Yesterday was my annual Devon outing with Lynne, the dovegreyreader. In past years we’ve met here, here and here. Not forgetting (and I never will) our weekend at Port Eliot last year.

Lynne invited me to her lovely home which also features, along with the calm and beautiful countryside on her doorstep, on her blog. After tea and chinwag, a house tour and letting the dogs (Rusty and Nell) have a quick run in the field next door we donned our walking boots and set off on a walk that Lynne had planned for us. The walk took in two churches and ended (as every perfect walk should) at a pub.

Sydenham Demeral Methodist Church is no longer in use for services and sadly wasn’t open but its churchyard is still beautifully maintained and there’s the perfect view across fields with only a couple of habitations in sight; one of which is Lynne’s home.

Next stop was St Mary’s Church, Sydenham Damerel, which, like most Church of England churches these days is open. Lynne told me that the original church (except for the tower) burned down in the 1950s and the present building is the result of a rebuild in 1957. It’s a beautiful, simple, single aisle church with many windows giving a light and airy feel. The churchyard has some interesting headstones – ancient and modern and a single Commonwealth War Grave.

“In Loving Memory of Hellia Emily Beloved Daughter of W. and M. Jury of Michigan U. S.America Who Died March 11th 1887 Aged 4 Years & 8 Months. Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me.”

1792 Gravestone

Commonwealth War Grave

Our walk finally ended down by the River Tamar at Horsebridge where we enjoyed a ham and tomato baguette (me) and carrot and coriander soup (Lynne) at The Royal Inn followed by  stepping onto the ancient bridge and nearly into Cornwall.

The River Tamar from Horse Bridge (1437)

You couldn’t make up the names!

Lynne had had the brilliant idea to leave her car here earlier in the day so that the journey uphill back to her place was a doddle. She had one further outing up her sleeve which I’ll write about next time. Thank you again, Lynne, for welcoming me to your home and showing me another lovely part of one of my favourite counties.