Along Devonshire Lanes...

After our nature walk today (which I will do a separate post on) we decided to take the long and scenic route to the store - it has been such a gloriously sunny week that it just seemed like the right thing to do - taking the slow, winding way.

At the top of our road is narrow country lane that takes you up into Dartmoor, and it's along this road that we decided to loose ourselves. One thing I am learning about Devon is that all those tiny roads that snake their way over the countryside are pretty well signposted with pointers to someplace that you will recognise. If you just keep pointing your car in the right direction you will get there eventually.

Devonshire country lanes are narrow - and not as scary as they were 6 months ago :) You just need to drive cautiously and remember where the closest widening along the way is that you could reverse to should you encounter another car - they do the same.

Fortunately we only encountered 3 cars along our drive so for the most part we could simply enjoy the countryside. Above is St. Petroc's Church (there are many churches in the West Country called St. Petroc as he was from this part of the country). I love how it sits right on the road, easy for passersby to pop in.

Can you see here that the lane widens a little on the right so that cars can pass? This little bridge is barley wide enough for a single car - as we waited for one of those three cars to cross the bridge we heard the driver's wing mirror scrape along the bridge wall. I am reminded to go slowly to avoid doing the same.

The hedgerows are high, although we don't feel closed in because they have not yet started to green up - spring only officially arrives on Sunday after all. So the hedgerows are still in winter mode. We wind our way through the lanes, every so often there is a break in the hedge and we can peek into a farmers field. - they are full with sheep and their lambs. We round a corner and suddenly we see the moorland, wide and open, in the distance. It's a bit of a juxtaposition as it contrasts with the narrow closed in lane that we are on.

The 'unnamed road' - there are MANY in Devon, slowly slips into Vicarage Hill and a tiny hamlet appears before us.

We slow down, I think one of these homes is a B & B too as two walkers step out in their walking gear. It certainly is a perfect day for walking and exploring the moor. I stop the car and snap a picture of the lane that we have just driven down - I could so live out here! Imagine the stars at night and the deep peaceful silence that you would find out here.

All too soon our little sojourn ends as we find ourselves on a wider road - wide enough for two cars to pass - that leads us through more beautiful Devonshire countryside and into the superstores parking lot. It seems so out of place to have this huge store plonked right here in this unspoiled land. I feel blessed to be living here - and for the first time since our move, I feel like this is home.

I'm linking this post up to Amy's Five on Friday party as I have 5 pictures of our explorations :)