Thursday 2 February 2017

A Muddy Walk At Lotherton

Sunday dawned frosty but by early afternoon the sun was trying to put in an appearance so we decided to make use of our annual membership and head off to Lotherton Hall to take Archie for a walk.


We usually do the Boundary Walk around the edge of the estate but it looked very muddy and we were a bit silly really, we hadn't worn our walking boots.


Instead, we decided to do as the sign suggested.


We took a walk through the woodland where the paths make it much less muddy, though I still had to clean my boots when I got home.


The orchard was looking quite bare devoid of leaves. Lotherton has an Apple Day in October and I've been meaning to visit this for the last few years but still haven't made it. Perhaps this year. There looks to be some wonderful varieties.


We walked back through the formal gardens. They look so different in the winter months with the lack of colour.


Daniel and Eleanor always used to enjoy visiting the William and Mary garden whenever we went to Lotherton when they were children, especially at the time when frogs were spawing as the pond was always full of frogspawn and tadpoles. It's always a favourite with children.


I wrote about the pet cemetery in my Lotherton Hall And Doggy Ghosts post, there's also more information about Lotherton Hall in this post too.


We passed the little chapel on our way back to the car. This is the oldest building at Lotherton and dates back to the 1100s.


It was nice to get out of the house for a decent walk, as I've mentioned before, it does improve my mood. I'm so lucky that we're spoilt for choice really where we live, there's so many places which are more or less on our doorstep. I just hope that the weather holds for a bit now so that we can get out and about a bit more.

40 comments:

  1. We haven't been to Lotherton for years and then didn't do any walks , just visited the bird garden. Is it still there?

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    1. The bird garden is still there and they're also in the process of building a new attraction, Wildlife World. The admission charge increased significantly a few years ago but we've got annual membership which is worth it for us living so close by.

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  2. Looks like a lovely walk, always good to get out and blow a few cobwebs away.

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    1. We love Lotherton, it's a lovely place to take a walk and Archie likes it there too.

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  3. It's lovely to get out for a good walk isn't it? Like you, we are a bit spoilt for choice where we live but it has been tricky trying to avoid the mud recently. The chapel is a lovely little building. X

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    1. It really cheers me up when we get out for a walk. It's very muddy here too, even if it isn't raining it's damp so it doesn't really dry up. The chapel is lovely, they still hold a service there once a month.

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  4. How different everything looks in Winter, you had a better weekend weather wise than we did, it was raining most of Saturday and Sunday here.
    They have an apple day at one of the NT houses near us in October too, I've never been but it sounds like it might be fun.

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    1. We dashed out as soon as we saw the first sign of sun, it didn't last long but made us make a move. I'd like to visit the apple day, some of the older varieties are quite rare now and it would be interesting to hear about them.

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  5. Hope Archie enjoyed his walk, he does go to some interesting places xx

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    1. Archie loved his walk, we're so lucky to have such wonderful places on our doorstep.

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  6. It's always nice to have a wander and blow away the cobwebs of winter. It's much warmer here today but oh so wet, the grounds a bog!

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    1. We have to make the most of any dry or sunny weather we get in winter, it seems a very long season otherwise. It's warmer here at the moment too but as you say, wet and muddy.

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  7. What a lovely walk, Jo. And as you say, it does us mental goodness as well as physical goodness to enjoy a walk in the fresh air, even in the depths of winter.
    Margaret P

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    1. I do like to get out when I can as it really does lift my mood, it's so easy to hunker down during the winter months but that doesn't do me any good at all.

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  8. It looks lovely, Jo. I think there's mud everywhere just now. I keep telling myself it's better than snow! :o)

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    1. That's very true, though I don't think Archie minds either.

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  9. I think that most walks at this time of year tend to be muddy. It's interesting to see winter pictures when it all looks different and less familiar. The apple day sounds like it's well worth a visit. Flighty xx

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    1. I think you're right. A place can look totally different in different seasons. I must make more of an effort to get to the apple day this year, it does sound interesting.

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  10. Great! Really, very good article!

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  11. I have to force myself to get outside when it's cold but I never regret it when I do. The air feels so fresh and that alone lifts my mood. You've got me thinking now. Might drag Mike off down to the coast this weekend.

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    1. I'm just the same but it's definitely worth the effort. I'm ready for a trip to the coast too, perhaps we'll have a run out soon.

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  12. Nice to get out and about even if it is a bit grey still.

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    1. It is. I have to make a bit of an effort in this weather but it's totally worth it.

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  13. What a nice place to walk, even if it was muddy. It's even a little bit muddy here in the desert right now, after a wetter-than-normal January. I watched little kids splashing in puddles today, that almost never happens here!

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    1. We visit Lotherton regularly, we're lucky that it's not very far away and it's a lovely place to walk. There's plenty of puddles here, it just doesn't seem to dry up all through the winter months.

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  14. Sounds a great walk & lovely to see the bare bones of the garden, as you get an idea of the layout of some areas, that would normally be crowded with plants. Not been there ourselves, but we've been passed the signs to it. Have a good weekend & take care.

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    1. We're lucky to live so close, it's a lovely place and there's some nice walks for Archie. They increased the admission free a few years ago and they seem to be making lots of improvements and adding to the attractions already there to compensate.

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  15. Even though the weather has been quite grey and dismal, it is always good to get out. I think it always peps you up, and then you can come home to a very welcome cuppa!

    I liked your pictures ...

    Happy Friday Wishes and have a good weekend too.

    All the best Jan

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    1. It is good to get out and you're right, it makes you appreciate that cuppa all the more when you've worked yourself up to it.

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  16. I try to go for a walk everyday, even when the weather's not great. It's good to have some fresh air and get a bit of exercise too. I also hope we'll get more sunshine in the coming weeks- we've had far too many wet and grey days since the new year. x

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    1. I'm out every day with Archie, but I must admit that sometimes we don't walk very far. It's good to make the effort though for both the fresh air and the exercise. I agree, there hasn't been much sunshine lately, I'll be glad when it's spring.

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  17. I love taking virtual walks with you and Archie, Jo. This one was lovely. P. x

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    1. It's wonderful that we're all able to experience what's on each others doorsteps even though we live thousands of miles apart.

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  18. I bet Archie loved running around and exploring again. We've had fantastic weather down here today - I hope it found it's way up to your neck of the woods too! Jx

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    1. Archie certainly loves his walks. It was a decent day again yesterday so we got out for a walk to a nearby park which Archie enjoyed again.

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  19. Great post ,looks like a really interesting place

    http://www.styleofzion.com

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    1. It's really interesting. We've been visiting for years yet there's still always plenty to see and do.

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  20. Nothing beats a good walk to clear the cobwebs and put you in a good mood, especially when you can imagine the splendor and colour to come.
    Lisa x

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    1. It's definitely good to get out and about and spring's just around the corner now, it won't be long until there's plenty of colour around again.

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