Dorset Summer 2013 :: part 2

:: DAY 4 ::

Visiting the beautiful Subtropical Gardens at Abbotsbury has become something of an annual ritual for us. It's one of those places that happily pleases all five members of the Attic clan and delivers a good dose of fresh air, gentle exercise and happy family time.

The gardens are set in 20 acres, a mixture of heavily wooded areas, densely planted areas, and neat enclosed lawny areas. Lots of trees, lots of plants and some picturesque watery bits. I loved this break in the trees (and these were some mega-big gigantic trees) offering a glimpse of the surrounding countryside.

As is our usual routine, we made our way slowly up the Magnolia Walk to the view point at the top of the hill to see the sweep of Chesil beach laid out below. There are benches up here, and it makes for a very scenic picnic spot, oh I do love to eat my lunch with a sea view.

Winding pathways, walkways, steps, bridges, pavilions, ponds and sculpture make it interesting to explore, even when you've been here a few times before. These willow deer were new this year and looked lovely in the dappled sunlight.

On a hot summers day, it is deliciously refreshing in the midst of the gardens, with an abundance of leafy greenery all around.

We all love the scale of these gardens. So much of the planting is extremely mature (ie ancient) and enormous in size. Giant bamboos, humongous tree ferns, extraordinarily tall trees and outlandishly large leaves towered and swayed above our heads.

This fallen tree carving was so beautifully and skillfully done, it had us captivated as we walked around and around it. One side showed a dog chasing a fox, and the other side.......

....showed an enchanting river scene. It was charming.

In the middle of the gardens there is a series of small ponds, streams, waterfalls and bridges. It is very picturesque and would have been very tranquil if it weren't for my three Little People running and yelling all over the place. They expended a lot of energy trip trapping at speed over this little red wooden bridge. To the mature couple who were sat on a nearby bench hoping for a peaceful outlook, I guess we totally ruined it for you, sorry.

It was lovely to see lots of butterflies fluttering about the place, and I had fun trying to identify them with my newly acquired Butterfly Knowledge. Aside from the usual suspects, we saw a Speckled Wood and this pretty Fritillary, although I'm not sure quite what sort of Fritillary it was as it refused to show us the underside of it's wings, naughty thing.

The Little People were most keen to find the lily ponds which they all remembered fondly from last year, even Little B.

We spent a long time here feeding the huge fish. It made Little B squeal with excited shock when one came unexpectedly right up to the surface and nibbled food straight from his fingers. The fish ponds are fairly near the end of the trail, so after the nibbling and squealing it was a short jaunt through the Mediterranean gardens and back around to The Colonial Restaurant for a refreshment stop. Coffee and cake for the grown ups (the most scrumptious slab of coffee and walnut cake, just so you can picture it), juice and homemade cookies for the Little People. Then the obligatory final stop at the children's play area (the slide here is pretty super-duper, being built into the side of a small hill and therefore unusually high/long).

We trooped out of the gardens in the sunny warmth of the late afternoon, then went back to base to pack up the evening meal................

....which was to be a beach barbecue (my turn to squeal with delight!) I just love love love (lovelovelove) to do this thing with my family, and each year it turns out to be one of my best-most-favourite bits of my whole holiday (it was Little B's best bit too, he told me this very morning, bless).

We choose Eype beach always. It is a very special kind of a place, a completely unspoilt  pebble beach with zero facilities. Just beach and pebbles and cliff and sky, with a smattering of other like minded people dotted about. And fishermen. Always fishermen. It is super peaceful and very relaxing here, and the most brilliant place to witness the close of day. As usual, we carted a whole load of baggage down onto the beach from the car via the steep steps down from the cliff top, but it is always worth it. My job is to put up our beach tent and see to the blankets, and J's job is to make fire. That man loves bbq cooking, and I am more than happy to leave this job to him. All I have to do is see to the bread products, condiments and accompaniments, oh and the drinkies.....

...oooooooooo-mmmmmmmm my favourite bubbly tipple! As we were joined here by my Dad and Lady B, we splashed out and bought fizz. It was such a delightful way to spend time, honestly, I can't tell you how happy I felt. Chatting with family, watching the LP play, sipping cold prosecco, inhaling the scent of charcoal and sizzling burgers, listening to the sound of the waves and watching the ever changing sky. Excellent, on all levels.

Actually, we had a weeny bit of a setback with the charcoal and sizzling thing, in that the charcoal didn't really light very well and the sizzling was very short lived. Luckily, J (who was clearly driven by hunger) refused to give in and sent the Little People off on an emergency driftwood gathering mission. They came back with a plentiful supply of dry wood and J used his impressive man-makes-fire skills to get the whole show back on the road. So our Aberdeen Angus burgers were a little late getting to the bread rolls, but oh my, they tasted absolutely, incredibly DEeeeeeeelicious, with a wonderful wood-smoke flavour. A very memorable meal for sure.

The changing skies are  a constant source of pleasure to me, both at home and on holiday. I am a real sky/cloud/light lover.

