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Location Date Europe 
1624921200 South America 1575590400 Asia 1557010800 Africa 1493506800 Oceania 1430694000 North America 1423872000 -
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1624921200 Germany 1602802800 Slovakia 1599346800 Ireland 1573344000 France 1570316400 Poland 1568502000 Austria 1561762800 Belgium 1560034800 Italy 1554591600 Spain 1553990400 Netherlands 1548547200 Georgia 1528498800 Azerbaijan 1527980400 Bulgaria 1490486400 Norway 1480723200 Switzerland 1462575600 Portugal 1454803200 Croatia 1449187200 Slovenia 1448668800 Russia 1311375600 Ukraine 1309388400 -
Location Date Exeter 1624921200 Christchurch 1624662000 Canterbury 1624402800 Padstow 1604016000 Belfast 1572739200 Torbay 1564268400 Morecambe 1563058800 Coleford 1536447600 Carrickfergus 1529794800 Minehead 1524265200 Liskeard 1517702400 Wells-Next-The-Sea 1514073600 Filey 1509145200 Skegness 1505602800 Cardiff 1498345200 Redhill 1480032000 Penzance 1475967600 Hastings 1474758000 London 1472166000 Belvoir
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My one and only previous visit to Belvoir Castle was about 35 years ago with my mum and brother and on that trip we never actually got in to see the castle. Probably during the summer school holidays, my mum had booked us on a bus trip from Leicester to Belvoir Castle, sadly when we got there the trip did not actually include entrance to the castle or grounds. I can not remember what we did to entertain ourselves for a few hours in the car park as my mum did not have enough money with her to pay the entrance fee. Times certainly have changed as there were no credit or debit cards, no way to get any money nearby (although that probably still holds true) and no smartphone to contact anyone to tell them all about it either!
Having driven past Belvoir Castle on many occasions since (normally on the way to/from Norfolk) a visit was probably long overdue. Heather also has this on her 'to do' list so it seemed a good opportunity to do so on one of their opening days in late July.
The castle grounds, home to the Duke of Rutland's family since 1067, sits in the heart of the Vale of Belvoir in Leicestershire. The castle is - according to their advertising leaflet - one of the finest examples of Regency architecture in the world and the fourth to stand on the same site. I have to agree, the castle is a lovely building with some stunning interior rooms and well worth a visit, although the tea room offers a very small selection of food and drink which was a bit of a disappointment.
The current castle was largely completed in 1832 and the name refers to 'beautiful view'. The name Belvoir is, in fact, a Norman import by the French-speaking invaders, but the native Anglo-Saxon population was unable to pronounce such a foreign word, preferring to call it "Beaver Castle" - a usage which persists today.
The gardens overall did not inspire at all even after what is billed as a three year restoration project of a 2,300 acre landscape. It must have been awful before because it certainly did not look too good now. Sorry, but if I had paid just to see the gardens I would have been very disappointed indeed as they did not look managed or that well cared for (with the exception of the Rose Garden close to the castle). I think Lancelot 'Capability' Brown would have been very disappointed in what became of his designs but maybe it will be better in ten or twenty years time when things have really established. I certainly hope it is.
Having driven past Belvoir Castle on many occasions since (normally on the way to/from Norfolk) a visit was probably long overdue. Heather also has this on her 'to do' list so it seemed a good opportunity to do so on one of their opening days in late July.
The castle grounds, home to the Duke of Rutland's family since 1067, sits in the heart of the Vale of Belvoir in Leicestershire. The castle is - according to their advertising leaflet - one of the finest examples of Regency architecture in the world and the fourth to stand on the same site. I have to agree, the castle is a lovely building with some stunning interior rooms and well worth a visit, although the tea room offers a very small selection of food and drink which was a bit of a disappointment.
The current castle was largely completed in 1832 and the name refers to 'beautiful view'. The name Belvoir is, in fact, a Norman import by the French-speaking invaders, but the native Anglo-Saxon population was unable to pronounce such a foreign word, preferring to call it "Beaver Castle" - a usage which persists today.
The gardens overall did not inspire at all even after what is billed as a three year restoration project of a 2,300 acre landscape. It must have been awful before because it certainly did not look too good now. Sorry, but if I had paid just to see the gardens I would have been very disappointed indeed as they did not look managed or that well cared for (with the exception of the Rose Garden close to the castle). I think Lancelot 'Capability' Brown would have been very disappointed in what became of his designs but maybe it will be better in ten or twenty years time when things have really established. I certainly hope it is.
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