The Columbus journal., 1909-07-21

1t is indeed surprising to find how
unfamiliar the English are as race
with the beauties of their own cOun-
try. How many of them spend their
holidays on the continent in search of
beautiful scenery, not knowing that
within easy access they have scenery
difficult to equal and practically i'm
possible to supersede.
The glorious county of Devon is lit
orally teeming with beauty spots, the
climax being reached in the delightful
little twin villages of Lynton and Lyn-
mouth, Nesting between precipitous
hills and ending in the gigantic rock
bound cliffs which skirt this portion
of the Bristol channel.
Blackmore's romantic novel of
Lorna Doone" and Whyte-Melville's
"Katerfelto" have done much to make
these beauty spots familiar to US. and
those who travel to Lynton and
Lynmouth via coach from Minehead
can acquaint themselves with most
of the points of interest with which
the readers of these famous novels
are familiar.
Leaving Minehead we pass varied
and beautiful scenery till we arrive
at the quaint little village of Porlock.
where we pull up at the picturesque
ship Inn" Two additional horses
are here attached. for We have very
steep climb of several hundred feet
before we reach our next stopping
place, and even with the six horses
we now have the ascent is none too
easy. Behind us We see gradually dis
appearing the exquisite vale of Por.
lock, on the right are the cleaning
waters of the Bristol channel, whilst
on the left we obtain glorious views
of hill and mOOrland.
At Yearnoor Moor the horses are
through Somerset past County Gate
into Devon is indeed one of the love-
lest. On our right we still have the
Bristol channel, and on our left breezy
Exmoor. and ii We have selected a
fine day for our journey We expert
ence an indescribable feeling of ex-
hilaration as We inhale the pure air
of the moors and enjoy the beauties
of hills and coombes surely un-
equaled elsewhere.
II we have chosen the autumn for
our visit, we revel in a wealth OF glo-
rious color that is indescribahle: mile
after mile of purple heather inter.
mixed with brilliant golden gorse. and
a glimpse of Exmoor under these con-
ditions is never to be forgotten, whilst
If fortunate We may catch a glimpse
of the red deer for which the district
is SO famous After glorious ride of
about twenty miles we reach Counties
bury Foreland. and we now commence
our descent into Lynmouth. On our
left are towering hills, whilst on our
right is q sheer drop into the sea of
several hundred feet, and we hold our
breath as the coach gradually de-
.scends the steepest hill In England,
till the rushing waters of the Lyn re-
mind US that we are rapidly nearing
our destination. The coach stops at
the Lynbridge hotel. where visitors to
Lynmouth alight. and one and all
agree that the latter part of the jour-
ney has left an impression that moth
ing will ever efface.
The coach is now lightened Of
much of its luggage. and the horses
start on their arduous climb to Ign.
ton, several hundred feet above. and
here again the impression created is
most profound.
And now for q few words about
these exquisite villages immortalized
by Shelley. Southey and others of our
poets, and eulogized by Gainsborough
among famous painters.