Charingworth Court

Welcome to Winchcombe, a Saxon town. 


At Charingworth Court the house and barn date from around 1650.  There are many mature trees around the garden but most of the planting and landscaping has been done by the present owners since 1996.







They regularly host a garden sculpture weekend often as part of the National Garden Scheme openings. Two of our favorites were

these ceramic bluebells were spectacular

this dog, in its setting, looked so real you
expect it to pick the ball up and bring it to you

There were also sculptures in glass/ceramic

weathered metal

and tin

and, as well as flora, there were pets

and, of course, workers

Rhodies in Lydney

Lydney Spring Garden is part of the Lydney Park Estate. The Estate is situated to the rear of Taurus in Lydney which is between Gloucester and Chepstow in the Forest of Dean.

Some of the original formal gardens at Lydney Park were cleared to grow potatoes during the Second World War.  As a result in the 1950's, a paved terrace, two fountain pools, hedges and lawns were created into the garden together with a major replanting programme containing cherries, magnolias, scented spring flowering shrubs and drifts of spring bulbs provide a stunning entrance to Lydney Park Gardens.

The Spring Garden was ablaze with azaleas and rhododendron.

High above the garden lie the remains of a Roman bath and temple. Excavation on the Lydney Park Estate in 1805 also exposed evidence of settlements dating back to 100BC, a Norman castle and extensive ruins of a Roman Camp including a Roman Temple.

Weekend Meanderings

Can’t believe its been a year since we first discovered Randwick Wap and here we are again. It doesn’t get any more quintessentially rural England than this. Parade and dunking of the ‘mayor’ and ‘wap queen’, rolling of the cheeses, country fair and, of course, Morris Dancing.

Laskett Gardens

Created by Sir Roy Strong and his wife, designer Julia Trvelyan Oman in the 70’s, its major influences are Italian renaissance and formal Tudor/Stuart tradition.

During the war the house was used as the Canadian High Commission

The garden, containing many inter connecting garden rooms, has a number monuments and decorative features

Plantings

and, of course, tea n cakes

And topiary

Whitfield House and Gardens

Whitfield lies at the centre of the former hunting forest of Treville, part of the Royal Forest of Haywood. Records of the area date back to the C12.

Amongst its impressive features – Camellia glass house

lemons for the G&T

Pinetum with some impressive sequoias

The now disused canal has been transformed into a number of small fishing lakes. The lower lake had a folly castle ruin built on its small island.

nesting swans

and wonderful woodland walks

Happy Birthday to Jean

Yep that time of year again, Sis’s birthday, so up stix n off for a short break to Puerto del Carmen Lanzarote.

Situated just 79 miles off the coast of Africa, Lanzarote is the most easterly of the Canary Islands. The island is 37 miles (60km) long and 12 miles (20 km) wide, making it the fourth largest island in the Canaries. As with the other Canary Islands, Lanzarote is Volcanic in origin. Due to the recent eruptions during the 18th and 19th Centuries, many parts of Lanzarote appear to be from another world, often described as 'lunar'. The dry climate and lack of erosion means that the Volcanic Landscape appears much as it did just after the eruptions. Much of the Island has been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Puerto del Carmen was originally a small fishing village, and the old harbour is still a delightful place. Although the resort has grown over the last twenty years — it now stretches along the whole 6 kilometres of golden sandy beaches — the town has been saved from the high-rise buildings that blight so many other destinations due to the strict planning restrictions.

We stayed in a delightful, small but perfectly formed, poolside complex, Apartmentos Flamingo – complete with palm trees n parquet’s. There are many restaurants nearby but special mention for Capri does veggie dishes to die for (and meat/fish as well).

A visit to Timanfaya National Park is a must, set on the most easterly Canary Island, Lanzarote. It can be found to the west of the island, nearby the town of Yaiza. Timanfaya is also known as the fire mountains and has it's own logo which is El Diablo, translated as the devil for obvious reasons. 

The fire mountains were created between 1730 and 1736. Over 100 volcanoes rose in the area and devastated the island. The last eruption occurred in 1827.  Temperatures just feet below the surface still range from 400°C to 600°C. Inside there was a huge hole in the middle with a huge grill over the top, a volcanic barbecue. Next to it is the El Diablo restaurant which serves up canarian food that has been cooked over the volcanic heat!

when lichen is dropped into a fissure

it bursts into flames

water instantly turns

to pressurised steam

pebbles from surface hot spots
are too hot to handle

the restaurant BBQ cooks
over free heat

Along the way there are camel rides. Rather than sit on the camels back, the camel has a seat either side of its humps. The camels will take you up a volcano and back down again.

There is also a museum of farming with camels -

In spite of the dry and arid conditions there is much colour to be had on the island -

and beaches

and vineyards. Vines grow individually, behind windbreaks made from lava rock, in indents made in the lava ash. This protects them from the wind, helps keep in moisture and adds to the flavour of the wine - 

Cheers!