We are heading towards Burghley House and we have a campsite and a backup sorted out. But this goes wrong quickly! We arrive at the first site to find out they don’t take ‘casual bookings’ so we can’t go there without some notice and presumably passing some kind of pre-qualification test or whatever. So we head to the second site, only to find that it’s mainly families and tents on a small field of a farm, so that’s out too.
We break out Park4Night – our goto app for overnight stops and discover a small campsite on the edge of Rutland Water. That’s the kiddy! It’s only a few km, but as we have done quite a lot today already, it’s nearly dusk when we turn up.
The campsite is next to Rutland Water sailing club. It’s £10 a night in an honesty box by the gate. Perfect. Fresh water is the only facility, but we don’t need much – mothership can be self sufficient for about a week. More if we are careful with the loo!
A quick walk and we discover that Rutland water is fabulous – there is a cycle path around the whole thing and the weather is due to be good the next day.
So now we have a dilemma – Rutland Water or Burghley House? We really do only have the day – we have to be back in Horley in the evening.
Serendipity intervenes: T noticed a post from Colin Furze on Facebook that mentioned that his Kylo Ren Tie Fighter build was only to be there for a few more weeks. Toby didn’t even know he had built a Tie Fighter, never mind it being at Burghley House. That decided it. Spooky timing for Facebook.
Burghley House is amazing. Huge stately home – now in a trust of course – with the rooms displaying a huge collection of art. And being art themselves. Most of the walls and ceilings are Antonio Verrio and are in great condition having been restored recently. Set all that in gardens and parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. Add a sculpture garden, shop, restaurant and you have it all really!
We spend an hour in the house and a few hours wandering the grounds and the sculpture garden. Then back into the MS2 for Sausage Rolls and then on towards Horley. Rutland Water will be unfinished business for next time!
