Brixham -a fishing village in Devon


I was overwhelmed by all your birthday wishes in the last post, thank you so much. My husband who is approaching his mid 50's was quite miserable as he approached his 50th. It hasn't been a concern to me at all, maybe it is helped by both him and my siblings and some of my friends being older than me! If I hadn't reached this milestone, I wouldn't have visited Brixham for a night away....



Brixham is a fishing port in Devon and has one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK with around 100 fishing boats operating out of here. We walked along the breakwater which is about 1/2 a mile in length.


One of the fishing boats was returning to harbour and was very popular with the sea gulls! The sky was crowded with them as we stood by the lighthouse watching the boats' progress to shore.



Brixham is famous as the landing place of William of Orange and his Dutch army in 1688 - he was later to become King William III of Great Britain and Ireland.
The mineral ochre was also found in Brixham and the sails of the fishing boats were painted red to protect them from the sea salt. I have always thought these red sails were unusual without realising the reason behind them.
It was also here that they discovered a paint using the ochre to stop cast iron from rusting and it was manufactured in the port from the mid 1800's until the 1960's. There was sadly no red sails in evidence during our visit although the boats were moored by the harbour.


We stayed in a wonderful bed and breakfast overlooking the harbour- it was a former fisherman's cottage from the 18th century. It had such character and our hosts were so welcoming. My mother's ancestors were sailors here in the 1800's travelling as far as Australia and Prince Edward Island in Canada. It must have been quite a journey in those days.


It was fantastic to wake up to this view outside of our bedroom window the following morning the colours of this were not adjusted at all....


Don't you think the candy coloured cottages look so pretty hugging the hill-side and the harbour looks so different to those in Dorset and Cornwall.  We took a walk along the cliffs tops before heading home.





Since coming home I have been trying to catch up with reading everyone's blogs - the blogging community can be so supportive and caring in times of need.  Many wonderful crafters/artists have donated some amazing prizes for a raffle for Gretel for more information see here.

Sarah x

Comments

  1. Your pictures Just made my day and your post. OMGOODNESS just breath-Taking !!!! Just made me feel like I was there. I would literally hang each of those pictures on my wall .. They are just amazing... Some of the most beautiful pics that I have seen in a long while. Thanks for taking us there. Really enjoyed it

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  2. The B&B sounds lovely and that view is just amazing with all those colourful cottages.

    I've just read Gretel's story and it made me cry - I've bought a few tickets and I will have to blog this myself in the hope of getting the word around a little more.

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  3. Dear Sarah - you have hit the nail right on the head. Have friends who are older than you and you always feel younger. I know that it is a bit of a deception, but it definitely works.
    The picture of the houses reminds me of the song "Little Boxes" but what a glorious photo, you should have it enlarged and framed. I also love the first photo of the boat with all of the seagulls milling around.

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  4. What a beautiful place to share a special birthday..It is stunning..I must put it on my list to visit
    from 50 something
    Thea x

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  5. Love the candy coloured houses photo and isn't the sea a beautiful shade? Glad you're embracing your 50th and still feeling young(er) xo

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  6. Brixham looks gorgeous and the B&B fantastic and homely, have a great time. Juliex

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  7. Dear Sarah,
    What a lovely place Brixham looks. Great photos Sarah,
    The little cottages all painted in different rainbow colours. very different.
    I relate to having older friends. With 15 years difference between me and Mr. M.. our friends were always older.
    I was called the baby.
    A belated happy birthday. Each era of our life has so much to offer us.
    xx val

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  8. As ever your photos are super Sarah (do you mind me asking what camera you use - they are so clear!) That one of the sugar almond coloured cottages is just wonderful. I might want the address of that B&B too....

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    1. It's Sampford Guest House the top one recommended on tripadvisor, we wished we had stayed more than one night.
      Sarah x

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    2. Sorry I forgot to answer the question about the camera! It is a Panasonic Lunix with a 16X Optical zoom.
      Sarah x

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    3. Thank you so much for the info! Of course it's the photographer really...

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  9. Happy belated Birthday. And thank you for the trip down memory lane. We used to holiday in Brixham when I was a child and your pictures look like just as I remember xxx

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  10. wow.. looks like a gorgeous area. i love your photos, especially the one with the coloured cottages!
    it would look great enlarged.
    x

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  11. I am really impressed with these wonderful photos.I don't know this place but Brixham looks amazing in my eyes and I am wondering ...Are these locations included in our travel guides? Aren't they treasures? Finally, it's better to discover from the local people the beauties of a land.Thank you sooo much for this post, it seems that you had a very lovely stay.
    Thanks for sharing !
    Olympia

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    Replies
    1. Hi Olympia,
      Yes these locations are included in travel guides - each county or area of Britain is unique and has different things to offer the visitor. The West Country which includes Dorset,Devon,Cornwall and Somerset is very popular with others in the UK.
      Sarah x

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  12. Hello Sarah:
    Why have we never visited Brixham? It all looks so very attractive and is clearly steeped in all kinds of history. We were particularly interested to read about the reason for the red sails, something about which we had not heard previously, as well as the ochre to stop cast iron from rusting. Fascinating.

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  13. Wow what a wonderful place to visit so very pretty, lovely photos.

