(above photo © Steve – jetbluestone)

Longleat
(44) 0 198  – 584 5420
(44) 0 198  – 584 4400
Longleat, Warminster,
Wiltshire, BA12 7NW  England

www.longleat.co.uk

Longleat House Opening Hours:
10:00am   –   5:00pm  Monday – Thursday
10:00am   –   5:30pm  Friday – Sunday & Bank Holidays

Safari Opening Hours:
10:00am   –   4:00pm  Monday – Thursday
10:00am   –   5:00pm  Friday – Sunday & Bank Holidays
14th February- 22nd February,  Open daily
28th February-  29th March,  Weekends only
4th April – 1st November, Open daily

.

Set deep beyond the forests edge, past the rolloing lawns is Longleat House, one Britain’s most beautiful and stately homes and among the best examples of High Elizabethan architecture.   The first private residence to open its enormous doors to the public, Longleat is located near the towns of Warminster in Wiltshire and Frome in Somerset.  Built by Sir John Thynne, mainly designed by Robert Smythson, in 1580, Longleat recalls countless storybooks and postcards.  It is now home to the 7th Marquess of Bath, a direct descendant of Sir John Thynne, who is an artist, mural painter and sponsor to many aspiring artists.

Longleat House is set within 900 acres (400 hectares) of magnificent Capability Brown landscaped parkland.  A further 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares) of woodland, lakes and farmland surround the estate!  In the late 13th Century, a priory belonging to the Black Canons of the Order of St Augustine occupied the site where Longleat House now stands.

As you enter the property during spring, the road is bordered by a most beautiful garden of rhododendrons blooming in every colour.  There are many different activities to partake in, including the House tour, Longleat Hedge Maze, the Safari Animal park, Safari Boat ride, Longleat Railway, Grounds & Garden Walks.  The Library is also quite expansive, where books range from early medieval manuscripts to 19th and 20th-century children’s tales- much like air Longleat itself!

(above photo giraffe © Steve Williams)

Hampstead Heath
(44)  0208 – 45 8 9102
(44)  0207  – 332 3322

www.heath-hands.org.uk.
www.hampsteadheath.net

Tube:  Kentish Town,  Hampstead, Golders Green

“The Heath” sprawls across 320 hectares (791 acres) of Camden and Barnet.  Encompassing ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows, towering trees, running streams and over 30 lakes and ponds.  Full of over 300 species of fungi, the best place in London to see various species of kingfishers, red warblers, British woodpeckers, dragonflies and bats!  There are at  least 55  artifacts, monuments and archaeological sites including The Saxon ditch (AD986),

Hampstead Heath is also a consistent winner of  a Green Flag Award which sets the “the national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom.”  Its miles of walking paths, cycling lanes, forest tracks and rambling meadows Hampstead Heath exudes pastoral bliss. An inspiration to many a great artist: John Constable (romantic painter),  John Keats (poet), CS Lewis (novelist, academic, theologian…), John Atkinson Grimshaw (painter), Percy Bysshe Shelley (romantic poet), Lord Byron (poet), Leigh Hunt (writer),

On the personal side, we spent one stunning spring Sunday lost in the Heath. In a city park experience like no other I’ve ever had.   We picked up a picnic lunch in Highgate and wandered into the green.  We soon lost ourselves among the trees around t 1pm on a warm may Sunday – a time when any park in our hometown of New York City is packed to the hilt with people.  We soon found a secluded spot in a forested glen and we lunched.  We DID NOT SEE ANOTHER PERSON for over 30 minutes!!! Our solitude was gently eased when a lovely woman wandered through- searching for elderflower, for her elderflower wine …

Hampstead heath is a piece of the old world left untouched, where fairies play and people can once again be a part of nature.  So swim in its ponds and walk in every direction to find beauty in its overabundant flora and flora; delight in its wonder and realize what a park can truly be.

(above photo ©  Barbara Rich)

(above photo ©  Barbara Rich)

(above photo ©  Barbara Rich)

EAST
“The Highgate Ponds” total eight original water reservoirs from the 17th and 18th centuries. Here are the mens and ladies bathing ponds, the model boating pond, and a fishing lake.

(above photo © Tony Hall) Early Morning, Highgate Men’s Bathing Pond

(above photo © Tony Hall) Early Morning, Highgate Men’s Bathing Pond

SOUTH WEST
Here we find the “Hampstead Ponds”, which  began life as a string of reservoirs of the Hampstead Water Co.; established to supply London in 1692 by damming Hampstead brook. Here you can find the mixed gender swim pond (note: for all the swiming ponds you can buy a day, season or anual ticket).

