Our Visit to Friends in Devon (30/07-03/08/12)

We were invited by Patrick and Eileen to spend a few days with them at their house in Ashprington, Devon. The main aim was to visit several concerts at Dartington Hall during the Dartington International Summer School. The concerts we attended were all evening performances so we had time during the day to visit some of the attractions in the area. On the way home we made a detour via Plymouth to visit Dave and Daphne and have lunch with them before returning home.

Monday: Totnes, Coleton Fishacre, Ashprington

After a quick visit to Totnes, Eileen returned home as she had a course at Dartington every afternoon. George, Patrick and I made our way to Coleton Fishacre, an 'Arts and Crafts' house, built in 1926 and once owned by the D'Oyly Carte family and now run by the National Trust. The gardens extend over 30 acres, with formal gardens, ponds, native flora and exotic trees. A narrow garden runs down a narrow combe and there is a lookout with views to the sea. It is always a pleasure to go around in a garden with Patrick, who knows all the plant names, including the Latin ones. Before the concert in the evening, George and I had a quick look around in Ashprington. To read the programme title page of the very enjoyable concert at Dartington click the thumbnail on the right.