This time of year is so very cold, dark and oppressive that I find it very difficult to summon up the energy and desire to be the super mum who is proud of preaching, "There's no such thing as bad weather you know, just bad clothing." Because actually there is such a thing as bad weather, you just have to have the will to brave it, accept it and face it. Call it the post-Christmas blues if you like, but I'm struggling to pull on my thermals and wellies.
However I'm beginning to think of the wonderful places that we do visit in the more agreeable weather, especially as it gives me the will to think about adventuring when it's 20°C lower than my preferred temperature.
Back in the Summer we visited a wonderful National Trust place in Cornwall called Lanhydrock. Just a few miles away from Coombe Mill where we were staying for our holiday, Lanhydrock is one of those astoundingly beautiful stately homes which take your breath away with every step down the long and winding drive down from its stone entrance pillars.
I've been to quite a few National Trust places in the past year and I've found that there is a variety of different attitudes as to interactivity. In some houses the artefacts aren't to be touched and rooms are strictly roped off, in others everyone is able to explore the relics of the past. Lanhydrock is one of those wonderful National Trust places which encourages children to explore their heritage, to type on seventy year old typewriters and to role-play with a telephone which has heard many whispered secrets.
I've found that the older the property, the least likely visitors are to be allowed to touch the original artefacts. Lanhydrock suffered a devastating fire in 1881 which meant that it was refurbished in high Victorian style. The house is set up to show off the two different aspects of Victorian life; the upstairs/downstairs perspective is fascinating to see and the elaborate kitchens of the First World War which served the Agar-Robartes family.
And of course no visit to any National Trust place would be complete without our favourite #2 of the 50 Things project: the obligatory rolling down a hill! This is where Mr. TBaM discovered that trying to roll down with your son is not a good idea (risk of squashing!).
The only tiny thing that plagued our trip to Lanhydrock was the small creatures that plagued our picnic that we settled down to feast upon on the stone steps nestled in the banks. Wasps! Swarms and swarms! We were half a sandwich in when they came and followed us all the way up the path back to the car. We ended up having a Great British and traditional picnic in the backseat of our car with the air-con on full blast!
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Linking up with Flashback Friday and Country Kids.
I love this house. We only live about 15 mins away and pop in often. They do a fab proms outside in the Summer. As for wasps… yep, maybe it's a Cornish garnish 😉
I bet the proms are marvellous in such a wonderful garden and grounds! The driveway down was magnificent. I couldn't believe the amount of wasps, it was like a plague! Thanks for commenting.
Wow, that is stunning. Imagining living in a house like that?! Looks like a fun day out for some learning followed by some running around outdoors.
It was amazing, the children had a wing to themselves with a nanny and they never mixed in the main section of the house. In fact, they rarely left the house to go and play in the garden, and food was prepared in their own kitchen! How weird is that? Even more so to not enjoy those wonderful banks!
I am ashamed to say I don't think in 11 years I have visited Lanhydrock. That is quite shameful as we are so close and you make it look so interesting. A lovely flash back to summer time. Roll on that warm weather again. Thank you for the mention and am delighted to see The Boy's farm sun hat in use for the day.
You really must go, although I'm not sure that the children would enjoy it? He didn't take his hat off for weeks afterwards.
That looks like a really beautiful property, and how lovely that the children can play with some of the exhibits. Wasps are my one real phobia, I'd have been running for the car 🙂 #CountryKids
It was such a wonderful house, although I must confess I was slightly disappointed with the gardens as they weren't very large at all. However, I didn't really get the chance to explore them as I really did leg it for the car!
I share your post Christmas, weather-induced lack of get up ang go (let me tell you there is no clothing made that suits exercise in 40 degree heat, except the swim suit so bathers it has been here).
I can't believe how much The Boy has grown even over Christmas. Amazing. Looks like a great family day out
Oh it's just such a grey time of year over here at the moment, really dull and horrid. Thanks for commenting.
Wow that's absolutely beautiful. The entrance itself looks so stunning. Lovely photos too. We most definitely need to visit Cornwall one day!
