English countryside at Herefordshire

Peter wants to visit his house on the river Wye to see what changes have taken place while he has been travelling and kindly offers to take me down to see it and meet up with Andy and Karen later at Logiston. I am going to visit with them for a week or so. Peter's holiday home is an old railway cottage that was on an obscure railway line and originally housed a family who were responsible for the opening and closing of the railway gates. It is set overlooking the Wye river which borders England and Wales. 

The view down the river from his front garden was tranquil. What a delight  to see 12 swans gliding  by directly opposite the house. They looked funny lying flat on the surface with their head under water.

Peter in his lounge room of the house.

The railway house is so charming. It is situated about 5 kms out of the town Hay-on-Wye which is just over the border in Wales. It is renown for its book shops and is a tourist destination. This is the town clock and the castle built to keep the Welsh at bay. There are a few ruined castles around here that had been built for this purpose.

It occurred to me that we are in Midsummer Murders territory. I have always joked with friends that these English country towns are dangerous places because of all the murders on this English TV program. As we were driving down numerous lanes with tall hedges on either side and very few signs, through little villages with black and white or stone houses it occurred to me how accurate the countryside has been portrayed on the show. 

To leave from Peter's place we have to cross a private bridge and pay a toll! It is only 80 pence and you only pay once a day but apparently the bridge toll goes back to medieval times and to change the law requires an act of parliament.

Eventually we arrived at Karen and Andy's place which is a typical English country cottage set amidst a sprawling garden, with a few sheep and two cats. It is so pretty. I feel so lucky to be having this country experience.