It's A Summer Staycation For Me

August 05, 2019

About five years ago I stood on a wet and windy beach on the North Coast of England and decided that I wanted to live by the sea. I wanted sand between my toes and a sea that you could swim in so knew I had to head to the South West of England to find what I was looking for.  I found my Nirvana two years later in a quiet seaside town in East Devon: Exmouth. 

Despite having two miles of golden sandy beach, tourism and the 21st Century has largely passed this sleepy but fast-growing town by. I joined many Midlanders and Northerners that reach their fifth or sixth decade and escape from the industrial heartlands of Britain and head to the sun, sea and warmth of the gulf stream that bathes this delightful coastline. I now live where the crab is located on Dasher's vision of England, which is quite apt, given that I am a true Cancerian! 

With gorgeous countryside and coastal cliff walks, strolls and sunbathing on the beach, fantastic eateries, fabulous farm shops and artisan craft fares, there is no need for me to leave Devon in the summer.  My friends and family come to me and together we explore delightful Devon.  Here's somewhere that I spend alot of time: the Exe Estuary.

I get my hair done at Darts Farm and shop there for farm fresh food.  I often get the no.57 bus to Topsham and walk the estuary path all the way back home (7 miles!), observing the amazing, migrant birdlife on my way. I like to take the ferry across to Starcross and feast on mussels at the Anchor Inn at Cockwood.

Every year I catch up with friends who holiday down the coast in Salcombe.  I love the boats bobbing up and down on the water albeit I have to stay on land as I suffer from sea sickness ... I've not lasted more than 20 minutes out at sea!

Devon is the only county in England that has two different coastlines. Across the peninsular you can find Westward Ho! ... the only place in the UK with an exclamation mark in its name! It's a great, little seaside town with lots of character and home to Everything Westward, which is where you will find my Westward Ho! sustainable souvenir range

Come to Devon and you will discover why I don't leave this wonderful pocket of the world in the summer months.  See you soon :-)

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