~Lyme Park~
6th May 2013
The House
Scroll down for a few photos and a short report....
Nice Pad
The House is the largest such property in Cheshire. It is owned and run by The National Trust. There must be rule book somewhere for places to avoid on sunny Bank Holidays. This place is about 45 miles from home; the first 40 miles were covered at a rate of about a mile a minute and the last five, very slowly.
The Dutch Garden
We made a decision to find something to eat before exploring. The "Restuarant" opened earlier than the "Coffee Shop"; we visited the former and found it in the cellar. Really not welcomming and most tables were occupied by folk waiting to be served. So we waited for the latter to open and had our lunch there. Typically "average" as per most NT properties.
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We are NT members and therefore avoided all parking and entry costs. The interior is as per all other "stately homes" and you can't take photos. My feeling is that once you've seen one, you've pretty much seen them all. Big rooms, high ceilings, oversize rugs, large portraits of miserable-looking folk, dining table with silver service, a plethora of "do not touch" signs and attendants who could be descendants stood in every room.
The Borders
The Lechs (as in "Lee") of Lyme owend the estate from 1398 to 1946. The state gave it to them and when they didn't need it any more or couldn't afford to pay the Coucil Tax, they gave it to the National Trust.
Photographers
I think I've done quite well to hide the vast numbers of visitors. Many only visit the grounds and were having picnics. We left at 14:30, knowing full well there would be a serious gridlock later in the day. Outside, the southbound A6 was jammed by folk queueing to get into Lyme Park, resulting in a five mile tail of frustrated motorists.
The Middlewood Way
We drove to Bollington for a short walk along the old railway route and canal towpath.
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Macclesfield Canal |
Clarence Mill, Bollington |
Further refreshment regret as the Waterside Cafe in Clarence Mill was shut, as per their policy of not opening on Mondays. Good Grief! The sunniest, warmest, pleasantest, busiest, bestest May Day Bank Holiday since such were conceived and still they don't open on Mondays!
Bollington Park
There is an excellent walk suggested by Macclesfield Outdoors. Starting and finishing in Bollington and extending as far as Lyme Park, without the need to worry about the traffic issues. Could be well worth the time and effort one day.
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2013 ©
Take me back to the start ....