Enjoying Clivedon

…and what a smashing day to walk and enjoy!!

Awoke this morning to a bright day.

It just got better from there really. On the weather report tonight, it was spoken of as… “the last halcyon day of autumn. And what a glorious autumn it has been!”  How fortunate are we? …and how we enjoyed it!

In fact, to say we over-did it,  may be more precise. Tonight I’m feeling bits of me that I had forgotten existed!!

Firstly, it was up from the river and into the water garden. We wandered around there for ages …lots of paths winding in and around …little bridges …and big flat stepping stones taking us over lake and stream. Everywhere, were the gold, orange, and red tones of the season.

Quite a few water fowl …and a particularly delicious heron that waded about for ages.

Decided to give the maze a miss … instead, happily kicked the autumn leaves as we walked through the grass (what a great sound that makes!) …and so to the beginning of The Grand Avenue.

This avenue is flanked by lawns and a row of tall lime trees, sweeps to the forecourt, which in turn, leads to the ‘cour d’honneur’ (or large inner courtyard) at the main entrance to the House. (Clivedon)

Here, in glorious splendour, is “The Fountain of Love”.

We’ve often been here in winter  -  and it’s splendid then  …but with no water spouting from it.

Today, with the water …and the sunlight, …it looked magnificent!

Then on into The Long Garden – aptly named.

Filled with topiary sculpture and classical sculpture …but last week the beds had been replanted, so they are bare still.

Arthur found a comfy seat at this point, and I continued up the grassy ride known as Queen Anne’s Walk, past the large sculpted urn, and around the corner facing The Blenheim Pavilion.

(Thought of Matt …he posed beautifully for me here nearly half his life ago, while I snapped pictures of  him!)

Wound around to find Arthur still sitting happily …at this stage we decided we’d had enough for a bit …and retreated back down to New Cottage.

After lunch I talked him into driving around to Cookham, a pretty little village on the other side of the river, where we took the Thames river path – ending up  opposite  Clivedon.

It was beautiful, quiet and peaceful, but …it was just too long a distance!! Arthur’s hip didn’t like it (!!!) so we staggered back to NC.

…later in the last of the afternoon sunshine, I headed up the flight of steps from the river leading to The Parterre. It’s called the Yew Tree Walk …I knew it was steps –

Not  just ‘a walk’ …and it was just lovely!!

I even saw a muntjac deer!!

…it meandered across the steps above me – was fossicking about in the wood up there – sadly didn’t get a photo. Ah well …

I enjoyed the view from The Octagon Temple (right up on the top above our cottage) …and also enjoyed circumventing the entire parterre.

And …the views …and the afternoon sunshine … were absolutely wonderful.

BUT …

I had forgotten there are 172 steps …going down, as well as going up!!!!

…and that The Parterre fills a grass platform that covers over six acres!!!

And oh – I  am SO tired!! …and  my body is feeling it tonight!!