Synopsis: A circuit of Exeter taking in a number of the parks about the city, to view the autumn colours and enjoy a warm and sunny day.
My mission today, was to simply take a walk around my home city of Exeter, to see what autumn colour there was to be found across the city. I was obviously not going to encompass every avenue and park in the city in one day, but that was not my objective. My simple intention being to take pleasure in an Exeter cloaked in autumn colours, an ambition fully realised on the day. I’ll merely mention here a couple of highlights of my day, since there’s little cause to preamble when photos speak louder than words.
Exeter University
The grounds of Exeter University are quite wonderful. Possibly wasted on the students, who no doubt have their minds on other things; sorry, rather facetious I know. There is one particular spot in the grounds, by a lake, not far from Reed Hall, where there is to be found a small lake with a fountain. I’ve returned here on numerous occasions, particularly in autumn (such as in 2010), when the colours are richest. I usually find I have the place to myself.
Bury Meadow Park
From the University grounds it’s a small hop over to Bury Meadow, another favourite autumn haunt of mine, a major attraction of which is the pampas grasses, that I think are one of the best displays of these light-catching plants to be found in this region. I found a bench in the park to sit and set my kettle boiling and eat my picnic lunch.
Rougemont Gardens
From Bury Meadow I then headed into town, walking through both Northernhay Gardens and Rougemont Gardens where the trees were illuminated by the oblique rays of sunshine. The acers had already lost their leaves, which shows how fickle autumn colour is.
St Stephen's Church
I sensed a relaxed air of tranquil enjoyment in the city centre milieu of this inter-holiday period. A chance to take pleasure in this brief respite before the traumatic Christmas frenzy falls upon us all. Perhaps a time to have a cigarette and make a mobile call to a friend before the long walk home, or, as commonly heard articulated today, “Whatever!”
On reflection, a very pleasant way to spend a day.
Walk Statistics:
Total Distance: 11.3 miles
Elapsed Time: 7hrs 30min
Buses: none
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