Catching up 1 ♥ A Walk along the Soar

Hello Lovelies,

gosh I've been away a little while haven't I. I don't really have a reason, but I'd like to catch up with my posts so here goes. These pictures are from mid May, when I did a solo walk starting at Hathern in Leicestershire. 

It began along shady lanes and the opened out onto fields with a view of the church spire at Normanton on Soar.

My first glimpse of the river.

It's not possible to reach the opposite bank and the village from here.

Except certain weekends when there is a Chain Ferry. Oh that sounds fun.

said chain :0)

I loved the views across the water, but wished that tree was a bit smaller.

There are lots of waterside homes, or holiday homes I presume.

They looked idyllic on such a nice day.

A passing craft.

Big skies

Nice homes.

and a pub.

Where you can launch your Kayak

Beautiful Wisteria.

and an impressive tree house.

Thirsty cattle.

With carves, looking at me, yikes.

Hellooooo, nice cows.

Excuse me but I need to go through the gate please.

Phew, they were calm but I was still glad to get out of that field.

This was my favourite riverside chalet.

This one was getting some TLC.

The next part of the walk was along a short stretch of canal.

then it was back to rejoin the riverbank, this time the the river was on my left...somehow? :0)

And here it was time to say goodbye to the water.

And head across fields to pretty Sutton Bonnington.

I love exploring quiet lanes.

spotting cute cottages.

And more lovely wisteria.

The post lady was making her deliveries.

and I was getting hungry as it was lunchtime. I walked up this lane.

and found a lovely, simple church.

It was hot by now and I was happy to sit in the shade of the church porch, my back against the cool stone.

After my simple snack ( hadn't really planned such a long walk , so I only had a cereal bar in my rucksack) I had a peek inside the church.

Then, before I left the village, I came across a corner shop and treated myself to a cornetto ice cream.

I just managed to capture it's beauty before my camera battery died :0)

There was still another couple of miles to walk, more fields, canal and river to take me back to Hathern.

It was a lovely 8 mile walk, on a perfect spring day. I'm glad I finally got around to sharing it here and recording it for myself.

Jacquie x

Whatton Gardens May 2018

Hello Lovelies, 

oh my, my camera keeps filling up with pretty images at the moment. So here I am bringing you more garden loveliness.

The hottest day of the Bank holiday weekend here was Monday. We had record breaking temperatures for this weekend. I think it was 27 degrees Celsius in the afternoon.

I decided it was finally time to visit a garden that had been on my "to visit" list for about three years. 

As is usual these days only Eldest fancied making the trip with Hubby and I. No matter. I've learn't it's best to let the other two stay home on such occasions.

Whatton Gardens belong to a country house estate in Leicestershire. Around the back of the house we came to the gardeners cottage.

And this sunny courtyard.

I loved the entrance.

and the lush greenness that lay beyond.

This is an excerpt from their website:-

he garden is now cared for by Lord and Lady Crawshaw, along with their Gardener, Roy Carr, rather less than the original staff of ten gardeners! However above all, the beauty and peaceful atmosphere of a bygone age make Whatton Gardens the ideal setting for a relaxing visit for all the family.  Many mothers, who came here as children, now bring their own children to visit, such is the enduring spell cast by Whatton Gardens.

Why not click on the first images then scroll (slowly) through these pictures. I hope the give you just a small sense of how magical this spot was on a perfect day in May.

 

 

  

 For me this place was just how a garden should be, full of wild flowers along with the specimen plants. Formal areas merging into natural woodland. I haven for wildlife and space for people to relax. All topped off with a nice cup of tea :0)

I think we may have seen the garden at it's prettiest, but I will be back to wander those paths again.

I hope you enjoyed coming along too

Jacquie x