Dominating the Valley of the Rocks below Maidencombe, the Giant Rock was the magnet for local residents in the 19th century who would turn out in force every Sunday to picnic on this lofty plateau .
Many hundreds of locals from the Torquay area would ascend the 150 foot red sandstone rock to enjoy sweeping views over Babbacombe peninsular and bay.
In those days, the Valley of the Rocks was just that - the striking stone formations were not hidden by trees and the area resembled a strange lunar-like landscape. Indeed, the hollow adjacent to Watcombe House (built 1858) was excavated to extract potters clay.
Now, some 150 years later, there are discussions on restoring the area for tourists and residents alike. Many obstacles have to be overcome if this ambitious project is to be realised. A video feature is to be posted shortly.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment