After a few relaxing days in Devon, it was time to head back to London. I packed and set out early, as I intended to go to Dyrham Park, a National Trust property on the way back. I was aiming to get there at about 11am when it opened. I got there slightly after, but good thing I was early – the parking was already filling up. As luck would have it, I was also there in time for a ranger walk and talk around the park, which was also an old deer park, with about 150 head of deer.
The park ranger took us through the muddy fields, pointing out the deer and explaining the herd and how they look after them. He also took us through the history of the place, which was fascinating.
After getting muddy on the walk, it was time to clean off my boots and head into the beautiful house. It was very dark inside so hampered photography efforts a little, but it was gorgeous. Afterwards, I went for a walk around the garden, to the church attached to the property, then began the walk back to the car park (there was a good reason they had golf carts ferrying people to and from the house!).
I drove the car straight back to London after that, dropping it off at Heathrow then catching the tube for the long trip home. Having a car is something I miss a lot about Sydney. Yes, the transport in London is so much better than in Sydney but there are so many places that are inaccessible by public transport here!