Apr 26 - Beer (in Devon)

 Apr 26 - Beer (in Devon)

The plan today was a return walk to the Seaton Wetlands, just a few kms along the coast and then inland a bit. However, when we got to Seaton JEM got sold on the idea of us getting a tram ride to a village called Colyton and then walking back through the wetlands, and how glad we’re we that she did!  For the railway nerds amongst us the tram runs on a 2 ft 9 narrow gauge electric track and the 3-mile route runs alongside the Axe Estuary and the River Coly wetlands ending at Colyton. 

Colyton itself is a lovely little village, given ‘town’ status by Henry VIII, and has many thatched cottages.  There’s also a beautiful 11th century Norman church that has a 14th century octagonal lantern tower, not something seen very often.  There’s a real ‘Olde Worlde’ feel about the place, and in discussion with one of the residents , this ‘feeling was supported by the fact that one of locals found 2 swords from the 1600’s in their attic!

Leaving the village, we headed towards the Seaton Wetlands by following the Coly river. We didn’t see any but the whole thing screamed out for being a ‘trout stream’, and possibly something from a Constable painting, all very nice. 

The wetlands themselves were fantastic!  Loads of birds and a number of hides to watch them from.  However, although JEM got a couple of fantastic pix with her camera, generally we only got to get close-ups with our binoculars.  Having said that though, the robin in the picture was two foot away and just touching distance away, and yet within an hour one landed on her hand!

Later in the day, after dinner in the pub, we heard the bells ringing from the local church.  Being nosy we went inside to see if we could watch and were lucky enough to be invited in for a try!  

There’s obviously a ‘knack’ to it, which obviously neither of us have, but listen to JEM in the video clip asking if she is a ‘natural’ (maybe one too many wines! 😊) .  It was great fun, for us anyway 😂, and we had a ball, and later it turned out that one of the women had lived in Northcote and worked at ‘Broady’, quelle coincidence!





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