The incredible stately homes journey with Michael and Alison Rhodes was coming to an end. Our last full day was on June 25, 2025. We checked out of the resort, piled our luggage and packages into the trunk and the back seat… enough room for Michael and the snacks. Â
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| Michael and Alison are enjoying breakfast at the Two Magpies.  |
I love ducks, so Alison mentioned a duck pond in Blakeney, which was on the way to Houghton Hall. Alison parked near the Two Magpies Bakery, which overlooks the River Glaven.  The former Blakeney Conservation Duck Pond was a few minutes down the road. We sat on a bench, enjoying our pastries and coffee.
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| This unidentified bird saw my camera and posed … |
Disappointment would soon set in as we noticed a fence around the Duck Pond and a few ducks. Turns out, bird flu had decimated the ducks, and the local volunteer group disbanded and returned the land to the original owner.  The pond was no longer accessible.
Bummer, dude!
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| Low tide |
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| A donut hole in the sky |
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| The former Blakeney Conservation Duck Pond |
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| There were a few ducks in the pond …Â |
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| Not a bad place to have breakfast |
Back on the road toward Houghton Hall, the home of the Marquess and Marchioness of Chomondeley. Houghton is not far from Sandringham House. In the last reign, Lord Chomondeley was the Lord Great Chamberlain. He or his eldest son will be the Lord Great Chamberlain when William succeeds to the throne. For the record, Lady Chomondeley has never had an affair with the Prince of Wales. Period. Full Stop.
On our last day in Norfolk, I got good photos of these signs. I wonder if Great and Little Snoring are sleepy towns! Or perhaps no one gets any sleep. 🙂 Little Snoring is bigger than Great Snoring.
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| The gift shop is in this courtyard, which leads to a path toward the house. |
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| Alison snaps a photo of Michael. |
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| Do not know this bir.d |
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| Sybil, Marchioness of Chomondeley (1894-1989), was born Sybil Sassoon, the daughter of Sir Edward Sassoon, 2nd Bt., and Baroness Aline de Rothschild. Her brother was Sir Philip Sassoon. The walled gardens, opened by her grandson, the current Marquess, in 1996, are a memorial to her. |
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| Another bird I do not kn.ow |
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| Follow me! |
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| Michael & Alison are chilling while I explore the garden. |
Houghton Hall is a fine example of Palladian architecture. It was built for Sir Robert Walpole, the first British Prime Minister. Lord Chomondeley is a direct descendant of Sir Robert.
The House and Gardens closed for the season in late September and will reopen in Spring 2026. The property is not open every day. Check the website if you are planning to visit next year.
Well worth it. Â
This was the end of our 2025 adventure, back on the road toward Harrogate, about a four-hour drive with one pitstop before heading to The Kestrel restaurant in Knaresborough for dinner. Â
https://www.vintageinn.co.uk/restaurants/yorkshire/thekestrelharrogate#/Â Â
It was a very early morning on the 26th, as my train to King’s Cross was leaving just a little after 7:00 a.m. Much to my delight, the train was direct, which meant I did not have to change in York or Leeds. The train arrived on time. It was a short walk to the Hammersmith & City Line to go to Paddington. The elevator was not working so a very lovely man carried my suitcase up the stairs, where I caught the metro. Five stops to Paddington. Grabbed a coffee and a muffin before getting on the Heathrow Express for the 15-minute trip to Heathrow.  Checked in, handed over the suitcase, and went through security before walking into the main terminal (5). Picked up a few things at Fortnum’s and Smiths, adding more weight to my carry-on bag. Â
Another wonderful trip!!! Â
https://amzn.to/48ORlch  US
