The weekend review

The weekend was marvellous – a real break. I hadn’t quite realised how tired I was, and dear Viv did all the driving which was even better. Originally another friend was due to come but was due to be away that weekend, and as Viv had been poorly over Christmas and she rarely gets away, this worked out very well indeed.

The drive to Chagford only took an hour and a half from Truro so we arrived in time to give the dogs a run at Fingle Bridge, a beautiful riverland walk so we got to the hotel with very muddy dogs.

Luckily they have a wet room with plenty of dog towels – well, pristine white ones that Viv and I winced at using – but we managed to get the worst off the dogs in the river, then in the wet room basin, and were shown to our room which had a lovely French window opening onto a patio and huge garden overlooking the river.

We headed out to Chagford that night to the Globe for a bite to eat, which dear Paul (Viv’s partner) paid for, then took the dogs to the Ring O’Bells where they had music on. Unfortunately it was a bit loud for Titch’s tender ears (Molls is used to loud gigs by now) so we headed back to the hotel for a drink in the bar. This was rather more than we’re used to paying (white faces and jaws dropped at the price) before turning in for the night.

The next day we set off for Castle Drogo (see above picture) but it took far longer than the 30 minutes the hotel staff had advised, so we had to turn back as Mum was arriving for lunch. We went back to the Globe and sat in front of – or nearly in – a huge log fire for lunch and had a wander round Chagford which has 3 great pubs, two hardware shops that have been in the family for over 100 years and still offer a courteous service, and countless other Proper Shops.

We then went back and walked along the river the other way before finding a pub within walking distance (over the fields) and decided to go there for a meal that evening. The Sandy Park Inn – was very small but we had the biggest welcome, from the resident dogs as well as the locals, a fabulous meal and the wine was good too.

All in all we came home feeling relaxed and refreshed, and I wrote up the review on MOnday and sent it off with pictures.

I’m on the list for more reviews as of April, all being well. I’m not complaining.