I just can’t resist taking pictures on my customary morning walk through sumptuous historic Exeter, capital of the West Country of England — more or less. We don’t count Bristol this far West.

The first is a building dated 1596 which, typically has been converted to commercial use. I don’t know what it was used for originally, but they obviously foresaw a future gap in the market for backdrops to TV series like, Miss Marple and Midsomer Murders.

Below is the ancient Guildhall — would you believe more than 800 years old? It was once used as a market for the wool trade as well as for gatherings of the local Council.

Finally, sauntering through the new Princesshay mega shopping mall and chill-out zone, I caught these glimpses of the old town and cathedral, nicely set against the modern stuff.

I’ll be heading down the road to the coast next week to sample the delights of Exmouth, Topsham and Dartmouth (the original, not the American college town).

You can see all of this clutch of pictures on our new Syntagma Flickr Photostream.