Breakfast, Rain & Ickworth ..

The forecast was for heavy rain.... the forecast was right.  Brilliant idea of Pete's - let's have brekkie at West Street Vineyard...  we did..

I had the full West Street breakfast and...

Pete had my other favourite of theirs, Smoked Salmon and Scrambled egg.... very very yummy..

So we decided to head off for Ickworth where, if dry we could have a walk and if wet (!!) there was the house.

We arrived in light rain so had a wander around the gardens.. not may pics as I'd taked (and posted) several from a day or so ago...

a 'quack' look in the second-hand bookshop..

Up on the third floor in the East Wing...

with splendid views..

and then a wander around the house..

finished with a fruit scone for lunch...

A first visit to Ascott .....

Having been to Nuffield Place in the morning, followed by aborted visits to two churches.. both of which were closed, we headed off for Ascott.. and it was a first time visit for both of us...

It's an amazing Jacobean house.. but no photographs were permitted..

.... as we walked the gardens... the rain started so it was a wet walk..

An amazing garden... full of wonderful surprises..

Through a gap in the hedge... this wonderfully colourful garden opened up before us..

Amazing topiary ..... !!

and another wonderful surprise...

and finally.... a cuppa and a scone... (not a NT cafe) ... was a plain scone (i.e. not a fruit one).. pleasant...

A wonderful end to the day despite the rain.  And as we drove home.. the roads were dry!!!!