There are so many places to visit in Guildford, we’re still discovering spots we’ve not seen before a decade after relocating from London! We’re pretty spoiled in the area though what with commons, woodland, gardens, parks and nature reserves. Here are just some of the places you should visit in Guildford and the nearby area in 2021.
Continue Reading…We’re lucky there’s no shortage of places to visit in Surrey. One of those is the grade I listed Painshill Park – a magical wonderland perfect for stimulating the senses. It’s home to a magnificent collection of follies, including an extraordinary stalactite Grotto, and it’s a great place to unwind.
You can feel that sense of calm almost immediately as the lake is just a short walk from the entrance of this landscaped garden. Much to POD’s delight it’s alive with wildlife including ducks, swans and birds. Even in Winter the vineyard looks pretty special although I do love the sight of the red veined leaves and the grapes when they arrive.
Being outdoors and breathing in that fresh country air does wonders for blowing away those cobwebs. POD had a little bread for the ducks, much to the delight of the local swans that followed us for a short time.
There’s something rather splendid about Painshill. It’s not just those mystical follies either, the landscape is just exquisite. We’d arrived early in the morning just after the mist was beginning to lift. If it wasn’t for POD, you’d barely be able to hear a pin drop.
Painshill Park is set in 158 acres so there really is something for everyone. Although we’ve visited many times, it was great on this occasion just to amble around the lake checking out the ruined abbey, crystal grotto, turkish tent, five arch bridge and gothic temple as we went. Along with a couple of fishermen – one of whom was having a cheeky doze in his tent!
Watching the wildlife really was a highlight, it was almost as if they had the whole of Painshill Park to themselves.
The crystal grotto is the latest 18th century folly to be restored by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It re-opened last year and we’ve been to see it a few times – even meeting Father Christmas there last year. It’s only open at specific times but well worth a visit, it really is incredible inside.
The brilliance of Painshill Park is down to the artistic vision of the Honourable Charles Hamilton. He wanted a tranquil landscape setting enriched with follies, water, trees, shrubberies and a vineyard. That’s what makes it a great place for a wander, even if it is the middle of Winter.
Linking up with #whatsthestory here on PODcast.
Last weekend we headed over to Painshill Park for the Elmbridge Food Festival. Local food and drink produce was on offer including artisan bakers and wine producers. We were sold when we “Bratwurst” so Bratwurst it was, washed down with a tasty juice. Having taken in the atmosphere, the music and the sunshine, we headed towards the Serpentine Lake for a wander.
Spanning some 150 acres, there are numerous follies to discover at Painshill Park including an incredible crystal grotto. POD adored seeing Santa there last Christmas, it was such a magical experience for her.
Passing the vines, which are always so rich in colour at this time of year, we got to enjoy wildlife around the lake. Several dragonflies could be seen darting round at great speed and I even spotted a frog. Bull rushes lined the pathway and sun glimmered on the water – it was simply glorious.
POD loved exploring and took it upon herself to climb everything in sight. From part of a wall (check out that cheeky smile!)
to a giant hollow tree!
There was also lots of fun to be had by the Serpentine Lake. POD watched the swans,
ran around (she’s kind of strutting here but you get the idea!)
and asking the ducks if they wanted to go in the water. They all obliged!
The views at Painshill Park are simply fabulous. Although we had a shorter walk than usually do we got to take in some follies,
watch a mongoose looking for food
and collect yellow leaves.
Although the crystal grotto was closed for the event, it is still the most incredible folly, even from the outside. We’re itching to go back inside again, it’s amazing.
It wouldn’t be a family walk without a bit of silliness so we squeezed in a bit of that before grabbing a well deserved ice-cream for the journey home. There’s really is nothing better than blowing away those cobwebs especially on a surprisingly hot Autumn day.
Linking up with #whatsthestory here on PODcast and #CountryKids at Coombe Mill.
Welcome to our review of 2013 – a look back at the highlights of the year in pictures.
January
This month saw the launch of Paloma, our marketing and new business consultancy, with the view to achieving a better work/life balance. PODcast grappling with a box of frogs was also born. POD touched snow for the first time. She also made a return to swimming after a year’s absence although it was short lived!
February
The Doves’ quest to explore what Surrey had to offer kicked off with Bocketts Farm, Birdworld and the Hunt for Big Billy. The photograph below was taken at Butterflies in the Glasshouse at RHS Wisley.
