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.

 

Attinghan Park

Eventually we came to the last stop on our weekend away - heading south from Erddig to another National Trust property, Attingham Park, just outside Shrewsbury.

It's a place we've visited many times as it's a pleasant place to break a journey from Derby to mid/west Wales, with cafes and a variety of walks around the estate. On this occasion we didn't have a lot of time before closing, especially as the first thing we did was have some late lunch, so we headed directly to the walled garden.

This was formerly a kitchen garden, and is still in part, but the wonderful flower borders which divide it are the main attraction now.

At the centre is a circular grassed area encompassed by two beds of pale flowers - foxgloves, peonies - with spots of bright colour from poppies. 

And, best bit of all, a path leads between the two circles is a path so you can really walk among the flowers.

It's a rather lovely, romantic flower mix that I feel I was lucky enough to catch at its best.

A gateway leads to a second walled garden with a greater amount of practical vegetables, greenhouses and cold frames, which my husband wandered around while I sat and rested by the flower border.

All too soon though the property was closing and the gardener locking the gates to the garden.

Time to head back to the courtyard entrance, then home.

 

Breaking the journey

 Any lengthy car journey needs a break - for lunch, maybe, and a bit of a leg stretch - and I prefer to avoid the obvious choice of roadside services but stop off at interesting places en route, often a National Trust property with interesting grounds and gardens.








Belton House is a favourite spot for heading East, but this holiday we were heading West to Wales and with the promise of a glorious day, we chose to stop at Attingham Park  just outside Shrewsbury and wander round the grounds and deer park.

view back to the house from the deerpark

 It turned out to be quite a long stopover as the mile and half walk we chose took a couple of hours as we stopped frequently to gaze at reflections in the river, spot early bluebells under the trees and investigate the walled garden; not many vegetables to be found growing there at this time of year but the borders were decoratively filled with flowers.

walled garden

cottage adjoining the stable block

We then decided to make the most of the sunny day by taking a second break in the journey a few miles down the road but just into Wales - at Powis Castle.

 The gardens tumble down from the castle's hilltop site in a series of terraces, making the most of views out over the countryside.










From the formal gardens we headed back through a wilder area of trees and rhododendron bushes; having visited before when these are in flower, I know how wonderful they'll look in late May, but for now there were daffodils in bloom and glimpses of the castle to be had as we headed back up hill.