Tour England

 

Tour group at Castle Combe, Wiltshire, England

This evening, I am reprising a one-day section of a large group England tour.

First, we departed our lodgings in Bath and drove about 1 hour east to Castle Combe. Latter is a 'picture postcard’ village near Chippenham in Wiltshire.

Castle Combe comprises a small community of stone built houses which date back hundreds of years. At the foot of the village is a stream whilst in the centre is St Andrew Church parts of which date from the 13th and 15th centuries.

Castle Combe Churchyard

Castle Combe, England

Castle Combe, England

Next, we drove west to Buckfast Abbey in Devon. The current building dates from period 1882-1938 and houses a community of Benedictine monks. Architecture is ‘Norman Transitional and Early English’. This Abbey is built on the site of an earlier abbey dating from 1018-1539 which, post Dissolution of the Monasteries, fell into ruin and was ultimately demolished.

 

Inside Buckfast Abbey, England

Lavender Garden at Buckfast Abbey, England

 

Buckfast Abbey, England

Next, we drove across Dartmoor, a high elevation, relatively barren landscape which is home to a population of semi-wild ponies.

Dartmoor ponies

Dartmoor Landscape, England

Tour Group with Dartmoor Ponies, England.

Finally we reached our destination of Plymouth where we spent a short time at the Hoe district before checking into our lodgings for the night.

Plymouth, England

Tomorrow, we visit sites in Cornwall.

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