Back to Shugborough

Hi there everyone 😀 

It seems to have become a bit of an annual tradition for us to spend a summer’s day at Shugborough Hall with Mum and Bobby and Jackie, Phil, Erin and now her little brother Harry.

This year was a little different, as it was just Mum, Bobby, Martin and I for the morning as the others couldn’t meet us until lunchtime, but we still had another really lovely day.

We started our visit with a wander around the walled garden. It wasn’t quite as colourful as on previous visits and was definitely showing the effects of the recent heatwaves, but we still enjoyed exploring. As usual Bobby managed to find a few tasty treats to nibble on. 

And … is it just me … or does this plant look like it is ‘giving us the finger’ 😂

We didn’t come across any Summer of Play activities in the garden this time, though it was exciting to read about the plans for the development of a new garden and a new play area due to open next year. 

From there we strolled up to the farmyard before finding a shady spot for our picnic …

After lunch we had time for a quick look inside the mansion house, where there was plenty for young explorers to look out for …

After a spot of archery we had a break in the shade whilst we waited for Jackie, Phil, Erin and baby Harry to arrive …

It had been a whole year since Bobby and Erin had last seen each other, but they were soon chatting and playing as though no time had passed at all. Despite the blazing sunshine and lack of shade in the main play area, the two of them dived straight in …

There was treasure to be found … 

Music to be made … 

And pirate ships to be sailed … 

Eventually the heat got the better of us, so we dropped anchor and headed for dry land where we stopped for ice creams and a welcome cool-down in the stables, where we discovered the soft play. That kept the little ones happy while the rest of us enjoyed a much-needed break from the sun …

Before long we decided it was time to head home for more fun in our own garden … but not before trying to recreate the iconic photo of Bobby and Erin on the step. I’m not sure they’ll both squeeze on there for many more years …

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Back at home the water play began. The Aldi splash pad couldn’t quite keep up with all the bouncing …

… but sliding was pretty fun too …

In the end we reverted to the trusty old sprinkler … which never lets us down …

It was gone six o’clock before we thought we’d better get Bobby back home. He and Erin said their goodbyes for another year, before we rounded off the day with a trip to McDonald’s to meet David and Alison for tea.

By the time we got back we were absolutely shattered 😴

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Lodge Life :: July 2025

Hi there everyone 😀

The first half of our three-week summer break at the lodge fell in July, with the rest spilling over into August.

Those first few days after we arrived were really very quiet. Other than doing a bit of tidying up and getting things ready for when David, Alison and Bobby came to stay, we didn’t do a great deal at all … which, to be honest, was lovely. It’s not often we give ourselves permission just to stop, and the slower pace was a welcome change.

We knew we’d have a busy time once our visitors arrived, with plenty of outings and adventures planned, so it was nice to enjoy a bit of calm beforehand. Most of our days were spent pottering around the lodge, preparing for their visit, reading and just generally enjoying the sunshine and soaking up the peace and quiet …

Our only real ‘outing’ was a little trip over to Porthmadog, where we treated ourselves to a quick drink at the Steam Railway Station. It’s always a lovely spot, with a nice bit of bustle and plenty to watch as the trains come and go …

Back at the lodge, we did manage to squeeze in a swim, which was a refreshing treat on a warm afternoon. And Martin kept himself busy finishing off his latest creation … just have to find a home for it now …

All in all, it was the perfect gentle start to our summer break … before the fun really began when David, Alison and Bobby arrived 😜

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More North Wales Adventures

Hi there everyone 😀

After a few very quiet days around the lodge recovering from our hectic visit from David, Alison and Bobby, it was time to welcome Jackie and Phil for a few days of North Wales fun.

Once again, the weather forecast was looking a bit mixed, with Storm Floris on its way, but we were hopeful we could make the most of any sunny spells.

Jackie and Phil arrived on Saturday at lunchtime and, thankfully, the weather was glorious ☀️☀️☀️ We decided to make the most of it and spent the afternoon on the deck… swimming, relaxing, and enjoying a barbecue.

