I’ve just returned from a wonderful Jane Austen weekend, staying at the fabulous house that was used in Emma Thompson’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Overlooking an estuary and set in 5,000 acres of Devon countryside, it boasts its own beach and miles of glorious walks.
The footpaths and hedgerows were filled with bluebells, red campion, cow parsley and buttercups – the very same flowers which Willoughby picks for Marianne in the film!
It was a lovely experience to spend a weekend with fellow Janeites and, in return for sharing a sneak preview of my soon-to-be-published novel, A Weekend with Mr Darcy, they helped me with my research for the third book in my trilogy.
Here’s a photo of the track used in the film – the very one Colonel Brandon, John Willoughby and Edward Ferrars ride along. Unfortunately, no heroes on horseback made an appearance over the weekend but we consoled ourselves by watching the film again.
