829a – Tredegar House
We enjoy a few hours at the lovely Restoration red brick house outside Newport and run by the National Trust. Enjoy a super home made soup in the busy cafe, then walk through the gardens with Christmas decorations to the Orangery and stable block. On the way we enjoy listening to the carol singers in […]
823b – Apethorpe Palace
The palace is only accessible via pre-booked guided tours during July and August (costs £9 even for members). I arrive just in time for the 1.30pm tour, the last for the year. I have longed to visit this house since it was compulsory purchased by English Heritage in 2004. There are around 25 of us […]
823a – Kirby Hall
A day out by myself exploring the northern part of Northamptonshire. It is the Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend and about as bad as it could be, persistent miserable rain, grey and breezy. However, I don’t let the rain stop any of my plans. I spend an hour at Kirby Hall, a super […]
823c – Elton Hall
It is then a 20 minute drive just into Cambridgeshire to visit a house rarely open, but I am able to use my HHA card to get in for free on one of those rare days. Still very much a family home, the house has been developed since 1662 by the Proby family, and is […]
820a – Stoneleigh Abbey
I have a grand day out in Warwickshire on a very hot, sunny day, particularly so in the afternoon as the heatwave continues into a 5th week. I’ve long wanted to visit Stoneleigh Abbey and am not quite sure why I haven’t as it is only 30 miles away; I arrive 5 minutes before it […]
819 – Croome
I spend a few hours relaxing at Croome on a very hot Friday afternoon. I walk around the central park area first, taking in the evergreen shrubbery, temple greenhouse, Worcester gates, grotto, island pavilion, sit by the lake to enjoy the scenery and peace, then continue onto the Chinese bridge to reach the court. It […]
818 – Charlecote Park
A very hot day. I meet Dave, Sue and Kaitlin along with Emma at 1.0pm for an afternoon exploring Charlecote just north of Stratford-upon-Avon, our annual trip out together. We begin with the interior of the house, the Great Hall and Library being the most impressive spaces. Kaitlin looks for depictions of pike in each […]
814d – Mount Stewart
Monday 14th May begins with blue sky and sunshine but it clouds over during the afternoon. We start the day with a 5.5 mile run around the Castle Ward estate. We take the ferry from Strangford to Portaferry (a 15 minute crossing that costs £6.80) then continue along the rolling countryside by the lough to […]
814c – Castle Ward
Sunday 13th May is an even sunnier day than the 12th. We go for a 6 mile run around the estate in the morning; there are lovely woods with bluebells, vibrant yellow gorse in fields and super views of Strangford Lough. We spend the day taking a relaxed pace exploring the estate (after the initial […]
813b – Stonor
Stonor park is only a 15 minute drive away from Greys Court. We anticipate crowds as there is a car boot sale taking place in the grounds, but we are waved through when we say we only want to visit the house. What a surprise for a bank holiday, it turns into a very civilised, […]
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