Ickworth

I drove to National Trust Ickworth this morning. The drive to Bury St Edmunds was good, then it got tricky to Ickworth with lots of roadworks and negligible signage. I arrived just before it opened and headed for the main house for a cuppa before my free house tour. I couldn’t find the cafe until it was too late, so went straight to the tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and it was very interesting. Then I went round the rest of the house. I thought it was a bit bizarre, the main rotunda has rooms with extremely high ceilings, then there are long wings on either side which were largely created to impress rather than serve a good function. The East Wing is now a hotel. It’s impressive, but it felt a bit soulless. I’m not sure I saw all rooms as it’s a complicated building to find your way around. After a cuppa I then headed off for the walled garden, which wasn’t what I expected from a walled garden - so much more could be made of the site which was right by a lovely river. It was largely a picnic area. I had a look round the church and then decided to head home. If I were local I think the parkland as a whole would be delightful to explore. My satnav thankfully took me out without going back through Bury St Edmunds. The first hour was on roads through forests, quite delightful on a nice sunny day. I got some groceries and petrol and got back and unpacked. A delightful three days away. I've added a collage in extras of the church and a nice small section of wild flowers in the walled gardens.