A walk to the top of Pinhoe, Exeter.

I had a walk the other day which began early in the morning – I was up with the lark.  Well, the fox, any way…

 This railway line is quite a warm place to sit.

When I itches, I scratches.

 

The Hawthorn blossom – also known as May - is out. 

A quiet corner between Beacon Heath and Pinhoe.

The letter box dates from the era of Edward VII.

Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910. He was the first British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, which was renamed the House of Windsor by his son, George V.  Before his accession to the throne, he served as heir apparent and held the title of Prince of Wales for longer than any of his predecessors. During the long reign of his mother, Queen Victoria, he was largely excluded from political power and came to personify the fashionable, leisured elite.

The Edwardian era, which covered Edward's reign and was named after him, coincided with the start of a new century and heralded significant changes in technology and society, including powered flight and the rise of socialism. He fostered good relations between Great Britain and other European countries, especially France, for which he was popularly called "Peacemaker", but his efforts were unable to prevent the outbreak of World War I in 1914.

 It’s a good job I was warned to wear wellies for this walk.

Some Spanish Bluebells.

And English Bluebells.

And Wild Garlic.

 Through the kissing gate.

A kissing gate is a type of gate which allows people to pass through, but not livestock.  The normal construction is usually a half-round or V-shaped enclosure with a hinged gate trapped between its arms. When the gate is parked at either side of the enclosure, there is no gap to pass through. However, the gate can be pushed to give access to the small enclosure, then moved in the opposite direction to close the first opening and allow exit from the enclosure to the other side.  The gate itself is usually self-closing, to the side away from the land where animals are kept.  If livestock does need to pass that way it usually does so by means of an adjacent conventional gate.

Sadly, according to the Goddess Wiki the etymology of the name is that the gate merely "kisses" (touches) the enclosure either side, rather than needing to be securely latched.  And I always thought you were supposed to kiss over it.  That's what I've always told female companions on my walks!

Some beautiful ferns.

A field of buttercups.

Nearly at the top of the hill.  Looking over Exeter and the River Exe to Haldon Belvedere.

 Just one more kissing gate.

Clover. I was up so early this morning there is still dew on the grass despite the last hour or more of sunshine.

And at the summit is the church.  A heavenly spot on a heavenly day.  

 I shall show more photos of this church – St Michael and All Angels, Pinhoe - in a future post.