Blickling Estate

walking around the lake

Blickling Estate

Van-Man walked the large Lurcher on the hill and returned for breakfast as rain began to fall. The rain soon passed over so we drove to Blickling Estate. As it was National Trust Van-Man was confident he could park Sally-Van.

We decided to walk around the lake as dogs were not allowed in the formal gardens or the house. When there was nobody around Van-Man let Lottie off the lead and she trotted down to the lake.

Blickling House across the lake

The imposing residence

“This sign says no dogs in the lake,” I cried, as Lottie sat down n the cool water. She wouldn’t come out when Van-Man called her, but lapped up the water slowly as if saying

“No hurry, I’m just having a drink.” I don’t see what damage she could have caused by having a quiet paddle but we got her on the lead before any walkers spotted our crime. The lake was soon fenced off from canine trespassers so Lottie had a few more minutes of exploration off the lead. As we walked on every gate had a sign saying keep dogs on leads so Lottie was fortunate to have her five minutes of freedom.

the Tower

looking back across the field to the tower

On the far side of the lake we overtook a couple of ladies with five assorted children. The large Lurcher’s peace was disturbed by two noisy children constantly overtaking us, hiding and jumping out. From her superior expression I felt she only tolerates that sort of behaviour from our Cornish grandchildren.

the mausoleum

“I prefer Felbrigg,” Van-Man said as we passed the formal gardens. Back at Sally-Van we had a leisurely lunch. Afterwards we looked at the Blickling Estate map and decided to drive to a car park on the far side as it seemed better for walkers, and neither of us felt like taking it in turns to walk round the formal gardens and house while the other dog sat.

We walked to the tower with Lottie trotting ahead along a wooded trail. After looking around the outside of the tower we walked across the fields towards the mausoleum as there were no cattle in sight. We only met one couple walking; otherwise we had the whole estate to ourselves until we reached the cycle track where two weary cyclists were resting.

through the woods ...

By then it had grown hot but the walk to the mausoleum was in shady woodland. After the mausoleum we carried on through the woods and followed a track along the edge of the field back to Sally-Van. The large Lurcher lay down in the van straight away thus declaring herself satisfied with the afternoons exercise. She didn’t move when Van-Man stopped to fill with diesel and slept all evening after wolfing down her food.

and along the edge of the field