clarer

was at the weekend .. faboulous autum leaf colours.. get there early though, as it’s popular

Wow just got back from a weekend in Hamburg.. exhuasted they certainly know how to party there. Loads of great bars and resturants too.

If you go at the weekend, get there early the car park fills up really fast. Good garden though.

I was so delighted by the way the plants work together. Beth Chatto is an amazing plantswoman. She has built an amazing garden on a difficult site – with dry shade, boggy areas and free draining gravel and made the best of all these conditions by using plants which love their sites. Every combination of plants you come across is inspiring – her knowledge of what plants look best together is staggering. I love this garden !

When I went here it really snowed heavily – 3 feet of snow overnight. We stayed in the Porches Inn which is just accross the street – and a lovely place to stay, so we could walk to the museum the next morning. Becuase of the snowfall the place was almost deserted and we had the galleries to ourselves. magic.

It was a special day when we went to Staffa.. the sea was calm and blue. When we got there we climbed high on the cliffs and saw puffins so close we could almost reach out to them. Then we scrambled along the walkway over basalt hexagons down into Fingal’s Cave. The sea washes in and out swooshing and echoing. A piper got his bagpipes out and played while we were in the cave. magical place.

The walking is stunning in this area.. as with most of Sapin it gets too hot after May to really enjoy the walks.. but fantastic limestone landscapes, wildflowers & goats. Try the queso de Cabrales (local blue cheese) washed down with cidre .. an alchoholic apple drink poured from a hight into little glasses

In deepest Dorset lie the Larmer Tree Gardens. They are quite hidden away.. and there’s not really much there.. except trees, little buildings and peacocks. They hold a music festival there every July .. which is why I go, because it’s lovely.

Hidden away in a corner of Sussex.. amazing contemporary sculptures for the serious enthusiast.. or they’re all for sale if you’re feeling rich

I had one one my most enjoyable walks ever here.. simply beautiful scenery and incredibly varied.. wierd limestone features, waterfalls, bleak moorland, lush woodland, streams.. stunning