Sharon visited the beautiful gardens of Castle Kennedy, near Stranraer, at the weekend. There were snowdrops everywhere.
But for Sharon the highlight of the visit was the welcome she received from Diva, the black Labrador. After being greeted with a smile by Jim at the entrance Sharon moved on into the little area where plants are sold. Dozing in the sunshine was Diva. But, you know Labradors, they can't resist a friendly face and soon the tail was banging on the ground. After a few moments, Diva got up and came over to the wheelchair for a proper greeting and a good pat. Sharon and Diva got along famously, smiling at each other and obviously agreeing that life was pretty good. It is not surprising that dogs are welcome at Castle Kennedy.
The weather was kind and Sharon really enjoyed her visit to the gardens. They cover some 75 acres and are amongst the finest in the country. The warm climate of Galloway allows exotic species to flourish and everyone is expecting an outstanding show as spring and summer arrive. The snowdrops are just the start of things. There are two Castles, the old Kennedy Castle which burned down in the early 18th century and Lochinch Castle, home of the Earl of Stair (not open to the public).
Many people enjoy visiting places like this and then finishing off with a visit to the tearoom. Not Sharon. She started with the tearoom. There she met friendly Fiona, with her tempting home made treats. On display were: apple tart, toffee crispy (“very popular”), iced chocolate cake, iced orange sponge, iced coffee cake, carrot sponge with soft cheese icing and walnuts, ginger and fruit cake, empire biscuits, shortbread, rock buns, plain scones, fruit scones and two savoury quiches. Sharon opted for a scone with butter and blackberry jam and a coffee.
She was delighted to hear that Mr D'Arcy will be coming to Castle Kennedy in August, when there will be an outdoor production of Pride and Prejudice, on August 10. Sleeping Beauty will be staged on 24 July. A Teddy Bears' Picnic will provide fun for the children on 19 June.
There are full facilities for the disabled at the gardens, including toilets, ramps and parking. A wheelchair is available for loan. The grassed areas near the entrance are no problem when dry and the beautiful walled garden near the entrance is ideal for wheelchairs. There are long walks for the energetic wheelchair pusher but, obviously, not everywhere is accessible in such a large and varied area. A road encircles the beautiful Black Loch with plenty of places to stop and admire the views.
The gardens are currently open at weekends but are open from 10am to 5pm from April 1 until the end of September. Check exact details at the website: www.castlekennedygardens.co.uk. At present only events for 2009 are listed on the site but, no doubt, it is being updated. Admission charges apply.
www.sharonskitchenworld.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment