Although there are a few vehicles on Lundy the only way for visitors to get about is to walk. So your visit starts with the long walk from the landing beach up a rough track to the top of the island. (I ended up going down to sea level 3 more times before the last sad descent to leave the island and each time the 120m got easier.)
Pulled up onto the beach were 8 gigs, we were later to find the Tavern filled to bursting with the rowers from gig clubs from as far away as the Scilly Isles who had all rowed across from the mainland from Ilfracombe. There were over 80 tents in the camping field.
There has been some concrete refurbishment of the track since we last visited but most of it is crunchy granite stones. We called into the Tavern to see if our accommodation was ready, which it wasn't, so we lolled around on the grass with some refreshment (tea & beer). The Tavern staff kept coming out to deliver delicious looking burgers & chips but we resisted as we had food in our luggage which would be waiting for us at the cottage. Eventually we went for a wander about to find our cottage. One of the charms of Lundy is the almost complete absence of any signs. You can't really get lost on an island that is only 3 1/2 miles long and it's not hard to read a map.
We marched a round about route to Stoney Croft, our home for the next few days. There are hardly any paths and you just have to make your way across the fields to get to your destination. While you are on Lundy you can wander almost anywhere you want. A paradise for walkers.
We were most impressed with Stoney Croft, clean, tidy and filled with comfortable antique furniture. This was our bedroom with lovely views towards the south of the island.
The small sitting room had the sort of armchairs that simply invited you to curl up in them with a good book. On the side table is the 'Log Book' in which you are invited to write about your stay. It was a fascinating read, so much so that I never got around to opening the book I had brought with me. For future visits I wouldn't bother bringing anything to read because as well as a fair selection of books (and games & puzzles) in the cottage there are many more in the Tavern. My blogging instincts kicked in and my daily entries were fairly comprehensive with Romas and Vicky adding their views as well. Some of the other entries were quite brief, many amusing and nearly everyone had fallen for the magical charm of the island. We are determined to return as often as possible and maybe even Christmas 2011 if we are still in the UK. It's not just money that is the limiting factor but actual visitor numbers are controlled to not interfere with the ecology of the island and some of the houses are booked for years ahead.
The kitchen was a fair size with basic amenities (no electricity between mid-night and 6.00). We all loved the pine Welsh dresser with its classy blue and white china. Previous log entries spoke of wild(ish) parties taking place here.
Pulled up onto the beach were 8 gigs, we were later to find the Tavern filled to bursting with the rowers from gig clubs from as far away as the Scilly Isles who had all rowed across from the mainland from Ilfracombe. There were over 80 tents in the camping field.
There has been some concrete refurbishment of the track since we last visited but most of it is crunchy granite stones. We called into the Tavern to see if our accommodation was ready, which it wasn't, so we lolled around on the grass with some refreshment (tea & beer). The Tavern staff kept coming out to deliver delicious looking burgers & chips but we resisted as we had food in our luggage which would be waiting for us at the cottage. Eventually we went for a wander about to find our cottage. One of the charms of Lundy is the almost complete absence of any signs. You can't really get lost on an island that is only 3 1/2 miles long and it's not hard to read a map.
We marched a round about route to Stoney Croft, our home for the next few days. There are hardly any paths and you just have to make your way across the fields to get to your destination. While you are on Lundy you can wander almost anywhere you want. A paradise for walkers.
We were most impressed with Stoney Croft, clean, tidy and filled with comfortable antique furniture. This was our bedroom with lovely views towards the south of the island.
The small sitting room had the sort of armchairs that simply invited you to curl up in them with a good book. On the side table is the 'Log Book' in which you are invited to write about your stay. It was a fascinating read, so much so that I never got around to opening the book I had brought with me. For future visits I wouldn't bother bringing anything to read because as well as a fair selection of books (and games & puzzles) in the cottage there are many more in the Tavern. My blogging instincts kicked in and my daily entries were fairly comprehensive with Romas and Vicky adding their views as well. Some of the other entries were quite brief, many amusing and nearly everyone had fallen for the magical charm of the island. We are determined to return as often as possible and maybe even Christmas 2011 if we are still in the UK. It's not just money that is the limiting factor but actual visitor numbers are controlled to not interfere with the ecology of the island and some of the houses are booked for years ahead.
The kitchen was a fair size with basic amenities (no electricity between mid-night and 6.00). We all loved the pine Welsh dresser with its classy blue and white china. Previous log entries spoke of wild(ish) parties taking place here. Once we had unpacked Romas, Vicky and I headed back down to the landing beach to watch the day trippers leaving on the Oldenburg. Now the island was truly ours.
It had been warm all afternoon and the sun came out turning the waters around the island amazing colours, deep shades of blue and green that we were to see so much of in the next few days.
The walk back up to the top of the island gave us a good appetite for our supper of tortellini after which Peter and I headed back across the fields to the tavern while Romas and Vicky went out for an evening walk. The gig rowers had filled the Tavern to the point where it was hard to even find a seat so after a while we walked back to Stoney Croft and ended our evening with some reading.
The Marisco Tavern with the church in the background.
It had been warm all afternoon and the sun came out turning the waters around the island amazing colours, deep shades of blue and green that we were to see so much of in the next few days.
The walk back up to the top of the island gave us a good appetite for our supper of tortellini after which Peter and I headed back across the fields to the tavern while Romas and Vicky went out for an evening walk. The gig rowers had filled the Tavern to the point where it was hard to even find a seat so after a while we walked back to Stoney Croft and ended our evening with some reading.
The Marisco Tavern with the church in the background.to be contd........
