Spring and early summer at Hill Barn, the Bower and the Bothy

Spring is sprung - visit the countryside at this wonderful time of year

This is a delightful time to visit the countryside - the hedge banks are full of fresh greenery and wild flowers, the swallows are darting round the eaves looking for insects, and the larks are singing their hearts out over the cornfields. It's the perfect time for a stroll down country lanes and over footpaths. Enjoy the wonderful scenery - our part of East Devon has a quiet charm all its own - a patchwork of fields and woods, farms and hamlets, hills and valleys. It's a great place to watch the wildlife, especially birds of field and wood. If you walk quietly, you may even be able to watch roe deer grazing nervously, or glimpse a fox out hunting for food.

Just a short walk away is the famous Undercliff, immortalised in John Fowles' novel, "The French Lieutenant's Woman". It's a National Nature Reserve, and part of the recently-declared Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. An unspoilt and sheltered location, heavily wooded and full of interest, whatever the season. This wild landscape is the nearest thing to a jungle you will find in England - strange to think that a couple of hundred years ago, it was home to a thriving agricultural community. Now there are just one or two derelict farms and overgrown fields.

If you are feeling energetic, you can walk from Lyme to Axmouth along the South West Coast Path through the reserve - allow about five or six hours and take everything you need, as there is no beach or road access once you are on the trail. You can catch a bus back again, or some people swap car keys with folk they meet coming in the opposite direction!

Now the lighter evenings are with us, you can enjoy a drink at one of the seaside pubs in Lyme Regis to round off the day - imagine sipping wine, beer or coffee, at the edge of the beach on a calm evening, watching the boats in and out of the harbour.

So, why not consider a short break with us now?

With the famous English weather, you might be just as lucky with dry sunny days as in the middle of summer, and before the summer crowds arrive in Lyme, you can park the car easily, enjoy an unhurried break and see the sights without jostling!

Many attractions are open all year - you can find out more by visiting some other web sites - for example, National Trust properties in Devon, or find out what's on closer to home, at the official Tourist Information Centre web site.

For those who haven't visited before, Lyme is a delightful and unspoilt small town, with family-run shops selling local arts and crafts, clothing and jewellery, friendly pubs and restaurants, and of course the famous Cobb and harbour. Bridport (left), just ten miles away in Dorset, has a fascinating street market on Saturdays with many stalls selling local produce, bygones, bric-a-brac, old tools etc. Honiton is famous for its antique shops and pottery, and halfway to the city of Exeter.

Fancy something more active? You can dive or fish locally - boat trips are available from the Cobb; play golf at Lyme or Axmouth - two clifftop courses both with stunning views across Lyme Bay; go for a hack at one of the nearby stables; or swim at one of several local pools for example.

If you like walking or natural history, we've already told you about the Undercliff, and there are wonderful walks along the beach too - plenty of fossils to find; and bird-watchers like to visit the nearby Axe Estuary to see the wide range of birds that frequent the salt marshes.