LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

Arrived at Ascott N.T. for our timed entry a little late, due to problems on the M1 motorway. We parked in the Paddock car park near the reception. No problems with reception, they were pleased to see us, although we were late. We followed their directions and turned left at the path and walked towards the house to get our bearings, using the map that reception gave us. We planned our route around the gardens so that we reached the house again for the timed entry. We walked the short distance to the sunken garden where we stopped to admire the fountain amongst the trees and bushes. Note the steps. We would have stopped longer but the benches were occupied. We continued straight ahead to the Topiary Sundial where I took many photos but I wished I had studied the topiary more closely. It was our intention to amble along the Madeira Walk but found ourselves walking on the wide path in front of the house lawn. Lovely views of the house beyond the huge lawn, on the right and the evergreen Buckinghamshire countryside on our left. The error meant we had to re-plan out route around the gardens: instead of walking clockwise, we chose to walk anti-clockwise. We approached Eros Fountain in the Dutch Garden with caution because the steps down to Eros were not like the steps around the Sunken Garden and traditional estate steps of other National Trust gardens, but very rough large stones, as if they had just arrived from the quarry and hurriedly constructed into steps. Nevertheless, very picturesque amongst the surrounding plants and bushes. The fountain was huge and very impressive, surrounded by a circle of plants and flowers. Further into the Dutch Garden the colour of the topiary really shone in the bright sunshine, a vivid yellow and very well manicured. From the Dutch Garden we walked around to the Magnolia Dell, skirting the Jubilee Plantation. The Dell was dotted with large majestic trees of various species which I enjoyed enormously. As you can guess, my photo finger was well used. As we approached Madeira Walk the lawns towards the Venus Fountain looked immaculate, along with the impeccable topiary. The Madeira Walk was more of a traditional garden, well-stocked with flowers of all shapes and colours. As the name implies, the Walk was a narrow corridor between two rows of tall hedges. Half-way along the hedges, there was a gap in the hedge, allowing entry to the Venus Fountain, in our opinion even more impressive than the Eros Fountain. Ann felt very sorry for the horses being whipped by the slave, they looked very distressed. We continued by walking through a gap in a circular hedge, again very well manicured, surrounding the circular fountain, the Ascott Circle. A circle of slate type stones, about (40cm) 1.5 feet high, all pointing upwards randomly, totally different from the rest of the garden. I would guess this was a relatively recent addition to the gardens. We spotted a circular seat around a tree so we agreed a short rest would be welcome. Re-energised we walked around the outside of a layered high hedge, which we soon realised was the rear of the Topiary Sundial. I again missed the opportunity to study the workings of the sundial. A good excuse to re-visit Ascott again in the future. We continued by walking through the Sunken Garden to the house, so completing the anti-clockwise route around the gardens. At the house we asked if we could enter the house early, hoping there would be some 'no-shows', but unfortunately there wasn't. We gave the matter some thought and decided not to wait at the house but continue our adventure to the Lynn Garden and return if time allowed. We walked from the house, around the fountain along a corrugated pair of tall hedges to the entrance, on the left, of Lynn Garden. Well, what a surprise, like no other garden we've ever visited. In front of us was a large mount approximately 10 feet (3 metres) high, by 30 feet (9 metres) diameter perfectly round and symmetrical mound, with a 'Keep Off' sign which could not be missed. Around the base of the mound there was a bund rising about 5 feet (1.5 metres) high. On the mound side of the bund was a strip of long grass forming a ring, to add decoration. The remainder of the garden followed in the same theme, with all the mounds different in some way. For example, two mounds were surrounded by a perfect ring of water with the separation between the water and the grass forming two perfect thin stone rings. An inner and outer ring. At the end of the garden was the Lily Pond, a peaceful place with only the noise of the small central fountain and the wildlife. From the pond we headed back to the tea room near the car park, passing the main entrance guarded by two fierce dog statues, one a mirror image of the other. A perfect end to an enjoyable and different garden at Ascott. Without question the best topiary garden we have ever seen, in terms of quantity, variation and maintenance of every corner of the garden. An excellent way to spend a day, highly recommended.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start & Finish: at Ascott National Trust.