Tuesday, 7 August 2012

A Day out in Long Whatton

Long Whatton House and Garden is well worth a visit.  Lovers of Calke Abbey and other National Trust properties will find much merit here.

On arrival, you pay a modest £3.50 into an honesty box.  Toilets, for those who need them, are near the entrance.  There is a tea room too, sadly closed when we visited, but open on Sundays and each bank holiday.

Colours greet you as you walk along paths by her Ladyships flower beds, a classic cottage garden on a large scale.  The garden boasts a rockery, ponds, sculptures and benches in rain proof arbours.  Another highlight is the Chinese garden, with Terracotta Warrior replicas.

Luscious green lawns flow under oaks, shrubs and magnificent cedars.  The gardens are kept by one gardener and the Lord and Lady of the manor, still.  Due to the weather, our visit was peaceful and we had the garden very much to ourselves.  On sunnier days, the gardens are ideal for picnics, families and their dogs are welcome.

http://www.whattonhouseandgardens.co.uk/

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