Welcome to (mycottageindevon)

Places of Interest and Activities

Sailing, windsurfing, swimming, fishing (both sea and freshwater), golf, bike riding, walking, bowling, go-karting, adventure park, horse riding and cycling are just a few of the activities available within an easy drive from the cottage.
The clean sandy beaches are within easy reach, The Jurassic coastline with spectacular coastal path walks are approx. 15 minutes away. 

Restaurants and cafés, horse riding, walking, fishing, (sea and trout), and cycling are just some of the past times you can indulge in, or simply amble through pretty country side or cliff top walks, the coast line all along this section of the south coast are particularly breath taking.

Visit the local fishing villages and harbours all along  this coastline, self drive hire boats and organised fishing trips can be arranged from the famous cob at Lyme Regis. Shopping in the local town of Axminster famous for is carpet manufacturing) with its independent shops and the usual larger supermarkets, cities of Exeter, Taunton, Yeovil and Dorchester all about 45 min. away or opt for the local historical town of Honiton famous for its manufacture of lace and the abundant of antique shops make this an enjoyable day out.
 

Axminster 5 min away (by car)

Situated on the River Axe, the small town is famous for its Axminster Carpets, invented by Thomas Whitty in 1775, a design similar to Turkish Carpets. Caster Hill House, where the carpets were originally produced can still be seen.

The church has a Norman door and a Jacobean pulpit. Visit the church which is on a site of a church founded before AD755. The church was endowed by Athelstan in 937 after his victory over the Danes, a battle in which 5 kings and 7 earls are said to have been killed. Opposite St. Mary's Church in the centre of Axminster, old police cells, displays in the former courtroom, collections from agricultural tools to Axminster carpets. Occasional special exhibitions.
 

Market: Thursday - open street market.

Lyme Regis 15 min away (by car)

The pearl of the World Heritage Jurassic Coastline, celebrates its sparkling history while building for an exciting tomorrow. The resort, which has played a significant role in national and world affairs down through the centuries, is blessed with its location in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. Breathtaking scenery, moody blue cliffs yielding evidence of life on earth millions of years ago and an aura of yesteryear around every street corner, give Lyme Regis an enduring mystique.

Part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, and surrounded by areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Lyme Regis, the “Pearl of Dorset”, is famous for its fossils, its historic old town, its Cobb and its beaches.

The old town, dating back to the 14th century, is an ideal place to walk and explore the local shops art galleries, newly replanted  gardens with myriad places to stop and rest. Built around the river lym, Lyme has its own working water mill recently refurbished to include an electricity generator. Lyme Regis is very special in that it is probably the smallest town in the country to boast its own cinema, theatre and museum

The Cob attracts visitors – not just for its visual splendour and its magnificent naval architecture, but also for its connections with great literature. Indeed, people come from all over the world to see the steps where Louisa Musgrove fell in Jane Austen’s Persuasion; or to see where Meryl Streep stood, looking forlornly out to sea, in the film adaptation of John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman. And art lovers are drawn to Lyme for both its beautiful scenery and for its wide range of art galleries.

Holiday makers will enjoy a family-friendly, sandy beach and an often-surprising micro-climate in the shelter of Lyme Bay. Marine Parade is a great place to walk, sit, enjoy the views and visit its small shops and eating places. Here the seafront facilities will soon benefit from restoration of the Marine Parade Shelters. The town and surrounding area have many attractions and host a range of family-centred events, including a Jazz Festival, a Fossil Festival, Life Boat Week and a Regatta & Carnival Week.

Honiton 20 min away (by car)

Honiton is best known for its traditional lace dating back to the 1600s.The 13th century chapel of Allhallows is a grade II listed building, the oldest in Honiton and houses the museum showing samples of lace making, and is located in the high street next door to St Paul’s church with its clock tower.

The town offers a wide variety of eating places, cafes, restaurants, pubs, and hotels and also a wealth of town centre bed & breakfast and guest houses.

There is a Street Market that takes place in Honiton each week and with annual events such as the Honiton Festival, Honiton Show, Honiton Hill Rally and a Carnival. The traditional main high street is approximately one mile long with an extensive range of antique shops and in strolling along the high street you will find auctioneers, gents outfitters, home furnishers, baby wear, kitchenware, soft furnishings, tool shops, mobile phone shops, butchers, bakers, specialist bookshops, newsagents and stationers, sportswear and sports equipment, shoe shops, bed centre, florists, wine merchants, wine bar, dairy, ice cream parlour, cafes, opticians, hearing aid centre, boutiques, ladies fashions, ladies hat hire, lace making, toy shop, antique toy shop, agricultural engineers, pet foods, hair and beauty salons, chemist, supermarket, architects, business agents, financial services, insurance brokers, solicitors, property agents.

On the other side of the high street, Lace Walk leads off to find bakers, supermarket, dvd/cd sales, mobility, fashions, greengrocer, opticians, dry cleaners, furniture restoration. Just along from Lace Walk is the entrance to Vine Passage tucked away with its delightful handbag, leather goods and travel gifts shop. A few steps further along you will find Dolphin Court, by the side of The New Dolphin Hotel with its restaurant and bars and accommodation, there are printers, health foods, bead shop, carpet shop, betting shop.

