Mrs. Claus and friend

Had a great day..... we walk with two walking groups, and today was the Christmas walk of one of them. We went south over the border to Cumbria and had a lovely walk in the Castle Lowther estate, followed by a great Christmas dinner.

Lowther Castle is the ultimate fairytale castle, all turrets and towers and gothic arches silhouetted against the sky, set in 3000 acres of rolling parkland.

It was designed by a young architect called Robert Smirke, and was built between 1806 and 1814, at the height of the Romantic movement which was sweeping Cumbria at the time. Experts say it's an outstanding example of gothic revival architecture.

Instead of receiving a gift from Santa (or Mrs. Claus today) we all give her a gift of money to be donated to a chosen charity, a different one each year. My picture is of Mrs. Claus and the HG getting up close and personal.

Weather was dull but dry, so ok for walking.