Combine the sky/clouds/light with the sight and sound of the sea and I am in heaven. I could honestly sit and gaze and contemplate for hours, I love the way I can totally feel my whole body and soul breathe out and unwind when I am beside the sea.

I want to share what I saw as daylight drifted away and the twilight descended.......

.......sigh. Such gorgeousness. We were on the beach for about five hours that evening, staying until it was dark and the first stars were twinkling above. Note to self :: next time, bring a torch. It was rather tricksy packing up the tent in the dark, not to mention the walk back along the beach and up the side of the cliff.

I made my wish upon a star (does anyone else do this?) and I am hoping, hoping my wish will come true. I'll let you know in due course xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Lynda M O]

Glorious, Lucy, thanks so much for sharing these delightful pictures and ever so lovely commentary. What a fabulous trip you all have had. So glad the BBQ fire got restarted and the burgers were memorable.

[Linda]

I just love reading your blogs. I hope your wish comes true.
Thanks for the few moments away from my everyday life.

[Rhonda]

Gorgeous photos... :)

[Debra Wortman]

Oh, Lucy, how perfectly lovely!

[Teresa Kasner]

The day sounds like perfection. Even the saved BBQ with added woodsmoke, bravo to your spouse! I totally agree with you on the beach, sea and sky, nice shots! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

[Gillian McM]

Completely heavenly! The next best thing to being there. Thank you, Lucy.

[Jill]

We were there at the weekend. We too love the walk up the hill to see the amazing view along Chesil Beach. My children shattered the peace too but by the fish ponds, especially when my daughter very nearly fell in as she was hopping over the stepping stones at a fast 6 year old speed. Lovely photographs. Jill x

[Margaret Rekers]

Beautiful photo's you made. They give a good impression of a wonderful vacation.

[CJ]

You have reminded me of my visit to that beach. I loved it too. In fact I have a couple of pebbles from it in a bowl on my piano. Beautiful photos Lucy, so glad you had such a lovely time. Very impressed with your butterfly photo by the way. We also have the butterfly identification chart now. But mostly we're seeing white ones! Hope you all have a good weekend.

[Thistle]

Your trip continues to look magical. I'm glad you had such a nice time. I would love to visit those gardens someday, that's just my kind of place. And if it's any consolation, my children annoyed people in a beautiful and peaceful Japanese-style garden recently. One of them even fell off a bench. :)

[Joy]

Living on the Isle of Wight surrounded by the beach is breath taking and a world away from the hustle and bustle of mainland life. The brightest star in the sky at night is my dear old Dad :-) .... lovely post as always Lucy .... happy days xx love Joy xx

[Adaliza]

I wish on stars every time there's a clear sky. Some of them even come true - but they're always secret, between me and the stars. Isn't it incredible that there's nothing between us and them on clear nights. Except some magic!

[The House of Jones]

Nosy Jones wants to know what you wished for!

Gorgeous photos and writing as always - I love the picture of the fish. We always spend ages by ponds, rivers, streams, lakes - any body of water really - looking for fish. The Bert is incredibly good at spotting them, but I think I would have done pretty well with your fish pond ;)

Oh and how manly does your husband sound, rescuing the fire with Ray Mears survival skills.. Grrrrr!

Looking forward to hearing more holiday tales soon,
Jones x

[Jennifer]

Beautiful pics as always. Love your storytelling. Smiling at your wish making upon a star and laughing at myself because I'm so curious to know what you wished for!

[myriam quesada]

Me encanta tu blog, hace tiempo que soy seguidora de tus trabajos.
Preciosas fotos de un dia feliz..te deseos muchos así

[Kate]

Off there tomorrow.Hurrah!

[Ariadne]

What wonderful places you visited! I recently read On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan!Wonderful!And those pebbles on that beach fantastic!AriadnefromGreece!

[Marylin]

Luv the photos and commentary...a good time was had by all!!! I too love the sea and I am fortunate to live beside it...to have a pebbly beach at the end of our driveway, to watch passing sailboats, tugs, and cruise ships in the summer months. The sea is bliss....... MO
http://moisbloggingit.blogspot.ca

[Puppet Lady]

You've captured the essence of this gorgeous summer! Fantastic pictures of the evening bar-b-q.

[Angela-Southern USA]

Oh Lucy! What a wonderful trip, thanks for sharing, I l-o-v-e the sunset pics! AND the garden ferns, bridges, fish, the carvings and the willow deer...well all really. :D
I wish....

[Clare]

What a lovely post, the gardens remind me a bit of Compton Acres, the beach looks great, and yes I'm one for wishing on stars. x

[Sarah]

It looks really beautiful. The carved fallen trees are amazing. Sarah

[Teresa Zuehls]

Such a beautiful ending to a beautiful day! I know how you feel about the sea! It's always the same but at the same time changing all the time with the light and clouds. We just got back from spending Labor Day weekend at the beach and I am missing it already too.

[Liz]

Fantastic photos and post as usual, such happy memories. Liz

[Heather]

You know, I still feel cheated that the weather was horrendous when I went to Eype ;-)