A historic mansion, lovingly restored since the 1950s to be a home. Quite the home! A room where Queen Elizabeth I stayed, a 600-year old tower, secret passages and tales of ghosts. Beautiful gardens, regardless of whether you tour the house, and a nice coffee shop with a selection of delicious cakes (we tried 4, all excellent). The lovely guides in each room were friendly and full of stories, eager to answer questions. Oh - and the gardens are dog friendly! When we were there, they had a dog show so we got to see all the good boys and girls, which added extra charm. Finally, if you get a chance, see if the door is open at the church. From inside, you can peer into the strikingly beautiful chapel for the Duke's family, which has amazing carvings and tombs - a quietly moving place, reminding us of our mortality.
