An evening walk in Lydford

An circular evening walk with our regular group, based on Lydford just over the border in Devon. An interesting village whose present sleepy appearance belies its past importance as one of the four 'burghs' in the county founded by Alfred the Great. If you look closely at maps, the Saxon road layout is still discernible as are defensive earthworks at several points on the outskirts of the village. It once had its own mint and the Lydford Penny turns up in all sorts of unexpected places. Apparently, the best collections of them are to be found in museums in Scandinavia, the result of the well documented attacks on Lydford by the marauding Danes.

And the walk? About 4.5 miles in very pleasant early summer evening conditions. Our route took as along ancient byways, over a stretch of open moorland, along a disused railway and then back to the Castle Inn for a decent meal. A good way to spend a few hours.

St Petroc's church at Lydford. For all the many times we've been to the village, we've never been inside the church. We really must do something about it - maybe next time.

The Castle Inn with the 'castle' in the background. It's not actually a castle but rather a free standing tower (built in the 13th century as a courthouse and gaol) with an earth embankment pulled up around its sides.

An interesting gateway/dove cot poking up near the car park.

A muddy track but not any old muddy track. This is part of the original Saxon way linking Okehampton with Lydford.

The skies were blue all the way around.

In homage to Kenneth Williams, I call this one 'Carry on up the Digitalis'.

I'm not an orchid expert but I think this is a Lady orchid. Some say that the individual florets are manikin shaped, with the petals cleft into arms and legs. I can see that this is the case for some but not all.

A rubbish shot over the fields towards Widgery Tor with its stone cross on the top. It's a lot higher than this view might suggest.