West Walk, Forest of Bere My favourite time of year is when summer turns to Autumn and you see a final burst of activity in the forests and woods around Hampshire, where leaves turn golden in the intermittent spotlights of sunlight, streaming through the trees and undergrowth. Park Wood, Forest of Bere As you walk…
Category: Historic Heritage
Take three castles …
Over the last 12 months, I have had the good fortune to visit three castles – all with The Hound in tow – and they couldn’t have been more different. Take Southsea Castle, where in my mind’s eye, I can visualise a stressed and desolate King Henry VIII, standing proudly whilst watching his tried and tested flagship,…
Remember remember the fifth of November …
For me, Cowdray House in Midhurst, West Sussex, is one of this country’s most beautiful and desolate ruins. It seems such a elegant facade and from a distance, appears almost perfect, that it seems positively sinful to have let it go to rack and ruin. I guess, however, when you have a number of country estates…
A place of serenity: LeDomaine Estate, Castile y Leon
Even if this Estate was not one of my clients, I would be drawn here. Every time I visit, my brain appears to reboot, my body seems to relax and I feel contentment in the very heart of my being. For LeDomaine (in the Castile y Leon region of Spain) is a former monastery dating back to…
Surrey’s Secret Beach: Frensham Great Pond
The Hound can hardly believe it – we are at Frensham Great Pond and there’s sand and water – a sight he’d only previously associated with West Wittering Beach. Yes, he was in his element for in the summer months I am told, Frensham Great Pond offers a beach environment for the people of landlocked…
Pawprint Series: Little Frensham Pond
I came across Frensham Little Pond when I was visiting Watts Gallery recently in Surrey. I mentioned it in passing to The Hound and of course, he immediately wanted to visit – well water, trees, undergrowth, other dogs – what’s not to love for a friendly doggie? Both Frensham Little Pond and its sister, Frensham Great…
Queen Victoria’s Holiday Home
I have long wanted to visit Osborne House, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s Tuscan styled holiday home on the Isle of Wight so it was with great pleasure that I finally fulfilled this ambition. The House itself is in a beautiful position, with views across landscaped gardens down to a distant sea. The shame of…
Watts Gallery – a little Surrey Gem
I keep seeing signs for Watts Gallery fly past me as I drive along the A3 motorway up to London – so this Sunday, I took the turning and went to see what’s what (sorry – just couldn’t help myself!). Joking aside, I am so glad I did as this is in fact an Artists’ Village although…
Glorious Shanklin Chine
I’m focussing on the Isle of Wight at the moment and another magical childhood memory – visiting the mysterious and exotic Shanklin Chime! The formation of the Chine (a local word of Saxon origin for a deep narrow ravine), has taken place over 10,000 years and the stream running through it would originally have flowed into…
Another day, another Castle!
I have visited Southsea Castle, Portsmouth, on more occasions than I care to remember but I have to say, on this last and most recent visit, the old girl is looking better than ever! Located on Southsea Beach, between the common and South Parade Pier, you can easily understand its strategic importance and why Henry VIII…
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