The Stonor walk

When I was dating future Scottish hubby, he took me on this walk.

I was in the UK on a quick weekend stop over between Boston and San Francisco.

I’m sure we must have slept late, then gone out for the papers to read with our frothed coffees and buttered toast. I had already half moved in and purchased a Krupp’s cappuccino maker, and future hubby was just starting to realize how important the black drug was to me.

That was more than 10 years ago, and I remember taking a photo of the manor home of Lord and Lady Camoys, and later, when I was back in my office in Marin Country, I shared it with my colleagues. “That’s my Scottish boyfriend’s house,” I joked, “Isn’t it big?!”

I guess back in the heady dot com days that wasn’t as far fetched as it sounds, and I think some of them believed me. No wonder the bubble burst.

Today, we took the walk again with our little ones. Stonor is not far from where we live — and it took just under an hour to get there. It was -1C, and though I was dressed properly, Alexandra, our five-year-old, wasn’t. Soon she was complaining about cold feet. I can’t blame her, I would be cold with just worn cotton socks from Target and rubber wellies.

Emily and HM occupied themselves looking for diamonds and gold. They found pine cones and chalk.

We all admired the big house.

We didn’t see any deer, but I discovered the girls can identify deer poo!

On the way back we drove passed the The Crown Pub at Pishall. I could just imagine a young(ish) man and woman outside with the papers strewn on the picnic tables, the warm Spring sun full of promise, and a pint of Brakshere in hand.

“Mummy, my feet are still cold!”

Back to reality.

Try the walk through Deer Park at Stonor. You can park just outside the main gates at Stonor and take the marked footpath. Though Stonor Estate is private, the public walkway through the Deer Park is a great walk with children (and adults).