Sunday: Steam Trains & Mountain Views
We woke up to rain on Sunday and enjoyed a lazy morning, but had an exciting afternoon adventure planned … a trip on the Welsh Highland Railway from Porthmadog to Beddgelert.

As usual, the station looked lovely …

… and we had time for a quick pitstop at Spooner’s before boarding …

As we were nice and early, we managed to grab seats in the open carriage … deciding to take our chances with the weather and the effects of the steam …

Departing from Porthmadog station is pretty cool, as the train actually crosses the main road and traffic has to stop. We’ve often watched it happen, but this was our first time on the train as it crossed …

The route follows the Glaslyn River, with fabulous views of Snowdonia’s mountains along the way …

… before steaming through a lengthy tunnel and into the spectacular Aberglaslyn Pass …

There were plenty of people out and about, most stopping to wave as the train chugged past … we just had to wave back. 

Having visited Beddgelert many times by car, it was fun to spot familiar landmarks from a completely different perspective. 

We had just over an hour in Beddgelert, so wandered into the village for something to eat and a look at the river …

… before heading back to the station in time to bag seats in the open carriage again for the return journey …

As we crossed the bridge back over the Glaslyn … where we’d walked just days before with David, Alison and Bobby … it was lovely to see so many people cooling off in the river and enjoying the sunshine …

Before we knew it, we were back in Porthmadog … 

… and then heading to Criccieth for fish and chips on the seafront, followed by an evening back at the lodge … trying our best to locate Sherlock Holmes in our latest escape room challenge, which ended up being a bit of an epic task …

Monday: Rain, Swellies & a Bit of Sun
Day two brought another wet morning as the tail end of Storm Floris cleared through. Once the skies started to brighten, we headed to Y Felinheli for our usual wander along the front …

… followed by a quick drink at The Swellies …

Back at the lodge, the sun had returned, so we had another swim and a lovely sit in the sunshine … before another evening of escaping … this time it was The Pharoah’s Tomb. 

Tuesday: A Big Day Out to Anglesey
For Jackie and Phil’s last full day, we had a big day out planned. We were off to Anglesey … starting with a visit to Plas Newydd in the morning, and then heading to Beaumaris in the afternoon, where we were hoping to ride the big wheel that’s there for the summer season.

We were at Plas Newydd nice and early …

… and began with a wander around the arboretum, making our way to the treehouse … a perfect selfie spot …

From there, we followed the path along the edge of the Menai Strait, taking in the views across the water …

We found ourselves at the old port, with its crumbling outdoor pool and a lovely view back to Y Felinheli in the distance, before looping back to the front of the house …

Here we split up for a while … Jackie and Phil went for a longer walk while Martin and I explored the terraced walled garden …

It was looking stunning, full of colour, with both hot and cool borders bursting with blooms … 

… and even more lovely views across to Y Felinheli …

Jackie and Phil soon joined us and we had a good look around the house, followed by a very welcome ice cream in the courtyard. 

Then it was time to head back to the car, via the shop of course, and enjoy our picnic in the sunshine before setting off for Beaumaris …

Beaumaris by Big Wheel
Beaumaris was busy but we managed to park by the castle and made a beeline for the giant ferris wheel. With no dithering or hesitation, we were soon all aboard, enjoying a completely new view of the town from above. We all loved it and would definitely recommend giving it a go if you get the chance …

Afterwards, we had a bit of a wander … mooching in and out of the pretty gift shops … before heading to the tea room in the park by the castle for a sit in the sunshine and a bit of a refuel, complete with a pretty decent view …

We were all feeling pretty shattered by the time we made it back to the lodge, where the latest episode of Sewing Bee was all any of us were fit for. 

One Last Spooner’s Stop
Wednesday morning was time for Jackie and Phil to head home … but not before one final visit to Spooner’s at Porthmadog railway station, where we finally got to try their breakfast… and very good it was too 😋

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