POD caught chicken pox in February but she did get to see Ben & Holly Live once she improved. It was her first theatre visit and she loved it.
February also saw Team Honk do #goodwork when they created something epic for Comic Relief’s 25th anniversary. Annie from Mammasaurus, Tanya from Mummy Barrow and Penny from Alexander Residence went to Ghana with Jonathan Ross and Davina McCall. They sent digital postcards from the places they visited and created pure magic when the entire blogging community got behind them.
March
In March we visited the Silent Pool – thought to be where Agatha Christie drowned in 1926 after her car was discovered at nearby Newlands Corner. We also saw the 900 year old ruins of Waverley Abbey and Godstone Farm where POD stroked a rabbit for the first time.
April
April saw POD caught dancing on video (just adorable!) and learning the alphabet while emptying a fruit and veg basket. She also enjoyed an adventure in the forest and pouring water on herself in the garden.
May
This was the month POD ran free at Newlands Corner, saw fairies in a bluebell wood and visited a secret garden. She sat in a puddle at Box Hill, licked her first lolly and blew her first dandelion clock.
She also received her belated Christmas Day birthday present – family members clubbed together to give her a surprise playhouse.
June
June was the month I got my maxi dress stuck in an escalator! POD had her first haircut and we saw pigs, goats and ice-cream at the Surrey County Fair.
The main event in June was BritMums Live. It was inspiring, educational, emotional and fun – I met so many awesome people too. Lots of images stick in my mind but this one is especially poignant.
July
We spent a lot of time enjoying the sun in July. It was the time for covering a wriggling toddler in suncream and keeping cool. We also explored Stoke Park and the wonderful Loseley Park for the first time. And returned to RHS Wisley.
I took a lot of photographs of bees…!
The What’s The Story? blog hop launched in July – created so everyone could share the stories behind their photographs. It’s been incredible so thank you to everyone that’s shared posts over these past months.
August
August is always a busy month for us with birthday celebrations and the like. We spent a lot of time in the garden.
September
After such a great Summer, September was the time to reflect on how fast our toddler was growing. She shot up about a foot!
It was also the month POD was Christened – certainly a day to remember. She looked like a little fairy.
POD also attended her first wedding – another excuse to wear a beautiful dress. Not ideal event in the midst of potty training but we weren’t to know she’d shout “Mummy I need a poo” in the the best man’s speech.
October
We started our quest for those Autumnal hues at Winkworth Arboretum, returning just a few weeks later! Another National Trust property we saw for the first time was Claremont – described as a place where the views always change, the water sparkles and the secret glades wait.
Polesden Lacey is another National Trust gem. It’s a beautiful country estate that was owned by a well-known hostess for her to entertain royalty, politicians and the best of Edwardian society.
Forest fun at Alice Holt is another favourite and provided great entertainment for POD. Cared for by the Forestry Commission, it offers walking, cycling trails and play areas. It’s home to Go Ape.
Autumn at RHS Wisley saw us enjoy an eye spy game that used all the senses. At the end of the month we threw ourselves into crafting with a spot of Halloween fun.
November
In November we joined 17,000 others for a magnificent firework display at Stoke Park.
We visited the follies of Painshill Park for the first time too – the highlight being the crystal grotto. Hundreds of thousands of crystals including calcite, gypsum, quartz and fluorite have been used to re-create an extraordinary folly.
Autumn was fabulous this year – perhaps because we saw it through a toddler’s eyes. This Autumnal round-up post showcases a collection of photographs from some of the places we explored. We also visited The Savill Garden at the end of November and spotted this beauty.
November also saw me win my first photography award thanks to Loseley Park and Surrey Life.
December
We took the chunnel to Bruges in the early part of the month. It’s a beautiful city full of medieval buildings and cobbled streets. Not to mention a Christmas market where we sampled Bratwurst and Glühwein.
Whilst there we were able to take in the Snow & Ice Sculpture Festival which was designed to celebrate Disney’s movie Frozen.
In the UK, we had a lot fun with the Children’s Trail The Twelve Days of Christmas at Claremont. Especially in their Ha-Ha!
POD was born on Christmas Day 2010 so the Christmas Tree going up always evokes memories of that time.
