Lonely Little Peacock Caterpillar

The journey of a lone Peacock butterfly caterpillar down a nettle plant, near the National Trust’s Hughenden Manor.

Ducklings at The Vyne

On our recent trip to The Vyne, a National Trust property near Basingstoke, there were a load of ducklings playing around on the lake.

They got spooked by a large white duck and toddled off to mum at an amazing speed! Very cute!

The Vyne – National Trust

Yayoi and I took another daytrip from Windsor on 4th May – this time to The Vyne, a National Trust property near Basingstoke.

The Vyne is a Tudor house which was visited on a few occasions by Henry VIII.

The house was built in the 16th Century for William Sandys, Lord Chamberlain to Henry VIII. The estate was sold to a Chaloner Chute in the mid-17th Century and remained in the Chute family until it was given to the National Trust in the mid-20th Century.

You can of course explore the house, which has a magnificent Tudor chapel, but you can also walk around the lake and grounds, where you can see the Walled Garden and Summerhouse.

The weather was a bit overcast and windy on our visit, which was a shame, but the house inside is incredible, taking you back over 300 years!

Hughenden Manor – National Trust

I haven’t updated the blog for a while, having been busy with the new job. It’s like we haven’t been doing anything – which is not true at all! Lots of updates tom come this week!

At the start of May, Yayoi and I made a few daytrips away from Windsor, making full use of our National Trust membership.

On 2nd May we went to Hughenden Manor, in the Chilterns near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.

Hughenden Manor is the former home of Benjamin Disraeli, the famous politician in the time of Queen Victoria who went on to become prime minister. Disraeli and his wife came to live at Hughenden Manor in 1848 and he continued to live there until his death in 1881.

We had a lovely time exploring the house and gardens, which were full of pink, blue and white flowers.

Yayoi made a lovely picnic for the day, which we had outside in Hughenden Manor’s picnic orchard. Runner beans wrapped in bacon, tomatoes, tamago-yaki, chicken nuggets! Mmmm!

Hughenden Manor is well worth a visit if you have time. The house sits on top of a hill and the views of the countryside and the Chilterns are fabulous! If you’re lucky like us, you may even get to see some Red Kite!

Basildon Park – National Trust

We went to yet another National Trust property two weeks ago. Making good use of our membership. The time round – Basildon Park.

Basildon Park is an 18th Century mansion located just outside Reading and recently featured in the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Basildon Park was saved in the 1950s by Lord and Lady Iliffe. The back has glorious views across the Berkshire countryside.

Birthday Picnic Lunch at Cliveden

Two weeks ago, it was my wonderful wife’s birthday. I took her for a picnic lunch, along with champagne and raspberries, at Cliveden – just down the road from Windsor.

Cliveden is a National Trust property, so with our new membership, we could get in free of charge. Nice!

Set amongst 376 acres of gardens and parkland, Cliveden House was first built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham as a hunting lodge to entertain guests. It’s been re-built twice due to fire and has been home to three Dukes, an Earl, and Frederick Prince of Wales.

We had a lovely picnic in the sun to start. Yayoi had made some lovely sandwiches, and the champagne and fruit was really nice.

We wandered down to Cliveden House after lunch, taking a wander down the thousand-yard-long Parterre garden (which was laid out in 1855) and taking in the views of the River Thames from the War Memorial.

And finally, on the way out, we passed the famous Fountain of Love. Unfortunately, it was being repaired when we visited, so no spouting water. Nevertheless, it is quite an impressive amount of stone!

We had a really lovely day out. Yayoi’s birthday was topped off with one of her favourite meals – a KFC!

Happy Birthday, darling!

Daytrips from Windsor – Leith Hill

Last Saturday was the first time Yayoi and I used the best of our Xmas presents – a year’s membership to the National Trust, kindly given by my sister and her boyfriend.

With Yayoi’s love of high places for the great views, we pootled down from Windsor to Leith Hill, near Dorking in Surrey.

Leith Hill is the highest point in south-east England, topped by a Gothic 18th Century tower built by a Richard Hull (who is buried beneath it!), and has panoramic views towards London and the south coast.

It was quite a hazy day, but the views from the top of the tower were quite amazing.

There are also a few marked walks around Leith Hill, which we will try out next time – perhaps in May when the rhododendrons  and bluebells are supposed to be out.