An afternoon of effortless cruising, exploring Exmoor, in a dashing younger model of the motoring period.

Hello and welcome back for another helping of The Lady’s Great British Tea Room Tour.

Today I am in for a real treat, as The Lady is having a rest.   In preparation for her wedding duties.   A clean and spruce up; No easy task for an eighty-year-old.  I am for the first time on the tour a passenger; all packed up with my camera, notepad and Boater Hat.  I am being chauffeured around by my friend Ann; in her Austin called Old Bear.

Old Bear, a 1938 Austin Ten a slightly younger model than Lady. Which Ann has owned for five years.  This Prewar car has all the mod cons; A sun roof, opening windscreen, four speed gear box, not to mention a four cylinder inline engine, great for whizzing along the country roads on a sunny day.

Ann, my  driver and tour guide for the day, took us along the edge of the Quantocks,  driving along the A39.  Motoring around the outskirts of Minehead.  Along the North Somerset coast, turning off and venturing into Exmoor. Towards Allerford and Bossington.  Passing picturesque cottages and stone bridges especially in Allerford.   A great spot for a snap with a stone walkway next to Allerford Ford.  We didn’t attempt it in Old Bear, but it certainly made for a nice photograph.

Pootling along a country lane we spotted a chap picking berries in one of the fields.  This chap looked like something out of the summer wine in his hat and woolen jacket.  We drove on to the fabulous setting of The Kitnor Tea rooms situated in the quaint hamlet of Bossington.  Tucked in below Bossington Hill and Selworthy Beacon, two hills which tower over this National Trust spot. In the center you will find a lovely thatched cottage, with a tea garden retreat around the back. Peaceful and picturesque to enjoy the view of the gardens and the pleasant entertainment of the resident birds around in this rural rest stop. I am looking forward to seeing what is here as we go in search of some homely cottage delights.

We were certainly not disappointed, waited at our table with a roll call of cakes to tempt us. Carrot, Chocolate, Coffee, Lemon Curd, to name a few, not forgetting Tea Cakes and Cream Teas too.   Such a fabulous selection on the menu.  As you can tell from the blog one my favorite cakes is a good Lemon Sponge. With our pot of tea, I just had to try the Lemon Curd Cake. While Ann went for a toasted Tea Cake with butter, great to soak up some of the tea in this wonderful quiet setting.

Tea for two was served to us with a matching tea service decorated in a blue floral pattern. Cups, Saucers and a round old fashioned shaped tea pot.  Together with matching tea plates.  Ann’s Toasted Tea cake was a nice start for our mid-morning stop off, that smell of toasting, a homely smell adding to the country feel of the place.  The Lemon Curd cake, a nice looking fluffy sponge with a lemon icing top, and a dollop of lemon curd over that.  A mouthwatering slice of lemon goodness.  Sipping at a couple of cups of tea while enjoying the scenery before making our way to continue on with our excursion.

Ann took me on rather scenic tour of North Somerset, following on from Bossington over to Porlock Wier.  Passing through the town of Porlock; the home of the famous 1:4 gradient hill, complete with a surviving “AA” Phone box at the top.  We were beach bound though for a brief stop and a walk along the pebbles.  A clear view could be seen across the coast over to Bossington where we had driven from.  A slight coastal wind, kept my hand on my Boater so it wouldn’t sail away!

Our next stop on our sunny day adventure, was over to another National Trust location, part of the same Holincote Estate where Bossington is situated.  We arrived at a spot called Horner Wood.  Eight hundred and seventy acres of picturesque woodland, rivers and streams. Making for a nice charming stroll along the edge and a quick paddle in the stream.  This place is also, the home of The Horner Vale Tea Rooms.  A Cottage situated on the edge of Horner Wood right next to the river.  This peaceful countryside atmosphere made for a great spot for some afternoon tea.

Tea for two, a Cream Tea and slice of Jam Sponge underneath the umbrellas, surrounded by a colorful array of flowers around the edge of the tea gardens.  The tea set was of modern type, but the color seemed quite nineteen thirtiesesque.  Reveling in the sunshine even the Jam Sponge was also basking in the glorious weather, becoming topless with jam glistening in the bank holiday sun.  The Cream Tea, two healthy sized scones together with plentiful amounts of Cream & Jam.  I did however have to give Ann a few pointers on the art of the hearty dollop of a towering Cream Tea.

Our return journey took us along to visit a few of the stations of the West Somerset Railway, stopping off in Dunster, Blue Anchor and Watchet.   Even managing to catch a train just coming into station at Blue Anchor. Along the level crossing and again departing from Watchet further down the line.   There is something magnificent about Steam Trains, great British and delightful.  I think a plan for a future blog post would be to follow along in The Lady, it would make for some spectacular photos and I’m sure there will be some pleasant tea rooms to explore along the way.

I have very much enjoyed being a passenger on today’s excursion, Old Bear took us on a fine 90 miles of motoring along some of the Somerset’s scenic countryside.  I hope you as the reader have also enjoyed reading of our adventure in search of tea, cake and the open road.

Until next time join myself and The Lady or even a friend of The Lady’s for another pitstop on The Lady’s Great British Tea Room Tour.