I was having a discussion with my Dad last week about the differences between our respective Countrysides, ie the landscape of South West Dorset that I grew up with (and where he still lives) and the landscape of North Yorkshire which I now call home. He described the Dorset countryside as being " gentle and soft", and I totally get what he means. The hills are generally smaller, with the fields divided by hedges as opposed to the hard dry stone walls of Yorkshire. And yes, it does give the impression of being Gentle. At this time of year, it's also amazingly green and lush looking too.
When we visit Dorset we naturally gravitate towards the coast, but there are a couple of favourite "must-go-to's" which are inland. The picture above shows the impossibly beautiful village of Abbotsbury, which is the starting point for a short, sweet climb up to an amazing place :: St Catherines Chapel. We were here on 20th April, it was a terrifically hot Wednesday as I remember, not a cloud in the sky all day.
There....you can see the chapel perched on top of the hill as if it's sat there waiting for us to arrive. I'm carrying Little B on my back in a carrier, just as I did six years ago when Little Lady was a weeny tot. Uh-huh, we've been coming up to this particular spot to picnic and admire the view for many years. We are regulars to St C's.
Abbotsbury gets smaller and smaller as we climb higher and higher...
...and the coast also comes into view. That little strip of water in the distance is part of the Fleet Lagoon, it's an amazing part of coastline that always fascinated me as a child.
Gorgeous views whichever way you look...if you take a quick squizzy here, you can get a better impression of the chapel's location in relation to the coast/chesil beach, it is totally stunning. I love it.
It's an impressive building, this one. It looks and feels beautifully ancient (it's over 600 years old) and makes me instinctively want to sort of hold my breath and tiptoe around it with respect for it's grand age and Holiness. The Little People do not get it when I try and explain this to them. They hurtle in and out of it's ancient doors, run hell for leather around and around the perimeter playing chase. They go inside and shout at each other to test the awesome echo. I shhhhhhhhhhhhhh them. I ask them to treat this ancient and holy building with respect. They eventually hush down a little, and I spread out a rug and we lean our backs against the old warm walls and enjoy a lovely picnic lunch. Which is precisely what we do every single time we come to St Catherines Chapel, it's another one of our little traditions. I'm sure next year they'll be doing the same sort of running/yelling (along with Little B who is just learning the delights of running and shouting) and I'll be doing the same sort of shhhhsssshing all over again. Then we'll all sit down to eat lunch and admire the view. It's the way it is with us at St C's.
The above picture is another one of our must-go-to places, I know I've chatted about this place before. We usually come up here to fly our kite, but since the kite mysteriously disappeared (not difficult in the chaos that is our cellar), this year we came up here simply to enjoy the light, space, height, views and the roly-polying possibilities.
It's early evening, about 5.30ish, and we are here to eat/drink/stroll/view/roll/toddle/play/sit. As always, I am simultaneously calmed and intoxicated by the sense of space, the scale of the landscape (quite high/expansive for Dorset) and the wonderful golden end-of-day light.
I am thrilled to discover so many cowslips growing too, I don't remember ever seeing so many here before.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh the beautiful Dorset countryside, in all it's soft, gentle, undulating glory!
There look, you can see where we chose to lay down our blanket and picnic for the second meal that day (our lunch was eaten in the photos above at St C's chapel, two picnics in one day, hows that for good going?). It's beautifully sheltered down in the dip between the ridges, and crucially it's safe for Little B who would most certainly not be safe on top of the ridge. Best keep his toddling ways confined to the dip.
After we've eaten, I leave J and the Little Peeps playing frisby and hunting down caterpillars, and off I toddle to enjoy a few moments to myself. I walk along the very top of the ridge and marvel at my own shadow. I reflect on the day, how long and glorious it's been, how many of it's hours we've spent outdoors (at least 8, getting on for 9 by now). I think how much the Little People seem to have enjoyed it, how Little B is growing into the family so beautifully (he loves picnic eating as it happens, the cold sausages, tomatoes, crisps and strawberries barely touched the sides, not to mention the chocolate). And for the umpteenth time this holiday I think how lovely it is that I can share this little patch of my Childhood with my own children year after year. How heart warming that they are growing to love it as much as I do, that my own childhood memories are being layered with theirs.
Sigh. Such happiness. Lucky, lucky me.
Tomorrow, one last chapter...see you then xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wow, these pics make me wanna go there right NOW! :-)
Posted by: tinajo | May 19, 2011 at 09:07 PM
Beautiful post Lucy <3
When we went to Dorset (North - near to Shaftesbury & Gillingham) I was the only one who wanted to do coasty things and can you believe it - A's folks don't DO beaches and A hates sand. Gutted. I will have to show them your posts to change their mind and give us some ideas of where to visit. Lulworth Cove was a big disappointment after loving it so much on my year five school trip there, er, 14 years ago.
Posted by: Heather @ Littletinbird.co.uk | May 19, 2011 at 09:11 PM
Love the photo of the shadow on the hill, reminds me of the Lloyds bank ad!!!!!
Posted by: Liz | May 19, 2011 at 09:11 PM
How lovely. This quite literally brought tears to my eyes! I truly hope to see these places one day.
Posted by: gail | May 19, 2011 at 09:15 PM
Such a contrast to the coast but ever so lovely.
