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.

Mr C took part in a webinar on Sunday morning so I spent my time colouring a page in one of Johanna Basford’s books. I started colouring the picture a couple of weeks ago and was keen to finish it before my colouring ideas faded into memory.

The webinar finished on time which meant that after Mr C’s late lunch we were able to go out for the afternoon as planned. Mr C suggested Hodnet Hall which was a perfect choice, it is local and open till 5pm. On arrival, the teashop was calling and on entering I was tempted to a slice of Elderflower and Gooseberry cake. Alas, Mr C, after his late lunch was in a sharing mood rather than a cake of his own!

Following our refreshments and cake sharing I decided that we should walk to the kitchen garden rather than a lake walk. I thought the garden would be full of flowers at this time of year. I wasn’t disappointed the kitchen garden was spectacular.

PS: I will photograph my colouring creation to share with you soon.

We arrived in time for lunch and we both ordered smoked mackerel pate.  It being a sunny bank holiday sunday we had to wait longer than usual for our lunch to arrive which meant that I forgot to take a foody photo when it arrived.

We explored different parts of the garden than we had on our previous sunday visit. It was a joy to see the spring flowers in bloom.

The sun had got its hat on so it would have been rude not to go out for lunch.

Hodnet Hall provides lovely lunches and cakes, a perfect choice. The gardens are lovely at this time of year with colourful blooms in flower and bluebells along the pathway.

Lunch and a sunny garden walk what more could I ask for…

Nisargadatta Maharaj

Robert Frost

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.