There is also a wide variety of businesses located around the centre of Honiton, such as, sign makers, builders merchants, car sales and repairs, specialist upholsterers, marble and granite suppliers, national chain stores, bathrooms and plumbing, tile and kitchen suppliers, window manufacturers, saddlery and equestrian supplies, horse feed, garden equipment, garden centre, petrol station, car and van hire, plus a whole range of specialist services.

Beer 15 min away (by car)

In the late 18th century and early 19th century, smuggling provided many citizens of Beer with an income on both sides of the law. According to George Pulman in 'The Book of the Axe', published in 1875, "In former days, when the coastguard was inefficient and the exciseman lax, the Beer men were the very kings of smugglers."

Beer fishermen had always had a fine reputation for their ability to handle and sail boats. With this ability and the ideal geographical location for landing contraband and transportation to remote farms and houses, smuggling became an alternative "trade" for some of the fishermen. By 1750, the area was so notorious that the local revenue officers were reinforced by dragoons posted in Beer, Branscombe and Seaton.

The boats used were Beer luggers, built in Beer, between 25ft to 35ft in length. They usually had a 4 man crew. Much of the contraband was brought in from the Channel Island of Alderney, but in some cases the smugglers would collect contraband from the North coast of France. As well as casks of brandy, tea, tobacco and silk were other commodities that were smuggled into Beer.

Not all of the inhabitants of Beer were smugglers, indeed some worked for the authorities to catch the smugglers. This could prove complicated and there are reported instances of coastguards being bribed to turn a blind eye at the appropriate time. The honest citizens could also make money from smuggling by informing on the smugglers or by retrieving the contraband. Revenue Cutter captains were rewarded for the contraband once it was handed over to the authorities and sold.

If a smuggler was being chased by a Revenue Cutter or had received a signal from shore, usually a fire, that coastguards were about, then the casks could be roped together in a raft and sunk offshore and its position marked by a float for later retrieval by "creeping", fishing up the tubs using grappling hooks. In the event that the smuggler did not have time to sink a raft, then the kegs could be thrown overboard. To secure a conviction, the Cutter required both the smuggler and the contraband, so by separating himself from the contraband increased the smuggler's chances of escape, especially as the contraband could be of financial benefit to the Revenue Cutter captain. Revenue cutter crews would also "creep" for contraband if they thought they knew where a raft of kegs had been sunk.

One of the most famous smugglers was Jack Rattenbury. He was born in Beer in 1778 to a Beer woman, Anne Newton who was married to a Honiton man, John Rattenbury. After thirty years at sea as a fisherman, pilot, seaman and smuggler he wrote about his life in a book, 'Memoirs of a Smuggler', which was published in 1837.

In 1896 Sir Walter Besant and James Rice wrote a novel based on Jack Rattenbury and set in Lyme Bay. The titleof the novel is "Twas in Trafalgar Bay".

Exeter City 35 min away (by car)

Exeter is located in the Southwest of England. It is situated on the River Exe in the county of Devonshire. Full of character and ancient history, Exeter is still able to offer all the amenities and comforts that would be expected of a modern day city.

Exeter is the capital city of Devon and provides the county with a central base for education, medicine, religion, commerce and culture. The city is also home to the magnificent Exeter Cathedral, which dates back to Norman times. If you are planning a trip, a holiday, or a short break, Exeter has something to offer people of all ages to enjoy all year round.

Exeter's Red Coat Guided Tours

Exeter offers its visitors the opportunity to take various guided walking tours around the city with the Red Coat Guides. These volunteer guides will take you for a 90-minute (approx.) tour, leading you around the various attractions and showing you some of the most popular sights to see. All this, whilst also presenting lots of interesting facts and tales of Exeter's long and historical past.

Tours are available throughout most of the year, with a separate summer and winter programme. Some of the Tours available include:

Exeter Shops & Shopping

If you like shopping, whether you are buying for yourself or someone special, Exeter has the shops to satisfy everybody's taste. The main shopping centre of Exeter is extensively pedestrianised and is served well by the Exeter bus services, which includes the park & ride scheme coming from the city's outskirts. There is pay and display street parking available in certain areas, this together with the many car parks, offers the motorists a choice of parking areas within easy reach of the city centre.

Exeter has recently undergone a huge revamp to the Princesshay area, which took over four years to finish. The development, completed by Land Securities, officially opened on the 20th September 2007 has added further to Exeter's shopping appeal bringing many top brands to the city. Together with some great local independent retailers, Princesshay has also become the home to several new eating establishments, many providing a continental pavement-café service within Princesshay Square and Blue Boy Square.

As well as the new Princesshay development, Exeter still has many top brands and uniquely individual shops beyond this sector. High Street is still the main shopping street in the centre with Princesshay being just one of a number of shopping zones that lead off this central street. Others, including Harlequins and the Guildhall shopping centres, Queen Street, South Street and Sidwell Street all offering plenty more.

With the undercover centres and main high street areas providing traditional pedestrian shopping, Exeter's retail parks can be found a little further out at Marsh Barton, Exe Bridges and Rydon Lane.