I was invited to be guest speaker at the 7^th annual Devon Tourism Awards last week.  Many years ago I won the award for best B&B in the Southwest, went through to the nationals and came runner up to Castle Howard in Yorkshire.  It was a fantastic boost to the business and I would recommend anyone to enter the awards.

Jo Pavey (Olympian runner) was there to assist Judi Spiers in presenting the awards and about 320 people attended for a sumptuous meal at the Great Hall at Exeter University.  Seventy-five awards were presented to winners in categories as diverse as Glamping, Spa & Wellbeing, Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs and Attractions.

The National Marine Aquarium took the prestigious Winner of Winners award along with category awards for Sustainable Tourism, Access & Inclusivity and Venue & Business Tourism.

Attraction and experience Golds went to the Milky Way, Canonteign Falls, Reach Outdoors, the Old Kennels and the Ilsington Country House Spa. Food and drink Gold awards went to Home Farm Café, The Coach House at Kentisbury Grange and Millbrook Inn.

Thelma Hubert gallery took Gold for Access & Inclusivity, with Unique Devon Tours taking the top award for International Visitor Experience.  Dartmoor National Park Visitor Centres won an award for tourism information and the final award of the night went to Plymouth’s Armed Forces Day for Tourism Event of the Year.

Chairman of the Awards Panel, David Fursdon, says: “I know how important the tourist industry is to Devon. The wonderful reputation that this very special County enjoys in this area depends on maintaining the highest standards and this year’s winners across a wide range of categories illustrate just that and personify one word; “Excellence”.”

Speaking after the awards were presented, Luke Hansford, Hoseasons Business Development Manager for Devon, said: “Tonight clearly belongs to our award winners, but the standard of entries was so high this year that each and every finalist on the shortlist deserves a huge pat on the back, not just for the passion and dedication they put into their own businesses, but also for the huge collective contribution they make to ensuring that Devon remains such a popular destination.”

Awards organizer Robin Barker was delighted by this year’s awards: “This year’s winners exemplify so much of what is great about Devon. Innovation, outstanding service and superb experiences. Many congratulations to everyone involved.”

Janet East

www.yellinghamfarm.co.uk

On Tuesday some of the East Devon ladies went for a trip to the Pig at Coombe.  We were given a tour of some of the rooms and gardens and then finished off with lunch in The Folly.

We had a wonderful time and decided it was another fabulous venue to recommend to our guests.

Judith

www.farwoodbarton-holiday-cottages.co.uk

When my guests arrive after a stressful journey, what cheers them up the most is the surprise of a home-baked cream tea that I have prepared for them.  Of course I tell them which way round they have to put their cream and jam – imagine they’re using the cream instead of butter and then put the jam on the top of that – as I don’t want them doing it the Cornish way!  I am often asked for my recipe, so here it is:

Devon Scones

Ingredients

450g (1 lb) self-raising flour, plus a little extra to dust

4 tsp baking powder

90g (3 oz) butter at room temperature

50g (2oz) caster sugar

2 eggs

300ml (10 fl oz) milk

(Makes about 14 scones)

1. Preheat the oven to 200*C (180*C fan/400*F/Gas 6). Put the flour, baking powder and butter into a food processor and mix until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.  Next add the sugar and mix gently.
2. Break the egg into a measuring jug and beat with a fork, then pour in enough of the milk to make just over 300ml (10 fl oz) in the measuring jug. Beat the egg and milk mixture together.
3. Switch the processor on and gradually pour in the milk and egg mixture, leaving a couple of tablespoons in the jug for glazing. Mix until combined – the mixture should be slightly sticky.
4. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth, then roll it out until it is 1.5cm thick. Using a 7cm scone cutter, cut out as many scones as you can.  Re-roll the dough and cut out some more scones until it is all used up.
5. Put the scones on a sheet of baking paper and brush the tops with the remaining milk and egg mixture so they turn golden in the oven.
6. Bake for 10-15 minutes until they are lightly golden. I always cook mine in the Aga for that perfect country taste but if you haven’t got one they are also successful in an electric or gas oven at the same temperatures.

