Thursday, September 19, 2013

The 'Four Bridges' Walk

On Wednesday we decided we wanted a day away from the building work and, even though the weather forecast wasn't great,  we decided to just get in the car and see where it took us.  We started out at the Wolseley Centre, the headquarters of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, but we didn't stay there very long as when we arrived the car park was full to overflowing and cars were parked along the grass verges.  We did eventually park and popped into the centre - there was a large conference taking place - hence all the cars.  We walked around the boardwalk and down by the river but the heavens opened so we went back to the car to decide what to do next.  As Shugborough isn't too far down the road that is where we ended up. 


We decided we didn't want to go into the Mansion House this time and that we just wanted to walk around the grounds and across to the island arboretum.  As the weather was unpredictable there weren't many people around so we more or less had the walk to ourselves. 

We crossed the blue bridge on to the island

There is a lovely view of the back of the Mansion House from there

Then we crossed back over the river from the island over the red bridge

and then down by the river although the skies were grey and it always look as if rain was pending it didn't actually rain during the walk.

 We walked as far as the Essex Bridge

and then over the bridge towards the canal

then over the canal bridge

into the village of Great Heywood. We had a little walk around the village before returning across the Essex bridge and back into the grounds of the Shugborough Estate.

This time with a fine view of the front of the Mansion House

We walked back across the parkland past the Tower of the Winds

and the farmhouse - I love this building!  The inside is wonderful!

and back into the walled garden where we admired the lovely flowers and bought some freshly picked damsons and apples from the sales table which was full of the most glorious produce and an honesty box in which to pay whatever you thought was a good price for the goods.

As we left the walled garden the heavens opened again so we hurried back to the car getting a little wet in the process but we'd been lucky to get such a long walk in before it rained again.

I've written previous posts on both Shugborough and the Essex Bridge so I haven't put much explanation in the text in this post but I've put some links below to earlier posts if you want to read more.



20 comments:

  1. What a lovely walk, you were lucky not to rained on - at least not until the end:) Shugborough is one of those places I've always wanted to visit but have never yet managed to get there.One day!

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    1. There is such a lot there mostly free to NT members but you have to pay for the farmyard and the county museum section as it isn't NT but Staffs CC, plus parking but worth it I think as you can spend all day there:)

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  3. What a pretty stroll.
    I totally enjoyed it.
    Thanks so much for sharing !

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  4. A very pretty walk Rosie and the Mansion house did look lovely. You were so lucky with the weather too.
    Patricia x

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    1. The Mansion House is very interesting especially Lord Lichfield's appartments - it is very pretty at Christmas too:)

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  5. The grounds look beautiful, it's so nice to walk close to water. There have been some very heavy showers this week, but I can understand you needing some fresh air and peace and quiet!

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    1. It was super to just get out and walk and to do so between the showers was an extra bonus:)

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  6. It is good to get out for a few hours even if rain is imminent! I would love to have had a look inside the 'Tower of the Winds'! Nice that you managed to get some damsons and apples too. I bet you make something nice with them. x

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    1. Unfortunately the tower was closed but it used to be a dairy downstairs and a gambling den upstairs! I've made jam with the damsons:)

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  7. What a beautiful part of the world, thanks for sharing.

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  8. Those bridges are beautiful. I particularly like the one painted blue, but the red bridge produces a lovely reflection in the water. I've read your other links and there's a lot to see on the estate so worth visiting, I'm sure.

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    1. I like the blue one too! The red has more impact with the chinese house next to it but the blue is very pretty:)

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  10. We have only been once and I can't remember the grounds to be honest. We must go back again soon.
    Xxx

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    1. It's well worth another visit if you are over this way again as there are so many different things to see and quite a lot of changes over the last few years:)

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  11. The Tower of the Four Winds looks interesting and I bet it would be great to live there. The weather wasn't the best last week, what a change today though! Have a great week xx

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    1. The tower wasn't open but apparently it was a dairy downstairs and a gambling den upstairs:)

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