Post by Dave on Sept 13, 2010 17:43:47 GMT
Totnes Walk Two Coarse Meal £5!!!!
Carol and I eat out nearly every Sunday and we always try to do something as well, even on the Sundays she works until 2.45pm (every other Sunday) This all started when we were out every night of the week at my shows, I just felt she deserved a day off from cooking on a Sunday as my way of saying thank you for all the work she did as my roadie.
Mind you back then we mostly ate in Paignton, due to having a regular Sunday night spot in a hotel and therefore I did not go to far away. Then when Davybeat was no more, one Sunday she said she would prefer not to eat yet again in Paignton, so I joked “how about Tintagel” “yes that would be nice” came back the reply. So off we set just to have dinner there.
I picked her up yesterday from work and she came home and had a shower and then as is always the case, I had to come up with an idea of what to do and where to eat.Time was not on our side, but the sun was out and a local walk seemed would be the best we could hope for.
So I drove to Totnes and parked up the car and headed toward the swimming pool, just past this building a very nice walk starts and its one that is flat all the way, so it’s nice and easy on your legs, but it is a fairly long walk.
This walk takes in a bit of heritage as well as a lovely river walk (well before it decides to go a different way from the way you have to walk) You do need to keep your eyes and ears open as the path doubles up as a cycle path and they do go a bit too fast at times for my liking.
Follow the signs for the steam train station; it really is a station that will give you a real feeling of days gone by. You first have to walk over a footbridge over the river to get to the station (photo included) stop and look over and you should see Mullet feeding on the bottom of the river. I never understand why we get so excited to spot a fish in a river, they are meant to live in water after all.
Once you have looked around the station, its back over the footbridge and turn right, you will get to the back end of the car park at the Totnes main line station and the path then goes behind the old Unigate factory. This very large site only closed down a few years ago; it’s unbelievable how buildings get to look so derelict in such a short time.
You will soon pick up the river again and as you will see from a few of the photos; it’s a mighty fine looking waterway. After awhile you come out onto a small road and you will see a set of gates and a lovely looking cottage. Go through the gates and walk a few hundred yards and then turn left onto the path at the end of the field.
This path takes you in the end to Dartington Cider Press, for those who do not know this place; its sort of old farm buildings that have all been turned into may craft type shops. Have a good look around and buy if you have deep pockets, as nothing is really cheap there.
Time to start the long walk back to Totnes, just go back the same way you came, as I said its all flat and will not wear you out to much and I will soon tell you where you can get a great carvery with a dessert for only £5. Yes that was £5 and that is the price everyday even on a Sunday.
I love walking and taking with Carol in Totnes, it is the place she was born and has so many memories from, but mostly about her grandfather who lived in Harbertonford. Carol would spend all her time with him as a child, during school holidays etc. He was very involved with local football and Carol was always with him at games.
He worked in Totnes in a boat building yard and Carol would go there and watch him work, at the end of his working day he would head for the Dartmouth Inn for his first pint. Then together they made their way up through the main street of Totnes, stopping in every single pub. Five pints later and her grandfather was outside the fish and chip shop where he got the families tea and then together they caught the bus home to Harbertonford.
When you get back into the bottom of the town you will see the Royal Seven Stars pub, only when we walked past it the time was 5.45pm and the carvery did not start again until 6.30pm, plus it was priced at £8.50. So £17 for the two of us. We had eaten a few times in the Dartmouth Inn and decided to go there and then we saw the board out on the main path.
“Carvery and a desert, or coffee for £5” the sign was for the Dartmouth Inn and soon we were at the bar with £10 in hand, we were given a plastic card each to hand in to the chef, as you do at most carverys. I have to say it was one of the best I have had for a long time, the beef just melted in your mouth.
When we had finished we were unsure if in fact you did get a desert, remember we had handed in the card they gave us already. But then a young girl came over and asked if we would like to look at the desert menu. I did just check if it was included in the £5 we had paid and then asked her if it was just a special offer for the day. No she said it’s always £5 every single day and you get a desert for free as such.
I soon had a plate with toffee cheesecake and cream on it and I still find it hard to believe they only charge £5. Fully filled up we headed back home and were so pleased we not only had a great walk, but enjoyed a good well cooked and tasty meal for such a small price.
