lord Nelson by 12:00 to meet H&N, we had our doubts about them being thier by that time but we could not let them get there and us not be their. We decided to take a slight detour via Harleston (where we heard for N&H and yea they were running later than they anticipated) and then Denton to check out the grand parent grave. We did a quick tour of the shops in Harleston and had coffee and cake on the less busy back road that cirecles the main part of town.

We set off again and easily remembered the route to Denton, we we parked up at the church car park and without too much trouble found the head stone. I quickly took a set of panorama shots so watch this space for the results.
We left for the final leg of the journey, which was very pleasant as the weather was fantastic and the country side stunning. We arrived at Southwold around about 13:00 and went for a walk down to the pier as H&N were going to be another 30 minutres.

The high street and sea front were packed, it was the end of half-term and everyone seemed to be making the most of the weather. Down on the pier we had a quick look at the Down on the pier show http://www.underthepier.com/ which is a strange version of the traditional penny arcade and consists of machines to take your money but they are all somehow mechanic and brilliantly crass. Neil had a go on the frogger style game involing a zimmer frame crossing the road but the screen image came from a really camera pointing at a model road with moving lanes.

Met H & N at Lord Nelson, for a pint, and something to eat, I also paid for a T Shirt which they promised to post when new stock came in. Next on the agenda was some shopping. Both bookshops closed down and W H Smiths are moving in. N and I stood watching them replacing the wooden floor. Not very successful shopping trip but brought some heidi & cheese onion pies for lunch the next day. I took the opportunity to rtake another set of papnorama pictures, which when I get back to my own house will certainly post if worthy.

We left southwold and headed to The Eels Foot in it was late afternoon, lucky someone was around to let us have our room keys. We quicly settled in then walked a few hundred yards down the road to look at the field where the Barn Owls hunt. We were not let down, it is amazing how you can almost guarantee to see an owl as long as the weather is right. We saw at least two which at one point were both perched on the fence of the house on the bend.

Back to pub where N and Helen headed to the bat at 6pm in order to secure a table. Good job as 5 mins later they were all full. I joined them later and H was already there. Food was the usual fare I had fish n chips, and few pints of Adnams, wisely we were in bed by 10pm.

Sat am – cloudy, misty. Excellent fry up with veggie sausages, muchrooms, toms n scambled eggs, with beans on toast and a sausage for Helen. We then performed an elaborate car shufffle where by we left my car at Warblerwick then headed back to the pub in N’s. The women watched the Grand Prix qualifying. When they returned, we headed out circa 10.45am, fortunately remembering the pies for lunch.

We walked towards Minsmere but then headed off through the woods behind the reserve. We were hoping that mushroom season would be at its high, however the dry weather seemed to have delayed their growth and there were not as many about as we had hoped, Helen got a few pics though. Excellent views of a goldcrest then turned right towards Dunwich Heath. Wallked past the pie bench of yester year. No sight of Dartford warblers on Dunwich Heath. Crossed the road then into the dark and into spooky pinewoods that lead to the Dunwich cliffs and priory remains. As ever I was determind to peer over the cliffs although H backed up wisely once the word overhang was mentioned. Followed the path down to Dunwich itself. Sun was shining by now so we voted for a quick pint at in the beer garden of The Ship pub (which, should you ever find yourself pieless in the vicinity, does good food).

Down to Dunwich beach, where we ate the pies along with some chips from the cafe at the beach. A couple of brave swimmers. Discussion of choice of route for the next leg to Walberswick, where we plumped for the least populated option. So it was up the road past the church (passing several ladies with bodrums, the purpose of which we will never know). Headed up the stony track alongside Dunwich forest, overlooking the marshes. We saw excellent views of a goldcrest, and a jay and chaffinch enjoying the puddles. Past some rather lovely houses to a view over the march at Walberswick, where we saw lots of wildfowl. Through a gate onto the reserve itself and followed the raised path sea defence through the reedbeds back to Walberswick. Drove back to Eels Foot Inn for a rest I was soon aback out thpugh, back to the Barn Owl field, where I saw no less that 3 owls a marsh harrier and couple of unidentified waders flushed by the owls quartering the fields. What a a great spectacle for early Saturday evening, far better than Strickly!

