The second day of my holiday was spent in Alnwick garden and town. The first thing that you see as you enter the garden is the spectacular Grand Cascade.
When passing through the archway into The Alnwick Garden, the view leads immediately to The Garden’s centrepiece; the Grand Cascade. A magnificent tumbling mass of water with spellbinding displays, the Grand Cascade is the largest water feature of its kind in the country. It is built into two listed earth banks from the 1850s, which create The Garden’s slope.
Every minute, 7260 gallons of water tumble down a series of 21 weirs, with riotous water displays on the hour and the half hour. Jets of water shoot high in the air and splash on the terrace as children run underneath them. Children also collect water from the water walls at the foot of the Grand Cascade, in John Deere’s mini tractors.
The Grand Cascade is surrounded by hornbeam pergolas which echo the stone curves, with windows looking onto the water. Beyond the pergolas, lie rills and shallow pools. The Grand Cascade is built from local Darney stone, and computer-controlled by state-of-the-art equipment in the pump rooms below. The water is filtered and recycled.*
*From the Alnwick Garden website.
So pretty and so far from Cornwall……….oh dear!
A very long way from Cornwall, it is quite a way from me too.
That is wonderful Cherie
If you can get the angles right without too many people it is even more spectacular.
It looks spectacular! Great shots!
It is impressive to see
Splendid! What a place….
I think you would love it
Beautiful fountains! In Las Vegas, Nevada, one of the hotels has a huge pool in front of it. They have all kinds of fountains and actually “choreograph” the fountains to music. It is quite spectacular. You have seem some lovely sights on your holiday. Mickie
That sounds like a really great thing to see and thank you
A Grand day out:)
It was and the sun helped
You have done well to capture these superb shots almost people free. In my opinion this single feature was the spark that breathed new life into Alnwick ( the tourist business was just ticking over previously in comparison to the present time) as it was the catalyst to inspire many into visiting the garden when it first opened. It was however difficult for me to understand at the time how the cost of this could be justified, but The Duchess’ long term plan was proved right. I won’t steal your thunder about everything else you have to show about other garden features and the town but look forward to your next few posts. Once again, it’s been far too long since I took friends visiting from Somerset (5 years ago) and I hear that there are always new developments being created in the garden. I didn’t realise the function of the tractors until I read this as I couldn’t understand why the children’s entertainment should spoil the photographers enjoyment…. I’ll need to go first thing next time !!
It was rather difficult to get picture without too many people, it was busy because the weather was so nice.
The Duchess certainly had a good vision and things have developed since I last visited 18 months ago. There is so much to see that there wasn’t time for everything. No doubt I will be back again
The rose garden is a little bit like home from home for me because a lot of the roses come from David Austin which is very close to where I live.
I suppose the tractors keep the children happy and not bored whilst the parents enjoy the fountains.
It is indeed really grand!
They should make it a musical fountain at night.
Great chance to attract more visitors to generate more income.
I would look good to music
I think it gets enough visitors already 
It looks lovely. I coulod do with standing under that water at the moment!
The temperature isn’t too bad over here.