Lyme Regis

After leaving Abinger Common we drove to Lyme Regis.  It was a 3.5-hour drive.  We spent Wednesday and Thursday night in the quirky B&B above the Sanctuary Bookshop.  It was great fun.  You must visit their website. 

http://www.lyme-regis.demon.co.uk

Sanctuary Bookshop (our room  is the top floor  middle window)

We stayed in the front sea view room, a tad noisy with the traffic on the high street but it was worth it for the views.  Looking through the bookshelves in each room and the stairwell was entertaining.  You can imagine what picture books were placed strategically in the bedroom. 

Check out the this book - what a laugh!!

 I chose Lymes Regis because of the story of Mary Anning, a fossil hunter in the 18^th century.  Her story had intrigued me since I read two books on her when I worked at the library. 

Due to the ‘low’ high tides at present we missed out on a fossil walk.  The cliffs are too dangerous to walk under and with the high low tide – what a mouthful, fossil hunting was out so unfortunately we didn’t get to see any fossils except the ones in the shops. 

I started writing this blog yesterday while sitting in a traffic jam in the narrow country lanes on our way to Bigbury-on-Sea.  We were keen to visit ‘The Pilchard Inn’ on Burgh Island and ride the sea tractor across to it.  Unfortunately once again due to the high low tide we missed out on our tractor ride and walked across the sand.  It was a sunny day so we enjoyed a baguette and beer/cider overlooking the sea. 

While we were camping at Mevagissey Dave had a book of curious pubs and while flicking through it I saw ‘The Pilgrim Inn’ and discovered it was on Burgh Island where the Hercule Poirot episode ‘Evil under the sun’ was filmed.  We saw the episode last year so along with seeing the pub in the book and it gave us the idea of visiting, even better that it was only an hour away from Karen and Dave’s where we stayed last night.  When we arrived in Saltash Karen was busy finishing her three tiered (elaborate) cake for her Gran’s 100^th birthday celebration today.  The cake was to be admired. 

It was a 1.5-hour drive here to St Ives today.  It is very busy with tourists (us being two of them). It is a picturesque beach town.  Karen, Dave and the kids will join us tomorrow for a few days.  Fingers crossed the sun will keep shining as it is the first day of autumn tomorrow.  It has been enjoyable these past few days.  

The Cobb of Lymes Regis before the daily crowds arrive

Then there are the crowds (& seagulls & European swasps - not sure what is worse)

Looking at Burgh Island - The Pilchard Inn in the forefront on the right