Day 299 - October 26th

Today was my birthday. After opening cards and presents we headed to Felbrigg Hall a National Trust property with house, gardens and woodlands.

The hall at Felbrigg you see today was built in stages, beginning in Tudor times, and completed centuries later. Before its bequest to the National Trust in 1969, the estate was owned by three main families who all left their mark on Felbrigg.

We started our visit with a walk in the walled garden.

Crocus in October?

Within the garden is one of the few octagonal working dovecotes in the country, dating back to the early 1750s and quite a few doves were in residence when we peeped inside.

There were also chickens free ranging in the garden.

After our walk in the garden, we ventured into the hall. The hall at Felbrigg is partially open to the public and when it was gifted to the trust the previous owner also unusually gifted it's entire contents and it is one of the trusts largest collections.

Unfortunately, in the bedrooms much of the furniture was under dust covers to protect it.

Downstairs in the kitchen there was the most amazing display of harvest produce much of which had been gathered from the kitchen gardens.

There were several of these 'Turban Squash' on display. I've never seen anything like them before

After a quick bite to eat in the cafe, we then took a walk through the woodlands which were looking very autumnal with plenty of fungi to spot.

I really enjoyed out visit and the opportunity to take some photos and it was a good way to spend a birthday.

After our visit we had a very brief walk on Winterton beach. Die to the erosion of the cliffs, access to the beach is now through the dunes.