Christmas this year was spent in North Cornwall at Tregayor Barn just down the coast from Bude. Set at the end of a farm track the barn is isolated and quiet and this Christmas looked perfect with snow on the ground and temperatures of -4.
With the excitement of Christmas day over (the mass Christmas day swim at Bude is always life affirming) a Boxing Day walk down to the sea was my priority. The lane from the barn offered distant views of Cornwall and North Devon and snow covered Dartmoor was just visible.
Snow and ice change a landscape but I like to look at the detail sometimes. The high hedgerow hadn't caught the sun at all and the ice had encrusted the leaves and blades of grass.
After a few hundred yards I dropped down into the ancient woodland which is now a nature reserve. One summer we found an off road vehicle trying to get down this path. It didn't make it and remarkable managed to reverse all the may back.
The woods and fields were full of snipe, and I disturbed 2 at the ford across this ice covered stream.

Gorgeous George was pleased to be out and about and enjoying all the smells.


I like these rough pastures at the bottom of the valley.
The hamlet of Millook.
The majesty of the north Cornish coast...