This year POD got to meet Father Christmas in a crystal grotto. She asked for a scooter and a blue balloon.
She got to enjoy mucking around in puddles and with trees before her big day which she shares with some interesting characters!
That’s it folks. I hope you’ve enjoyed looking back on 2013 as much as we have. Here’s to 2014 being even better – Happy New Year everyone!
The signs of Autumn were first evident on a woodland walk in the Surrey Hills. The ground was damp underfoot and the change in season could be smelt in the air. Trees displayed lush green leaves and perfectly formed fungi clung to the trunks.
POD was ecstatic at the first sight of muddy puddles and took great delight in jumping in all those we saw.
There’s nothing better than seeing Autumn through a toddler’s eyes. Everywhere we’ve explored has provided POD with the opportunity to see, hear, touch and smell her surroundings. She’s taken everything in her stride and loved it.
The expression on POD’s face when she saw conkers for the first time was one of joy and utter excitement. She was fascinated by those shiny gems that are encased in spikey shells and fall from the trees. Over these past weeks, she’s collected sticks, acorns and pine cones. She’s climbed wet logs and she’s examined moss.
POD’s taken to kicking leaves with aplomb and she’s treasured her favourites. She’s seen the change in leaves from green to hues of red, orange and gold.
We’ve been lucky to see some incredible Autumn sights during the last month or so. Taking the time out to appreciate this season really does make you appreciate how wonderful mother nature is.
Moving to Surrey in 2010 after nearly two decades in London was the best thing we ever did. We’ve discovered some absolute gems since we arrived and we’re continually exploring new places that offer different experiences.
Painshill Park is described as England’s most elegant 18th century landscape garden – a magical wonderland with hidden surprises. Located in Cobham, it’s Grade 1 listed and has been awarded the rare Europa Nostra Medal for its exemplary restoration.
Painshill Park was created by the Honourable Charles Hamilton who wanted a romantic landscape to stimulate 
the senses and emotions of visitors. He certainly achieved that.
The dramatic slopes of the vineyard can be seen with the lake below. The trees of Fir Walk provide a frame to views as far as the North Downs taking in Chatley Heath and its semaphore tower.
A Gothic Temple is one of Hamilton’s great surprises with narrowed openings of pillared arches framing a living painting. From inside the landscape falls away dramatically offering spectacular views of the Serpentine Lake. Even POD seemed in awe of it, surprising perhaps given she’s not yet three.
There’s also a zig-zag path that leads from the Gothic Temple downhill to the Chinese bridge peninsula. At the other end of the lake the land rises where there are glimpses of the Hermitage, Temple of Bacchus and Turkish Tent.
POD had a brief nap while I took in the Ruined Abbey which is built of brick but rendered to look like stone. Situated on the edge of the lake and with the sun shining brightly, it was a wonderfully calm place to be. My thoughts were disrupted by a swan flying at speed then coming to rest on the lake.
We came across many ducks, some of which were quite unusual, as we headed towards the 
Chinese Bridge. POD said “hello duck” to the majority of them. The surroundings really were quite beautiful, imagine a sunlit lake surrounded by old trees and Autumnal colours.
Also at Painshill Park is a restored Waterwheel, the largest working wheel in the UK, a Hermitage and a Gothic Tower. We saved these for our next visit as we spent too much time in the Crystal Grotto (restricted opening times apply). You can read The follies of Painshill Park: Part Two here.
It’s one of the main attractions at Painshill and the latest historic folly to be restored. Hundreds of thousands of crystals including calcite, gypsum, quartz and fluorite have been used to re-create this extraordinary folly.
The surrounding area almost takes your breath away, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before. With a small entrance POD was apprehensive at first but once in and her eyes adapted to the light she loved it.
Stalactites hung from the ceiling and the walls sparkled with crystals. It’s said on a still day ‘nature’s mirror’ can be seen inside the crystal grotto. There were beautiful reflections that’s for sure. As you’re not permitted to touch the grotto crystals, the volunteers had loose ones available which could be held. POD’s offer to look after them was politely declined.
Painshill Park is like a magical wonderland. The excitement on POD’s face in the crystal grotto was something else. I can’t imagine what she’ll be like when we visit Santa there!
We’re linking this post up with Country Kids at Coombe Mill and How Does Your Garden Grow? at Mammasaurus.
