Attingham Park

Although August was over, Attingham Park was still decorated with its Summer of Play finery when we visited; colourful paper lanterns strung along fences, and bunting around the courtyard.

Grandson wasn't along for this trip though so we just headed for the walled garden - also seasonally adorned but with flowers and fruit. Pumpkins grew fat in the vegetable beds, apples, pears, figs and quinces hung in the trees, and autumnal flowers threaded their way between. My last visit was in spring '23 so the garden was very different in appearance.

A walled garden, closed away from the world, always holds a certain magic, and Attingham's is no exception. The sun decided to appear - equally magical on a wet day - and we sauntered about and just sat and contemplated the world.

I had intended to walk further through the parkland but decided against it. Next time I must allow longer for this favourite stopping-off location.

 

Glamping at Wildernest

 We started the month the right way with a short break near Aberaeron This was the second of this year's glamping trips through Canopy and Stars agency which specializes in cabins, treehouses and 'wild' holidays - the first was to the Wye Valley near Tintern back in May. This time we'd chosen The Stoep at Wildernest in mid-Wales - a fairly remote spot reached along roads which grew increasingly narrower - the approach being made worse by the awful weather.

The day of our journey had started in rain, briefly brightened during a stopover at Attingham Park near Shrewsbury, and then descended into a combination of mist and torrential rain. Not ideal conditions to arrive at our holiday home in.

Inside though, all was warm and snug - the cabin was constructed with fleece and heated by an air source pump.- and despite it not being technically sunset we decided to stay in for the rest of the day.

Next morning things had improved. From our verandah (the stoep which the cabin was named for) we could see across the farm and to the hillside opposite. Nearer at hand birds were flying to feeders - we spotted jays, robins, a woodpecker, sparrows and various species of tits plus an owl! - dragonflies landed om the wooden boards, and somewhere not far away was the sound of a goat's bell. 

It felt like a morning for doing little. We explored the site - saw the goats and geese, squelched through mud, found the pond which had seemed so terrifyingly close to the track the previous night.

 

I'd brought a crochet project along with me to keep my hands busy and get into the granny-core vibe, but otherwise it was good to just settle back and relax.

Tempting as it would have been to stay put for the whole of our holiday, we did venture out - to Aberaeron with its brightly painted Georgian houses, to New Quay where we ate ice cream and fish and chips in the sun, to the National Trust estate at Llanerchaeron. and to Llangranog where the sea and rain were so blustery that we took shelter in a pizza restaurant.

Walled garden at Llamerchaeron

For our trip home the sun shone and the sky was blue. We stopped off at Aberystwyth and slightly further up into the mountains at Bwlch Nant yr Arian to see the red kites being fed.


Another short break which felt like a lot longer than its five days.

August

 August seemed to be a quiet month but rushed past; part of the time being spend hiding from the heat, part sheltering from rain.

My grandson came to stay for a few days and we decided to sign him up as a (junior) National Trust member so we could take part in their Summer of Play events. These were being held almost everywhere but we just did the rounds of our local Trust properties - Kedleston Hall, Belton Hall, and Calke Abbey. (Technically the last one took place in September, but it was part of the summer holiday vibe so it belongs here). My favourite location was Calke, as the volunteers had turned a huge area into a field of activities. My grandson's favourite activity? Maybe hobby horse racing or just banging on the improvised musical instruments (at Calke a string of poles of differing lengths, at Kedleston a rope of different size and weight metal watering cans)

It was all a lot of fun, and we did get to see a little of the quieter gardens and a very rapid tour of Belton House.

We didn't have any holidays planned for this month but did take some little jaunts locally - to the hydrangeas at Darley Park in Derby, to Carsington Water, and back to Kedleston Hall for a harp and tabla performance by Tala Tareng

Carsington Water

We're a long way from the sea here in Derbyshire but we've got our own alternative - Severn Trent's Carsington Water reservoir.

There are yachts bobbing at anchor, swans and other waterfowl swimming around, sometimes a windsurfer or two; it could be a quiet day by the coast

This time we parked at the visitor centre, and walked out to Stones 'Island' which is dominated by the Standing stones artwork, looking like a pre-historic stone circle or the ruins of a long-gone civilisation.

Several of the stones have holes pierced through them for looking at the surrounding water but trees have grown around the site and not many of them have a view these days. 

 Along this short walk there are puzzles relating to the work of Severn Trent - such as getting water (represented by a ball) through the pipes without getting snagged in debris; they're intended to be educational but they can be played just for fun.

All in all a pleasant evening stroll in the sunshine.

Hydrangeas

A couple of weeks ago I headed over to Darley Park to see the hydrangea garden which is looking fabulous this year.

In hot, dry summers hydrangeas can look a little worse for wear, but they've obviously loved the rain we've had this year; the plants look so lush and green, and their flowers exuberant.

There seems to have been a little change in the overall planting scheme since my last visit, now grouping by colour and shape, and giving emphasis to the peniculata varieties.

This comparatively small space, a walled garden tucked away where you might easily miss it, is the home to the National Collection of hydrangeas so every shape and colour is there.

 The sun came out, the day warmed up, and it was a delightful afternoon.