I’ll let Jo explain: “It’s not a challenge, you see. Walking is one of the great pleasures of my life. Ever since I began my blog I have enjoyed introducing people to new places, and the walks are another way to do it. Many of them are local and well known to me in my north east of England home. Others are a bit more exotic. So, how does it work? Every week I will publish a walk on a Monday. If for any reason I can’t make it, I will let you know. When the walk is published, anyone is welcome to leave a link in my Comments, to any walk that they have taken. It doesn’t have to be on a Monday. It can be at any time and of any duration. The amount of detail/photos, etc. is up to you. Free and easy, you see?”
Simon and Monique Gudgeon are the creators of Sculpture by the Lakes, with over 100 sculptures in this 26 acre sculpture park many of them around the level meandering paths around the North Lake and Rainbow Lake. It makes for a lovely leisurely stroll through native trees and planting. There are several waterside venues available for private hire and an excellent Pantry offering self-service fresh, seasonal food with plenty of seating outdoors and around the park where to relax and unwind.
Showcasing the work of sculptor Simon Gudgeon and more than twenty other sculptors among the garden designed by Monique.
As Jo loves to be beside water I am sure she’d love this walk:
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This is a Charles Elliott ‘Verdigris and Gold Sail Sphere’ Handmade Metal Garden Lighting Sphere Sculpture“Search for Enlightenment” by artist Simon Gudgeon.‘Leaf Spirit’ by Simon Gudgeon‘Leaf Spirit’ by Simon Gudgeon (close-up)‘Prima’ by Simon Gudgeon‘Dancing Cranes’ by Simon Gudgeon‘Allium’ by artist David Cutler.‘Allium’ by artist David Cutler. (close-up)‘Icarus II’ by Nicola Godden‘Sphere’ by Simon Gudgeon “Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” Henry Van Dyke‘Isis’ by Simon Gudgeon. The sculpture is inspired by the Egyptian Ibis bird, a wading bird characterized by a long, down-curving bill.Oak Leaves (close-up)“Family Group” sculpture by artist Beatrice HoffmanIt’s not all about the sculptures‘Thoth’ by Simon Gudgeon.‘Walking Cheetah’ by Marie Ackers‘Swans’ by Simon GudgeonThe Lake House (for hire)‘Three Riders’ by Marie Ackers
Set in 26 acres alongside Dorset’s River Frome, with lakes, streams, meandering paths and plenty of places to sit it’s somewhere you can leave your busy life behind and enjoy peace and tranquillity in a beautiful and serene environment.
I do like to be close to water and if it can’t be the sea then a river will do as long as there is a walk alongside it. When I lived in Ludlow, Shropshire, I often walked along the River Teme doing a loop between the Dinham bridge near the castle and Ludford bridge. It was a pretty walk taking in the Whitcliffe common and the native woodland.
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Start of the walk off London Road
So when I chose Dorchester for my recent holiday I was pleased to find that there is a river walk which takes you out to the water meadows. And further afield if you want.
Peace and QuietWhere the river divides. Left into town, right towards the water meadows and blue bridge.The river divides into several streams in this area. This is the Mill Stream which powered Friary Mill.The Hangman’s Cottage.Cow ParsleyDove CoteA family outingSunlight on waterOne Swan a swimming (there were actually two)The Blue Bridge – leads out to the water meadowsThe Blue BridgeWater meadows. The system of water channels, weirs and hatches to regulate the flow of water was developed by Dutch engineers in the 17th century. A small amount of water meant that the grass continued to grow even through the winter. They are no longer maintained but in the late spring this is smothered in buttercups.ButtercupsA green tunnel – lovely shade on a hot dayIris pseudacorus, the yellow flag, yellow iris, or water flagWild flowers including comfrey and lady’s smock / cuckoo flower along a nature reserve boardwalk, a weir, the blue bridge and signs that the Romans were here. They built a town here in AD 43 (Durnovaria) and there are several Roman reminders around the town.Whitebeam. There are lots of native trees growing alongside the river and lots of birds too. Whilst sitting in the riverside reserve I heard many different species: sparrows, song thrush, robin, blue tit, chiffchaff, great tit, blackbird, wren and goldfinch among others. (Thanks to the Merlin app)
It is a lovely flat walk beside the river with several benches on which to sit and enjoy the birdsong and the mallards.
And as I know Jo loves to be beside water this one is for one of her Monday Walks.
My weekend in Bude, north Cornwall was interrupted by the first named storm of the year – Amy. Sunday looked to be the better day so the one I decided to travel 50 mins across to north Devon and visit RHS Rosemoor. Not as big as RHS Wisley in the south-east, but I thought it would be nice to revisit this garden, last seen in April 2011.
