Synopsis: A Mother’s Day (well, almost) outing by train to Barnstaple
I asked Mum if she’d like an outing to Barnstaple as a Mother’s Day treat, and she said she would. I proposed that we travel by train, as the route along the Tarka Line was said to be very picturesque. Wendy dropped Mum and I off at the Sowton train station from where we caught the 11:10 train. The sun was shining although a slight breeze was rather chill.
The carriage was rather basic but comfortable enough. We made ourselves comfortable and sat back and enjoyed the ride. This is certainly no express service, but we weren’t in any hurry. The countryside we passed through was indeed lovely, and the small railway stations we passed through were charming and seemed of a different age.
The Pannier, Wetherspoons, BarnstapleWe arrived in Barnstaple about 12:30, both keen to find somewhere to eat. I picked up a map of the town from the Tourist Information office and we headed off in search of somewhere for lunch. We settled on Wetherspoons where we found a nice little window table that was comfortable and pleasant. I briefly made use of their wifi to drop everyone an email to say Mum and I were out for the day.
Mum, in Butcher's Row, Barnstaple
After lunch we spent a couple of hours wandering around Barnstaple. We walked through the old pannier market, but already the stalls were beginning to close down. Then we walked down Butcher’s Row, which is wonderfully quaint, still with the odd butcher’s shop in it. Apparently at one time there were 34 butchers shops operating in this street. It was all butchers one side, and all bakers the other.
We had tea and cake before catching the train for home. It was an enjoyable, rather lazy and relaxing day.
Train:
Sowton to Barnstaple
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