An Estate, Countryside & Fossils

We hadn't planned on visiting Montacute House. However, as our rental was right next door we thought we might as well pop by. In a country full of beautiful estates, I think this one stands out as especially nice.

In an effort to avoid sounding obsessed, I almost hesitate to mention that this estate has a Jane Austen connection - it was Cleveland House in the Ang Lee version of Sense and Sensibility.

This is where Marianne leaves for her walk out into the rainy evening.

And here's where Colonel Brandon moons about, worried for her health.

Oh, but the grounds are so lovely it doesn't need a movie connection to be a nice place to visit on a summer afternoon.

There are lovely flowerbeds everywhere, along with walled gardens, a fountain, yew trees and groomed paths.

And the estate opens up to a deer park full of countryside walks.

There's so much to see in Somerset and Dorset, but we were drawn back to the sea. I'd read that part of the Dorset coastline is known as the Jurassic Coast. It's famous for its many fossils that people still find and are allowed to take home. Charmouth is known particularly as a place for fossil hunting, so that's where we went.

Mike and Camille headed up to the paths in the hills above and along the coastline. Mike could happily spend all day walking there.

Anya and I headed for the beach instead to hunt for fossils. There were a great number of people out hunting, most of them with special equipment. I worried that we might come away disappointed. Anya, however, had seen a documentary about hunting for fossils so knew just what to look for. And she found an ammonite! I couldn't believe her luck.

Yes, the wind was cold enough for coats, and we got drizzled on, but I'd still go back again, English weather and all.