Castle Howard

Our day out at Castle Howard last week was brilliant - I am told I went there in the early 80s but don't remember it at all - which made the revisiting even better!

so here are my images of the day in blisteringly hot sun, in preparation for the heatwave we're still experiencing (11pm as I write this and it's Oh sooooo hot!).

beautiful flowers everywhere

secret gates and tunnels galore

and finally the great house itself - and the BBC were filming Death Comes to Pemberley

the amazing and beautiful Atlas Fountain

the wild boar - which it seems is a listed statue!

great old gnarled trees

and to our surprise - a fabulously relaxing boat trip on the Great Lake

 followed by a walk to the rather wonderful 'Temple of the Four Winds'

 and then back to Pam and Graham's in time for a fabulous afternoon tea

Coming home we travelled down wonderful 'Hockney-esque' lanes - blossom just finished and the trees in their full greenery - just like those fabulous paintings at the Royal Academy last year

Gill - Bright Fields