Hollymount CL, Ross on Wye

Saturday 23rd April 2022

    Travelling there, we saw many fields rich yellow with rape but also loads of dandelions and verge upon verge covered in cowslips. Gorgeous!  

View over to Ross on Wye

    On pitching up, all the apple trees were in blossom.  We've tried to come here before to coincide with the blossom but circumstances dictated that we never could until now.  It couldn't be more perfect.

Sunday

    We did another Treasure Trail that we'd previously purchased for Ross on Wye. Two miles up and down dale.  We took our time in doing it and sat whenever we felt like it (plenty of benches).  

    We even fitted in a lunch at a café and found another clue. It's a great way to get to know the lay of the land and you also see parts of a town you wouldn't ordinarily see.  It took us about 4 hours from leaving the farm.  Lovely time.  We've decided to do another trail in Portsmouth when we're away with the grandkids in August.
    Afternoon of reading and siesta. :)
 

Monday

  After looking at the map, we decided on a trip up to Ledbury. No trail this time but had a good look around. We wanted to go to Butcher Row Museum and Heritage Centre but both were closed.

 

    Wandering into the church, it was lovely.  I could hear a rehearsal going on which included oboes. Some unusual architecture to be seen as well.

     A cup of tea in a café next to the old Market place was in order and then on to Weston's Cider at Much Markle.  Mike bought some rhubarb flavoured cider and I bought a Weston's glass 'cos it's my maiden name. :)

    We had a leisurely drive back, it's really laid back around here with no-one in a rush. 

    After a cuppa, we walked up to the Yew Tree pub in Peterstow. I managed to glimpse a fox and her cub in the woods at the side of the track.  Quite a trek, well almost 2 miles (I'm needing a new hip) but nice to get out and be with people. A couple of drinks later then a walk back. Felt quite tired but mellow. Another lovely day.
 

Tuesday

    Visited my Aunt in Bishops Cleeve near Cheltenham.  Another lovely day and great to catch up with her.
 

Wednesday

    The dawn chorus started at 4.57 and the crops spraying started at 8.23 but then it is a working farm and orchard.
    We decided to go into Ross on Wye for breakfast and another explore.  So glad we did the trail on Sunday as just walking around the town doesn't give you a feel for the place. We had a lovely cooked breakfast in the Priory Coffee House, would definitely recommend it.  It seems to be rare that you get really hot food these days, the chef did warn us that the plates were hot as well.  Mike was forever saying that was really good forever after that.
    Whilst I was in a shop, Mike sat outside. I bought a lovely hippy style dress and in the meantime, Mike had found somewhere to eat tomorrow evening and had booked it up.

    Back in the van and after a little snoozette, I made a start on the macramé plant pot hanger I've been wanting to make. And I almost finished it! Not bad for a first attempt.

    Afterwards, the weather was not so warm so no sitting outside but a lovely sunset.

Thursday

    Went to Prinknash Abbey near Gloucester in the morning.  I'd been years ago and remember watching the Monks making pottery. I bought a jug that time but I don't know what has happened to it.  This time I was disappointed.  They had stopped making pottery and only really sold incense that they make now.  We parked in the car park and headed down the road towards the shop/café. Not wanting to have a coffee at that moment, we carried on and walked around the walled garden. 

A lovely pear tree arch

Heck of a job building a door in this wall

    This was very tired looking and required quite a bit of tending. I'm assuming that as they had stopped making pottery that cash was at a premium and went on essentials. We walked through a short section of woodland then onto a road. There was a Monastery but it was at the top of a narrow winding road so we didn't go there.  We then sat down on a bench to rest, watching the calves.  It was a peaceful quiet place with plenty of bird song.  

    The café/shop was OK. Mainly religious items and books for sale. (not surprised really)

    We took a roundabout route to return as we went to find the pub that we were booked in for a meal later.  We're glad that we did as we took many wrong roads - it's really out in the sticks.

    The Pub for dinner was the 'The Cottage of Content' at Carey - about 5 miles north of Ross.  What a lovely typical country pub. Outstanding!  Pubs like this are far and few between, we feel that we shouldn't be spreading the secret but they deserve it.  

    Absolutely gorgeous meal. So flavoursome with slightly different flavours than normal. Mike had a steak and I had aubergine tagine with flavoured rice (can't remember all the ingredients but they all came together so well). We can't sing their praises enough, Mike even liked the taste of the tagine and he's a dyed in the wool carnivore!  His steak was also gorgeous and the best that he's had in a long time.

Candle decoration in the fireplace

 

Friday

    Went for a short walk around farm/orchard.  Some of the fields are sown for wild flowers or for wild bird seed. We saw quite a few birds take flight as we were walking around the outside of the fields.  Heard a willow warbler among others. We got down to one of the lakes but had to do a bypass as a Canada Goose looked to be sitting on a nest while all the others were warning her/him of our approach.
    For a few days, we have been the only ones at the upper site but now a few other caravans have joined us - start of the Bank Holiday weekend, I suppose.

    I went for another walk in the afternoon around the lake we'd seen on the way up to the pub on Monday.  Mike was too engrossed in a book that I'd recommended. 

The lake was lovely! So quiet, apart from the birds, and so peaceful.

     I did go down the track towards the main house where I knew I would have to back track but there were some gorgeous bluebells among the trees and I saw a large area of wild garlic (ransoms) and they smelt lovely.

    Had a slow walk back. I thoroughly enjoyed my walk but was very achy after.  Ready for a sit down!
 

Saturday

    Sunny!  Such a lovely day but we headed home. We had a brilliant time at Hollymount CL. Perhaps next time we'll do the Symonds Yat Trail.
 
 

All finished with spider plant :)