Sally

www.helepayne.co.uk

Any holidaymakers staying at Smallicombe Farm over the Halloween period need not have worried about being troubled by evil spirits!  A previous guest spotted some strange symbols carved into the wall of the inglenook fireplace and sent a link explaining what they represented and how they are now part of a UK wide study.

Historic England is calling upon members of the public to help create a record of the ritual markings carved into buildings and which were once believed to ward off evil spirits.

The so-called ‘witches marks’ were often positioned near the entrances to buildings; famous examples include the house where Shakespeare was born and the Tower of London.  There are also markings at the Tithe Barn in Bradford-on-Avon, to help protect the crops from harm, and others have been found in caves, such as the Witches’ Chimney at Wookey Hole.

The symbols were thought to offer protection at a time when belief in witchcraft, and the supernatural, was widespread.

Now the heritage agency, Historic England, says that too little is known about them and they would like help from the public to catalogue examples.

The symbols, also known as apotropaic marks, can be found on medieval houses, churches and other buildings, most commonly from around 1550 to 1750.  They took many forms, but the most common type was the Daisy Wheel.   This looks like a flower and was drawn using a compass with a single endless line.  The belief was that this would confuse and entrap evil spirits before they could enter the building.  Sometimes the ‘witches marks’ took the form of letters, such as AM for Ave Maria, M for Mary or VV, for Virgin of Virgins, scratched into walls, engraved on wooden beams and etched into plaster-work to evoke the protective power of the Virgin Mary.

The marks are a physical reminder of how our ancestors saw the world and can teach us about previously-held beliefs and common rituals, but they are easy to overlook.  The recorded evidence about where they appear, and what form they take, is thin.

If you have seen any and would like to take part in the survey go to: https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/help-hunt-for-witches-marks

Karen

www.smallicombe.com

The Sidbury Bonfire and Firework display has developed since its inception in 1997 into a major attraction in the East Devon calendar.  The committee of volunteers provide a spectacular event with the fireworks designed and fired by experienced professional pyrotechnic, Ed Rhodes.  There is a good supply of hot food, plenty of mulled wine and a specially constructed, novel bonfire to keep spectators warm.  The whole show is situated in the beautiful grounds of Sidbury Manor by kind permission of Sir John Cave, and also Alan Derryman, who farms the land.

If you’re more of an adrenalin junkie then perhaps you should head to the famous Otter Tar Barrels evening.  The Tar Barrel tradition is hundreds of years old. The exact origins are unknown but probably started after the gunpowder plot of 1605.  Various alternative reasons suggested for burning barrels have included fumigation of cottages and as a warning of the approach of the Spanish armada.

The West Country has a history of torchlight processions and burning barrels and Ottery was only one of the many towns and villages following an annual tradition containing barrels which were rolled in the streets on November 5th each year. Somewhere along the line someone decided rolling was tame and carrying barrels on your shoulders was far more appealing, and so the present tradition was born.  Now Ottery is the only town in the country carrying full sized, flaming tar barrels through the streets.

The procession of tableaux is also an old West Country tradition and is still a popular part of the winter months when most weekends will see a procession of brightly lit tableaux in a great many towns and villages.

However, the organisers are keen to warn people of the nature of the event:

It is important that anyone intending to go to the Otter Tar Barrels event visits the website before attending so that they are properly informed of the guidelines and advice given out to the public – http://www.tarbarrels.co.uk/

The Two Moors Festival is a week of chamber music, Lieder and recitals within the parameters of the Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks and runs from 22^nd to 29^th October.

There are Lieder and piano recitals, a deluge of chamber music concerts, as well as a splendid orchestral concert in which young instrumentalists are able to play alongside professionals.  If you are a fan of Brahms, Gregorian Chant or Sibelius’ Karelia Suite you will not be disappointed and Mozart, Liszt and Rossini also feature during the programme.

Performances are given by the Gildas Quartet, clarinettist Matthew Hunt, cellist Matthew Barley and pianist Harvey Davies as well as slightly less traditional concerts from Nicholas Mogg, Jams Coleman and Alison Farr. You can even enjoy a Victorian Feast concert with dinner!

Venues range from a tithe barn at Dunster to churches and chapels throughout Ashburton,  Moretonhampstead, Dulverton, Exeter, Tiverton, Witheridge and Okehampton.