Christmas Show at Chatsworth

Raff
Dec 9, 2016
2 min read

By the beginning of December, I was itching to get my decorations up at home. The tree was duly erected and a new set of baubles adorned it. I popped up a few decorations and I thought I had got it reasonably Christmassy!

This soon paled in to insignificance when we visited Chatsworth House for their annual Christmas decoration display.

It's no secret that Chatsworth is one of our favourite sites and one (if not the) most popular sites in the Caravan Club network and it used to be a popular weekend bolt hole when we lived nearby.

However, these days it is a fair distance from the South Coast and we usually need to break it up with an overnight Pub Stop near Luton.

I don't feel it detracts from the weekend at all, it actually makes me value and enjoy it more.

And is there a better way to celebrate it than with our lovely friends (and fellow motorhomers) Robyn and Dave.

Robyn's brother Pete and his wife Jill were due to join us but unfortunately, Jill's father was admitted to hospital to have a pace maker fitted meaning they had to bow out from the weekend.

We toasted to absent friends and soon explored all of what Chatsworth had to offer.

The site itself is just beautiful- situated within the old cook's walled garden. The approach is via a stunning winding lane flanked by streams, ducks, geese and bunnies running alongisde the motorhome. A final little stone bridge and you arrive at the reception, housed in an old stable.

You instantly feel that you are somewhere special. For us it is like returning home!

The weekend went beautifully- we walked the grounds of the house, toured the gardens, toured the house and browsed the shops in the courtyard. I tried Churros for the first time (yummy) also with hot chocolate sauce- wow!

We hosted Robyn and Dave on the first evening and I cooked a spicy chorizo and chicken pasta with an exploding hot chocolate pudding (it blew up in the microwave and went EVERYWHERE!) I started the afternoon off with some pink gin cocktails (sundowners!) so by midnight we

were a little jaded. Jill and Pete were bringing the wine with them as their contribution but as they couldn't (understandably) be with us, we raided our emergency alcohol supplies - hence my gin cocktails, which were very nice!

Dave and Robyn hosted us on the second evening and we enjoyed Chilli con carne followed by apple crumble which was delicious.

I also met another member of the Autotrail Friendly Group (on facebook), Sean Bowler and his dog Willow. He was with his partner in their Apache 634.

We packed up early by Sunday morning for the long slog home but we will be doing it again (this time with Pete and Jill) next December.

I was also able to book a pitch for the RHS show in June at reception.

I leave you with pictures from our trip. Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas!