Another old fashioned excursion motoring around the scenic views of Exmoor.

Welcome back to another helping of The Lady’s Great British Tea Room Tour.

Is it possible to have a sultry Victoria Sponge oozing jam in the summer sunshine?   Or maybe an alluring tease to excite the taste-buds.  Well, let me take you to a place where you can enjoy a slice of goodness in a rather gorgeous setting.  The sun is out, the sun roof is open, motoring toward the fabulous views of one of Somerset’s most stunning settings.  Exmoor.  If you remember back in in my first blog entry, if you haven’t read it yet why not check it out HERE.   I’m heading back to Withypool to visit the Withypool Tea Rooms.

 

My route took me around the edge of Taunton, to join the B3227 rolling along this quiet Somerset road all the way down to Tiverton for a brief stop off to fill up Lady with some fuel, before driving up onto Exmoor.  I remember taking this road on the way back last time I visited Exmoor.  Driving through Dulverton a gateway to the moors.  Following the A396 through Bridgetown.  One of the things I like doing is trying to follow old fashioned maps, I really need a navigator to stop getting lost!  Or perhaps that is part of the fun of old car motoring.

The open road in the countryside this is what motoring is all about, following the white posts wondering where the tarmac will lead, an excursion over bridges, past fences and forests, the greenery of the fields, with nothing but the sound of a flat twinned motor burbling down the highway.

Driving into Winsford, following the white posts signposted for Withypool.  Passing a lovely little ford on the right swinging a left along Halse Lane, around a pub and climbing up a slow dragging hill out of Winsford.   It is funny, you know where you want to go but you’re not sure of the roads ahead, you never know what you’ll be passing sort of a mystery tour, though you’re going slow enough to take in the sights.  The Ford would have made for a nice photo.  Reaching the top, such stunning views endless colours of green fields and so peaceful, so very quiet, only the odd passing car can be heard.

Dropping down into Withypool is a 20% descent easy on the brakes and down a gear, guiding her down the hill, pootling through the village.   Parking up outside, great for a snap of The Lady near the old-fashioned pumps.

Three shell fuel pumps stood in the seating area.  You can imagine The Lady filling up in a village like this back in the day.   My view of the stone bridge, and opposite the village shop.  Outside stood another pump and a phone box.   As you know I’m a fan of old fashioned road furniture.  Parking The Lady next to the seating area made for a great snap.  Four-star fuel from shell pump at 34p per gallon she would have been pleased with a refill too.

Entering the tea room, a rather warm village feel to it, with an impressive display of cakes.  My order taken, I took ease outside sat on the bench soaking up the pleasant feel of the place.   That alluring Victoria Sponge arrived glistening in the summer sunshine, sat in the perfect spot in a village which time had forgotten.   Tea came in a small china tea pot, with a jug of milk.  Cutting into the sponge the jam flowed from the middle, a gleaming sheen of enticing jam.  A lovely refreshing sponge after a morning of on the road pootling.  Browsing my book of old touring guides wondering which direction to head next.

Leaving Withypool back up the hill, a first gear climb.  back up to the crossroads.   This time going over signposted back to Winsford.  Coming back down another narrow lane descent, passing cottages.  It always amazes me how in the sticks these postcard setting builds became built, even a towering Church stands watching over this pretty village.  Dropping back down into the country hamlet.  And through the Ford I passed on the way, another tick on the list of vintage car escapades.  Well not exactly a Ford with the recent hot weather we have been experiencing, but still The Lady’s wheels got wet and I didn’t!

Now my original plan was to head toward Dunster and stop off at the train station for a brief bit of photo snapping of the station with The Lady.  However, I seemed to follow the wrong the direction of white post signs and followed the road north, over some long steep hills and narrow lanes driving toward the coast, coming out at the top of Porlock hill.  Passing by the National Trust’s Horner Woods.  I remember visiting near here last year on my adventure to in an Austin Ten.

Porlock’s infamous hill, the 1:4 climb where many old-fashioned cars come to challenge the ascent. Though ended up coming down it, in a rather slow fashion, right down in first gear, the handbrake on a couple of notches easing down the mountain as it were.   I was planning on coming down the other route, but before I knew I was on the downward path.   I think that was enough fun for a day of motoring around the countryside.  A round trip clocking up 150 miles of traveling through breath taking views of Somerset.

I did miss out on another snap by the old-fashioned AA box at the top of hill where the easier route would have started, perhaps next time I shall have to go back up with the dash cam.  The real question is; Will The Lady make it?  Watch this space.

If you ever get a chance of exploring Exmoor,  Withypool Tea Rooms, has certainly got to be a nice stop off on your adventure,  taking in the amazing views and tasting some lovely morsels of cake.   Until next time on The Lady’s Great British Tea Room Tour.