As we tootled along

Instead of taking the motorway, we came home along the country roads, through Cornwall and into Devon and on to Somerset. I drove part of the way, but on the part where I was the passenger, I enjoyed the scenery and different landscapes we drove through. I pointed out things of interest as we tootled along, old buildings, pubs we might call into at another time, the varied scenery, weird trees, the sun illuminating a field below thunderous black clouds, and unusual village names – the names were unusual, we didn’t deviate into the villages.

I jotted down a few, thinking to look them up later, which I did. There was Yagland, for example, I saw a sign post pointing down a little lane, but when I was home and tried to find out more, apart from a possible etymology that it might have been  once Eagga’s land, whoever he was hundreds of years ago, there was precious little else. Nearby, Woolfardisworthy – or Woolsery as it’s also known, seems to be most famous for its unusual name – ranked as the fifth most difficult-to-pronounce place name in the UK several years ago, and the fact that it has sixteen letters in its name. It does however seem to have a splendid pub, The Farmer’s Arms, described by Michelin thus:

Open fires and exposed timbers set against touches of contemporary design help make this restored Grade II listed pub, set in a delightful hamlet, a charming place for replenishment and recuperation. The frequently changing menu makes good use of ingredients from their own farm; the local hogget makes for a delicious shepherd’s pie and look out for the Forager’s Tart for pud. Wonderful homemade syrups help create some refreshing aperitifs.

Fairy Cross, a little further along, is described as a rural hamlet, and the last place I noted, Spurrisford Rice is obviously an error on my part because it does not exist. This gives me free rein to use the name in one of my stories as I obviously misread whatever the name was! Maybe Spurrisford Rice is near that other imaginary place I wrote about, Angle Morte!