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  14. What a treat you had and so lucky with the weather. Brixham is so beautiful and your photos are lovely, especially the reflections in the water! xx

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  15. Meine liebe, kleine Meerjungfrau,

    wie hast du uns doch wieder mit deinen traumhaften Bildern beschenkt. Ich kann sie immer und immer wieder anschauen. Allesamt Postkartenmotive, eines schöner, als das andere.
    Und dieses hübsche Bed&Breakfast, so detailreich, so liebevoll, so einladend und gemütlich. Das Licht im Fenster zeigt einem den richtigen Weg dorthin. Die kleinen Räume, wie in unserem Cottage. Kleine Räume, niedrige Decken, heimelig und wohlbehütet fühlt man sich da. Die hübschen Platzteller mit den Fischmotiven, alles so, wie ich es liebe. Nach einem Tag in solch einem Ambiente kann man die neuen Tage inspiriert und voller, neuer Eindrücke beginnen. Ja, diese kleinen Fluchten sollte man viel öfter antreten, gut für die Seele.

    Alles Liebe wünscht dir die Babsi

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    Replies
    1. You are so right getaways are so good for the soul!
      Sarah x

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  16. Your ancestors must have been very adventurous. Do you know much of their story? Looks like you had a great wee trip away. It is very pretty. Juliex

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  17. Sarah, that photo of the houses overlooking the harbour is superb...you could hang it as a picture! I haven't been to Brixham for ages. Maybe I need to revisit x

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  18. Beautiful photos, I especially like the candy coloured houses picture. Best wishes, Pj x

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  19. Oh Sarah I'm so sorry I missed the birthday post - a very happy belated birthday from me! Lovely pictures as usual, the pretty painted cottages make a gorgeous view from you window. x

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  20. Oh my.....Sarah, that little village with the colorful cottages, MY DREAM! What a lovely world you share with me today. Thank you. Hugs to you and sweet Daisy! Anita

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  21. Hello Sarah, Awww we have a small plaque at work with those little coloured house,s in a row....
    It looks just the same, quite enchanting! Your birthday sounds and looks special, Sarah just as it sound be! Thanks for sharing! Tis wonderful to spread the word about Gretel! The response is fab! Lovely people in blogland! Love Maria x

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  22. Another great tour of the seaside, thanks! I love the shot of the cottages, with the reflections. BTW, 50 is young!! take it from me :-)

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  23. I think I shall make it a regular habit to be fifty every year from now on if it means a night away like this.

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  24. I have just found your blog and am enjoying back tracking through it. Congrats on your milestone birthday which may seem old to you, but in ten years time will make you feel quite young. I really enjoyed this post as I have never been to Brixham, even though I have lived in the West Country. It made me reminisce about a college roommate I had in the late 60's who came from Brixham and adored it so much. I hope she found a teaching job there when she graduated and is still living in Devon.

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  25. What a beautiful place Sarah. I love the multi coloured houses and their reflections on the water and that first picture would make a beautiful postcard of Brixham.

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  26. I love the candy colored cottages!

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  27. Belated Birthday wishes! Brixham is lovely - that B and B looks fabulous.
    June

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  28. Such a beautiful part of the country. I do love this place. We took our caravan there last summer, wonderful. Nothing like chips from paper by a harbour! Cx

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  29. Oh my what a lovely looking place, I have never been but after reading this post I want to go and visit! X

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  30. Oh Sarah, A very happy belated birthday to you! Have a wonderful weekend and just your photos but the first one is my favorite. What a beautiful place.
    Blessings,

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  31. Hi dear Sarah
    belated my best wishes to your 50. birthday!!! Brixham looks so lovely, surely it was a wonderful trip. Wishing you all the best for the next fify years...
    Bine

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  32. Dear Sarah,

    I am so, so sorry not to have been there to wish you a VERY happy 50th birthday! May your year be full of treasured moments and laughter. I truly hope so.

    May I also say that your pictures in this current post are sublime? How do you do it? Those pastel-hued cottages overlooking the harbour are so pretty and slightly reminiscent, to my greedy eye, to French Fondant Fancies!

    Stephanie

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  33. What a lovely trip to a great village! Your pictures are super, especially the one of the colourfull houses and the harbour. And what a good connection with the Netherlands:) Lovely greetings

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  34. First, a belated Happy Birthday. 50 is nothin'!
    With my husband's surgery and playing nursemaid to him and teaching all day, I have not had time to read any blogs. I am trying to catch up today..

    I am so glad I checked in today. The pictures are ALL wonderful, but the one with the colorful houses and then those same houses all reflected in the water is one of the prettiest sights I have ever seen.

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  35. Found your blog by Franse Lelie.
    Here I am a new follower.
    Love your pictures, they give me a little vacation from the snow (again) in Holland.
    Thank you and see you somewehere in blogland.
    Liefs
    Lia

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  37. Hi Sarah,
    I've popped over from Brookwood letters. Love the photos, what a colourful place. Will be following from now on. CT x

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  38. Wow, these pictures are just great Sarah! Your candy shoot looks truly sweet :0) Sounds and looks like Brixham is really nice place to visit, thanks for sharing :0) Hope you've had a very nice and sweet birthday, wishing you all the best.
    Hugs and kisses
    Natasha

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  39. Lovely photos, particularly the houses crowded on the hill ... what an incredible view!

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  40. What a pretty shot - I love this part of the world.
    x
    Melissah from Coastal Style
    Australia

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  41. I love lighthouses!I follow your blog.
    Bye
    Isabella

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  43. This is a lovely spot for a vacation. I imagine they had lots of dishes with fish since they are a fishing village. I love to go to small local restaurants when I travel. Thanks for sharing about this lovely village.

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