Sampford Courtenay thatched cottage

I was out on this very hot sunny day with the local walking group.  We were starting Stage 1 of the Devon Heartland Way, a walk through the centre of Devon starting at Okehampton.  Fortunately it was a relatively flat walk given the high temperatures.  We headed across several fields, along lanes and up a few small hills with glimpses of Dartmoor at various points of the walk.  I have included in the extras a shot of a water pump which was making a terrible creaking sound in a field where we had to search for some time to find the correct way out.  Another field was very overgrown with grasses to the hay fever suffers consternation but it made a good photo.  The main photo however is taken from the end point in Sampford Courtenay, which is in a conservation area.  The old thatch and the plaster designs caught my attention.  This village has an interesting history being famous as a centre for the Prayerbook rebellion of 1549 and is where the rebels made their final stand.

An interesting walk and day.