Thank you, doesn't it look like something from a Jane Austin novel?
Yeah Lanhydrock is now on my place to visit – and bring along the kids! It's great to read how they've made kids involved with the visit.
It's such a beautiful place, the buildings were stunning and it was amazing to see the lives that people 100 years ago lived. Thanks for commenting.
ah these a gorgeous and im like you too..hate the cold weather! x
Thank you, I took them with my 50mm lens and am very proud of the kitchen photos.
We've just joined the National Trust, in fact, my #CountryKids post this week is all about our first adventure with them. This place looks fantastic, and as we're staying at Coombe Mill soon, I've added it to the list of places we must visit as it looks stunning x
We received our NT pass as a part of my work with them last year, but I haven't received one yet and if it doesn't come through then I will definitely be buying one. They're wonderful days out and such fun for all. I think Lanhydrock might be closed until spring.
That looks like a lovely place to visit (apart from the wasps!)
It really was! The wasps spoilt it though.
That looks like a great day out for the Boy and you – and yet another reason to visit Coombe Mill! My sympathies on the wasps though – it will be one of my defining memories of Summer 2013!
We all really enjoyed it, such a beautiful location. I think it's a must if visiting Coombe Mill.
What a fantastic house and so much to see and explore! Great pictures too 🙂
Thanks very much, it was a photographer's paradise!
Love your photos – it looks as if there has been wonderful attention to detail in the displays there. Shame it was spoiled by wasps though – I really hate them so would have done the exact same as you! And now I know how to join in with Country Kids on those weeks when I feel the same about leaving the warmth of my house! Hope you get out soon – it's often worth the extra effort in the end – and you can always reward yourself with a big slice of cake and luxury hot chocolate afterwards!!
The displays were wonderful and they used really imaginative ways to label them; embroidered bedding, aprons, towels which all had explanations of the rooms and guests on them!
Oooohhh looks lovely. We have been to some lovely National Trust areas recently and plan on visiting more this year. It has been particularly cold though so I know how you feel!
I'm normally ok with the cold, but it's when it's so horribly grey as well that I can't cope.
We love Lanhydrock, so much to see and do. And that hill is made for rolling down! #CountryKids
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It's a wonderful house isn't it? So many fabulous things to explore there.
Lovely place. I have some very similar photos on the lawn of my two about five years ago 🙂
I think that those banks are a must to roll down aren't they? So tempting!
how lovely to flashback to that beautiful hot, sunny and DRY summer that we all enjoyed last year! I have almost forgotten how that was now! I agree about the NT properties and the differnt levels of interaction chidlren can have – certainly when I was a child it was none, hence why i did not enjoy visiting them!
You have taken some wonderful photos – the shoes lined up is lovely as is the boy using the old type writer and telephone. And rolling down the hill with daddy – such summer time fun!
you will have to re visit next year and hope the wasps stay away!!
thank you so much for linking up xx
Remember the blue skies? I can, barely! The NT properties are such a wonderful treasure trove aren't they when you're allowed to actually interact, we never really went as children as there weren't any in south Wales.
Thanks for your comment about the photos, I'm quite proud of them.
this looks fab, my kids would love the typewriter too! brilliant fun and educational too, happy days xx
He found it such a funny thing to play with, and I must admit that I found it intriguing as well.
This looks like a lot of fun! Yet again, fantastic photographs. I love the old tap one especially – I dont know why!
Boy looks like he is having a lot of fun too. 🙂
Thanks so much, I really enjoyed exploring and taking photos at funny angles. I like the tap photo too, just realised it's not centred which annoys me.
These are wonderful pictures. I got big into history last year and am venturing into all these old houses and castles. Thank you for the peep into Lanhydrock.
He he, ' there is indeed no such thing as bad weather' may be just bad days. Your photography is wonderful and I need to work on this!
I have always found real history like this completely fascinating and being able to explain to The Boy what something is and it's purpose is a brilliant way of him learning.
What an incredible day (think I might have tried to sneak those shoes in my bag)!