点评:This National Trust property is very local to us; being under 15 minutes’ drive and it’s our ‘go-to-place’ to have a civilised, but medium to short countryside walk, without cars and cyclists. The ability to stop for a cup of invariably excellent coffee is sometimes a bonus. After weeks of very glum, generally miserable, and often wet weather, it was great to be out in the early spring sunshine. Sadly for us the good weather had coincided with the half-term break, and parked cars were extending into the overspill area and the main café was rammed with families.
Usually when we visit here, we take the walk around the extremities of the parkland to the north and east of the house. We then drop-down, via the terraced gardens, into the formal gardens at the rear of the house. Today we walked along the middle part of the north-eastern grounds using the pathways leading through tree lined avenues. We then took the new path past the lodge café to the front of the house. After a comfort break we walked through the shop spotting a couple of items to buy later on our way out. We then walked into and around lawns, meadows and the formal gardens behind the house. There were pockets of winter/spring flowers like snowdrops, jasmine, aconite, daffodils, crocuses and a few primroses; plus the less noticeable hellebores.
There was significant works being undertaken on the slopes of the terraced gardens. These slopes border the formal gardens, starting just behind a collection of espaliered rare apple trees; these had been bequeathed to the Trust. Many of the trees and other substantial shrubs have been cut-down and this has left the area looking rather sad. I’m sure that eventually the area will be replanted, but the current effect of this work detracts somewhat from the otherwise lovely setting.
This was a short visit made on the spur-of-the-moment, so our stay was short. After a quick return to the shop, to buy some pickles, we then returned to our car; taking the same route back via the north-eastern parkland stopping off at the lodge café for a cup of coffee. Thankfully this café was not as busy as the main café had been. Most of those that were eating and drinking were sat in the outside area enjoying the last of the warm sunshine: as the end of the afternoon was nigh.
Had we not been NT members our visit would have not been worth the entrance fee: currently £19 (without gift aid) per adult. With all the families visiting today it was likely to have been a financially fruitful day for this attraction.
翻译:这处国家信托地产离我们很近;开车不到 15 分钟,是我们进行文明但中短距离乡村散步的“必去之地”,没有汽车和自行车。能够停下来喝一杯始终如一的优质咖啡有时是一种福利。经过数周非常阴郁、通常令人沮丧且经常潮湿的天气后,在初春的阳光下出门真是太好了。不幸的是,好天气恰逢半学期假期,停放的汽车延伸到溢出区域,主咖啡馆挤满了家庭。
通常,当我们来这里时,我们会绕着公园的边缘散步,走到房子的北面和东面。然后,我们通过梯田花园下到房子后面的正式花园。今天,我们沿着东北场地的中部,沿着通往林荫大道的小径行走。然后,我们走过小屋咖啡馆的新路,来到房子的前面。稍事休息后,我们穿过商店,发现了几件东西,准备在出门时再买。然后我们走进草坪、草地和房子后面的正式花园。那里有几片冬/春花,如雪花莲、茉莉花、乌头花、水仙花、番红花和一些报春花;还有不太显眼的嚏根草。
梯田花园的斜坡上正在进行重大工程。这些斜坡与正式花园接壤,从一组稀有的苹果树后面开始;这些苹果树已被遗赠给信托基金。许多树木和其他大型灌木已被砍伐,这让该地区看起来相当凄凉。我相信最终该地区将重新种植,但这项工作目前的影响在一定程度上损害了原本美丽的环境。
这是一次临时起意的短暂访问,所以我们停留的时间很短。我们快速返回商店买了一些泡菜,然后回到车上;沿原路返回,途经东北公园,在旅馆咖啡馆停下来喝杯咖啡。谢天谢地,这家咖啡馆不像主咖啡馆那么忙。大多数吃喝的人都坐在室外区域,享受着最后一丝温暖的阳光:因为下午快结束了。
如果我们不是 NT 会员,我们的参观就不值得门票:目前每位成人 19 英镑(不含礼品援助)。今天有这么多家庭前来参观,这一天对这个景点来说可能是经济上丰收的一天。