Blickling Hall - wisteria and rhododendrons

Our day at Blickling started out in the parkland on the search for bluebells. I've seen photos online of woodland carpeted with a stunning blue carpet of flowers and hoped to find it. Two things were against us - it was a little late in the season so the flowers would be past their best, and we didn't know where to look.

I'd seen mention of bluebells on a circular walk near the lake so that's where we headed. We did find some but not the masses I'd expected. In the car park later, a guide said we hadn't been in the best area, so that's a walk for another year.

Still this was a pretty walk and not too strenuous to start the day. There were glimpses of the house in the distance, views over the lake, dragonflies along the path, and pretty paths to follow.

Back to the car then and round to the main entrance to the house and gardens.

It's always an imposing building but on this occasion I was absolutely stunned by the wisteria growing along the building which houses the cafe and shop. 

Then, inside the gardens there was even more! This time along the top of, and tumbling over, the retaining wall between lower and upper gardens. Absolutely wonderful!

Walking onwards then into the upper garden, where the central grassed walk was lined with beautiful hydrangeas.

I've visited Blickling many times but I think this occasion it was at its most impressive

 

Blickling Hall - an afternoon of contrasts

 

It was quite late in the afternoon when we arrived at Blickling, but the sun was still shining, the sky almost uninterrupted blue, despite rain forecast for later, and there was plenty of time for a walk round the gardens and maybe the wider estate.

The formal gardens were a little disappointing with work taking place on the hard landscaping of retaining walls resulting in certain areas being 'out of bounds'.

I always find kitchen gardens just as interesting though, especially in autumn with fruit hanging from trees and pumpkins and squash left out to ripen in the sun. 

not snakes, but long
snaking squash

And along one wall was a wonderful display of dahlias in all shapes, sizes and colours - spiky, two-toned, small enough to fit in your hand, as big as a football (well, maybe that's a little exaggeration).

Heading out of the gardens, back to the main entrance of the Hall, the sky was still blue, so I decided to risk that longer lakeside walk ... I was definitely too optimistic.

The walks leaflet warned that views of the Hall were more like distant glimpses and my zoomed-in shots make it look mistier than it was, but that rain was on the way.

We'd just about reached the furthest point of the lake when rain started to fall - just a few drops, followed by wind and driving rain. Fortunately it didn't last long. We took shelter under some trees, and then decided to take the shortest route back, along clear paths rather than through grass.

By the time we got back to the car though, the sky had started to brighten once more, promising a bright sunset.

 

National Trust - Five Properties in Three Days!

We've been National Trust members on and off for years. If you're remotely interested in old buildings or magnificent gardens (or just want somewhere to let children let off steam) it works out as excellent value, in my opinion. For a while, through my parents' last years, we've been confined to local places, but last week we at last took a proper break - three whole days away from home - and visited five National Trust properties! 

Day One started with an old favourite - Belton House, just outside Grantham

 I've visited here SO many times - even before it was a National Trust property, so lots of things are familiar - the Moondial,












 the Italian garden with its fountain,










the orangery, and the more relaxed flowers beds behind it.

















There's always something new to find though.





The scent of lavender drifting as I walked past these borders - the plants are probably always there but just have to be caught at the right time for the scent.










A small feline friend, who wanted to accompany us around












Incredibly it's the first time I've been inside the church,













or seen these completely relaxed deer grazing by the car park entrance.











Our next stop was somewhere new to me - Peckover House in Wisbech.
















In comparison to Belton, it seems modest in size, and it's almost the sort of place you could imagine living. The library though is huge - easily the biggest room in the house, showing where the owners' priorities lay.

Maybe its fireplaces and ceilings are just a little ornate if you have to dust them yourself.



















It fronts almost directly on to North Brink which runs alongside the river Nene, but to the rear is a much-larger-than-expected garden, divided into 'rooms', with croquet set out for visitors on the lawn, and meandering paths among the flower beds. I'd have stayed and explored for longer, but we had to reach Norfolk that evening.

Day Two started with a visit to Felbrigg Hall - or rather, it's exuberant walled garden full of colour and scent.

I've visited the Hall before but for some reason, maybe the weather, never seen the garden.

Vegetables share the space with flowers, doves flit in and out of the dovecot, chickens peck round your feet, and the walls shelter it all from cold breezes. It's wonderful.

The next morning found us at Blickling Hall, with its more formal parterres.












We're not talking council bedding here though - the strict square beds are raised in the centre and filled with drifts of mingling colours.

 Away from the Hall, the formal gardens give way to woodland and secret paths, where we found a quiet place to sit awhile, without any other visitors.

The final property we visited was something entirely different. Besides all the stately homes and gardens, the National Trust own and care for countryside and coast too - and our last visit was to one of these. The Manor of Brancaster, to give it its 'posh' name, is an area of marsh and creeks lying on Norfolk's north coast.














Beyond the sea defenses, the land stretches out to the horizon, and for a person like me, used to undulating hills and valleys, it's a strange eerie place, even in bright sunshine.

The coastal path follows the edge of the marshes, and I'd intended walking from Burnham Deepdale to Brancaster Staithe - it's only a mile - but all the walking of the past couple of days had exhausted me, so I had to be content with a shorter stroll.