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
A lovely calm (apart forn the running and shouting!) day out. :o) One day they'll be quiet visiting a place like that but it'll be because they're bored and sulking. (If they're anuthing like my teenagers anyway!)xx
Posted by: Jessie | May 20, 2011 at 02:21 PM
Ah, this green and pleasant isle! What a tonic :)
Posted by: Eleni Drinks Tea | May 20, 2011 at 01:43 PM
Beautiful photographs!
We went to Fleet last year for our first ever family camping trip. The scenery is breathtaking, as you have shown. Our campsite over looked Chesil Beach and every night we sat on the hill just outside of the main campsite and watched the sun go down. We didn't stop in Abbotsbury but did drive through a few times - a beautiful village. A large lorry got a bit stuck on the sharp right corner (opposite the turning for the swannery) and nearly took out the corner of the house there! Eep! We saw the church, but didn't stop, which after seeing your photo I wish we had, on our way to a very windy Chesil Beach. I so want to go back again, but two of my not so little ones aren't too keen. Tsk teenagers!
Also, just want to say that I love reading your blog. I have had so much inspiration from your projects. Currently half way through my ripple blanket which I hope to finish THIS year (started beginning of last year I think) I first discovered you when someone posted a link on a chicken forum I go on and my very first ting I made was the snowflakes, which I made my Christmas cards with that year.
Posted by: Karin | May 20, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Hi Lucy,
I just wanted to say what an inspiring post your blanket fest is!! My niece and I were at the wool shop together today (in Melbourne, Australia), both buying beautiful coloured wool for our new crochet blanket endeavours after stumbling across your blog via Ravelry. Your blankets are so lovely and thank you for sharing all that valuable information.
Posted by: mardi s | May 20, 2011 at 01:18 PM
Lucy I always follow your blog and I love your Dorset visits. I was born and grew up in Dorset, in a little village between Dorchester and Weymouth and i just feel like I've come home everytime I go back though I no longer have family there which is sad. I always gravitate to my favourite places, which include Eggerdon Hill, St Catherines Chapel and the coast though my 'home' bit of coast is Ringstead and Holworth and a visit to Portland Bill on stormy windy days because its awesome. I love sharing your blog, thank you. x
Posted by: Gillian | May 20, 2011 at 01:13 PM
What a charming share! Thank you! Lovely photos and clever words to allow us to share your day! x&o, Annette
Posted by: Annette | May 20, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Your sweet family traditions, picnics and holiday activities inspires me to make life more interesting for my family. Thank you for sharing so much with us.
Posted by: Daisy | May 20, 2011 at 11:14 AM
encore de belles photos quel magnifique pays
Posted by: crochet party | May 20, 2011 at 09:06 AM
Dorset IS a gentle place - I used to live there too, and I think your Dad is right. It has been lovely to revisit it through your last 2 posts - you've captured it so well with your photos.
I have linked to you from my last post where I was writing about granny stripes, amongst other things I hope that is ok :)?
Gorgeous x
Posted by: Gorgeous Things | May 20, 2011 at 08:24 AM
Last autumn when I visited Abbotsbury with a dear friend (they have lovely tearooms in the old school house with delicious shortbread!) I saw St. Catherines from a distance, both from the road and through some treas in the garden at Abbotsbury - now I only regret that we didn't actually climb up there. I will simply have to go back!
I enjoyed your photos so much!
Posted by: Irene | May 20, 2011 at 07:43 AM
You live in the most beautiful country and i love your style..
Posted by: nicole | May 20, 2011 at 05:41 AM
Love the countryside, and your love for it. Especially like your comment about "layering memories"--what an appropriate term.
Posted by: Kathleen | May 20, 2011 at 05:32 AM
Hi Lucy, oh my I loved St. C's. Here in America we have very few really old places.. when was that built? I *love* ancient stone buildings!! Thanks for sharing! I invite you to pop over to my blog and see some new photos I put up of the Columbia River Gorge.. I think you'll like it. Hugs, Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | May 20, 2011 at 03:47 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
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
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
More beautiful memories. Thank you, Lucy. Jude.x
Posted by: Jude | May 20, 2011 at 01:08 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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