Hodnet Hall has recently re-opened for the 2026 season so we took advantage of a sunny day for lunch and a walk around the gardens. We were tempted, as usual by the smoked mackerel Pate served in a dainty cup.

Henri Matisse

As we arrived at Hodnet Hall it started to rain. This didn’t matter as we intended to have lunch before going for a walk. Lunch, as always was delicious and the rain had stopped by the time we were ready for our walk.

The rain fall had enhanced the vibrancy of the garden colours leading to our walk being especially enjoyable.

Much later in the afternoon the heavens opened which meant we got a bit soggy walking to and from a family visit.

After lunch on Easter Monday we visited Hodnet Hall gardens which is always a lovely place to visit. We also had high hopes for the illusive piece of cake that we missed out on during our previous days travels. On arrival it was suggested that we didn’t park in the visitor car park due to a downpour of rain in the morning that had caused the ground to be muddy and soggy. We accepted the advice and parked on one of the suggested areas at the back of the hall.

Rather than head straight to the tea room we elected to take the nearest path into the garden, a route I had not walked before. The path was down a slight incline with surface mud and water. All of a sudden I found myself sliding downhill on one foot, placing my other foot on the ground only increased the speed of my slide. I chose to sit down rather than gain even more moment with the potential of falling over and breaking some bones. Mr C turned round in alarm but found me laughing at my predicament. My only worry was would I be able to get up again?

Firmly on two feet we walked the upper part of the gardens before stopping for a well earned piece of cake which we chose to eat outside, this lead to us  having an interesting conversation with Sir Algenon before we resumed our walk around the gardens.

We awoke to bright sunshine and had a window seat at breakfast that allowed us to enjoy the golden rays.

After breakfast Mr C headed off to visit a trade show, one of the main reasons for our stay in York. I walked into York thinking I would visit the ‘Chocolate Experience’ attraction when I got there I realised that I was muddling it up with York’s other chocolate adventure. The ‘Chocolate Experience’ is something to explore with other chocolate seeking adventurers.

My plan B was to visit the nearby Fairfax House but I found that it didn’t open until 11am. The chocolate factory I had originally been thinking of was nearby but by this time I had gone off the idea of a chocolaty adventure. I spent a pleasant time browsing in Waterstones and was tempted by one of the games (Parks), but I resisted temptation. By now Fairfax House had opened so I returned to the small property before making my way to Clifford’s Tower to sit on one of the benches part way up the Motte, soaking up the sunny rays whilst waiting for Mr C. My lofty perch allowed me to view the antics in the car park below and a loud shouting exchange that followed a mini bumping of two cars. The car park has narrow spaces and is extremely busy, not a place I would choose to park.

Although we were in the location to continue our walk along the town walls we had to make our way into town for lunch, the nearby Castle Museum café was not only available to museum visitors. Our walk took us through the busy car park where people were still struggling to get in and out of the extremely narrow spaces. We lunched in Pret, where due to a miscommunication, I ended up with the wrong sandwich!

During the morning Mr C had been told that a Royal Mail parcel would be delivered but the on-line options for changing the delivery arrangements did not offer a suitable alternative delivery whilst we were away. Mr C was advised that it had been delivered to our secure porch. We don’t have a secure porch leaving us to wonder what exactly Royal Mail had done with the parcel…

We retraced our steps from Pret and resumed the wall walk. The wall walk ended in the perfect location for visiting the Yorkshire Museum which is currently exhibiting the Rydale Hoard. Just outside the museum was an ice Viking, part of the ice trail. I chose not to photograph it before we entered the museum which was a big mistake. When we left it had vanished with just a patch of water to show where it had been. Many children and parents were milling around, having just arrived to tick it off the trail list.

Back at the hotel Mr C had an update on the parcel delivery. The picture of a ’secure porch’ was a doormat? We phoned a family member to ask them to check if a parcel had been delivered to our doorstep. They came back with a negative, there was nothing left on our doorstep.

We dined in Ate O’Clock which has a charming entrance that invites you. Our delightful waiter informed us that some of the menu choices were no longer available. Although this was not ideal, at least we knew in advance so that we didn’t get our taste buds leaning towards one of the missing items.

We visited the Golden Fleece before heading back to the hotel for a nightcap which we purchased from the hotel bar and took to our room to chill out in comfort.

We had a lovely lunch time tour of Pitchford Hall where by coincidence we had the same guide that took us on our previous tour in 2018. Our guide is a fountain of knowledge and Mr C and I had the privilege of a lengthy conversation with her as we enjoyed mince pies and mulled wine after the tour of the house. We enjoyed seeing how the restorations are progressing since our previous visit.

It was rather chilly outside and dark inside the house due to the time of year so I don’t have as many photos from this visit as I did on my previous visit.

More detailed information and photos from my previous visit can be found on the following links:

• Pitchford Hall
• Pitchford Hall tree house
• Pitchford Hall orangery
• Views around Pitchford Hall

We enjoyed our final breakfast with a window view over the Thames, making a full set of breakfasts with window views. Before checking out, Mr C parked the car at the back of the hotel near to our room so that we could load our cases into the car easily. As we were loading the car, two buses came down the narrow street, one of them hoping to park in the space next to our car. The space wasn’t quite big enough and we weren’t quite ready to leave. This led to the buses doing manoeuvers and the two drivers having to wait at the end of the street until we had handed in the room keys and vacated the space we were parked in.

We visited Waddesden Manor, a place that has been on my ‘To Visit’ list for many years but we had never been in the right place at the right time to make it happen. There is a lovely long walk to the manor where you catch glimpses of it through trees until it reveals itself in all its ‘French Renaissance château’ glory.

I wasn’t disappointed. The house and gardens are stunning, although the pools for the fountains were empty of water and the aviary was only partially accessible due to painting and refurbishment. This just means we will have to visit again soon.

We explored the gardens before eating lunch in the Stables Courtyard where I chose blueberry and lemon cake accompanied by elderflower presse. After we had eaten, we made our way to the manor for our timed ticket entry slot. It wasn’t a busy day so we were able to enter the manor early which turned out to be a good thing due to the numerous rooms and displays on offer.

We left Waddesden late in the afternoon and programmed the SatNav for home. Shortly afterwards the SatNav responded that there were delays which would add an hour to our journey. We had hoped to pick up a ready meal from one of the motorway services but the SatNav found a quicker route which meant we bypassed all of them. Back in our home town, much later than planned we purchased a Chinese Takeaway meal from Sainsbury’s, which, after unpacking our cases, we enjoyed with a refreshing glass of wine.

Raby Castle was built in the 14th century by the Nevill family. It was home to Cecily Nevill, mother of two kings of England, it was also the scene of the plotting of the Rising of the North and a Parliamentary stronghold during the Civil War.

Originally moated and accessed via a drawbridge, the Castle was built as a palace fortress. It is characterised by a sequence of massive towers linked by curtain walls. It’s completeness is of national significance as a largely single-phase structure, with one twelfth century survival (Bulmer’s Tower).

The Nevills, responsible for building the 14th century Castle which still stands today, continued to live at Raby until 1569 when, after the failure of the Rising of the North, the Castle and its lands were forfeited to the Crown. The 6th Earl of Westmorland was the last of the Nevills to live at Raby Castle.

He fled from Raby in 1569 after The Rising of the North and died in exile in Holland in 1601.

In 1626, Sir Henry Vane the Elder, Member of Parliament and important member of Charles I’s household, purchased Raby from the Crown. The Vane family still own Raby, the present owner being the 12th Lord Barnard.