N and Helen headed off to try to make sure we got a table, whilst I had a shower. They were lucky to get a table as the pub was very busy with a couple of large parties but as usual service and food were good. Neil & N had veggie lasagne. A few pints/glasses were drunk, and we ended up chatting to a friendly chap who had a Scottie dog, and who was a frequest visitor to the area, in between climbing the hills and mountains of Britain (including camping in the snowy Lake District last winter!). One last drink and some bemused observation of the rather drunk party who were drinking Zambuca (rather them than us!). Then off to bed and remembered to put the clock back too.

Up for another excellent breakfast at 8.30am, a bit of a record in that none of the party were suffering from hangovers. We must be getting older & wiser 🙂 Watched the start of the Grand Prix then off to Minsmere for another walk. There is a great deal of development happening at Minsmere, on the Visitor Centre, North Wall & sea defences. Off through the woods to the edge of Dunwich Heath. Fleeting glimpses of a bird we would have loved to have been a Dartford Warbler however we just did not see enough of it to be sure. Saw an optimistic mushroomer but he only had one in his basket.

Across the heath sighting a large group of deer grazing in the heather, then a coffee stop at Lighthousekeepers cottages. It was getting a bit chillier with the sea breeze. Another brave swimmer who then proceeded to disrobe entirely. We peered stalwartly at the sea until he had had a chance to gather himself together and then a trudge across the shingle towards east Hide. Saw a small flock of greenfinch and cormorants en route. Hide was busy but we did not have to wait too long for a window seat. Lots of wildfowl and black-tailed godwit, a couple of Berwick swans and three avocet. Then on to sluice bushes. Saw a robin and heard a wren, but no rare warblers unfortunately! Then back towards the visitor centre, admiring a ruff, redshank and little egret on the way.

We had some lunch at the visitor centre and spotted an unexpected treecreeper near the cafe. Then becauses we had’nt eaten our own bodyweight this weekend, thought we should probably have a cake, purely in the interests of supporting the RSPB you understand. Then it was, sadly, farewell to H&N and homeward bound down the very lovely A12, M25 & A41.

Arlington Court NT

Monday is always the first day of a holiday i.e. the first day you are not at work when you would normally be at work. Today is a trip to a National Trust property called Arlington Court.

After the storm Taffy and I headed up the coast in hope of finding some breaking waves, but although we found some very windy spots we could not find a coast facing the right way with an harbour wall, probably because it would be silly to build a harbour wall exposed to the prevailing weather.

We got back to the hut and soon we were off to the NT property. The owners of the property were collectors of tut, and it is in glass cabinets everywhere. There is a walk round the property that is about 2 miles long.

Hurricane Katia

We woke up at about 08:00 this morning, Taffy had been for a run and was frying his bacon ready for his ritual bacon sarny whilst he watched the rugby, Wales was playing South Africa in their first match of the 2010 Rugby World cup. Unfortunately Wales lost but is was a close match and could have gone either way. Once the ruby was finished we eventually managed to get ou act togther and headed out to Saunton Sands car park (£5) then headed out along the beach for about and hours then headed back for a coffee and cake. The weather was very windy, so much so the sand was being blown along the beach and my glasses slowly gather salt and misted up. On the beach I saw a grounded Shearwater and some Sanderling.

After coffee we headed back the hut after stopping to get some provisions as I was on kitchen duty. Not a very active day but we are on holiday that is what you can do when you are on holiday.

