A Collector's Ightham

As my brother couldn't get into work today due to another rail strike we decided it was time for another micro trip and settled on a visit to Ightham Mote - a nearby (we are so lucky to have such amazing places to visit on our doorstep - it's less than half an hour away by car) 14th Century moated manor house set in beautifully tranquil gardens which sits in its own hidden valley. There are very few moated manor house's which still survive in this part of the country - a bit of collector's item.
You enter into the gardens via a steep little path which drops down into the valley and you are greeted with the first enticing sight of the manor house itself surrounded by the moat, which is fed by natural springs. My main shot was taken from across the North Lake, which is bordered by these huge gunneras (my first extra is a close up of some of these horticultural giants) back towards the house. For some reason this image looks like it could have been taken a hundred years ago but it was purely due to the light conditions at the time.
The rest of the estate includes an enclosed garden for those seeking quiet contemplation, a cutting garden, an orchard, herbaceous borders, pleasure grounds and even a miniature wildflower meadow (see my second extra).
My final shot was taken across the South Lake (which had not been open to the public on our last visit) towards the other side of the house. It really feels like a small haven from the modern world.
The word "mote" actually refers to the mound, hillock or embankment on which a castle or house is built on as opposed to the water filled moat, which in most cases was originally intended as a defensive structure against attack. Fun historical facts people! :-)
We still managed to fit in a pub lunch on the way home too. Lovely!