An autumnal wander at Belton

After a pretty dismal and completely non-inspiring stop at a motorway services on our trip to West Sussex I was pleased when MOH suggested a detour to the Belton Estate on our return trip. While we stopped earlier on the journey back, we just took a quick break and avoided repeating the previous McAwful experience (something that tasted bland, yet was overly peppery at the same time!), and let’s face it a National Trust cheese scone, pot of tea and a slice of cake would always be a much more preferable option.

Plus we got the chance to properly stretch our legs, the sun was out and it was too good an opportunity to waste. And if I was lucky I’d be able to have a nose around the orangery and see how that had changed since my last visit, and see how it was faring in a different season.

Unfortunately my luck was out, as the orangery was closed for the day - ah well, as Belton is just thirty minutes from home it gives me the perfect excuse to head back another day, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Of course, that didn’t stop me peering into through the glass though as you can see taking photos was pretty futile - though I kind of like the effect, but only for a photo or two!

All was not lost though as Belton still has plenty of beautiful gardens (and a large estate) to explore, but we were only here for a short journey-breaker this time, so treated ourselves to a wander around the area at the back of the orangery where the roses grow up the walls, and there’s medlar trees in the quadrants.

It’s also an area of the gardens which have some intricate topiary designs, which you know I’m also keen on.

It’s probably a part of the garden I overlook in my keenness to check out the orangery, so that being closed for the day was really no bad thing. Next time I’ll be sure to head for this bench so I can admire the exterior of the orangery as much as the inside!

With the orangery and the small walled garden behind it checked out, we headed to a golden tree which had caught our eye as soon as we entered the garden with its leaves appearing to burn against the bluest of skies.

The leaves seemed to ‘burn brighter’ the closer we got to the tree.

Isn’t it gorgeous?

Google tells me this is a tulip tree and with the, what I presume are, flower heads it’s easy to believe this suggestion. Looking again, it tells me that the tulip tree is part of the magnolia family and again I can see the likeness with the bud/flower head. Either way, it’s a beautiful tree and such a beautiful colour - there wasn’t a tree around it that had the same vibrancy.

There really isn’t anywhere better to wander on a bright autumnal day - let’s hope there’s more days like this to come.

In the Orangery at Belton House

The Orangery is the centre piece of the Italian garden at Belton House. It’s built using cast iron and glass and is faced in local Ancaster Stone, and was the first iron and glass domestic conservatory ever built - and it was so extraordinary that the drawings were exhibited at the Royal Academy’s 43rd exhibition in 1811. And on top of that it’s a fantastic looking building that’s a favourite part of Belton for me.

We first visited Belton last August when we were staying at the lodge at Easton Gardens. We’re back in Lincolnshire for a few days staying in one of the villages just north of Grantham, so couldn’t resist a visit while we were here. After refuelling at the cafe, the orangery was next on my list, and I wasn’t disappointed.

I’d looked at my photos from our first visit recently, and I’m not sure why I hadn’t shared them here. Maybe I’ll do a ‘compare and contrast’ post for the differences between an August and March visit at some point, but in the meantime here’s some of the photos from our most recent visit.

I hadn’t remembered there being so many statues, but this time that’s what caught my eye. There was also more colour than I remembered and the plant below is one that I’ll be getting my plant app out on. It’s definitely got rhubarb and custard vibes.

I think we’ll have a few more visits to Belton House, there’s much more of the park to explore than we’ve scratched the surface of yet. I’m also keen to get another look in the house, especially as things start to return to more normal times, our first visit was during Covid, and I’m sure that, understandably, the rooms and collections available to view were reduced.