Up early to a beautiful sunny morning . . . during breakfast our host retired judge Paul invited us to join him for dinner the following evening, as it will be our last one in Devonshire. Sweet!
After our relatively "easy" day yesterday, we Nuest'as are ready for a big adventure. Heading south on the A382 to the A381 to Totnes and Sharpham Wine & Cheese. This beautiful thousand year old farm, owned by the Sharpham Trust, consists of 500 acres along the River Dart. The Trust oversees the Sharpham Partnership which is the trading name for the diversified activities run on the family estate — a vineyard, creamery, and dairy farm.
After our relatively "easy" day yesterday, we Nuest'as are ready for a big adventure. Heading south on the A382 to the A381 to Totnes and Sharpham Wine & Cheese. This beautiful thousand year old farm, owned by the Sharpham Trust, consists of 500 acres along the River Dart. The Trust oversees the Sharpham Partnership which is the trading name for the diversified activities run on the family estate — a vineyard, creamery, and dairy farm.
We start our visit looking at how Sharpham cheese is made. They have cleverly built their new modern facility next to the winery with strategically placed windows to observe the making of their handmade cheeses that use the rich milk from their herd of Jersey cows, vegetarian rennet and are free of GMO ingredients.
Next, on to wine and cheese tasting . . . tho' we do not have time for a vineyard trek and it is still early in the day, we opt for two Gold Tours to share among us. The wines were surprisingly tasty, tho' certainly not of the caliber of Gypsy Canyon Wine back home! And, the cheese was very delish!
Fortified for the moment . . . we head southeast to Dartmouth, which sits near the mouth of the River Dart. After checking ferry times to take us across the river to Greenway House, Agatha Christie's holiday home in Devon, we stroll around town checking out restaurants. We settle on Station Restaurant for you guessed it . . . mussels and fish and chips! And, afterwards ice cream.
While short, the ferry ride across the River Dart afforded us a unique vista of Dartmouth. Disembarking, we head to Greenway House, the family holiday retreat purchased by Christie and her husband, noted archeologist Max Mallowan, in 1938, as the family's holiday home. Upon their deaths, in 1976 and 1978 respectively, daughter Rosalind Hicks and her husband Anthony lived in the house until Rosalind's death in 2004. Agatha's grandson, Michael Prichard, then determined that Greenway, the home Agatha knew and loved, be made available to the public. In 2009, Greenway was opened to the public after extensive restoration by the National Trust. It has been restored and furnished as Christie and Max would have known it in the 1950s.
Greenway and its surroundings were frequently used as settings for Christie's novels including Five Little Pigs, Towards Zero, and Dead Man's Folly. A long-time Christie fan, I am especially excited about our visit!
The house is full of various collections that the family amassed, especially during expeditions to the Middle East including Ninevah and Tyre.
Greenway and its surroundings were frequently used as settings for Christie's novels including Five Little Pigs, Towards Zero, and Dead Man's Folly. A long-time Christie fan, I am especially excited about our visit!
The house is full of various collections that the family amassed, especially during expeditions to the Middle East including Ninevah and Tyre.
The Greenway estate is gorgeous. The house, a Georgian manor built in the late 18th century, is surrounded by gardens, conservatories, orchards and woodlands, which were opened to the public in 2003.
A long day . . . the drive back along the River Dart was gorgeous. Upon returning to Highfield House and a quick freshening up, we made our way down the footpath to The Cleve for dinner. Afterwards, drawn to the ringing of the church bells, I part company with Gypsy and Petunia who head back to Highfield House. To my absolute delight, tonight the church's bell-ringers are practicing. My heart sings along with the bells, as this is an experience right out of a Midsommer Mystery! My ambition is clear . . . move to Lustleigh and become a bell-ringer!
The walk back along the footpath was magical as dusk set in . . . a perfect day!
The walk back along the footpath was magical as dusk set in . . . a perfect day!