
Each day I try to take some exercise and today I set off on my faithful bicycle down the hill away from the Castle with 6 of the dogs more or less near me. We go carefully as cars are coming up, arriving for work. We coast past a group of cottages, where James the Farm Manager lives and then past Don in his Gardener’s Cottage, I then whizz past the old farmyard where the dairy herd used to reside and turn the sharp corner by the Gothic Cemetery Chapel, checking behind me that I am still accompanied by the dogs. Half a mile later I turn down a muddy track and cycle part of the way before leaving the bike to walk down to Red Pools where the Labradors jump in to swim and chase each other whilst the Spaniels enthusiastically patrol the muddy edge. It is a wonderful sight and all other troubles are forgotten. The return part of my exercise is past the cricket field and then back along the top drive which has the long distant views of the Castle, I love to stop and observe its extraordinary setting never tiring of it, “Downton Abbey” have used this view across the Park for several scenes already. Bicycling up the main drive is always harder than it looks and I am pleased I make it through the black gates but sadly with 5 dogs as one Labrador has sloped off to inspect picnic bins for left over sandwiches! Deaf to all entreaties I carry on with the ones I have before I lose them too. I then return with my husband, who is most unimpressed with my dog handling skills, to comb the picnic area. Eventually we find the much loved and wholly unrepentant Labrador. Visitors are starting to arrive and I disappear to change my muddy clothes.
What a lovely blog. I am with Holiday Vacations and am brining a very nice group of 21 guests to visit Highclere next week on Aug 28. Can’t wait to see and share your lovely home with my tour guests.
Downton Abbey Season 4
Can’t wait for the new season of dowton abbey, so many juicy tidbits and the addition of Paul Giamatti will turn this show upside down.
Downton Abbey Season 4 is a show that takes place in 1912 during the sinking of the Titanic. Set on an Edwardian country house in Downton Abbey Season 4, life is idyllic and busting for a family called the Crawley’s.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for an interesting blog!
I love English castles
Highclere Castle is beautiful. Is there are ghosts?
Kasia in Poland
You should get a black and tan English shepherd, best dog I ever had.
A friend had a dog that was 1/2 German shepherd,1/4 Alaskan Malamute and 1/4 wolf. He came to visit with his dog trailing. I opened the door and my dog shot out for his larger dog’s throat. The 2 dogs had never met before and it was natural instinct. I was able to call him back verbally and he minded instantly. My friend’s dog grumbled at the unexpected attack but they didn’t fight.
A car broke his back leg once and I found him laying in a cool stream and carried him home. Smart dog.
Hi
I stumbled across your blog and will be following with interest!
May I ask, are your spaniels working cockers, or the Field spaniel? If they are the latter, I’m sure the Field Spaniel Society would be keen to hear from you 🙂 any help to promote our breed (on the Kennel Club’s British vulnerable breeds list!) would be much appreciated.
L
They are working cocker spaniels, very optimistic about life and quite enchanting!
Thank you for sharing your life with us. It seems so normal (other than the visitors starting to arrive part). I can visualize the dogs running and romping and wagging their tails back into your good graces.
What could be more enjoyable than to see beloved dogs having an absolute ball with their owners? My idea of total bliss! This makes me love the Carnarvon family even more. 🙂
Last night we watched the first episode of Season 4 of Downton Abbey in New Zealand so I am once again back amid the lives of the Crawley family.
This is such a refreshing blog telling us of life as you live it at Highclere.
I’ve visited Chatsworth so I can imagine the organisation required to open part of your home, gardens and farm to the public.
I know I wouldn’t like to have lots of people I didn’t know just wandering about my house and garden, but doing it as a business for the upkeep is quite another thing. I would love to visit next time we are in England.
Loved your morning exercise with the dogs in tow – labs are such naughty scavengers – anything for a piece of food!!
A great blog – thank you.
Shane
It is a great part of the day
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I love your blog because it gives this American girl a glimpse of your day to day activities. as well as I love castles and anything British, it does not get more British then a real Lord and Lady.
Thank you so much !