Holiday in North Devon

Today we go on holiday yippee, it is the regular September wife’s family holiday plus the two hangers on. As is usual I was awake early, due to the anticipation of travel etc. so I was up at 06:00 and having breakfast, we were taking Helen’s folks but not till 10:00 so I had some time on my hand. Earlier in the week a Pectoral Sandpiper had been spotted at Wilstone Reservoir, so at 07:00 I headed down to the reservoir to see if it was still present. I parked up, there were only three cars there, and headed up the steps. There was a fellow birdwatcher pulling the legs out on his tripod, I looked in the binoculars and noticed that there was a gathering on the jetty to the left. I mentioned that that it looked like that was where the action would be and we headed off to the jetty.

The strong wind from the hurricane was very warm, my fellow birder commented that it was unusual for Wilstone, I had to agree. When we got to the jetty we were quickly guided to the bird, it looked quite like lots of other waders. I stayed for an hour trying to soak up the salient features, then headed back home to pack the car for the journey.

We picked up Helens folks and were on the road by 10:10, I chose to go M3 A303 because we had the time and it is a long time since we saw Stonehenge. The breezed round the M25 and got off on to the M3 traffic was heavy but moving at usual speeds. When we got on to the A303 we found that the traffic was a bit stop start. When there was dual carriageway the road was quite empty but as soon as we were on single lanes it clogged up again and sometimes ground to a halt. We stopped at a MacDonalds/Spar/Esso station for a cup of coffee and a pee, in all the journey took 5 hours.

The hut for the week is well appointed, plenty of bathrooms, and a massive kitchen. We have broadband, freesatTV, and no fewer that 3 TVs. The view out of the house is over “The Great Field” which at this time of year is just a muddy mess, I must find out why it is called the great field. We unloaded and I nipped up town for a hair cut, after trying two places I found a place tucked away off a street off the main drag. I had a very efficient haircut and it only cost £3.90, the place was alled Terry’s who had cut hair for 42 years before retiring and selling the business. By the time I got back to the house they were all organised and we decided to go for a walk toward Brauton Burrows over the Great Field. When we headed out the sun was shining but by the time we got back we had been rained on very heavily, some of us got soaked but my trusted poncho kept me dry.

We had fish and chips from SixteenTen for tea. Taffy and I went into to town, sorry village, to get them while the others watched strictly. We had arrived and were looking forward to the next 6 days discovering the beaches and coastal paths of North Devon.

Coat on coat off, coat on coat off

After a very pleasant evening in the Eel’s Foot with a few pints and an enjoyable chat with a couple from Cambridge whom we happened to sit next to, we were again up early for the Eels Foot fry up. Unfortunately no vegetarian sausages but lots of toast so very well fuelled as we checked out and headed off to Minsmere. The choice for today’s amble had been subject to much discussion, but decided we could not do better than simply do a circular route centring on Minsmere safe in the knowledge that a coffee and excellent cake could be assured at the end of our walk.

We parked at the visitor centre and grabbed a “what’s about” to get a heads up of what we should be keeping an eye out for. Not many people about yet and we headed off through the woods and soon came across a tit flock in an oak tree, which included two treecreepers, a greated spotted woodpecker, great & long tailed tits. We stopped at Bittern hide, unfortunately not repeating Neils success on Saturday but saw good views of a little grebe and chick. Continued to Island Mere where we saw a bar head goose, which is one of thos e “does what it says on the tin” birds, i.e. is a goose with striped bars on it’s head. Usefully.

We pottered on in the sunshine, so coats off, crossing the road at Scotts Hall where a berry laden treee held tantilising views of, as ever, unidentified warblers. The down the bridleway towards Dunwich Heath. The mushrooms has started to appear and Neil got a few photos and the chance to try out his fish eye lens. Another tit flock but could’nt spot the accompanying goldcrest that could be heard and more flipping mystery warblers! Reached the Heath where is was getting a bit busier as the sun drew people out but we took to long way round and managed to secure the seat at the centre of the heath in another unsuccessful attempt to spot Dartford warbler. It’s a bit worrying after we did not see any yesterday

and hope that is just us getting there at the wrong time rather than the after effects of a tough winter for them. We did manage to see the stone chat so that and a cheese toastie at Lighthouse cottages was some compensation.