(above photo © Tony Hall) Path  between Cohen’s Fields and Stock Pond

SOUTH
On the southern slopes of Parliament Hill sit various sporting facilities including an athletics track, tennis courts, an open air swimming pool, running track and various fitness areas.  The hill is 321 feet (98 m) high home to kite flyers and great views of the London skyline.  Keep a lookout for ‘The Stone of Free Speech‘ which dates from the late 17th century

(above photo © Sophie Atkinson)

WEST
Closed by night, Golders Hill Park contains a small zoo, tennis courts, lovely floral displays, a duck pond, water garden, and a separated area for deer.

(above photo © Carlos Baez) The pergola at Hill House Garden

NORTH
The northern border of the Heath abuts Kenwood House (Iveagh Bequest); a 17th century stately home.  Residing here still is the original art collection of Lord Iveagh; including a Rembrandt self-portrait, Van Dyck , Vermeer, William Turner…. Hopefully you are at a time to enjoy a  Lakeside Concert on the property’s grounds.

(above photo © Sophie Atkinson) Kenwood House

(above photo © Sophie Atkinson) Kenwood House

(above photo © Tony Hall) Wood Pond at Kenwood

(above photo © Laura Nolte)

(above photo © Laura Nolte)

path to the Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor
Somerset, England

MAP

Just hearing the name- Glastonbury- brings images to mind: Arthurian England and Avalon, magical druids, hordes of young people covered in mud listening to music.  In life, Glastonbury Tor truly is a magical place.  There is a reason that all these iconographic legends are attached to it.  When we caught our first glimpse of the Tor; we were struck by its perfection.  It appears as a hallucination, something too wonderfully perfect to be real.

As we climbed toward the tower on top of Holly Hill,  I couldn’t help but think of the hundreds of thousands of feet that have trod the same path over thousands of years.  Arthur trod here; for as long as man has been in England, he has walked these paths.  Saxon kings, Roman centurions, me.

The famous little town (10,,000 people) of Glastonbury is a bit hippie touristic these days.  What we did, and highly recommend, is to stop in and grab a picnic from the many organic food vendors who line the streets.  Definitely walk! Walk to the top of the High Street, make a right behind the abbey (duck in the back gate for a cute little garden and follow the signs up the back path towards the Tor.

We went totally hippie and brought divining rods (thanks Zoe!)- and I tell you they work!  It was amazing to watch them cross as we transgressed the ley lines and power spots.  One thing I found quite interesting, though in retrospect quite obvious, is that wherever I found a trampled oval from a resting sheep- I would invariably find a power spot where my rods would cross as fast as if someone grabbed them while in my hands!  If you didn’t bring a pair, grab one in any of the shops and head out to do some magic yourself – your in Avalon!

King John’s Hunting Lodge
Tea Room
(44) (0) 124 – 973 0313
21 Church Street
Lacock, Wiltshire, SN15  2LB
England

Opening Hours:
11:00am – 5:30ish pm   Tuesday – Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays

www.kingjohnslodge.2day.ws.
MAP

In the über picturesque village of Lacock, in a tiny Tudor building (1167 – 1216), behind a garden of poppies and wild flowers, sits the lovely King John’s Hunting Lodge Tea House.

Arriving along the ancient lane,  you float through the gate and garden. Soaking in the pure Englishness of the scene.  Pitched roofs, dripping windows, muted brick and bright flowers set the scene for an excellent spot of tea.

Our arrival on a cool early spring day, gave us an idea of how important these warm homey spots were.  Brushing off the chill we soaked up the warm ambiance.  Once settled, we indulged in the “King John’s Royal Tea”, which included delectable Tea sandwiches (A yummy Welsh Rarebit for me – wish I had one now!) & warm scones served with local fruit jams and organic Jersey clotted cream.

(above photo © Hiro Nakamura )

We spread it on everything we could!  Of all the scones and jams I’ve had, this sitting raised the bar yet again.  Looking at the origins, I could see this being the perfect calorie filled breakfast for farmers setting out for a day’s labor.

A lighter version is the “Margart’s Cream Tea” which is the same, without the sandwiches.   Pretty blue and white china bore all the treats in a manor befitting the period-ness of Lacock

A daily menu includes soups, homemade breads, delicious pastries, mackerel cakes and more!  There is a fine selection of tea, hot chocolate, coffee, spiced apple, elderflower presse, hot berry bliss … and a little shop for take away.

Really just a pleasant place to lunch – thoroughly English