england – Muggins Here

walk then pub

West Wittering Away

February 28, 2017March 4, 2018by mugginshereLeave a Comment

Beach huts

Sanderling takes flight

St. Peter and St. Paul’s church

‘Gone to Beach’

West Itchenor Harbour

Guineafowl at the pub

So this is actually walk, drive, walk a bit, drive a bit, pub – there are pubs nearer the beach but we plumped for one that was highly recommended and within stumbling distance of where we were staying. We were lucky to have sunshine but the chill wind meant this was pretty much the only outdoor activity in a winter getaway that mainly involved sitting by the fire, playing games and sipping whisky. This is less a walking guide and more of a verbal ramble about a really very beautiful part of West Sussex.

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walk then pub

Portishead

February 21, 2017March 4, 2018by mugginshereLeave a Comment

Starting by the Lido

by the boat club

Our turning point

The Windmill Inn

dream home

Part of the coastal walk from Portishead down to Cleavedon, this seafront walk isn’t a loop but there’s so much to see that it doesn’t really matter if you are retracing your steps for the second part, and you can easily change the length of the walk depending on weather and any little feet or paws that might be with you. We park up by the Lido, which has a lovely cafe when its open, and head south along the wide pavement of Esplanade road, up beach road west and into the park and on to the coastal path. It wanders along the shore and you can clamber down onto the beach at different points and paddle, scramble over rocks or climb amongst the trees. There’s lovely views over the water and some real dream homes to drool over if thats your thing too! This path does go quite a way along the coast but we’ve generally gone as far as our rumbling stomachs will let us before turning back and defrosting at the Windmill Inn, which has huge windows, great views and a large garden for summertime. It’s a Fuller’s pub so the quality is nothing to shout about, but suited us fine for standard stodge and chips and the menu was surprisingly varied. The Lido offers something a bit lighter and I’m sure Portishead has an array of lovely pubs, we were just too cold to go exploring any further afield!

national trust

Muggins escapes to Sissinghurst

June 24, 2016March 4, 2018by mugginshere3 Comments

The UK is steeped in uncertainty today, however you feel about it. Even tea doesn’t help, which is equivalent to a national emergency. I took the responsible adult approach of running away to the nearest garden, drinking yet more tea and taking a year’s worth of photos. Thought I’d pass on the opportunity for escapism. Ladies and Gentlemen, Sissinghurst: as adapted by Vita Sackville West and brought to you by the National Trust.

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places

Capturing the Rye

May 14, 2016March 4, 2018by mugginshereLeave a Comment

Wandering through the cobbled streets of Rye in the sunshine is a quick introduction to all that is quintessentially British; Tudor and Georgian architecture, an abundance of churches and good pubs, forts and cannons, silly house names and plenty of fish and chips. We were lucky enough to catch both the sun and the blossom out and it was even warm enough for an icecream on a bench overlooking the marshes. My favourite find was the Tiny Bookstore, tucked away behind the church, which is brimming with beautiful old books, from leather bound books to classic penguins.

spaces

ANNA – Clifton, Bristol

March 1, 2016March 4, 2018by mugginshereLeave a Comment

A French patisserie with Scandinavian decor with friendly staff, varied selection of teas and an open kitchen that fills the café with the smell of fresh baking. There are examples of their beautiful wedding cakes on show and the whole place channels the Dutch concept of ‘gezelligheid’ – one of those wonderfully untranslatable words of which the closest, yet still inadequate, English equivalent is an atmosphere of contented coziness of a place or gathering. Visiting feels like a real indulgence even before you start on the cake, and it’s always nice to find somewhere that doesn’t mind you taking up residence in a corner for a good few hours with a book.

Sat reading Terry Pratchett who needs no introduction or review. His books are comic genius (for those who appreciate the wry ridiculousness of very British humour – which should be just about everyone). He left an amazing legacy, as well as a huge void, when he passed away last year.