Refuelled we went down to the sea where, despite there being a chilly wind there were several swimmers. We called in at East Hide to see the sanderling, black tailed godwit, avocets and wildfowl and walked on round the reserve. We reached on point where several birders were starring intently at a bush at a ……..wheatear! A lovely looking bird but we anticipated a mega from the number of watchers. Neil whispered he initially though it must be some special sort of wheatear. Sun came out so Neil took his coat off, then of course it went back in again. The BBC should use his coat wearing a some sort of weather prediction method.

Then lastly we popped into West Hide where it was surprisingly quiet after yesterday, until we spotted the sparrowhawk perched on one island which explained the rest of the birds shuffling quietly away on titpoe. We saw a distant greenhank and another avocet. The back to the visitor centre for coffee and cake and some light shopping (me) before heading back Chiltern-wards at 3.00pm.

A perfect day

We were in bed early last night, and I woke up about 06:30, by 7 I had had enough so I got up and went down to island mere hide. I parked near Scots Hall (not sure is that is allowed!) and walked into the reed beds. No one else was in the hide, the mere was quite full of water after the recent rain, and there were not many birds about. Geese were flying in and out in formation, and I spotted a juvenile Marsh Harrier. I had not bothered getting the scope out but then spotted a Bittern on the far side, by the time I got it set up the bird had gone.

Soon after I spotted another one further along this time I had the benefit of the scope, it was at the edge of the reeds looking up in the classic pose, then it barked and flew along the reeds and dropped out of site. Just before I left I spotted another one.

Breakfast was as usual great but they did not have veggie sausages but they promised some for tomorrow. After breakfast we sorted out our gear and headed in land along the Minsmere river.

The we then did a second side of a triangular route across Westleton heath where the Heather was in full bloom very purple and very fragrant. There were two distinct colours one very vibrant purple the other more pastel in colour. It was still early’ish and we had the place almost to our selves and the weather was getting warmer and sunnier.

By the time we got to Dunwich church we had not had a break so we sat on the bench and had half a snack bar each. After a nice rest we walked up the village high street and down to the fish and chip shop over looking Dingle marsh and the car park. Helen had veggie burger and because she said it is the law that if they are offered they have to be taken in case the proprietor thinks demand has dropped. It turns out that the burgers were deep fried vegetable fritters and there was no bun! I ended up having one of them.

Once Helen was tired of the wasps we went over to the beach where there were a few swimmers bracing the North Sea temperatures. After some time relaxing on the beach we headed back up the hill towards the light house cottages.

Just past Grey Friars we heard a great but distant thunder clap. To our west there was a very big and dark anvil shaped cloud, and it was heading our direction. Soon after it started to rain, but as soon as we had unpacked the poncho and got it on the rain had stopped. The storm was heading past just to the north of us, we surmised that if we had stayed much longer at Dunwich we would have got soaked the storm continued to flash and rumble for the next half an hour. We found a bench on Dunwich heath and looked for Dartford warblers, but apart from stonechats and wood pigeons we were out of luck. There was a brief flash of grey at one point but not good enough to get an id of any bird.

At coast guard cottages we had coffee and shared a cake, then a bit of sea watching and a pee. We then headed down to the beach and on to the main part of Minsmere RSPB reserve. The storm was heading away out to sea but you could still see lightning and hear thunder. Over towards Eastbriddge we could see some more dark clouds so we got a speed on, the plan was to go to a hide for a while before heading back. We just about made the hide before it started raining trouble was the hide looked out over scrapes but hey were empty because the Terns that would normalhangout there had left for sunnier clims, so I put on my poncho and Helen her rain gear and we walked back towards Mere hide in the hope of seeing another Bittern.

