Tuesday -Wednesday 23-24 September
Just up the river from Dartmouth and Kingswear is the most delightful village of Dittisham. We moored up on a visitor’s buoy in the deep (18m!) and generous river Dart.
There is only light daytime traffic, mostly ferries: Dartmouth to Totnes and to the nearby pier to visit Agatha Christie’s house, Greenways (we have been – very nice). We can’t plug into shore but are using our foldout solar panels on the Bimini which is keeping our batteries nicely topped up.
The 14th century Church in Dittisham was built on the site of a Norman Church which they also believe was built over an Anglo Saxon one as they were here by 755.
Edward the Confessor gave this area to Leofric, Bishop of Exeter who was certain to have made sure there was a church here, but it was Bishop Grandisson of Exeter who had this bigger Church built in 1333 dedicated to St George.
It has a fine rood screen from the 15th century, vandalised by Cromwell’s lot, and most recently restored in the 1950s.
There’s also a typical Devon ‘wineglass’ pulpit, also from the 15th century.
The red sandstone Norman font was apparently buried by the locals to stop Cromwell from smashing it up!
The Narracots are a big local family and their Hatchment has been lovingly restored by their decendents – I like the fish, or are they sea monsters?
We walked into Dartmouth over the beautiful undulating Devon countryside.
Each climb gave a tremendous view as a reward.
Dartmouth is a gorgeous town but you can read about that in previous blogs!
We came back on the Dittisham ferry as we were quite tired after lunch from our sail yesterday.
Swans came to visit us and we saw seals popping their head up to check us out.
More beautiful walks on the other bank on Wednesday.
Followed by a trip up the river on Zigzags to Stoke Gabriel. Unfortunately the tides are against us for going all the way to Totnes so that will have to wait for next time.
Stoke Gabriel also has a lovely 14th century Church, with similar rood screen and wineglass pulpit.
And those Narracots have apparently had family members working in the Church for over 450 years! No pressure for their kids then!
But the most wonderful thing about this Church is the amazing ancient yew tree.
It’s huge with spider like branches reaching out all over the graveyard.
She’s a female tree and there’s an argument about how old she is. Anything from 600 (I think a bit conservative) to 1400!
There’s a carved rhyme by the tree:
Walk ye backward round about me
Seven times round for all to see
Stumble not and then for certain
One true wish will come to thee
So we did, and I wished Death to Tyrants (namely Putin and Netanyahu) and David wished for Victory and Peace for Ukraine. Let’s hope it works!
We Zigzagged back in the sunset
And finished with a delicious meal at the Ferry Inn in Dittisham.
Tomorrow we head for Salcombe and my cousin Penny is going to join us!