If you have a car in Dartmouth and wish to head east (which we did) you have three options for crossing the River Dart. You can drive up the west side of the river to Totnes and cross there. Or you can take the little ferry across to Kingswear – the so-called lower ferry. The third option, the one we took, was to travel on the upper ferry from the north end of Dartmouth. It’s a short crossing and basically, you don’t get out of your car. Photography is a bit restrictred, but we were lucky enough to have a gap in the superstructure alongside us.
And of course, There was something of a view out of the front.
The River Dart estuary is a playground for the leisure boat fraternity.
And also for steam train lovers. As the fare collector approached us, a train was making its way down the east bank of the river to Kingswear.
That’s a GWR Manor Class loco.
Foot passengers were able to get a better view than I did.
We arrived on the east bank and then made our way around the Torquay area, stopping for a coffee break and a shop at Kennford. I was glad I checked a map here for I weas certain we could not rejoin the A38 at the east end of the village. I checked with the shop keeper and he agreed, we’d need to head back west for about a mile.
Once round Exeter we headed down to Lympstone to see old friend Janet – a very pleasant time spent with her.
When we left, we went swiftly to Wiltshire, but I made a stop at Mere. A drink was needed so my final photos are from the former coaching town on the main road west.
Pleasing old buildings surround the church – an ideal spot to sip coffee.
A building with a Dutch Gable – and a couple of bins. It’s called The Grove building.
The town square and cross at Mere.
Home James.