Butter is the name of a charming Homestead region that opened to the public in August, and to which we were pointed by Miro Collas. Designed by Mona Molinaxil with a little help from jellomight, it’s a region of subtle contrasts and a welcoming look and feel, with plenty to discover and appreciate.
Described as a “forever a work in progress”, at the time of writing, the region offered a mix of beach front location, little working dock, and green hills dotted with signs of human habitation and with paths and trails winding through and over them.
It is just above the beach that the landing point will deliver you; a broad board walk running west-to-east and sitting atop a wall separating it from the sands below, a stone balustrade guarding. the drop from board walk to beach. This is cut in three places by stairs that descend to the sand, while the western end of the board walk offers a why down to the working quayside.
The beach offers all that you might expect to find in such a place: sands (slightly grassy in looks) slipping gently into an azure sea and dotted with numerous places to sit, sunbathe and relax either out in the open or under the shade of parasols. A wooden deck floats just off shore, inviting people to swim / wade out to it, while for those wishing to stay dry while active, a dance floor sits back towards the sea wall, one of several points scattered around the region where people can partake of a dance or two.
For those who might find all that messing around on a beach and in the Sun a little wearing, thirsts can be slaked and hungers abated up at the Butter Bistro and Bar that sits on the other side of the board walk. Bright yellow in colour, the adobe like walls of the bar, together with the palms of the beach and the odd sombrero or two give this part of Butter a slight Mexican feel – although that could simply be for the benefit of tourists!
A second bar can be found over at the quayside to the west of the region – but I’d been a little wary of the food here; the barman seems insistent that someone ordered a raw fish; although you can at least assume it is fresh, given the trawler sitting alongside. The bar is one of little row of establishments lining the quay, which appears to offer mooring space both in front and behind them.
To the north, beyond the bistro and the docks, the land rises into a backbone of hills, whilst being split by a curving channel that slices the north-west corner of the region into an island of its own, a single bridge connecting it to the rest of the land. To the south-east, the hills form a rugged shoulder standing above bistro and beach, offering a camp site of trailer homes and glamping tents, the detritus of outdoor life – benches, barbecues and coolers for beer and drinks – scattered between them.
To the north, a windmill keeps an eye to the north, standing above cliffs that fall sharply to the sea, and looking past a smaller island. A cabin is perched on the latter, and while it didn’t offer clear signs of being private, it did sit within its own parcel, so perhaps it is best to treat it as not being open to the public.
West of the windmill, the land drops gently down to a small beach at the north end of the channel splitting the land, while the hills themselves – the butterly hills – turn gently south and west. Within them is a rocky hollow, a “secret” place suitable for couples to enjoy. Across the channel, the north-west island offers a small farm, reached by a rough track and home to cattle, goats, geese and bees.
Finished with touches such as a sound scape, a little open market, a further place for music and dancing alongside the bistro bar, Butter offers a charming summer setting well worth exploring. Those taking photos can also submit them to the local Flickr group.
SLurl Details
- Butter (Butter, rated General)
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