April 6th – back to the beautiful Lakeside Meadow CMC CL site again just south of Ashbourne in the Dales, this time with Sue & Mark for a 3 night short break.

It was an excellent relaxing couple of days including board games and pub meals but we also felt obliged to keep up our going rate on National Trust houses so we took the van over to the nearby Kedleston Hall.

Built in the 1750s for Nathaniel Curzon family but the famous architect Robert Adams this is a building designed not as warm family home but instead a showpiece to demonstrate wealth to vistors, for hosting huge balls and lavish dinners. The entrance hall, resembling a hugh Roman Temple, was clearly intended to dazzle anyone arriving for some big event.

On our drive home we managed to visit one more NT site – this time Canons Ashby, not far from the M1 south of Daventry. This was completely different to the previous location, a tudor manor house built using the remains of a medieval priory, the house having survived largely unaltered since 1710. It is surrounded by unusual terraced gardens overlooking impressive parkland.