The rain did not last long and the sun came out the light was warm and brilliant for taking photos, so I did! Not muchaction going on in the hide, which was deserted. We got a few more ticks that had evaded us earlier in the day (Tufted, Great-Crested Grebe, and Little Grebe), but no Bittern in site. Later a man turned up with a 500mm f2.8 Canon lens (£5,000) hoping to get a Bittern fly by, if he got one the light was perfect. Feet suitabkly rested we left the hide for the final push back to the hide it was already 17:30 and I reckoned it would take 30minutes to get back to the pub, Helen reckoned longer 40minutes.

Rather than take the road back we turned away from The Eels Foot and walkked past Sotts Hall and joined the bridleway that runs parallel. We were both knackered and Helen needed a fruit bar to avoid a trough, 35 minutes later we were at the last corner before the pub, so I guess Helen was right about the time it would take to get back.

All day we had failed to find a Tit flock but just as we got back to the river Minsmere we spotted one so Blue Tit and Long-tailed wer added tothe day list. Then I spotted a Treecreeper it was really close and hunting insects on the small branches, the view was fantastic. Suitably rewarded we headed back to the pub it had taken 40 minutes!

We had walked about 12-13 miles and been out for just short of 9 hours which is probably a record for us. We quickly freshened up and heaed to the bar for a well earned pint and some pub food, the end of a perfect day.

Absolutlely Peeing it down

Just to prove we can be predictable we are off to The Eels Foot Inn for the August bank holiday just like we did last year. However this year we have no excuse we are just going because we want to and we can.

We left my folks at about 11ish after having spent the night. Dad now has iPlayer via the Wii I gave them.

We stopped for a comfort break on the B1120 at the South Suffolk show ground which was a collection of shacks trying to be a village of shops. I was not convinced but the broccoli, stilton and sweetcorn pastie was lovely. We got to Minsmere at about 14:00 parked up and headed the wrong way round because the north wall is shut till February 2012. We had ticked off most of the waders on the what’s about sheet from the west hide, then headed off down towards the bushes around the sluice, for some reason they call them the sluice bushes.

We saw some little brown jobs then headed on to the east hide where some RSPB staff were adjusting a pump to stop something flooding while the north wall works progress. We had some great views of godwit, sanderling, and ruff.

On the way back retracing our steps it started to rain so we popped back in the first hide to wait for it to stop. We finally spotted the ringed plovers that had evaded us up till that point.

We were in the hide for about an hour and it looked like the rain was really set in, but eventually we noticed that it had stopped. We headed back to the car park then were soon back at The Eels Foot Inn.

We were in the bar early it guaranteed a table and means we would be in bed early and therefore ready to get up and go early in the morning. I had fish and chips again and Helen had veggie lasagne both were very good. There is a new chef and looking at the specials the food is getting better. Not that it was lacking previously, just that apart from the usual pub fare there are some more unusual dishes, tomorrow I may have smoked haddock, leek, saffron and pea risotto!

A Tollesbury Cappuchino

After a “Sharp” gathering yesterday it is off to the jewel of a county that is Essex for a “Baldwin” gathering. We were up early so rather than sitting around I found a place called Tollesbury Marsh nature reserve which is sort of en route, being just off the A12 at Chelmsford.

The M25 was heaving because a section in Surrey was closed both ways after an accident yesterday. All the traffic to Kent was being diverted via the north of London. Once on the A12 we soon took a turn off around Chelmsford and passed through Maldon towards Tollesbury. I am always surprised at the quaintness of the Essex countryside when you consider the negative image it has.

We parked up at Tollesbury marina, (loos were locked!) and headed down the short stretch of road to the actual marina itself. We passed an impressive sparrow colony of possibly a 100 birds, then walked past the sailing club and down to the sea wall that skirts the Essex Nature Trust reserve.

The tide was out and the mud was exposed, the further from the marina we got the more waders we spotted: whimbrel/curlew, godwit, sandpiper, oystercatcher, redshank, golden plover, lapwing, linnet, reed bunting and wagtail. We sat for on the see wall then headed back for a coffee, in the local greasy spoon. I had cappuchino and crisps Helen had beans on toast and chocolate milkshake, (I can’t imagine why!).

