Two aqueducts, two pubs.

Yesterday evening was beautiful and there were three balloons up above us to enjoy the still weather.

I don't think Richard Branson was aboard.

From our mooring we were soon at the Dundas Aqueduct. Luckily for us there was nobody on the water point so we stopped and filled up and dumped the rubbish before crossing over. Soon after we were in a almost gorge like valley. This is Limpley Stoke village on the west bank of the Avon.

We were soon at the Avoncliff Aqueduct but try as we might we could not get on the visitor moorings before the bridge. There is a stop plank narrows just before the turn on to the bridge and I noticed that the bank was different. I tried again and we fitted perfectly. After lunch we decided to take advantage of the lovelly afternoon and walk alongside the river to Freshford. The Inn at Freshford was open and I had a nice pint. Helen found a leaflet about a walk back to our mooring so we decided to go back that way.

Half way round we came across the 17th Century Ilford Manor. It turns out to have open gardens so we paid our money and went in. The Manor is on a bridge over the River Frome and is in a lovely peaceful spot with very minor roads.

This is the Cloister at the Manor and they hold a Festival here each July and have operas, jazz etc inside where the building is larger than it seems. I reckon that it seats about 120 people in the round. The operas seem to be come and have a posh picnic and then sit for the music and leave in a floodlit garden. I reckon that it would be an amazing experience as it is quite a special place.

 The Manor was bought by one Harold Peto in 1899. He had been an architect but had decided to concentrate on designing houses in their own gardens and built many on the south coast of France for rich Americans. He set about changing the steep hillside into his Italianate garden. He used some of the stone pieces that he had collected. His schemes were about just getting the right amount of stone structure with the planting. We spent a nice hour wandering along various paths and lawns with plenty of pools and shady seats. It was lovely as we had not expected to be there. 

Another view of the bridge over the River Frome with the Stonecrop growing on the wall round Ilford Manor.

We got back to Avoncliff and went down to see the John Rennie Aqueduct that was built in 1804. We were called to visit the Cross Guns pub just below the aqueduct. The pub is really nice and we had a nice chat with the barman. The Inn at Freshford and the Cross Guns are the only two owned by the Box Steam Brewery. The beer was very pleasant and the Cross Guns was very individual. The menu looked good too.

Our mooring is just before the turn round on to the aqueduct but well out of the way. It was good as we had the sun all afternoon and should get it first thing in the morning too. The walk was a very pleasant three and half miles and the leaflet can be found in either pub. I lovely day all round.