A wet, cold and windy day for our journey from Swanage to Longleat near Warminster in Wiltshire. En route a warm welcome awaited us for morning coffee from mine hostess at at the Seymour Arms - East Knoyle the birthplace of Sir Christopher Wren
In 1949 Longleat became the first stately home to be opened to the public. Then in 1966 the grounds originally landscaped by 'Capability' Brown were transformed into a safari park.
On arrival at the estate the benefits of our drive through the safari park was limited by the prevailing foot and mouth restrictions, the lions were viewable, a few deer and wolves. No elephants , giraffes, monkeys,etc.
Vouchers were however obtained to allow us to return to complete this part of our visit on another occasion.
The weather throughout the visit was miserable and the few intrepid picnickers were well catered for in the lean to. Elsewhere the restaurant and cellar cafe proved popular and much appreciated. Visits to many of the attractions were curtailed by the weather but again the passport vouchers are valid until 4th November 2001 and we will return on a fine day.
After lunch some of us sampled the numerous attractions. In this case we did not find King Arthur in his mirror maze, but we did find our way out.
The dolls house emporium permitted photography.
There are many other attractions including 'The World's Longest Hedge Maze', the Longleat Railway and the Adventure Castle.
The hippos enjoy these superior premises as viewed from the Half Mile Pool, the Hippodrome in fact. Also on the shore of the lake the two guerillas viewed us with interest from the shelter of their verandah. At least they were not indoors watching their 16" television set.
A trip in the safari boat on the lake was escorted by a flotilla of sealions.
The tour of the house and that section where the present Marquess of Bath is still decorating the walls with massive murals was of course the main feature of the day. The practice of allowing the excellent guides to transfer from station to station through their period of duty (at 10 minute intervals) was much appreciated and meant that we had the pleasure of their highly informed company for much of our tour.
When you go again do not miss the conducted tour of the section of the house devoted to the presentation of the murals and many other excellent contemporary paintings by Wessex artists.
A day to remember.