In May 2023 John and I visited a beautiful garden open for NGS, on a Sunday, in the tiny Hamlet of Farnbourgh. We had discovered Farnbourgh when the Honesty Cafe group opened a cafe in the Saddleback farmshop there. But sadly that is now closed. With no other cafes in the area, we have not been that way so much for a while.
BUT... looking in the NGS book earlier this year, I noticed that the Old Rectory Garden, as well as a couple of Sunday openings, was opening on a couple of WEDNESDAYs this year. Perfect. A garden with the all important coffee stop included. So I invited a group of my regular cycling buddies. And this group can also cope with a few undulations.. 😂
(Our original plan was to go in June. No need to prebook for this, but Rose got very excited and booked a ticket online back in February when I first mentioned it! Then John added an extra day to our holiday ending in Budapest, so I couldn't make the original date. Thankfully, everyone was happy to change to 30th July instead. The only issue was that Rose now had a ticket for the wrong date. 😖)
Route link screenshot at end
I planned the route to start from Yattendon, which I've never done before, but it gave us a good round trip of 33 miles, with the garden at 22 miles. The garden didnt open until 2pm, so no point setting off at our our usual time of around 9.45. Instead, we met at 10.45 parking at the public car park in Yattendon, then immediately going for a cuppa at The Pantry, just around the corner.... and use the loo before we set off.
(I didn't stop for any photos today entroute, unless we had all stopped anyway, since today was all about the garden visit. We passed so many pretty properties and views, but I have photographed them all before.)
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| The Pantry, Yattendon. A cuppa and loo stop before we set off. |
An easy start to our ride as we left Yattendon heading downhill on Chapel Lane, over the M4 , and past The Pot Kiln Pub at the sharp bend at the bottom of the hill. After immediately pulling over for a rather large tractor heading straight for us, a cheeky 14% climb up and over the top, and then a huge long downhill before we stopped to regroup with the Buckleberry Equestrian centre in view.
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| We emerged for a long woodland edged downhill to this big open view, with Bucklebury Equestrian Centre ahead. Amanda O who was well ahead had pulled over here so a chance to enjoy the view, as the others caught up. |
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| Soon, passing the ford, where 3 young riders went through, only to turn back again. |
We continued passed the ford (not across it today), and climbed to pass the impressive Marlston School. The climb continued before a long drop down under the railway bridge arriving in Hermitage. The next couple of miles to connect to Chievely is on busier roads, so we did this in 2 groups as we climbed over the M4 and also the A34.
All together again, but often in a natural split, we rode the quiet lanes, passing some pretty properties before the uphill into Peasemore. This is one of these places where you can arrive from about 5 different directions, all of which I have done, and EVERY TIME I am surprised to see the church on the wrong side of the road. 😂 Today it was definitely going to be on our right, but low and behold, a miracle. It had move again. 😅
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| Peasmore church .... on our left as we passed through. |
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| photo by Amanda O |
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| Jeanette, Amanda T, Rose, Gill. Amy, Anne and Louise. (photo by Amanda O) |
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The expected weather today was to be cloudy and dull, but look at the sky now. Perfect.This is opposite the church in Peasemore. Jeanette spotted an "OWL" on a post behind a house. (She's done this before.) Yes of course it's real. We asked 2 young lads out playing on their bikes if was real? They said no. It's been there for ages. |
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| The OWL on the post at Peasemore |
We left Peasemore now heading towards Leckhampstead, and following a nice descent, we crossed straight over the B4494 and into our next climb. Then passing through Leckhampstead Thicket, and to Chaddleworth. Ordinarily, I would have continued straight on through Chaddleworth at this point. But I was conscious on this route, that we would only be having a piece of cake sometime this afternoon, and we would all be starving by then.
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| A fantastic lunch stop at West Berkshire Golf Club, Nr Chaddleworth |
They had a substantial lunch menu and we had all sorts. Sausage Roll, Omelette with chips, BLT, Sausage sandwich, Prawn Sandwich etc etc. Most came with either Chips and salad or crisps. And very reasonably priced too. Actually the chef, which we named "Gerald" since he reminded us of Gerald from Clarksons Farm, thought the food was much too cheap.
The food took about 20 mins to arrive, which was fine, as we chatted and enjoyed the sunshine. We now now had to regain or height back to Chaddleworth, returning on a road parallel to the one we had dropped down. Not a steep climb, but "coffee legs", meant it felt worse than it was.
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| Stopping to regroup, with a thatched Hare on the roof of this property. |
A few more undulating miles, as we passed through Brightwalton, with first views of Farnbourgh Church on the hill. At the T junction of the B4494, we split, as I forewarned them of the tight left turn after a downhill, and the climb ahead up to Farnbourgh. Sad to see the farmshop completely closed now as we turned on the bend.
Its a bit of slog up the hill to Farnbourgh, over 10% at the top, but gorgeous open views to either side of the lane. I have often spotted the deer herd here too. We had now arrived at the garden. I think around 2.30.
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| The Old Rectory Farnbourgh. The car park (field) was busy, but no queue as we arrived. |
Google notes...
Built at one of the highest points in Berkshire, the garden is beautifully sheltered and secluded. The Poet Laureate John Berjamen lived here. The 4 acre garden is divided into elegant rooms, its present form reflects the Arts and Crafts Style. The Rectory, built in mid 18th century, and remained in Church ownership until 1945.
Rose, blagged her way in with her ticket for the wrong date. 😉 We opted for tea and cake first, incase they sold out. A great choice of cakes, but for those who had eaten too much for lunch, they didn't bother.
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| Trump scarecrow. |
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| Amazing hostas with no slug damage. And a green lawn. (They must have been watering) |
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| View from the garden. |
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| Hydrangea in the pool garden. |
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| Found Gill and a few ladies after we lost them for a few minutes. Huge Hydragea Sergentii on the left, but most other colour around the pool was in pots. |
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| Strong scent from the lillies. |
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| Agapathus. |
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| Dalias. |
Then we found the Boule area, which was once the tennis courts. Had a few minutes of fun and some laughs, along with sharp intake of breath.
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| Entrance to the Boules area. |
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| Another pool at the side of the house. |
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| The view beyond the woodland area was very bright in contrast to the dark woods. This area was COVERED in wild garlic when we came in May. |
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| May 2023. |
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| and finally the double herbaceous borders. |
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