A Visit to Highclere Castle - Again!!!

It is a rare treat to get to visit Highclere Castle once - the castle is only open for about 60 days a year and tickets sell out within hours.  But to get the opportunity to visit this stunning house a second time - well that is an amazing stroke of good fortune!!  When friends offered a ticket to me - I couldn't pass it up!!

Our journey started at Paddington Train station in London.

We travelled by train from London to Newbury station -

And took cabs from Newbury train station to

Highclere Castle!!!

This castle wows me - that is about the best way I can say it!  Charles Barry designed this beauty - check out the Parliament Building or Cliveden - both of his creations.

And we were in LUCK!!

We had time to have a quick lunch, shop the gift shop and walk the immense grounds before our timed tickets to the castle.  The grounds are amazing!  The castle is surrounded by acres and acres of lawns and pastures for sheep.  In the distance I could hear the sheep bleating (sheep bleat, don't they?  I know they don't quack!)

This is one of the follies you can see from the castle.  A folly is described as 'a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin build in a large garden or park for decoration.'  Yup - that about sums it up!!!

We all took lots and lots and lots of pictures!!!

We had time to get up close and personal to the castle. From lichen growing on the stone to the sassy wolf to the Tudor rose and Fleur de lis - the detail is fabulous!

  And then it was time to go in!!!

None of these folks showed up to welcome us in - what is up with that???!!

This dining room should be familiar to fans of Downton Abbey.  It is used for dinners as well as breakfast scenes. The picture of Charles I is as imposing as it looks!!  

This is my favorite room - what is called the saloon.  It is just beautiful!!  This room lends itself well to wedding receptions, music recitals and anything else you can think of.  This is where you would find me - enjoying the comfort of those chairs with a fire in the hearth and someone serving me tea!  

And all too soon it was time to go.

But not without one last picture of all of us together!

One last glimpse at this magical castle

We re-trace our steps back to the train station for the train ride back to London.  We have time to sit and reminisce about the wonderful day shared with friends.  And really - isn't that what it is all about - time spent with friends growing relationships.  

Priceless!!!