Woodchester

Fact or fiction... MM416

Deep within this wood, in the valley between tall trees, lies a magnificent gothic style mansion that was never finished. Abandoned mid-built in the 1870's, structurally complete but without window glass, floors or plasterwork, it hosts fireplaces hanging in mid-air and a delightful greenman in the ceiling of the chapel.

The woods themselves are also delightful (where they're not felling trees and turning the footpaths into muddy clay quagmires!) There are five lakes in a line running east southeast from the mansion with walks around them all. The middle lake has an attractive boat house and all is peaceful with only song birds to hear.

I liked the curve of this path running up the hill from the lower lake, made better by the old gentleman and his dog.