Crab Cottage

In a change of theme, we accompanied my Mum and her friend to view the garden of Crab Cottage in Shalfleet. This was open under the National Garden Scheme, and for a mere £3.50 (children free) each, we got in, having parked in the free car park on the way up the lane by the New Inn.

To our right was a perfect croquet lawn, with metal hoops, and a collection of wooden mallets and balls leaning against a low wall. Beyond the croquet lawn was a path leading through a wildflower meadow, full of flowers and grasses. Very pretty and something I aspire to having one day. At the end of the meadow was a row of sweet peas held up by twigs, and then the path led to a pond.

We then followed a path back through tree and hedges, dodged under a shrub propped up with an old wooden rake, passed the croquet lawn, and paused on the gravel driveway to peruse the bookstall and natter with some acquaintances we bumped into, looked at the plant stall and then headed round the side of the house. As we passed the front door, clearly rarely used, we admired dark leaved dahlias,  towering hollyhocks and a wisteria which was trained across the house wall. On through an archway and onto a less formal lawn in a walled garden, bordered with flowered, with many varieties of dahlia among other things. Here we stopped for a cup of tea and a slice of cake which was of high standard! Very nice.

After tea we pottered through another arch and into a sunken garden with many interesting plants, and a raised area at the far end with a summerhouse and formal pond; the latter had no plants in it, but had beautiful reflections of the potted lilies grown next to it.

 

This was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon; I do enjoy nosing round other peoples gardens, and of there is good planting, tea and cake, all the better! Crab Cottage is definitely worth a visit if you get the chance.

 

Plants bought: Sedum spectabile

 

http://www.ngs.org.uk/gardens/find-a-garden/garden.aspx?id=13779

View to cottage from croquet lawn

 

Afternoon Amble

We tried the Dark Lane walk again, with friends. Another beautiful sunny afternoon on the Island, so the cool dappled shade of Dark Lane was deeply welcome! I insisted that the teenager navigate this time so that we didn't get lost, and she did a jolly good job. When we got to the sweetcorn field we went down the correct side of the hedge, down a dusty, root-strewn path past a paddock of over-excited, barking foxhounds, and came out on Snowdrop Lane.

 

From here we turned right and followed the lane uphill. Snowdrop Lane is deeply sunken between steep banks topped with trees and was lovely. When we reached the top, at Garstons, we turned right along a footpath and eventually joined back up with Dark Lane and went back to the car. A very pleasant afternoon. 

 

Route: http://gb.mapometer.com/walking/route_4143541.html

Distance: 3.4 miles

Footpaths: G6, G7a

 

 

Bembridge Fort Walk

This was a walk we had long planned to do, but kept missing the date. The walk takes place every year at extreme low tide, from both St Helen's beach, and Bembridge Point. Now, I thought there was a causeway from both sides, so dressed in jeans and hiking sandals and was prepared to paddle. Unfortunately the causeway only goes from St Helen's, so we ended up wading almost waist deep through the sea for a while! However, the water wasn't cold and everybody was in a good mood. After a while we joined up with the causeway and strolled along to St Helen's Fort in the Silent, took photos and strolled then waded back to Bembridge. The tide was a bit lower on the way back.

 

I would say that at least a couple of thousand people took part, and it was a very sociable and enjoyable experience. Must do it again next year.

To supplement my terrible photos, here is a link to an aerial video made by someone else.... http://www.yoppul.co.uk/yoppulv1/2015/08/watch-this-amazing-aerial-footage-of-the-bembridge-fort-walk/