Happy Easter! I hope you are enjoying the Spring as much as we are. There is a glorious abundance of Camellias and Magnolias at the moment which look amazing. Some of the daffodils are hanging on and the first bluebells are out, alongside vast numbers of primroses everywhere! It is all rather beautiful .
We enjoyed walking the length of the Holcombe / Teignmouth sea wall today, continuing along onto the sand spit until stopped by the Teign making its busy way into the sea. There was a seal on the beach posing for photos, always a great sight. The back beach at Teignmouth is always a favourite and we look forward to seeing the whole place burst fully into life again soon when restrictions ease. We can’t wait!
Cruise ships have become a familiar sight around our coast during the pandemic, up to 6 visible regularly from our local beach. Over this last week or so however we have had the even stranger phenomenon of ships floating in the air … an optical illusion of course!
Known as thermal inversion or a cold water mirage, it can happen when the difference between the air temperature and the sea temperature is large. There is abnormal refraction where light bends downwards towards the colder and more dense air near the sea, causing distant objects to look higher.
We saw this floating ship as we walked along a footpath above Teignmouth, heading back towards the golf club and Little Haldon. One of a number of beautiful blue Spring days with birdsong and blossom brightening up covid blight!
Government announcements this week have made clear the intention to allow B&Bs to re-open on Monday May 17th 2021.
We will continue to take no deposit, non-binding bookings for the remainder of 2021 and hope you will be in touch soon.
There was complete carnage on the beach today as a result of the recent strong Easterlies and stormy seas. Numerous types of clams, starfish, crabs, worms, whelks, cockles, sea urchins, among other marine life torn from their moorings and dumped on the beach by the tide.
Consequently plenty of birds around too!
Let’s hope 2021 improves as we go along!
Sandays will open again as soon as Covid regulations allow.
We are happy to hear from you in between times and take non-binding future bookings.
Sandays is closed now for our usual winter break. We plan to re-open on Monday 1st February if that is in line with the government regulations at that time for Devon.
Thank you to all our guests who managed a visit this year; we loved having you here. For all those who booked and then had to cancel: we missed you! Hope to see you all in 2021. All the details for 2021 can be found on this website and you can enquire via the standard form or by just sending us an email with potential dates.
To help make up for the lack of parties and occasions to mingle, there are various family oriented trails this year. Look out for the Christmas Carol themed gardens and windows around Starcross, organised by St.Paul’s Church, and the sheep trail around Cofton & Cockwood organised by St.Mary’s Church. Enjoy!
Look out for information about services at both these churches. Carol services and other key services will need to be pre-booked this year.
You don’t need to make too much of an effort to see the regular bird population around here, and these are a few this morning all around the Cockwood area. It was the Cattle Egret that made me reach for the camera, or rather the flock of 30 or so that drew my attention.
When the post boxes start to dress up, it is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
Although there are not the usual festivities this year, there is still plenty to enjoy safely. We took a trip to Torre Abbey this afternoon which is always a beautiful and interesting place to visit at any time of year. Having had a stroll around the garden and through the galleries, we went back out to enjoy the wonderful “Advent Windows” that were lit up as dusk set in. All different, created by different groups, and a a big dose of Christmas cheer. As you look from the Abbey across the bay you will see lights of a different sort, as the numerous cruise liners start to glow!
For even more festive spirit head to Powderham Castle. The shops are full of food & potential gifts and you can also book for an evening stroll to enjoy the sight of the castle lit up for Christmas. After which you can take cover in the barn, perhaps with a cup of mulled wine! Find all the details on their website.
Powderham Castle is a regular haunt of Sandays guests, being within 3 miles and with an array of different events through the year, quite apart from the standard castle visits and tours.
