Wednesday 12 August 2009

Our favourite swimming spot

Summer time means swimming! We are so lucky to have a multitude of beautiful places to choose from, most within walking distance of home. Chagford has a fabulous outdoor swimming pool, but I'll save that for another post, as we also love to swim in the local rivers. Although today was rather overcast, it was very hot and muggy, so we set off for our favourite river swimming spot.
Out of the village we walked, wending our way up Meldon hill, and out towards Stiniel, a tiny hamlet of a half dozen little thatched cottages.

There is water everywhere in this lush and green land of ours. It springs from the earth on every hill, and trickles from the high rock walls that bound the lanes, and flows in narrow leats under and alongside the granite dwellings, converging in every valley bottom in peat stained, but crystal clean rivers.


From the thatched longhouses, we climb the steep and narrow hill to the top of Stiniel Down. Here is the path through the shoulder high bracken, between the overladen Rowan trees, which leads down to the valley and the river.


At the bottom, is Langaford Bridge, and the River Bovey, where we turn left and follow the water downstream.


In front of the bridge the water is about 4 feet deep, and there is a rope swing in the trees. You can swing out from the bank, and land with a splosh in the icy water. It is deep enough here to swim the ponies too, which we often do, although not today.



Instead, we continued on, along the river bank and through the gnarled trees. Everything is covered in a rich carpet of moss - rocks and tree trunks alike.


This is a land truly inhabited by magical creatures


The river narrows, and quickens,



until each can find their own private pool!


22 comments:

Linda said...

Its very Beautiful, and full of magic, I can see how it inspires your art. Lindax

Unknown said...

How beautiful! Words can not describe the magical feeling of this place!

Unknown said...

Danielle...
Im in Love...I want to visit the UK so badly...Instead of Disney World I wanted to go to the UK...Have always love british lit, movies, tv, and the way the countryside looks like. The history and pride taken in it to preserve it...

Smiles,
Sonia ;)

hens teeth said...

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, I am so pleased that you did, as now I can enjoy your wonderful posts. Your art work is achingly beautiful and where you live, oh my goodness....stunning.

Elizabeth said...

Oh, that is a magical place! Thank you for sharing it.

Richard Jesse Watson said...

I am glad I found your blog. Your art is playful mixed with mystery. Marvelous. The place you live is a wonderland, the sort I've seen in dreams and imaginings...

Caroline said...

What a beautiful verdant post, Daniellle! When I see pics like this I miss the wonderful British countryside (if the weather is kind)! My favourites are those lovely mossy ones!

Kathleen Coy said...

I love it! You live in fairy-tale land! :-)

cabin + cub said...

Love all your photos... the countryside and cottages looks so charming. would love to drive through the UK one day. :)

Terra said...

Thank you for letting me share this sweet journey toward the swimming holes with you.
Each photo led to yet another even more gorgeous photo. I love the stone cottages, the paths, the hills, the moss.
I live in California, which I fondly (?) call "the brown state" since the hills are so often brown. Yet it does have many pluses, including the redwood trees and ideal weather.
But oh, your moss! So green and velvety.

Carolee said...

A magical and inspiring place....Thanks so much for sharing the photos! How blessed you are to live amid such beauty!!

~ Carolee

Jo Bradford said...

I am in the Cornish countryside just 25 mins drive from Chagford, so pretty near you I'm guessing. Just yesterday we all headed out to swim in a lovely section of the Ottery that ox-bows past us near-by and each of us had our own pool to swim in while our dog gamely visited each of us in turn with a slobbery tennis ball to throw for him!!

gtyyup said...

I'm sure those are fairy tale/story book photos...unbelieveably beautiful. I was looking for a glimpse of a magical creature...they surely must be there!

Golden the Pony Girl said...

I just found you blog. What a magical life you live and it bleeds through to your wonderful art. I got goose bumps just looking at your pictures. Have you ever read Charles De Lint? Your pictures remind me of one of his books and concepts of "forests of the heart."

Anna said...

I found your name, and when I googled it, I found your blog.
I love your artwork, so you have a new follower!!!

have a great weekend, Anna

http://loverforbooks.blogspot.com/

Julia Guthrie said...

What stunning scenery! That is a gorgeous area you live in :)

Kim said...

Wonderful pictures and such a magical place to visit. You are very lucky to live where you do :)

Kim x

Julia Kelly said...

You have inspired me to photograph a favorite path! But where yours is so lush and green, mine will be dry, with shades of browns and reds- that is why I love coming to your blog- it is so different then where I live!

Blackfeatherfarm said...

You live in such a magical world.....

Tammie Lee said...

Your journey to a swimming pools was such a joy to experience through your photos. Your world looks as though it is where fairy tales are born!

Jennifer said...

What a beautiful place you live in, just gorgeous!

Heart of a Cowgirl said...

AMAZING scenery, the likes of which I have never seen in person. Couldn't be more different than the desert here in Arizona. Wow! Someplace I'd love to visit.

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