Tuesday 5 June 2012

Dyrham Park Part I...


Dear readers,
With nearly two weeks since my last blog post, and with nothing new to report interior-wise from the Swenglish abode, I instead invite you to stroll with me in the sun in a green haven the Swenglish family enjoyed earlier today...


Just north of Bath lies this lovely 17th-century mansion, garden and deer park...


... and despite it being so close to home, it was our first visit today.




The deer are very used to humans strolling straight through "their" grounds, and barely raised as much as a sleepy eyebrow when many of us crept closer to snap a few close-ups of these beautiful, spotty creatures. 


Discovering this pond, with its stunning symphony of mossy stones on the bottom, old stone wall at the back, wisteria dribbling down mentioned wall, and green, green, everywhere green... well, I could only just refrain from letting out a big "Weeeeeee... yippey!"...


As today was a bank holiday here in the UK, the park was full of people who, 
like us, were trying to make the most of this Jubilé-scented day off.


Despite the large number of people in the park today, it is big enough (110 hectares/272 acres)
 to allow for many tranquil spots where benches invite you to contemplate life, 
whilst lazily letting your gaze follow the movements of the coot in the pond.




I like it when flower borders "overflow" and dribble their gorgeous 
greenery onto the path, like by the stone wall above...


Above the stone wall in the previous photo perches the 13th-century church, 
accessed by a small path to the left.


Like so many beautiful old cemeteries here in the UK, this one also has old tomb stones leaning in all directions, like the teeth of an old grandfather who never really thought much of dentists...


This path, just outside the church, filled me with a longing to explore, to follow it and see what might lie  beyond. I did not have the time to do so on this visit, but I swear I heard it whisper my name, softly, slightly eerily... "Helena, come this way...."

I confess to having gone a little snap-happy here today, so next time 
I will show you a few more photos from beautiful Dyrham Park.
Welcome to join me then!

All the best,
Helena

26 comments:

  1. The park looks like a serene place to visit, full of beauty and some mystery as well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. i have heard of this park but it never shouted out to me to come and visit, now i wonder why not. stunning helena! take us with you on that mysterious path
    xo
    debra

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wonderful, your photographs of the park, I've never been there before.

    Sigrun

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a lovely garden!
    Very, very beautiful pictures!

    Anncathrine

    ReplyDelete
  5. Vilken vacker promenad du har gjort och vilka ljuvliga bilder du fick till! Grönskan är verkligen otrolig nu och man märker att ni ligger lite före med växtligheten.
    Önskar dej fortsatt sköna försommardagar!
    Kram
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
  6. wonderful impressions
    ♥doris

    ReplyDelete
  7. Så fantastisk vakkert Helena!
    Du er så dyktig og det er en glede å se innom deg.
    TAKK...

    God klem Camilla

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ser nesten ut som i himmelen:)Må være en stor fryd å spasere rundt i de vakre omgivelsene...
    ha en fin dag
    klemklem

    ReplyDelete
  9. Så otroligt vackert! Kan knappt tro att det finns på riktigt. Är lite avundsjuk på dig :)

    Hälsningar från Nette i ett grått, kallt Skåne.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I really like that park !!...enjoy a happy day today.....love from me...xxx...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Helen, again I am pleased with your wonderful pictures! Best regards, Carmen

    ReplyDelete
  12. The garden looks beautiful.
    Please have a look at my latest post - as I can see you like iris flowers I'm sure you'll be interested.

    Diane.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Vilken ljuvligt härlig park att spendera en ledig dag i!! Många gånger kan det just vara de där nära attraktionerna som inte blir besökta. Kanske just för att de ligger för nära. Det är så vackert med höga strama klippta häckar.... Å den vildvuxna kyrkogråden........ Underbart. Det ser så härligt somrigt ut på bilderna. Här är det bara kallt känns det som. Och regnigt tråkigt nog. Hoppas det vänder SNART :-) Här vankas det sommarlov om några dagar. Ofattbart. Har inte riktigt hängt med där i tiden. Att det ska vara 'sommar' nu liksom. Väntar fortfarande på att våren ska komma till sin peak. Men, men.... De e bara att gilla läget :-)))

    Stooor kram från ett molnigt Sundsvall där solen ev. verkar kunna bryta fram idag - YES!!
    Charlotte

    ReplyDelete
  14. Fniss... din liknelse med gravstenarna och gammelfarfars tänder var bra, förstår vad du menar. Och vilken park, extra fint för att det fanns hjortar som traskar runt. Härliga bilder Helena.
    Kramar
    AnnaMaria

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Helena
    Wow, another beautiful park! You really make me longing to come over to UK again. I hope... no I'm sure, that I'm going to spend our next years holiday somewhere there again... I only have to convince my hubby... but with your lovely photos this shouldn't be a problem :o). You know, no other country has such lovely parks and gardens.
    I'm looking forward to your next post. Have a great time.
    Alex

    ReplyDelete
  16. Blir alldeles varm i hjärtat av dina "englands-bilder".
    Precis sådär ser det ut i min hjärna när jag tänker på "ditt" land.
    Ha det bra!
    Camilla

    ReplyDelete
  17. wonderful impressions.... happy day today..love from me...Rosita

    ReplyDelete
  18. What beautiful gardens!

    Coco
    COCOCOZY

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tack för den ljuvliga stunden, dina bilder är så ljuvliga!! Kram Johanna

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love it, maybe need to look into whether we can fit this into the schedule of our next holiday in the UK

    ReplyDelete
  21. Very brittish indeed! Så många och så vackra parker och trädgårdar ni har i England ser du inte här.

    Luna

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lovely! Och vilket härligt sätt att tillbringa er lediga dag på. Jag kan riktigt se dig med kameran i högsta hugg och ta bilder ur alla vinklar och vrår och en familj som tålmodigt väntar på dig. Vana vid att du bara måste ta ännu en bild. ;) Takes one to know one! ;)

    Sköt om dig du fina vän!

    Kram Lotta

    ReplyDelete
  23. Astonishing photos.The mansion reminds me of a Jane Austen novel :):>

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wonderful photographs Helena of a simply gorgeous place.I especially love the shot of the old church. England at her early summer best.

    ReplyDelete
  25. It looks a really beautiful place, I love the photo of the church and churchyard.

    ReplyDelete

Dearest reader, I am sorry you have to go through the extra trouble of word verification to leave a comment here. After having received around 250 spam comments for each post recently, I have unfortunately had to add this filter.

Thank you so much for your comments!