Erddig

Monday came around, and it was time to set off home.Not by the most direct route but with various stops and detours along the way. 

First port of call was a beach cafe at Pensarn, Abergele, for a second breakfast and short walk along the shingle beach. I'd hoped for sand and a chance to paddle but maybe the tide was wrong. 

On then to Erddig near Wrexham, the fourth National Trust garden of our weekend, and (almost) a new place for me. We've been once before but on a wet day, too early for the house to be open, and too unpleasant to wander round the garden while waiting, so we moved on elsewhere. We'd sort of forgotten this previous visit but remembered instantly on seeing the orchard car park.

Erddig Hall itself is a late 17th century house rescued by the National Trust, but I was more interested in the garden - a Grade 1 listed 18th century 'Dutch' formal garden of long alleys leading away from the house.

In some respects it was a little too formal for my tastes - I prefer a slight untidiness and rampant roses - but the borders and a small walled garden by the hall gave me flowers to look at, and the alleys made for peaceful walking.

And even ruler-straight lines of trees can hide things - this pond for example - 

and tucked away to one side a thatched 'wendy house'.

 All in all a more interesting place than it appeared at first sight. There's also a wider estate to explore via way-marked paths, a play area for children, and, for those interested in old farm machinery and the like, a glimpse into the working side of the estate with restored sawmill, stables, joiners' workshop and smithy.