Waddesdon Manor

A day out to Waddesdon Manor, a National Trust site within an hour of Milton Keynes. Upon entering the estate, the drive way felt like something out of Pride and Prejudice, opening up to reveal the house at the end. 

To remind us that we weren't inside the BBC mini series, a brightly coloured sign advertising that this holiday season, Waddesdon Manor has a Reindeer Trail and an Enchanted Forest. I'm possibly imagining I might see at least one real reindeer among some interestingly lit trees taking visitors on a trail into the depths of the grounds. I should have reined my expectations in - just a touch. 

Bear in mind, these attractions are quite possibly aimed at young children, the Reindeer Trail ran by the side of the extensive play ground down to the stables, which incidentally could have come from the Black Beauty movie, and included interestingly lit reindeer made from willow branches under interestingly lit trees. The Enchanted Forest was an indoor display of white fake trees dotted with birds and a sleigh at the end where I insisted that we pose for photos.

The outing wasn't complete without the compulsory visit to the gift shop, a stroll in the cold where the last remnants of snow refused to melt with the recent rain, so as to deserve to be patrons of the on site tea room to have, in this case, a cream tea. Perfect family day out.