POWIS CASTLE AND GARDENS
HOW DO YOU get two whales in a mini? Go along the M5 and turn left! The magnificent Powis Castle is a real treat. It has been the home of the same family for almost 400 years, and boasts wonderful Italianate gardens and an extraordinary collection of Indian memorabilia dating from the time the Herbert family married into the Clive family, and had access to Robert Clive’s Indian heritage. There is so much to see here – Gainsboroughs in the drawing room, maharajahs’ treasures in the museum and plants for sale…
THE PICNIC
Broad Bean, Ham and Feta Salad
Overlooking the Severn valley, this medieval fortress sits high above the town, master of all it surveys. Its 17th-century terraced garden is the nearest thing to an Italian renaissance garden in the UK, and add to that a woodland wilderness, beautifully designed parkland, a kitchen garden, flower garden, some of the finest clipped yews anywhere, an orangery, terraces, fountains and a great collection of statuary and sculpture.
We are never quite sure where to begin – house or garden – because there is always something we want to remind ourselves of, or missed on the last visit. What we do find really useful though is the special children’s quiz and trail, as both act as a gentle reminder of what is there, providing elements of the castle’s history, its plants and statues. The girls think it very amusing to see their parents trying to answer the questions or forgetting the easiest of answers. However, we always make sure of a return visit to the Clive Museum which is housed in part of what used to be the ballroom, and we always wish we had brushed up on or learnt about Indian history in the days before our visit. And while I like looking at all the military accoutrements including the chain mail armour and the elephant goad, the girls prefer the silver (they are developing extravagant tastes at an early age) – the rosewater sprinklers and the jewelled objects always catch the eye.
The Picnic Site
The designated picnic area overlooking the Italian and French-inspired herbaceous borders is difficult to beat.
CHEAT’S PICNIC
The restaurant at Powis Castle is worth a visit, not only for its delicious dishes made from locally produced ingredients, but also because it has won the National Trust’s top award for quality and service.
ALSO IN THE AREA
• Chirk Castle, Wrexham – a magnificent 14th-century fortress overlooking the Marches.
• Old Oswestry Hill Fort – an Iron Age fort with really elaborate defences, which provides amazing views across the countryside for miles and miles.
• Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury – an elegant Regency manor with deer park and great walks.
• Erddig, near Wrexham – a fine 18th-century country house which shows how the servants as well as the family lived. Beautiful parkland with carriage rides available, and demonstrations of restored historic machinery.
• Benthall Hall and Church, near Ironbridge – a 16th-century country house and chapel.
• Ironbridge, Telford – a World Heritage Site where the world’s first ever cast-iron bridge was built over the Severn. Visit the museums and foundries.