From Old Sodbury, the Dog Inn, past Cold Ashton to Hill Farm

We’ve been anticipating our visit to Dyrham Park for a month or more. Last night, at dinner in the Dog, we tried to figure out just how we’d get in. If we had to go through the main entrance on the A46, we’d be risking our lives.

The thing that makes today’s walk different from past days’ is a bunch of road crossings, even this one death defying.

Eventually we decided we’d have to call to know for sure.
The first leg, to Tormarton, differed from average only in the number and vehemence of admonishing signs. I didn't take pictures of the signs because they tend to show lambs that have been savaged by someone's pet dog. On this day there many others telling walkers to keep off fields that looked just like the fields we were walking through.

There was a great church and churchyard in Tormarton, which I’ve begun to take for granted.

When I called Dyrham Park, I learned we could go in a gate in Dyrham Village, straight off the Cotswold Way. We did that.

Up through the garden, past the pond, across the Sphinx driveway.
We found the shop and paid our fee.

Remember Remains of the Day?

“Dyrham Park is a baroque country house in an ancient deer park in the village of Dyrham, directly on the Cotswold Way.
The house, attached orangery, stable block and accompanying parish church are Grade I listed buildings, while the park is Grade II* listed on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
The current house was built for William Blathwayt in stages during the 17th and early 18th centuries on the site of a previous manor house, with the final facade being designed by William Talman. It contains art works and furniture from around the world, particularly Holland, and includes a collection of Dutch Masters.”

Nice lunch too.

Now, after 10.5 miles, we’re drinking Cotswold Way Ale looking out from Hill Farm, really happy.

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