Polesden Lacey Tour, North Downs

We had arranged with Noeleen to meet up for a chat and a stroll, picking Polesden Lacey estate as a good option being we were all members of the National Trust (its an age thing!). Unfortunately Sue could not make it, but Bertie and I arrived in the car park at 9am to find Noeleen already there. The car park was only sporadically filled (this would change later) mainly as the gardens and house opened later, however the estate had no such issues.

Leaving the car park we passed by the café and first courtyard and followed the road back to the field above the house drive entrance. Following the marked path through the fields and around the corner (Bertie finding out that the electric fence was live although there was no stock in the field!)

We passed the campsite (hidden in a small wooded area next to the fields) and down the bank to a place marked as the "Italianate Bridge".
The open field allowed views across to the other side of the valley and the wooded rise up Ranmore common to the north downs ridge line.
We dropped down to the bottom of the valley and up the other side - meeting up with a path I had taken last time we were here.   

The path led to the Youth hostel - Tanner's Hatch, which seems to be now only available to sole bookings.
From here we continued up the wide path through the woods up to the North Downs.
We wandered across the road and through the trees to see the view south and Leith Hill (too busy chatting to take a photo), than back across to Ranmore Common and through the trees angling slightly westward towards Yew tree farm.

Leaving the main path at the junction with a lane we continued north along the side of the open access area to come out with views across the fields in front of the big house.
At Polesden farm we stayed on the farm drive and climbing back up to the car park under two elegant foot bridges that linked the formal gardens with the kitchen garden.
Back in the car park for a coffee and snack stop.

The gardens and house were now open, so after making use of the facilities, we went around the park gardens (Bertie was not allowed in the formal ones) following a similar start as to earlier, coming out on the theatre lawn looking at the side of the big house with its impressive entrance.
From here we angled away and followed the Bagden drive down hill past the squirrel wood (closed because of ash dieback) with its interesting wood sculpture.

A surprising entrance to the long walk - columnated gateway, and then a stunning long walk contouring the valley side above a haw-haw protected by a yew hedge

The views across to the other side (youth hostel hiding in the woods of Ranmore Common).

At the end of this parade it opened out onto the south lawn of the house, and we continued up passed the house and back to the car park. A pleasant stroll.