Last and certainly not least - Christmas at Chatsworth House

I'm  not quite saying that this visit was a case of leaving the best till last, but it was quite close. Chatsworth at Christmas is always fabulous, and not having visited for a few years made it feel all the more special.

The theme this year was based round a specially commissioned book by Joseph Coehlo about Henry Cavendish, son of the second Duke of Devonshire, and his (real life) scientific explorations  and (fictitious) hunt for the Chatsworth lion.

The trail led inside to the grand hall then out through the courtyard to re-enter elsewhere.

The decorations echoed the scenes from the story, and his telescope and other instruments were also on display.

There's a mix of cosy fireside and grand imposing halls at Chatsworth, each displayed to its best.

The guide was full of amazing facts about the number of trees and lights used but the only one I remember was there being enough strings of lights to go up the Shard four and a half times!

It's truly a glittering wonderland.

Two lions guard the exit, but the other was asleep so this must have been the one Henry was looking for.

 

Kedleston at Christmas

The next stop on my Christmas stately home trail was the nearest to home - Kedleston Hall. From the downstairs entrance, up the stairs to the state rooms above everywhere twinkled with lights and projections.

There were so many Christmas trees - real ones and these paper ones; a twist on retro paper baubles  - decorated to complement the rooms.

 

The Diwali display at Kedleston made excellent use of projections onto ceilings and stairwells, and the same company were behind a Christmas themed display. I loved these Christmas trees with shooting stars, and the snowflake one below which changed into a swirling snow storm that cleared to reveal the hall itself.

 

Christmas at Calke - market, house, garden and tunnels!

Next stop on the Christmas Lights trail was Calke Abbey.

It was a visit of several parts. First, because of the last entry time, we went round the house - with several decorated trees and mice (fortunately the stuffed toy variety) playing in the kitchen - and through the tunnels which lead back to the wash house in the stableyard. I'm not one for enclosed spaces but with strings of lights and illuminated displays I didn't really notice any difference to walking along a corridor (though the steep steps at the end were a little troublesome) In the wash house a model choir was waiting to welcome us.

As it was still daylight, our next stop was the Christmas market followed by tea and cake from the cafe.

Then as darkness descended we headed up into the gardens following the illuminated trail

It's always magical to find a path of lights leading through woodland, and this was no exception. Projections of wild animals onto trunks led the way deeper among the trees, and eventually to a tunnel of lights which returned towards the hall.

Calke Abbey itself sits in a dip between stableyard and gardens, with a slight hill in either directio and the route through the tunnels seemed the more gradual gradient to return to the exit.

I'm pleased we chose this way as the lights in the courtyard were mush more impressive in the dark. The steps up to the laundry seemed far steeper though!