Baddesley Clinton, National Trust
The few weeks ago I visited Baddesley Clinton, National Trust property in Warwickshire, in the Midlands. It was a lovely sunny day and the trip was a very late Christmas present to my parents, which had been postponed twice earlier in the year. 



National Trust Midlands

Baddesley Clinton is a moated manor house dating from the 15th century, set in acres of land and gardens. As with many National Trust properties there was a restaurant, gift and garden shop and a secondhand book area. We arrived around 11 am and immediately headed for the restaurant for a late breakfast. Which proved to be the best decision in a long time, we all ordered sausage sandwiches and enjoyed them sitting in the courtyard outside in the sunshine. I am not exaggerating when I say this was the best sausage sandwich I have had – ever! I was not alone in this opinion both my parents and sister also agreed. The sausages were local to the area as was the delightfully fresh bread roll. Well done Baddesley Clinton for the best sausage sandwiches in England, according to me.
Baddesley Clinton
Best sausage sandwich – ever!

Moving onto the moated house, which was a very short stroll from the restaurant and shop area. You enter the house across the drawer bridge, and once through the entrance area you encounter an adorable  small but immaculate garden. This property breathed history, as expected a house of this age and history had a priest hole, stories of intrigue, marriages of the unusual, a bloodstained floor and tale of murder. I will not go into detail as if you decide to visit the property I would not want to ruin your visit.

National Trust
One of many of the magnificent stained glass windows

There were two particular volunteers that helped to bring the property to life, they were very good and delivering the story of the house without making you feel you were back at school. A number of stairs and floors were a little uneven as you would expect, there were seats dotted around to sit if you needed a rest. 

What a beauty – not your average garden shed

A moat – every home should have one!

There are extensive grounds to the house including a number of fish pools, we did not explore the wider grounds as I can only do so much walking. There is a formal walled garden, which hosted fruit trees, roses and a peacock roost along with some lovely benches and thatched hut.  Some of the benches had a large handheld information board, which explain the view or area of interest located by the bench – which made rest stops interesting. There was most oddly to the rear of the gardens a vegetable area in a dug up section of a field, which just did not seem to fit in. Maybe I just missed the explanation around this area. Although there was a rather splendid scarecrow.

Scary!
We finished a our trip with another visit to the tearoom for a cool drink and a slice of cake, the Rose Lemonade was very refreshing.  A most enjoyable day indeed.