Our anniversary outing, mentioned in my last post, was our second visit to Hawkstone Park Follies which has, as their leaflet suggests, 'a powerful and timeless landscape'. This landscape was created in the 18th century by the Hill family when the fashionable themes of the day were the 'Romantic' 'Picturesque' and 'Gothic' movements in art, architecture, literature and landscape gardening. This place is overflowing with them all. The leaflet also suggests that to manage the strenuous walk, which can take over 3 hours, you need sturdy shoes and a torch for the caves - we forgot about the torch and left it in the car but most of the caves we entered had some sort of lighting. Of course I took far too many photos so I've made a few collages of the key areas to help you can get an idea of what the place is like.
The Urn and Reynard's Banqueting House - I included the urn in this set of photos because of Reynard the fox at its side.
The Red Tower - inside are models of General Lord Hill and the Duke of Wellington. General Hill was second in command to the Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo.
The Hermitage
The Swiss Bridge - yes we did cross it at a sideways angle - it is very narrow!
The Gothic Arch and the Grotto
The Cleft
The Monument, Raven's Shelf and along Reynard's Walk - which is the strenuous return to the entrance!
Hawkstone Park Follies can be found at Weston-under-Redcastle which is between Shrewsbury and Whitchurch in Shropshire.
Edit with additional information 2nd May - One or two people have wondered about the length of the walk and the height/width of the Swiss bridge at Hawkstone Follies - there is an alternative route to avoid it so you don't have to tackle it if you don't want too - also there is an easier option to return if the longer and more strenuous walk doesn't appeal. You can return via the bridge avoidance route and back the way you came in. There is also what they call 'silver safari' transport which has to be pre-booked, there are two shorter routes too. Here is a link to a map which gives you some idea - map
Edit with additional information 2nd May - One or two people have wondered about the length of the walk and the height/width of the Swiss bridge at Hawkstone Follies - there is an alternative route to avoid it so you don't have to tackle it if you don't want too - also there is an easier option to return if the longer and more strenuous walk doesn't appeal. You can return via the bridge avoidance route and back the way you came in. There is also what they call 'silver safari' transport which has to be pre-booked, there are two shorter routes too. Here is a link to a map which gives you some idea - map
What a truly amazing place to visit. You were ery brave crossing that bridge!
ReplyDeleteJune
I'm not good at heights on tall buildings but for some reason the bridge didn't bother me too much as it isn't very far across - I could never walk across a swinging rope bridge though:)
DeleteWe drive past a sign for this place every time we go to visit my mother in law and keep saying....we must visit there!
ReplyDeletexxx
It is worth well worth a visit - just for the views alone of the shropshire and Welsh hills:)
DeleteThis looks a fantastic place to go but that bridge looks just a little scary for me! x
ReplyDeleteIt isn't too scary once you are on it and it feels very sturdy and safe:)
DeleteGoodness, that place looks fascinating. so many weird and wonderful things to see.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of it, but it looks well worth a trip!
Kathy x
There are lots of lovely views and aspects as well as interesting follies and the grotto caves - something for everyone:)
DeleteWhat a fascinating looking place. You were very brave, I don't think I could have done the bridge ! xxx
ReplyDeleteThe bridge isn't as scary as you might imagine and you can avoid it by going another way round. There is something to see around each corner and the views from the grotto island are stunning:)
DeleteIt looks as if you had a good long walk with many fascinating natural features,interesting buildings and structures along the way. Some of the walk looks like a challenge, especially the bridge! The monument looks similar to the one in Berkshire at Stratfield Saye just outside the Wellington Country Estate.
ReplyDeleteI did balk at climbing to the top of the monument - just a step too far for me but I had a go at everything else:)
DeleteSo beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI host a weekly party called "Oh, the PLACES I've been!" and would love to have you join. The link goes up at 7 pm EST on Thursday evenings.
- The Tablescaper
Hello and welcome. Thanks for the invitation I'll pop over and take a look:)
DeleteIt looks interesting but not my kind of place I don't think - especially that bridge!!
ReplyDeleteYou can avoid the bridge but I understand what you mean, it reminded me of a cross between Portmeirion and Consall Hall Gardens, all man made but somehow with a beauty of its own:)
DeleteIt's on my maybe list - but I've yet to be convinced. Does it HAVE to be strenuous? Or are there easier bits? (I'm not great with heights either, but I'm improving.)
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't have to be overly strenuous but it is quite an incline up to the entrance and there is a notice saying that if you find the walk to the entrance challenging you will struggle with the follies themselves. There is also a steep climb up to the first part of the walk - thereafter you are on the flat terraces and can drop down and back up to some of the follies and you can avoid the bridge and go straight to the grotto island and also avoid the strenuous walk back by returning via the terraces using the 39 steps:)
DeleteFascinating! It's just the sort of place I'd love to go and had never heard of it, so thank you. It sounds like it might have to wait until I'm fully fit again though!!
ReplyDeleteIt is quite an adventure and you need to be fit I think - my knees started to complain on the way back. Hope you are recovering from your fall:)
DeleteI enjoyed this post as it brings back happy memories of our visit there in 2007! We kept saying we'd go again last year but we didn't - probably because of all that rain! Maybe we'll go this year.
ReplyDeleteIf you see a local tourist newspaper for Staffs and Salop - I think it is called 'Out and About' - there is a two for one voucher inside for Hawkstone and for several other places. We were able to use the voucher on a Sunday - I think they can't be used on bank holiday weekends though:)
DeleteIt looks a very interesting place to visit. I can just imagine 18th century visitors to the Hill family loving those gothic and romantic features and follies.
ReplyDeleteThose visitors must have been enchanted and thrilled by all the gardens had to offer - Dr Johnson visited and apparently thought there should be more water features:)
DeleteWhat a fascinating looking place-You've encouraged me to have a look and see what other unusual walks and things there are to do.:)
ReplyDeleteIt is a very interesting and challenging place, it is nice to walk somewhere unusual sometimes:)
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