While we are still in the UK, we decided a visit with Carol and Tim was in order! We rented a car for the weekend and set off under glorious sunny skies towards Newent in Gloucestershire, about a three-hour drive. Except, we got a bit distracted and it took us over six hours!
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| Our rental car - ideal for two adults and two below-the-hip double amputees |
And just what was there to distract us, you ask? Well, meandering laneways, viewpoints and castles. Lots of castles! Most we simply drove by and had a look from the outside (see our post Welsh Castles), but when we arrived at Tretower Court and Castle, we decided it was worth checking out more closely. And being able to use our English Heritage membership was a win.
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Not just a ruin, but a "fitted out" castle this time! What will we find?!?
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| All the signage is in both national languages |
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| The layout of the Tretower Court and Castle |
You visit Tretower in reverse-cronological order (newest to oldest), entering through the gates into a courtyard that was built by the Vaughan family. You then go into a kitchen area of an older court building, then into some newer accommodations, then out the back to the original ward and castle area.
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| The kitchen |
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| Another of the food preparation areas. Even though this has a butter churn, it is not the buttery. |
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This is the buttery, so named NOT because butter is stored here.
It contains butts (small barrels) of beer! |
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| Into the great room, all set up for guests! |
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The great room was set as it would have been in the 1500's for guests
Crockery, drinking vessels, tapestries on the walls for warmth and decoration,
... even leek-and-potato soup in the bowls! |
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| Out behind the court, we make our way through the graveyard to the old fortifications |
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| The tower itself looks impressive, but unlike the court it wasn't restored inside |
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| Reeking of historical authenticity, but they left us wanting more detail ... |
We eventually made it to Tim and Carol's place near Newent.
They are slowly backing out of their greenhouse and "green rooftop" business (sedum is grown to place on roofs due to its hardiness) in order to spend more time sailing and travelling. However, exiting an endeavour such as this, you cannot just lock up at the end of a workday and walk away. A proper handoff to the new owners is in progress.
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| Dormant raspberry canes in the greenhouses - imagine when they are in fruit! |
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| Taking a stroll through Tim and Carol's property to the 'green rooftop tray' growing area |
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| All that Welsh rain does have a way of greening things up |
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| The walking path led us across a planted field ... |
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| ... and through more hedgerow-ed pastures - with moles! |
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The sedum is grown in the trays that are placed on the roof,
suitable for a green roof fit-out anywhere in the UK |
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| The sedum grows for about a year before it is lifted for use |
We are now back aboard Chinook after a wonderful outing and were loaned a HUGE number of charts and pilots to use when we make our way north through the Irish Sea and the Scottish west coast. These are going to be soooo helpful and enticing.
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| Some of our navigational loot |
Thanks Tim and Carol, it was great to see you.
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