The Ham Nomads

9 Oct 2014. <GB-ENG> High Green, Worcs; Stratford-upon-Avon, Warw —

Today dawned bright, but with no promise to stay that way! We went back to Croome Park, this time to walk more of Capability Brown's landscape.

When we got there, it had been showering, and the sky was a little ominous, but we decided to pursue our intent to walk! It was really worth while.

This time, instead of cutting left towards the Rotunda, we bore right down towards the Greenhouse and the lake. It's a pleasant walk, and the plantings that the Trust has been doing to reconstruct the original landscape (they've only had it since 1996) are exquisite. Not to say that there aren't a lot of mature trees around the place, but the Trust are beginning to fill in the gaps. And the trees are now in their autumn colourings, which is spectacular to say the least!

We got down to the Greenhouse — other properties have called these 'orangeries' — to find a superb neoclassical structure, with a sweeping view back up to the church and across to the house. The sash windows at its front have been restored by the Trust, and it now stands in its full glory!

Walking on, we found a statue of Pan on the way, and also a beautiful statue of a seated druid in front of a large yew tree — what else? While we were taking photos near the memorial to Lancelot Brown that was erected by the 6th Earl in his honour, we met up with Sue, one of the volunteers on the property, and started a conversation that went on for 30-40 minutes. We learned a lot more about Croome, and about other Trust properties in the vicinity. Also, as we were walking and talking by the Grotto with its statue of Sabrina (the Nymph of the Severn), there was a huge clap of thunder nearby and we realized that the black sky was about to let loose. Fortunately, Sue took us to a nearby pavilion, where we were well sheltered during the short sharp shower — and where we could continue our conversation.

We then walked with her round by the lake, recrossing a bridge we had found earlier, and we took the drier path towards the house. Once again, a shower was in the offing, but our timing was perfect, and we were just walking in the entrance when it hit. There's a tea-room in the old Tapestry Room of the house, so we sat and had scones and coffee while the elements raged outside.

It was still raining a little when we emerged, so we hopped a ride in the shuttle buggy up to the Visitor Centre, out to the van, and off.

We went to a Macca's outside Alcester to do a little blogging and email, and got into another long conversation with a local. This has become a most enjoyable part of our travels — places are fine, but people are great!

We then got back to Stratford and the carpark behind the Leisure and Visitor Centre to find absolute chaos — the people from the Mop Fair had arrived, with large trucks, caravans. And the regular trucks and buses were still coming as well, so the car park was packed — but not so packed that we couldn't find a place. We've decided to try to get to a performance of Love's Labours Lost in the next day or so, so we settled in to the Globe production of the play to refresh our memories and to prime our ears to the Shakespearean style!

Distance driven — 44 miles ( 70 km ); to date, 8,473 miles ( 13,636 km )