Posted by: Liz | May 19, 2011 at 09:18 PM
yep, i want to be there, having a picnic, flying kites, absorbing the ridiculous beauty there!!!
lucky you :)
Posted by: Grateful4Crochet | May 19, 2011 at 09:24 PM
Stunning photos! Can't wait for the last installment :o)
Oh and Lucy, I have to say a big THANK YOU, for your marvellous pattern... I have finished my granny stripe blanket - gave it to my friend last weekend, she absolutely loved it! Just putting up the pictures over at mine... thank you, thank you for the inspiration!
Jones xx
Posted by: The House of Jones | May 19, 2011 at 09:29 PM
Beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous!
Posted by: amy in cambridge (my fair city), ma | May 19, 2011 at 09:38 PM
Just a lovely lovely tribute to a gorgeous section of our world. Thanks for showing it to us.
Posted by: Lynda M O | May 19, 2011 at 09:48 PM
This is the area in which I grew up too and I have been thinking about taking my children there. I lived in a village called South Perrott and went to school in Mosterton. We loved Eype and Eggardon. I also liked going to Golden Cap, which was good for kite flying. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane!
Posted by: Laura | May 19, 2011 at 09:53 PM
More lovely photos and lovely memories xx
Posted by: kate | May 19, 2011 at 09:57 PM
I love your Dorset posts. I didn't grow up in Dorset - not even in this country - but visit Lyme Regis every year for a week in February with my dad and my children. This year we started to explore all the surrounding hills. I think it's magical down there and sometimes joke to myself (but it's only a half joke...) that I'll buy myself a house there when I retire as I love it so much.
Posted by: Cybele | May 19, 2011 at 10:00 PM
Such lovely countryside you show us here. Wish I was there right now. Your posts enchant us all I think.
Bye,
Marian
Posted by: marian | May 19, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Hmmmm, why do I feel that I want to be in the UK and go straight to Dorset. Truly beautiful photos and your posts are great. Thank you for sharing your memories and family with us.
Sarah (in hot dry Texas)
Posted by: Sarah | May 19, 2011 at 10:17 PM
It's lovely, Scenery you only see in Great Britain. It makes me want to go to England again.
Posted by: Trui | May 19, 2011 at 10:33 PM
Dear Lucy the comment about taking your little people to the places you
knew in your childhood reminded me that we did this with our sons, I just wish we had taken more photos. Yours are so good and a delight to look at.
Thank you for sharing them.xxx
Posted by: Sarah west mids uk | May 19, 2011 at 10:34 PM
Your pics are lovely. Here in the states we don't find many places where we can do what you do, it would be considered trespassing to hike up on a hill and picnic, that is unless you know the land owner and have permission. Our life here is so hurried, your life in England seems more laid back. You are very lucky indeed :)
Posted by: Susanne Tyree | May 19, 2011 at 11:41 PM
As close to heaven on earth as it gets. Stunningly charming as always. I for some reason think that second simple picture it postcard perfect. So simple, so sweet, so soulfully peaceful.
Glad to see you are out and about. Keep the post coming. As you know I do love a good hike and picnic with you, but next time remind me to take those rocks from the beach out of my pockets. I don't need all that extra weight up the hillside.
Toodle-ooooo,
Kate, you know who.
Posted by: Kate - The Garden Bell | May 19, 2011 at 11:50 PM
I think the area between Dorchester and Lyme Regis is just the best anywhere- and the views from the road between Dorchester and Bridport are magical, my absolute favourite journey, apart from the coast road,which,astoundingly,is even more beautiful.
The distance is Dorset is always so very blue....
Posted by: Kate | May 19, 2011 at 11:53 PM
Beautiful photos. Almost can imagine being there myself. StC's is just stunning! I can see why you love it so much.
Posted by: Colleen | May 20, 2011 at 12:57 AM
Wonderful photos, thank you for your great commentaries. Showed them to my hubby who is from the UK. he commented that many years ago he did a cycle tour and visited a nearby town called Ottery St. Mary.and it was snowing at the time.I hope one day I can visit the UK.It is now becoming quite cold here in N.Z.Heating on today and some knitting time coming up.Shirley
Posted by: Shirley Flavell | May 20, 2011 at 01:06 AM
More beautiful memories. Thank you, Lucy. Jude.x
Posted by: Jude | May 20, 2011 at 01:08 AM
I read your blog every time you post. I don't think that I have ever left a comment. (For shame!) I am a bit shy and intimidated by your lovely creations and the many, many comments you receive. I resolve to get OVER IT. For some reason, this post has left me a bit teary-eyed. I believe, in part, that I am privileged to see yet another facet of your life, another part of who you are, and it is wonderful.
I wish to be there to see the beauty that moves you and the beauty, I know, that would move me.
p.s. I am going to Google Saint Catherine. Do you think I'll get an answer?
Thank you for the joy here.
Posted by: ellen kelley | May 20, 2011 at 01:18 AM
Lucy--thank you so much for all your wonderful posts. I really enjoy hearing about your holidays and seeing the lovely pictures you take. It is really making me want to take a trip to England to see this glorious countryside!
Posted by: Nancy | May 20, 2011 at 01:58 AM
Lucy, this post is a joy, truly showing how much love can connect a family. Where that family might travel together to discover old familiar, and also new joys together.
I have visited your site so many times to look, admire and learn crochet tips, but I must also thank you for sharing your fabulous appreciation of the various UK landscapes and the atmospheres of those regions.
xo
Posted by: Frances | May 20, 2011 at 03:12 AM