A little late this month as I spent the last week of June in South Devon. An amazing break, catching up with family and ex-neighbours plus having two friends stay over with us in our apartment.
When visiting South Devon we usually stay in either Dartmouth, Kingsbridge or Salcombe. This year it was the turn of Kingsbridge, where we last stayed in 2017 just before the pandemic put us into lockdown. Post Covid there have been changes in the town. Some retailers have gone, while new ones have arrived. Thankfully the Mangetout Deli is still open and thriving. It was one of the first places we dropped into to purchase items. We have also enjoyed meals at The Crabshell Inn, which is only a few moments walk from our apartment. This year, however, we were shocked to find how much prices had shot up there, so opted to eat elsewhere instead. It’s a great place, right on the water’s edge but I couldn’t believe how expensive it had become.
We had a great week, meeting up with OH’s cousin, and having lunch with ex-neighbours who have moved to Ivybridge. We also had friends join us for a two night stopover. The weather held, hot and cloudless over the first weekend changing to sunny intervals accompanied by a strong wind for the rest of the week (check out the cloud formations as Beesands where we stopped for a coffee at The Cricket Inn on our way to Dartmouth on Thursday).
We walked a lot, checked out some new eateries and generally relaxed. The view from our apartment window was amazing. A view of the estuary with fields of sheep opposite. South Devon is one of my happy places and Dartmouth has, like Fowey, proved inspirational when creating Kingswater, the fictitious estuary town in my Cornish trilogy.
As at the end of all holidays, we were sad to leave, but now it’s all about where to choose for 2024 – Salcombe or Dartmouth? My money is on Dartmouth. Post Covid we found it swamped with tourists, but now holidays abroad are back, it’s much less crowded. It’s a great place to watch not only people but activity on the water as well. Relaxing and restful, I can’t wait to return.
READING
During June, I managed to read and review five books. It means I have now hit my Goodreads Reading Challenge target for the year. I would like to give a special mention to Sheryl Browne – yet another edge of the seat read with My Husband’s House. I also enjoyed Luisa A Jones’ The Gilded Cage, while Isabel Ashdown’s Homecoming and Nikki Smith’s The Beach Party both received five big stars from me – both highly recommended.
So that’s it for June. Back with you at the end of July.
JO LAMBERT 