The City of Wells

So over the Bank Holiday weekend I took a day off and headed 50 miles from home down to stay with my Mum who lives near Bristol.

One of the places she loves to visit is the city of Wells in Somerset.  

It has great childhood memories for me with the drive there I used to cycle with my Dad and we once did my longest cycle from our home up to a place called Priddy Pools which is right on the top of the Mendips.  

It is about a 2 hour cycle to get there and I will always have such clear memory of Dad putting his hand on my back and helping me up the hill.  Every time if I cycle and I'm struggling to get up a steep hill I just imagine Dad pushing me and it spurs me on.

This is a picture of Priddy I hasten to add not taken by me but a beautiful image I wanted to show.

Mum has the most amazing memory of places they walked, Dad worked for the Ordinance Survey and if their was a walk to be had, or a footpath to find, he would find it!

It was interesting finding somewhere to park as it has been many many years since I last drove to Wells. In fact the last time was also when the market was in town and I got my trusty knitting basket which I adore.

So by the time we got there it was time for lunch and what better place to have lunch than with Wells Cathedral as a back drop!!! I mean just Wow!!

We had lunch and a good old natter.  

Then as we were leaving a big congregation of people came out of the Cathedral including the Archbishop.

We had a wonder through the market and I was treated to an Aloe Vera plant to add to my lovely houseplant collection.

Then we headed to the Bishops Palace Gardens which I can't recommend highly enough, it is just the most peaceful and inspiring place.  On route we passed a very talented pianist who played so beautifully that I wanted to share with you.

Isn't it just beautiful.

Before we entered the gardens we were saw the Swans and there new signets too.

You can't do anything but say ahhhh when you see the little babies.

This is the entrance to the gardens where behind me is a lovely café which does the loveliest cakes and drinks.  This very precise lawn doubles as a crotchet lawn, although I am not sure when they ever play on it.

I love this view through this window. 

The buildings date back over 800 years with more information here if you would like to go and have a look for yourself.

Mum and I loved the doorway which she modelled just how much more petite in height than some people are now as she is 5ft 2" and she fits perfectly!!

I then ventured off for a little while with my camera, while Mum found a lovely spot to sit and knit.

To get to part of the gardens you go through an entrance in the surrounding of the palace wall down a walkway that runs parallel with the moat that surrounds it.  As you come round one side of the building you are greeted by the most stunning view of the Cathedral.

The sound of the waterfall, the reflection in the water, and the majestic huge building that is the Cathedral is just stunning.

So I walked over the bridge and the waterfall and came across the community allotment.  I mean wow what a place to have an allotment! 

I then walked through the gardens and came across this area that was left to grow naturally with Tulips and Bluebells just popping up through the grass.

This was I think one of my favourite parts of the gardens, it was just so quiet and when you sat down at the flowers level it was like you could be in your own private woodland.

Throughout the gardens there was also paintings and this was by far my favourite. I would love to have that on the wall in my home.

Finally we came across this sculpture which represents a Swan, I just loved that when you looked at it from different angles it looked higher on one side, then higher on the other.

I hope you have enjoyed my photographic tour of Wells and will leave you with Stanual my Campervan when we stopped off at a scenic part of the drive home on the outskirts of Wells.

Until next time......