Sunny brunch in Cockington, Devon. . . . . . . .

Cockington, known the world over, is a preserved village of stone and color washed 

walls under thatched roofs and is tucked away in a secluded wooded valley at the heart 

of the English Riviera. People have lived here for many centuries. 

Mentioned in the Doomsday Book of William the Conqueror, 

it is clear that a Saxon village was already in existence before that time.

On another perfect morning, we walked to the harbor and took the scenic 
double-decker bus ride along the seafront.

Walking into the village from the area of the arrow (in first pic), we followed the

 'water meadows' with raised walkways over the dancing stream and shallow ponds. 
Rife with swathes of Cow Parsley (Queen Anne's Lace), dragonflies and birds, 
these meadows run alongside the narrow lane into the village. It was a leisurely 
half hour saunter which we all enjoyed.

Soon we reached the farm cottages, some of which have been turned 

into shops, cafes, even a small exclusive hotel

Here I must tell you that Cockington was my 'childhood playground'.

My home was close by, a walk up and down a few steep hills, or sometimes the 

short route through the fields of grazing dairy cows and, with a clamber over a stile, 

it brought me out close to a smelly but always exciting farmyard. 

When the teenage years arrived becoming a farmer's wife was probably 

my dream back then - I certainly never thought about emigrating to America 

and working in Washington, D.C. a few years on!

At the beautiful Rose Cottage Tea Rooms, in the center of the village, we stopped
 for brunch. Bob and Jasmin ordered the 'full English' breakfast (he had been longing 
for one since we arrived in Devon - Jasmin went along with the idea but didn't manage
 to eat much of her loaded plate!). I had the tuna jacket potato with a crunchy side 
salad - everything was very good. . . . . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . and how could it not be when the setting was so lovely and the 

pianist played some great tunes for us.

The gardens surrounding the tea rooms were beautiful. I was thrilled to find the 

property so well cared for, especially as some years back when visiting during the 

recession I had found it looking rather untidy and unloved. Someone must have come 

along and put a lot of work and money into bringing it back.  

More about this lovely historic village coming later. . . . . . 
including the ever wonderful Devon Cream Tea!