LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

We walked from N.T. Car park to Charlecote Park, crossing the village road with great care. Unusual entrance into park: two pedestrian gates, one for entrance and the other for exit from park. We turned left towards the large vehicular gates where we immediately spotted the large display board of the park map. I took my customary photo of the map, in the unlikely situation if we were lost in the park. We walked along the 'main drive' to the impressive large gatehouse, under its arch, passing the front garden 'Green Court' to the house. We could not enter the house due to the 'Covid 19' restrictions, so we turned left towards the paddock at the west side of the house to join the many visitors having a picnic alongside the river Avon where we watched some Canada geese on the deer sanctuary. Between the house and the paddock was a small field with a pig type shelter, but I soon realised that the residents were not pigs but rams. I later discovered that the sheep breed was Jacob, a new breed to me. We returned to the front of the house and walked towards the house, passing the 'Green Court' with the ornamental steps up to the 'Cedar Lawn' and the 'Orangery Restaurant', and two sculptured life-size figures of ladies dressed in period costumes. One lady had a shepherd's crook and the other was playing a flute. Immediately after the gatehouse we turned left along the drive towards the 'lake', passing the cedar lawn, the summerhouse, orangery restaurant, woodland garden and long border, all closed due to the restrictions. After the woodland garden we came to the 'ha-ha' on the left before the 'lake', where we skirted the 'ha-ha' wall to the 'cricket pitch'. We walked along the edge of the 'cricket pitch' field to the 'croquet lawn' and the 'parterre' front garden, while watching the mallard ducks and a swan gliding down the river. We continued our pleasant and relaxing walk alongside the river while we watched the fallow deer resting in the shade under some trees. I took my usual umpteen photos of the deer, trying to get the perfect shot. We turned right at the brook, away from the river towards the 'lake'. We watched a few deer walk down to the brook to take a drink. When we reached the bridge over the brook before the lake, we turned right again on the drive towards the gatehouse and the 'main drive'. We looked for a vacant seat for our picnic and found one on the main drive, so Ann occupied the seat while I returned to the car for the picnic bag. We finished the enjoyable afternoon walk back at the car park, but missed the tour around the inside of the house. Maybe next time.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start & Finish: at Charlecote Park National Trust.