The view from Lord Cobham's Column, Stowe.

On limited occasions, this monument is open and today was one of those days.

This monument, to Lord Cobham, was built by Capability Brown, designed by Gibbs and completed in 1749.

The monument is 104 feet high (see extra) and the viewing platform is reached by climbing 140 steps, arranged in a spiral.

The weather was dull and the old glass in the belvedere combined to make photographing the surroundings difficult - hence the computer enhancement of the image. The view is amazing, a 360 degree view and extending to some 12 miles all around the Stowe estate.