Last Weekend in Somerset

We whizzed to Minehead  Thursday  last week to meet friends and for David to visit the West Somerset Railway during the Diesel Gala and Beer Fest.  We returned home on the Saturday.

From the hotel we could walk into the town and the railway leaving David and his friend to the trains. Just across from there is the sea wall my friend and I walked along there to the quay, seeing some people enjoying the sunshine with their morning coffee.  We came across a metal sculpture of a pair of hands holding a map as Minehead is part of the South West Coastal Path which runs from Poole right around the coastline up to Burnham-on-Sea.

 This was looking from across the station towards the quay

This side is not so good a pic as I was facing the sun

After a wander through the town and a mooch around the shops we went back to the station and after lunch there got on a train through to Dunster and a visit to Dunster castle.  There is Jubilee walk along the river from the station to the other side of the main road, then a steep walk to the village.

 A really large Gunnera plant along by the river

 The Yarn Market (no yarn there now, unfortunately!)

 First views of Dunster Castle

 and the front

The gardens near the castle with the local church behind. As you can see it was an absolutely gorgeous day and just nicely warm.

We made our way back to the station and due to the train running late we didn't have a long wait.

I could write about a railway without including engines, but I usually get the names wrong so you'll have to make do with photos!!

 I got the backdrop of the town behind this loco

Saturday was our return home but before then David and I visited Porlock Weir, a small fishing village just west of the village of Porlock

 Not sure if this was something defensive, but this stone building has collapsed at the back and the gaps in the stonework looks like a face!

Time for a seaside selfie, okay we could have done that closer to home, but it's a different bit of the sea!

After a quiet rest of the weekend at home, Monday was the TG walk at Ham Common in Poole.  A walk I'd not done before, but treated to some lovely views of the islands inside Poole Harbour.  The Common is mainly heathland with plants that are familiar with Canford Heath. The weather was a bit misty so not much of an opportunity to take photos but here are a couple

 This is looking towards Brownsea Island

Above is the small pier on Ham Common.  Walking along the shore there were a few jellyfish washed  up so the sea must be quite warm for them to be on the south coast.

I will catch up with my makings this month in another post.