The Torrs Walk in Ilfracombe

"The Torrs Walk in Ilfracombe, England, refers to a scenic walking route traversing the Torrs, a series of hills and cliffs west of the town. The walk offers views of the coastline and the Bristol Channel. There are multiple routes available, including a shorter one-mile option and a longer 2 to 4 mile trail. The walk is described as moderate, with some steep sections." However, the Webbs always chose the longer walk to Woolacombe, stopping to eat a pic-nic lunch in Lee Bay. There was little beach but low ridges of rock surrounded tidal pools with all sorts of amazing critters to examine. The zig-zag path up the cliff from Illfracomb wraps around the first hill or torr. The ocean view from the top of that hill. and looking inland.

Another adventure during our stay at Ilfracombe took us north along country lanes barely wide enough for a car to traverse. The whole countryside was filled with history, mystery and skullduggery. One farm in particular drew my attention. It lay in a valley just below the cliffs that lined the sea. The cliffs were honeycombed with caves and tunnels which in the old days were used by the smugglers and the local people who would lure ships onto the rocks below.
This farm was haunted by the farmer’s wife. She had gone aboard a ship, her destination I don’t remember. But a storm blew up and the ship was lured onto those very rocks. The farmer discovered his wife’s body washed ashore and took her through the tunnels to the farm where she died. Because everyone knew she had left, he could not bury her in the church yard, so he put her in a small room and boarded it up. Years later, when the window tax was established, the tax collectors came to count his windows. One astute fellow noticed that the inner wall did not match up with the outer wall and went to investigate, assuming the farmer was trying to hide a window. The terrible secret was revealed.
Was the farmer punished? I don’t know. As a child it made little difference to me. But I found the story intriguing and often dreamed about it.
Although this is not the farm, it reminds me very much of the house. It was white and had a garden where teas were served. This farm is reportedly the one that inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s book Hounds of the Baskerville’s.- Image borrowed from Tatler

I loved visiting Uncle Derek’s farm near Weston-Super-Mere and Cheddar Gorge, Gloucestershire.
he farm was so old that it was listed in the Doomsday Book. And the road that passed the lane was an old cobbled Roman road which had been paved as far as the lane. The cobbled road continued over the hills and once went all the way down to Weston-Super-Mare. Now I know that it was one of the roads that connected London to all parts of England, Scotland and Wales.
(These aren't the actual pictures of the farm, but are very similar to how I remember it.) The house was built of fieldstone at least a foot thick. The best room was the kitchen which had a massive fireplace with a back boiler behind it used in the heating system as well as the faucets. The dairy barn was also built of fieldstone but had been updated with concrete floors and modern milking machines. The hay loft was a wonderful playhouse on rainy days. I remember the farm in perpetual spring when yellow primroses flocked the roadsides and bluebells carpeted the forests. Skylarks sang from high above and Cuckoo’s called mournfully from the treetops. I discovered a cavity in a hedgerow just big enough for a little room and spent many hours there, collecting things that interested me and making up adventures of all sorts.

Holidays in England meant getting to stay at "Uncle" Tom's bakery in Milborne Port. I was allowed watch the bakers as they created different breads and confections, and ride in the delivery truck at O Dark Thirty! And for afternoon tea indulge!
(Unckle is in quotes because he wasn't related to us, but rather tradition had it that close friends would also be called Aunt and Unckle.) (This may be where the bakery was. The building and gate and yard behind look about how I remember them. The bakery behind the large windo with racks of baked goodson display.)

Holidays in England meant stopping in London at the Foreign Missions Club,Aberdeen Park, London N5. It was a boarding house for missionaries and bible college students. It was made up of four or five connected houses each three to four stories high with full basements. Hours of exploration and skullduggery!

Front View

The gardens and back of the building

London meant long rides on double decker busses, on the Underground train and in taxis. So much to see and wonder about! Kew Gardens, and Hyde Park, museums and the zoo.
Kew Gardens, The Palm House London also meant visiting with cousins. My favorite times were when we went to see Granny and I got to play with Christine if she was home from school.