July saw the group visit the beautiful venue at Belton House near Grantham. Taking a slightly later departure time than usual we still arrived at Belton by 10.30 am.
By now the sun was shining and boosted by many families enjoying the start of the school holidays the grounds were soon fairly busy.
Most members, having had a drink in the café, then seemed to venture to the many outdoor areas. These included the Italian Gardens, the Conservatory, St. Peter and St Pauls Church, the Dutch Gardens, the Maze and the Parkland with its herd of beautiful deer. Some ventured further afield walking round the pond and into the nearby village.
After lunch most of us then spent time in Belton House itself with its wonderful mixture of rooms which were once owned by the Brownlow family. The rooms here have been fashioned over many years by some of the finest designers and craftsmen in the country. There was still time for a visit to the courtyard at Belton with its array of shops, ice cream parlour and cafes.
Everybody was safely back on the coach for 4.00 pm when we began our journey home arriving back in Hucknall for 5.15 pm after a very enjoyable day.
August takes us to Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire where the day includes a guided tour of the Abbey and gardens.