Powderham Castle & Buckfast Abbey

Today - it chucked it down as forecast.  So where could I go where there was a house or castle to look round.. well off I went after a very leisurely breakfast, to Powederham Castle which lies in ancient parkland and has been there for about 600 years!

Powderham Castle is the home of the Earl of Devon and the interior is by guided tour only and no photographs... The Parkland is extensive and given the bucketing rain I didn't discover much of it.. it is home to considerable number of deer.. some of which I saw from the windows of the castle.

It was lunchtime when I arrived so I headed for the cafe; the fruit scones will still be cooked so I had a plain scone with jam and cream!!

I'd first visited Buckfast Abbey and the area in June 2008 with Mum - it's an area that was a favourite of hers.  Given that yesterday was the 2nd anniversary of the day family and friends said our last goodbye to her at the Crematorium it somehow seemed fitting.

and the first item was lunch!!  A very nice plain scone (the fruit ones were in the oven) so I had jam & cream!!

A wander around the formal, but very pretty gardens..

and then into the Abbey which Benedictine and nearly 1000 years old

I love the expression on the faces of our Lady of Buckfast

and then.. feeling rather too damp, I headed off back to where I'm staying.

Given the weather, I was just pleased to get out!!  Hopefully, tomorrow will be dry, but probably lacking in sunshine.