Ah, "so much serenity". Today, our catch phrase came from the iconic Aussie movie, "The Castle". Needless to say, the weather forecasters got it wrong once again and we were faced with another wet English day. Even when we woke, we still had not yet decided what to do. But Brett Jnr came up with a plan! Let's make the most of our National Trust membership and visit Dyrham Park - a grand baroque mansion near Bath, followed by Prior Park Landscape overlooking Bath - designed in part by Alexander Pope and home to one of only four Palladian bridges in the world. This would then be topped off with a spa in the natural thermal springs in Bath itself. Perfect!
Our first stop was Dyrham Park. After a guided tour of the dairy, kitchen, scullery and servants' quarters, we ventured through the grand rooms of the mansion. Manicured lawns sprawled outside, merging into acres of pasture for cows and deer - and the Robinsons.
After quite some searching, when then hiked 1km uphill in the drizzling rain to Prior Park Landscape Garden. The walk was certainly worth the effort! With breathtaking views over Bath, a pond, beautiful woods and a rare stone Palladian bridge, this was truly a highlight...."so much serenity."
The ultimate highlight came for Brett and the children, though, in the form of a "serene"one hour thermal spring spa in Bath. Tricia was happy to just warm her cold, tired feet in the waters!
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| Brett Snr and Jnr at Dyrham Park, near Bath |
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| Dyrham Park, 8 miles north of Bath |
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| The kitchen at Dyrham Park |
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| The sprawling manicured lawns of Dyrham Park |
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| So much space and serenity |
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| The former mansion, now school, atop Prior Park |
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| Tricia, overlooking Bath, from Prior Park Landscape Garden |
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| Tricia and Brett at the Palladian Bridge, Prior Park |
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| Palladian Bridge and former mansion, Prior Park |
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| The Robinsons, Prior Park Landscape Garden |
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| Relaxing in the thermal spring waters in Bath |
On the way home, we stopped by for a hearty pub meal at "The Three Magpies" in Seend, in Wiltshire. Here's hoping our energies will be restored for another day in England. Tricia
Lovely photo of you both Brett and Tricia at Prior Park!! Dryham Park looks like my kind of farm - the cows sure looked well feed! Looked like another great day! The Spa in the Natural Springs in Bath looked really good - nice way to soothe aching feet from all your sight seeing.
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