Jo’s Monday walk : Wollaton Hall

Just one more beautiful piece of English Heritage, before I move on.  I’ve jumped counties this week, to Nottinghamshire and an Elizabethan country house, Wollaton Hall, dating from the 1580s.  The sturdy old entrance gate looks anything but welcoming but, beyond it, 500 acres of parkland wrap gently around this elegant house on a hill.  Lime Tree Walk sweeps gracefully upwards, but I’m diverted by the activity down at the lake.

An aloof swan or two, some cheerful coots and a waddle of ducks glide around the lemon and white water lilies, on a well nigh perfect summer’s day.  The lake, just big enough to consume an icecream as you walk around it.

The park is also home to herds of Red and Fallow deer, some of whom astonished me by treading nonchalantly across the adjacent golf course.  It must be a common occurrence, for the golfers appeared unperturbed.

There are formal gardens too, out of reach of the deer, but Wollaton is best known as Nottingham’s Natural History Museum.  I’m really not fond of stuffed animals, but had to venture inside the hall out of curiosity.  I was glad I did.  In parts it was very beautiful.

It being the summer holidays, the hall was full of distractions for children.  My daughter, long past childhood but a child at heart, still likes to twirl a bat cape alongside Bruce Wayne.  Batman Forever!  Wollaton regularly hosts events, and has been used as a film set on several occasions, understandably looking at this staircase.  There appeared to be dinosaurs in residence, too.

I was interested to read of the behind the scenes tours available at the house,  including a ‘descent to the depths’ to discover the Tudor Kitchen and the Admiral’s Bath!  I averted my eyes from much of the taxidermy, but stopped to read Len’s story, and some history of the hall.

You can also access the roof for a closer look at the Pavilion Towers.  Or how about a Bat Walk, or ghost tour?  There have to be a few skeletons in the cupboards around here, wouldn’t you think?

We had some ace cake eaters in our company that day.  Sampling is a public service, after all.  Fortunately standards were met in the Courtyard.

Within the courtyard I also found something quite fascinating- an ancient knitting machine, on loan from the Framework Knitters Museum at Ruddington.  All in all, a very satisfying afternoon out.

And there you have it!  A bundle of very happy memories from an English summer.

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Time to share this week’s walks.  You have to admit, there’s variety here.  And if you want to add something of your own, you know where to find me.  Jo’s Monday walk explains it all.  Join me here any time.

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Let’s start with Debbie.  I remember this place as being wonderfully atmospheric :

A dawdle down under – In Liverpool

What is it about Cornwall that makes its gardens so beautiful?  Jude might know :

Heligan

More colourful characters from Janet this week :

Jo’s Monday walk…going to the dogs

Wonder what Jackie’s been eating?

Road Grill

Stroll round ‘Kyoto’s Kitchen’ with Lady Lee :

Nishiki Market

Irene takes us to a beautiful place :

Along the Shores

Step by step, Cathy crosses Northern Spain, meeting a few characters along the way :

(Camino day 34) Astorga to Rabanal del Camino

And I made a new acquaintance in Marsi.  The views are stupendous, but you need to be fit!

Smith Rock State Park: Oregon’s Rock climbing Mecca & Dreamy Day hike destination

I’ve been back in the Algarve for 3 weeks now, settling into a rhythm of sorts.  I hope you’ll hang around to enjoy it with me.  Take care, all!

109 comments

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  8. I was oohing and aahing over the water lilies, and then I got to the deer! Is there a more beautiful animal? I adore them, and seeing them walk right in front of me in large numbers would be heaven!

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  10. Am I allowed to take umbrage? 🤨 No naming of the cakes!! I guess one is lemony, but the other? As you know I am not eating cake this year so I have to do it all virtually. Be nice to know which piece to choose 🍰. This seems quite pensive Jo, are you missing your lovely family? England does have its plus points and walking in a lovely garden with family is one of them. Reading your reply to Meg’s comment, maybe you need some ‘me’ time instead of rushing around doing stuff all the time. I, on the other hand probably have far too much ‘me’ time! Enjoy your meet up with Andrew! An excuse for more cake 🙂

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    1. The lemony one was lovely. Lisa had the choc chip and there was none left. 😉🍰 Andrew on the other hand doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth but he does like chips. 🍟 We had a lovely afternoon thanks, including a boat ride out to the Ilha. It’s not so much missing family as familiarity, Jude. And you’re probably right. Too much of everything, but I’ll only live once. 🤗👪🦢🍰💕

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  14. Wollaton is a lovely place to walk isn’t? When we lived in Nottingham we used to go there often with our new little baby and walk for miles with him in the pushchair through the trees looking out for the deer. Such wonderful memories.

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      1. Ah, you had the lemon cake. I would have gone for the cookies and cream 😊 I was also pegging out the washing a moment ago…but it was already past sunset here and so no view to admire. And it was less than 10’C 😞😂 Enjoy the week, Jo 🍰😊💕

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  18. How homesick are you, my dear? You sound quite plaintive. What you show here is very different from Portugal. I love the deer and the formal and informal bits of garden, and of course the lake, measured in the new metric of ice cream consumption!

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    1. The perfect measurement, don’t you think, and it was a superb icecream but I didn’t like to gloat 🙂 🙂 I wouldn’t say homesick so much as friendsick, Meg. I have met lots of new and lovely people so that sometimes I feel awash with them and just want to retreat into privacy. The two lives are so very different. Thank you for your concern. I can’t always rationalise it myself. We have UK friends coming to stay soon, and then my daughter (did you like her as a dinosaur? 🙂 ). And today I have the rare treat of Andrew Petcher and his wife coming to see us. How are you adjusting? Hugs, sweetheart!

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  20. Jo, a delightful post about Wollaton Hall … the garden alone are beautiful and the deer photos are wonderful. Truly idyllic! Hmm … I’m with you on the stuffed animals and glad the hall has so much more of interest. It looks grand and I’m not surprised it’s been used for movies – perhaps your daughter can become an extra in one! As I’m about to become a regular visitor to Nottingham, this is a place I look forward to visiting! Wishing you a lovely start to the week! 😀🌺

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    1. I think you’ll find lots to enjoy in Nottingham, Annika. I was a bit disappointed that the castle is currently closed for renovation, but there is plenty to see and do. I’ve been many times but this was my first at Wollaton and it surprised me. Next time I’d like to go to the Framework Knitters museum. Never enough time! 🙂 🙂 Thanks, hon!

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