The lesson I have thoroughly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives – Gertrude Jekyll
Winter GardenCool Garden
Asters and Pompon Dahlias in the Long BorderMiscanthus sinensis ‘Kleine-Silberspinne’The Herb, Potager and Cottage Garden with shelterBeautiful dahlias everywhereDogwoodOne moves between the new garden and the original garden, created by Lady Anne Palmer, through a tunnel beneath a road passing this little bridge and fabulous Japanese maple.Croquet lawn and Temperate HouseThe Stone Garden has a very Japanese feelCercis canadensis commonly known as Redbud trees or Judas treesHot colours in the form of RudbeckiasRosemoor House is fairly modest considering it belonged to the Earls of Orford who descended from Horace Walpole. It can now be rented out for holidays. There is a small tea-room at the side.More asters on the verandaThe Cherry Garden – best in springtimeA Kaleidoscope of colours (Dahlias – some with bees)The Lakeside in October is ablaze with autumn colour, from the molten leaves of liquidambars to the bright yellow foliage of Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Beauty’ and the deep red of Acer palmatum ‘Chitose-yama’ – all reflected on the mirror-like water.
All approaches to the garden involve navigating miles of winding roads, hence Rosemoor is also one of the quietest RHS gardens, but utterly charming and demonstrating how colourful a garden can look in early October.
If you love your Tudor history, Hever Castle is the perfect place to get up close to several significant pieces of 16th century history. Built in 1271, it is the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII who was Queen for only 1,000 days and mother of Elizabeth I. Anne’s family name was Bullen but when she was in France in the king’s court, she decided to adopt the way a French person would spell it phonetically.
As well as the beautiful gardens the castle itself is well worth visiting. It’s not very big for a castle, and some of the rooms are quite cosy you could say. Audio guides are included in Castle admission prices. They are available in English, French, German, Dutch, Russian and Chinese.
Inner CourtyardThe Great Chamber – used by the Boleyn family for entertainment. music, reading, poetry readings and occasional dining.
I’m not usually keen on photographing interiors and especially when I only have my phone with me as the light can be poor, but I do like to grab shots of little details that I find interesting.
Henry VIII portrait and the costume as used in Wolf Hall and The Mirror and the Light (TV series)Wall tapestryCarvings above a fireplaceKing Henry VIII’s Bedchamber, though it is believed that he would never have actually stayed the night here. The costume of Anne Boleyn from Wolf Hall and The Mirror and the Light (TV series)Intricate design on the door of the Great HallAnother of Henry VIII costume in what is known as his bedchamberAnne Boleyn’s Book of Hours c, 1425 – 50 This prayer book was hand-written and illuminated in Bruges. Inside Anne has written her famous inscription “le temps viendra” (the time will come). She signed her name Anne Boleyn and and drew a small astrolabe or armillary sphere.More detail of carvings on fireplaces, the dining table in the Great Hall and two German swords used for beheadings.
It takes about an hour to go around the castle and the Castle is usually busiest in the morning and early afternoon. I would recommend late afternoon to avoid school parties.
William Waldorf Astor used his fortune to restore and extend the Castle in the early 20th century.
[Wolf Hall is a British television series adaptation of two of Hilary Mantel’s novels, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, a fictionalised biography documenting the life of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII. The second series was adapted from The Mirror & the Light, the final novel in the trilogy. Both are excellent series and available in the UK on iPlayer.]
If you want to know more about Hever Castle, Anne Boleyn and the rooms in the castle then I recommend visiting the website (link below).
Although we didn’t manage to see all of the beautiful gardens we tried our best! Here are a few more photos from the estate.
The Castle and outer moat and mazeA closer view – if you click on this image you might be able to make out the topiary chess set on the far right in the Tudor GardenOne of the towers and the inner moatCastle from the opposite side and topiaryShady area close to Anne Boleyn’s Walk – and the festival theatreRhododendrons and AzaleasThe Blue Corner – The plants are concentrated around huge rocks and steps leading to Sisters’ Pool Lawn and include blue hydrangeas, ceanothus and blue seasonal perennials.Hundreds of tulips in the border leading to the Two Sister’s Lawn and PoolRose Garden – best in June to SeptemberRose Garden – best in June to SeptemberSome of the lovely flowers in early MayThe Edwardian boathouseThe 38 acre lake, the brainchild of William Waldorf Astor, was excavated and constructed by 800 men who were contracted in December 1904 to “carry on the works regularly and continuously by day and night (except on Sundays) when so ordered” and complete the work in two years! The lake was filled in July 1906.
It takes about an hour to walk around the lake and you might just make out the Japanese Tea House folly on the left-hand side. There is also a water maze too. The boats and pedalos are available for hire on Weekends and Bank Holidays from Saturday 5 April 2025 and daily during school holidays. You can also take a 20 minute trip on the Lady Astor steam boat which you can just make out to the right of the photo above.
TRAVEL WORDS 