Easter in the Countryside

Predictably, I was all too happy to spend four days in the countryside over Easter. After all, the part of the world where the Boy grew up left me charmed when I visited last year.

However, we weren’t as lucky with the weather this year. It was rainy and cold and windy for most of the time, but we still managed to squeeze in a few hours walking around.

And what I realised is that this moody, grey, drizzly weather actually suits the English countryside, it brings out its beauty. At times when we were walking in the fields, with the wind blowing and dark, menacing clouds gathering above us, I felt like I was a character in Wuthering Heights. Which was kind of awesome.

Plus, when in the country, what’s more appropriate than putting on your wellies to hop around muddy fields for a while and returning home rain-soaked and flushed and happy just in time for tea?

Cliveden House

My recent stay in the great english countryside wasn’t just valleys and hills. It also included a visit to this magnificent estate, set on banks high up above the Thames.  The grounds are lovely and varied, the house itself is stunning and the views across the valley below are gorgeous.

Strolling down the sloping banks away from the house got us to a stretch of the river that was impossibly beautiful. It was hard to believe this is the same river I see every day in the heart of London.

If you happen to be in Buckinghamshire someday, do visit Cliveden, it comes highly recommended.

Oh I do love to be in the countryside!

I didn’t tow a boat, but I sure did walk along many towpaths. And footpaths. And bridleways. And country lanes. I walked through fields, up and down hills, through woods, over bridges and along the river. This book-inspired holiday definitely wasn’t a relaxing, restful one. But with such beautiful countryside waiting to be explored, and the glorious weather we were lucky to have, staying was not an option. Even if the b&b we stayed at was adorable and the full English breakfast every morning made taking naps very tempting. Here are some of my favourite pictures…

Three Men in a Boat & Three Men on the Bummel by Jerome K. Jerome

This was an impulse purchase at the bookstore. Before that I had never heard of Jerome K. Jerome before. Don’t you just love it when you discover an author or a book you’ve never heard of at the bookstore or the library and it turns out to be good?

 

Both the stories are very light and fun, and not really about anything. In both cases, the journeys the narrator goes on with his two friends, Harry and George (along with Montmorency, the dog, in the first one), just serve as a background for the narration of myriads of stories from his past. I really enjoyed reading his silly, satirical recollections as well as his witty observations on everyday life in the end of the 19^th century.

This was a fun book and there were quite a few instances when I laughed out loud while reading. Most importantly, the journey along the Thames in the first story was the inspiration for my recent holiday in the countryside which was amazing (lots and lots of pictures will be posted soon). My only wish is that Jerome K. Jerome had written more books involving the three men going on some kind of adventure.

A bookish holiday

So, everyone knows how much I love the english countryside. I just love going for long walks down brambly lanes, through fields of wild flowers, in ancient, shady woods… It is no surprise then that I’m ridiculously excited for my upcoming long weekend in the countryside with my favourite walking companion, The Boy.

But this is not just an ordinary holiday. What’s special about it is that it’s a holiday inspired by a book! The Boy read Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome a while ago and kept saying how nice some of the places by the Thames sound. A few chapters in, and I agreed with him. Not only is the countryside really pretty, but there are numerous little towns and villages with quaint country pubs and parish churches, and there are boat rides on the river  and… basically my idea of heaven.

Before I had even finished the book, we had booked a holiday in one of the little towns mentioned in the book. I would be excited anyway; a few days playing in the country away from the phd are always welcome, but I just love that the idea came from a book. So I was wondering if this is a rare thing. Have you ever been inspired to visit a place because it was mentioned in a book? Do you think that a holiday following the steps of a literary character sounds like fun or is that just me?

Escape to the countryside

Just as planned, I managed to avoid the royal wedding mania that took over London and escape to the countryside for the second long weekend. And it was perfect. It was extremely relaxing and only made me want a cottage in the country (or at least a garden) even more. You see, I may have always been a city girl, but I just adore the english countryside. These are a few of my favourite things about Spring in the countryside…

The sun shining over delicate white flowers sprinkled all over meadows. Walking under the shade of tall trees, their leaves rustling in the wind to sound almost like waves on the sea.

Long strolls through the woods, taking care not to step on the myriads of bluebells. Cycling from village to village with stops at proper country pubs. Walking down leafy country lanes to reach medieval parish churches.

Enjoying the late afternoon sun among the wild flowers by a tiny little lake. The flowers on the hedge enclosing a cottage that looks as if it belongs in a fairytale. The luscious green of the forest after a spring shower.

What do you love most about the countryside? What are your favourite things to do in the Spring?

All pictures taken by me in Suffolk.