Biddulph Grange

The clear sunny days have finally come to an end.  But although there was a shower at about the time we were getting up, and another mid morning, it’s been a much better day than forecast.  We thought that with access to the car we should go somewhere we needed to drive to, so chose the National Trust garden, Biddulph Grange, which is between Stoke and Congleton.  It’s a spectacular place — a series of small gardens with linking paths, and you never know quite what’s round the corner.  The house is privately owned apartments.

Nothing is quite what it seems.  Cheshire Cottage is actually a maze of tunnels, one of which leads to the Egyptian garden.

The highlight is undoubtedly the Chinese Garden, which is hidden right in the middle of the scheme.

There is also the most extensive stumpery you’re ever likely to see.

At the end of one long walkway, is the largest stone urn in the UK.

After a good explore, we had lunch in the cafe.  We thought we’d come a different way back, so head up the hill towards Mow Cop.  There was a fantastic viewpoint from where you could see Manchester in one direction and Beeston Castle in the other.  Then we went down to Scholar Green and had a walk along the Macclesfield Canal, by the Ramsdell Hall Railings.  The levels look fine, now they’ve found a way to bring water past the breach site.  Finally after the disappointment of not getting a Snugbury’s ice cream at Nantwich yesterday, we found they have a place near Congleton, so we went and had one there instead.