点评:We took advantage of a break in the weather and drove over from Brampton to see this stunning castle. We were incredibly lucky to stumble upon it on the one day it was open this month, as it only opens to the public on the first Sunday of every month. The site is entirely run by volunteers, and although we fully expected to pay, entry was completely free for our family of two adults and two children. Free parking was available right outside the castle, which was excellent, though it does get quite busy. We ended up staying for around one and a half to two hours.
The staff were extremely helpful, polite, and welcoming, taking the time to interact warmly with both our children and our dogs. The castle is very dog-friendly, and having our two dogs with us made the day ideal. In terms of accessibility, the upper floors are not suitable for wheelchairs or prams due to the nature of the building, but the grounds themselves are very easy to navigate. There is a small gift shop on site; while it seemed low on stock and may not be staying open long-term, we gladly bought a snowglobe to help support the upkeep of the castle.
The grounds are beautifully maintained and a highlight of the visit. We loved walking the path around the perimeter to view the castle from different angles, accompanied by the amazing scent of wild garlic in the air. Upon arrival, the staff handed us a laminated A4 sheet featuring a map on one side and a photo hunt on the other, which was a brilliant touch that kept the kids fully engaged. It was fascinating to explore the historical information, learn about the castle's importance over the centuries, and see where the artificial dam was created to power the water mill.
Overall, our visit was a complete success and we will most likely return. I highly recommend visiting, but with one vital warning: check your dates and opening times carefully before you travel. If we had arrived on any other day, it would have been shut and a wasted journey. As long as you plan ahead, it is well worth the visit.
翻译:我们趁着天气转晴的间隙,从布兰普顿开车前来观赏这座绝美的城堡。我们运气极佳,恰好在这个月里它对外开放的唯一一天来到了这里——实际上它每个月只在第一个星期日对公众开放。整个景区完全由志愿者们打理,虽然我们原以为需要购票,但我们一家四口(两名成人和两名儿童)却无需支付任何费用。城堡外还有免费的停车场,真是太棒了。虽然人会相当多,但我们最终在那里逗留了大约一个半小时到两个小时。
工作人员极其热心、礼貌且热情,还花时间亲切地与我们的孩子和狗狗们互动。这座城堡对狗狗非常友好,能带着我们的两只狗狗一同游玩,让这一天显得格外完美。至于无障碍设施方面,由于建筑结构的限制,上层楼层不适合轮椅或婴儿车通行,不过城堡的庭院区域则很容易走动。庄园内有一个小型礼品店;虽然货品似乎不多,也不太可能长期营业,但我们还是欣然购买了一个雪花球,以此来帮助维护这座城堡。
庄园的庭园养护得十分出色,也是此次游览的一大亮点。我们很喜欢沿着周边的小径漫步,从不同角度欣赏城堡的景致,空气中还弥漫着野蒜的迷人香气。刚抵达时……工作人员递给我们一张塑封过的A4纸张,一面是地图,另一面则是寻图游戏。这个设计真是妙不可言,让孩子们全程都兴致勃勃、全神贯注。在这里探索各种历史资料、了解这座城堡几个世纪以来的重要性,还有亲眼看到人工修建的大坝是如何为水车提供动力的,都令人着迷不已。
总的来说,这次参观非常成功,我们极有可能会再次光临。我强烈推荐大家来参观哦。不过有一个重要的提醒:出发前请仔细核对日期和开放时间。如果我们是在其他日子前往,那里就会关门闭馆,我们的行程也就白跑了。只要提前做好规划,这里绝对值得一游。