Visiting Castle Howard - Part 2

There were more disappointments until we found the highlight of the day (the picture above). After the house tour, we took a walk in the woodland. The woodland wasn't designed well and the monuments there were poor. Well, another disappointment. We kept walking and found a temple outside of the woodland. 

The temple was called Temple of Four Winds. According to the website, "The temple was originally used as a place for refreshment and reading, beneath it is a cellar where servants prepared the food they served to the family above." I think people would like to see the inside. No. The sign said, Keep off the steps. What a shame. The temple looked over the wide open landscape of the estate. Very plain. There was a stone bridge over there, but the pass was apparently closed.    

We walked back to the castle and passed through the boar garden. Yes, there was a statue of boar. That was it.

The land was massive, but there was nothing really interesting. 

We felt that we saw enough and it was time to leave there. On our way to the parking lot, I kept expressing a series of my disappointments. However, a miracle happened at the last.

   

We found a little entrance to the walled garden. We popped in there. We were happily surprised that a beautiful garden was hidden there! Late summer/early autumn flowers were blooming gorgeously. The garden was separated into several spaces. Each space had a different theme and color. I loved walking through the cute topiary gates set between the spaces. 

Small pumpkins and giant kales were growing in the vegetable garden. The walled garden was created in the early 18th century as kitchen garden. The garden is still used to grow seasonal vegetables as well as flowers.

The walled garden was amazing. It made me forget all complaints I was making. I was so glad that we didn't miss the garden. It clearly made our day meaningful.

 

We checked the farm shop at the entrance and came back home with a couple of sausages and beers, which became dinner of the day along with country bread from YO Bakehouse that we bought in Malton in the morning. J liked sausages. I liked the bread. It was a nice visit after all. The weather was lovely. I successfully checked the place off from my list finally.