Kings and Cabbages

Top of my places to visit in our new locale was Mount Stuart on the nearby island of Bute, hereditary land of the High Stewards of Scotland, whose descendants became the Royal House of Stewart. 

So, one fine day recently we headed off to the ferry terminal just up the road and jumped on board.

Mount Stuart house is the ancestral home of the Marquesses of Bute and has been described as one of the finest examples of the Gothic Revival style to have been built in the UK.

Well, as you can see from the outside that is not an unlikely claim.

Sadly on the day we visited there was an event in the house itself so we weren't able to see the supposedly magnificent interior, but that is a treat to look forward to on our next visit. It is apparently a magnificent testament to Victorian Engineering and boasts, amongst other firsts, to be the very first home in the world to have a heated indoor swimming pool! Can't wait to see that :)

The grounds of Mount Stuart were full of delightful surprises too, so we didn't feel too disappointed.

 From this delightfully dotty camel bench

To these wonderful wind chimes hanging amongst the trees.

We wandered past this glorious Rock Garden

and found ourselves in the Walled Vegetable Garden, where my hubby was very envious of the abundant growth of their cabbages!

I, on the other hand, was thinking what a great palette for a quilt they would make :) I am sure you understand where I was coming from!

We will certainly be back at Mount Stuart again.