Dinton Castle is a small folly just outside a place called Stone. Stone is by Aylesbury.It is on the A418 (Oxford Road) but can only be seen if travelling in the direction from Oxford.As soon as the folly comes into sight you will see a bus stop on your left, just past this it is possible to park your car, off road.The folly is built from local Portland limestone. If you look carefully you will see there are some large ammonites in the stones. According to something I read online the castle was built by Sir John van Hatten to house his fossil collection...It was built in 1769 and is octagonal in shape. The towers, which are circular are 3-storey.There was a very eerie feeling about this castle and after I had taken some photos I got the heebie jeebies and left.... something I later read online about it is of its supposed haunting by the ghost of Simon Mayne. Simon Mayne was the secretary...
4 more images
Explore the Hellfire Caves near Wycombe
by MikeBird
I'd wanted to visit these caves for sometime. The break between Christmas and New Year gave me a good opportunity to visit and although I'm glad I went I probably will not feel the need to go again!The cave tunnels are quite extensive and all along there are plaques with detailed information about the history of the caves; some of which is political and a social insight into the 1740's and others I suspect is pure fiction.The families with small children seemed to be enjoying themselves and I think they would probably get most out of their visit. I'm really not sure what my chinese companion made of it. I think it was all rather bemusing for him to think that our ancestral learned socialites and politicians should bother with holding meetings in such cold and damp places when surely they had more comfortable accommodations in their own quarters?Visit the website for up to date details of...
2 more images
Walk from Brill Windmill
by MikeBird
Arriving on a very wet and grey day in July we parked near the windmill which is located on the top of a scarp slope overlooking a very green valley towards Oxfordshire. It's found on the edge of Brill which is a very attractive Buckinghamshire village.Our plan had been to follow the 4.5 mile circular route as set out in the website below ( thanks to the Automobile Association). The route took us down the slopes across the fields with sheep and cows - including a fine Roe Deer male - towards the clutch of houses called Little London. The thunder was rumbling all around and the lighting flashing but up until that point the really heavy rain hadn't started.The route took us back up the slopes past Leatherslade Farm, the location where the Great train robbers hid out after the robbery back in 1962. The actual farm buildings have been completely replaced now by new buildings and there are...
3 more images
Claydon House
by MikeBird
One of many National Trust house/mansions in Buckinghamshire Claydon House is different because it is only a fraction now of its original size. Owing to financial difficulties the Verney family back in the 1700s took the decision to destroy two thirds of the property as they could no longer afford to retain its upkeep. The west wing still remains and it makes for an interesting afternoon ( or morning) discovering how the family lived and the intriguing story of the rogue craftsman who secured all of the intricate carved and inlaid decor in many of the rooms.I personally didn't like the decorations; completely over the top in my view, but you could not help but be impressed by the craftmanship and the painstaking effort they must have gone through to produce such detail. There are volunteer guides in each room who are very keen to answer questions and to provide extra information if you...
2 more images
Stowe Landscape Gardens
by clairegeordio
Stowe Landscape Gardens is owned by the National Trust and is a large garden with over 40 grade 1 listed monuments and temples in Buckingham. There are lovely gardens to walk through and woodland walks by lakes, a nice place for a picnic. There are 300 hectares (750 acres) of surrounding historic parkland in total so nice to spend several hours here.
2 more images
The Roald Dahl Story Centre
by smirnofforiginal
A great little museum all about Roald Dahl, who was Great Missenden's most famous resident. Children each get a "My Story Ideas Book" and a pencil to help keep them amused around the museumGallery One is "Boy Gallery" which deals with Roald Dahl's memoirs ("Boy" & "Going Solo"). In this gallery there are letters and documents from when Roald Dahl was growing up as well as many photos. Gallery Two "Solo Gallery" is more child friendly as it is more hands on. There are some simple activities - such as making sea gulls (from James And The Giant Peach) and to stamping in the "My Story Ideas Book"Gallery Three "Story Centre" is the final gallery and the one of most interest to the children. Here you can make your own dreams (by recording into a machine) and then listen to the play back. Another good activity is a computer that allows you to take many photos before playing them back as an...
Wendover Woods
by smirnofforiginal
The 325 hectacres of beautiful woodland are managed by the Forestry Commission and afford stunning views across Aylesbury Vale.There is ample parking within the woods and is very good value at £2 for the day (you will need coins for the parking meter). Near to the car park(s) there is a vistiros centre which houses a cafe and toilets.There is a large (wooden) childrens activity playground close to the car parks.Disposable barbecues are not allowed in the woods but there are built in / static barbecues that are free to use and help to make for a very pleasent picnic!There are many different trails to follow and free maps can be got frmo the visitors centre, by the car parks.A beautiful slice of British countryside where one can while away the hours in peace and harmony with nature :)
Watching canal boats - Soulbury locks
by clairegeordio
The Grand Union canal runs from London, through the Chiltern hills to Birmingham and was once the busiest canal in the country. It opened in 1805 and has 160 locks. On this particular part of the canal, several miles from Leighton Buzzard, close to the villages of Soulbury and Stoke Hammond there are 3 locks. It is nice to go there for a canalside walk, watching people on their canal boat holidays working the lock system and there is also a pub, The Three Locks, next to the canal serving food.PHOTOS TO COME LATER
Waddesdon Manor and Gardens
by clairegeordio
Waddesdon Manor was built betweeb 1874 and 1889 in the style of a French château for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, mainly to display his art treasures. The furniture, carpets and porcelain rank in importance with the Louvre in Paris. It is now owned by the National Trust.Waddesdon has one of the finest victorian gardens in Britain, with a rose garden, aviary and fountains.Entry to the Gardens only are £5 for adults, £2.50 for children. If you wish to visit the house, then you need to buy a ticket when you arrive and are given an allocated slot in which you can visit - this costs £7 per adult and £6 per child.For more information and photos please visit my Waddesdon page.
1 more image
Ascott House and Gardens
by clairegeordio
Ascott house and grounds are located just outside the village of Wing near Leighton Buzzard. The house and grounds were given to the National Trust in 1949 and it is now still lived in as well as being open to the public at certain times.The house has belonged to the de Rothschild family since 1873. It is a beautiful half timbered house built in the nineteenth century. There are a few rooms inside to visit including a lovely porcelain room which has Chinese ceramics on display.The gardens are really beautiful - there is a lily pond, lovely views over the vale of Aylesbury, an unusual topiary sundial, and fountains. We visited on a beautiful April afternoon and there were lots of tulips and daffodils out.
Sign in with Facebook
Comments