Everybody Loved Rufford Abbey
My most recent Coach Trip was "Rufford Abbey".
I used Rufford Abbey, in Sherwood Forest, as a coffee stop on my "Robin Hood Country Tour" a couple of years ago, and everybody said how nice it was and how I should organise a trip there in its own right.
We set off as usual from St. Margarets Bus Station in Leicester in the morning, and made our way to Derby, where we stopped for coffee at Royal Crown Derby. Most people had a good look at the fine porcelain in the glass cases, and wished they could afford to buy some.
Moving on through the outskirts of Nottingham, we entered Nottinghamshire proper and arrived at Rufford Abbey in the late morning.
This is a lovely country park, with extensive ruins of the Abbey itself and of the Jacobean house that was added to it. The art and craft galleries are excellent, and so is the tea shop / restaurant.
Some of the party had a stroll around the lake, while others investigated the gardens and in particular the sculptures dotted about.
Then it was on into Derbyshire. We passed through Edwinstowe, where Robin Hood is said to have married Maid Marian, and Crich, viewing the splendid Crich Tramway Village.
We arrived at Matlock Bath in mid-afternoon. A few of the party braved the cable cars that take visitors to the Heights of Abraham, but most sampled cream teas or fish and chips in this delightful little town on the edge of the Peak District that has the feel of a seaside resort - but without the air, of course.
Coming back, we went through Chesterfield, with its famous crooked spire, and Bolsover, with its impressive castle.
We stopped at Tibshelf Services and then it was back to Leicester.
My Visitors' Book has such comments as "enjoyable day - very interesting and up to Colin's usual standard", "interesting well planned trip - we have had a most enjoyable day", "the places visited are always beautiful sights or of great historical importance, with the added bonus of Colin's excellent commentary - always interesting and absorbing" and "day well spaced out with just right amount of time in both places - look forward to the next trip".
Posted by colin on Sunday 20th May, 2007 at 10:36am