The Barbecue/Party went really well, everyone seemed to enjoy them selves, there was plenty to eat and drink. We were booked in at a B&B called Timbers http://www.timbersbandb.co.uk/ which is close by I popped out and dumped the bags there at 16:00 to save a lot of palaver later. We were not quite sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a great B&B the hosts, Alan & Angela could not do enough to make sure we had everything we needed. Breakfast was a feast, we had a veggie breakfast, but the choices were extensive. There was fresh fruit salad, home made yoghurt, and home made Jam.

After breakfast it was back round the relatives house for a cup of coffee then Helen and I went home but not before another look at the local wildlife, this time at Mersea island where there is a ferry but no song with a Liverpool accent to go with it. The sun was shining and there was plenty to see on the mud exposed while the tide was out.

Not a good day for jelly fish

Last day in Devon, so we. Decided we liked the coast over at Woolacoombe so much we would walk from the south end of Woolacombe Sands over to Croyde Bay and back round baggy point. We parked up at the car park at Putsborough Sands (£6 for the day) then walked in land over to Croyde Bay. Helen took a comfort break while I waited I was chatted up, turns out she was only after my money for the RNLI.

On the way out of the bay towards Baggy Point we stopped for coffee at the NT tea room, I had a coffee cake and Helen beans on toast as brunch. It started to rain on the way out to the point but it did not put off the kids being guided round the rocks in life jackets and wetsuits. After a while I had to put the poncho on. The path is fairly flat so we will mark this down on the list for the September week.

Back at the south end of Woolacombe beach I had my sandwiches (Helen did not need any), in the car. We went down onto the beach to have a look at the rock pools, we had a look along the tide line, I came across a plastic tube with a purple balloon on the end on the balloon was printed Modem Radiosondes I’ll see if I can find out where it is from. There were also a lot of Jelly fish washed up.

On the way back we wanted to drive down the toll road and get a video of it, some how we missed the turning, but we did find another interesting road which will appear on youtube, watch the space. We got back to the hut and had a quick tidy round and pack before heading down town to the Vanilla Pod restaurant, which enjoyed earlier in thge week.

Short and sharp like Helen

We fancied seeing a large beach, and Woolacombe sands is the closest. We paid our £1 to go along the toll road through Valley of Rocks and the Lee Abbey estate, the road gets very narrow in places. The plan was to park at Mortehoe (£2.60 all day) then go north an loop back round the headland to get a look at the sands. It took about a mile to get out of the village, via a campsite toilet block and swimming pool complex, but we were soon out in the open country with Devon cows and the likes. Our plans changed a bit on the way out and we decided to go as far as Lee Bay.

The descent into the bay was steep and through a wood called Wrinkle Wood, but the effort was rewarded by the views at the bay and the laughs we had at the woman in the car park crouching behind her car only 30 meters from the public conveniences. After a quick coffee we headed up hill (always comes after a down hill) towards Damage Hue cliff. The path was one up hill after a downhill over and over again, Helen said she liked the hills to be “short and sharp”.
We passed a couple of stunning coves and stopped for lunch after a big climb out of a valley, where there was a seat looking back along the coast, as lunchtime views go they don’t get any better. In the valley below we caught site of a few Stonechat.

Helen has decided that when technology makes it possible we will install on one wall of our living room a device that allows you to have a view of your choice, even streamed from remote locations. Remember folks you heard it here first. We got to a sign that said Morte Point was 1.5 miles which would have meant another 3 miles back to the car so we took the direct route back to Mortehoe.

We then drove on to Woolacombe and had to spend £6 to park the car, just to have a coffee, look at the shops and the lovely beach! We decided to eat in veggie burgers in a bun, then get an earlyish start for our last day, we think we will go back to Mortehoe and do the bits we missed!