Down Cotswold way (2)..Hidcote, Bourton and Snowshill.

Well the first full day (Thurday) and the sky wasn't giving out much light - pity really after all the excellent weather we'd had before this! My B&B was very comfortable and the top half of a converted barn. The planning permission was given for it's conversion but the original outside door had to be retained. This was great - a very old wooden door complete with original door furniture - the wood now getting old and had many slits in it. Those doing the conversion had cleverly built a "proper" door on the inside about 1 foot in... so character and privacy maintained in one :D

We started off at another NT garden - Hidcote Manor Garden. I've visited this garden before and still marvel at all it's hidden mysteries. It's a garden than continually surprises being made up of several different "rooms"; you wander through from one to another and around each corner some completely different! If you're near at any time, I can recommend visiting!

These were fascinating and cleverly placed to look reasonably "natural"

Despite the lack of sun (we weren't to see this during the stay!!) there was colour about

and some wildlife (look very closely)

We stopped by the cafe planning lunch - but the wasps were really annoying and some speculated that there was a wasp nest nearby. The very welcome visitors were House Sparrows constantly searching for crumbs. This fellow looks as though he's been through the taxing task of parenthood.

We were on our way to Sezincote (which didn't open till 2.00 p.m.). Not far from there is another wonderful garden - Bourton House Gardens A totally different style and maintained by just 2 gardeners.

This bed was amazing and the colours dazzled even on such a dull day - lovely :D

More topiary - these looking like slices of cake!!

I can thoroughly recommend the cafe at Bourton - particularly the cakes which are made by the ladies who serve in the cafe. Very yummy!!!

OK - over the road (almost) and turned into the drive for Sezincote - and that's as far as we got. A hand-written and very temporary notice advised that due to electricity problems (lack of electricity being the route cause) the house and gardens were shut. Now given that they're only open on a very few days of the week this was very disappointing. Never mind - there's always tomorrow - fingers crossed.

So a quick rethink and Snowshill Manor was suggested by Pete. This is somewhere I've wanted to visit in the past but it's not friendly for wheelchair users - it's all on a very steep slope!! So off we went.

It's a fascinating place and we wound our way up the grassy slope to the house and gardens at the top. Once there we were well rewarded with stunning views!

This was very ornate and somehow seemed out of place on the side of a Cotswold styled cottage.

Inside the small cottage/house where Mr and Mrs Charles Wade live, were constant reminders of how mod cons have considerably improved in this day and age! The main Manor house was where he housed his enormous collections - unfortunately we didn't have time to see the Manor house as it was timed entry and not till very much later on in the afternoon.

On our way back down were a few Sunflowers.... really cheery to see their sunny faces.






Despite the disappointment of not getting into Sezincote, it was a lovely day and so much beauty everywhere we went! And the next day (Monday).... well tomorrow is another day and another post.

(I normally try to keep the quantity of pictures in each post, down to an acceptable level. So if you've made it this far - very well done and thank you :D )