Splash Cottage

Apt name for lovely Devon cottage next to the ford at Ponsworthy. Walked 9 miles today from Newbridge. Extremely hot. Hardly saw a soul until we came to Spitchwick, a lovely reach of the Dart, dappled with shade and perfect for picnics and wild swimming. There were cars parked anywhere and everywhere ( all with parking tickets), hundreds of people (mostly undressed), litter ( take it home with me? - not likely), barbecues, fires (made from branches torn off trees), music from competing sound systems, and young people diving and tombstoning into the river. We picked our way through the bodies and along the river to Newbridge and on to the Holne Village Community Tea Rooms, a cup of tea and a slice of Victoria Sponge, and a haven for grumpy old people like us.