That was the question that faced us as we started a walk around the lake at Stourhead when we visited at the end of last October, and it definitely made us stop and think. I mean look at that view, I think that alone was influencing our answer! But it’s true, isn’t it, in nature often brings peace - my usual answer would most likely have been Greenwich Park, had I not been standing in this exact spot.

A sign shaped as an oak leaf with the words 'where do you find peace?' in front of the Lake at Stourhead — WHERE DO YOU FIND PEACE?

I’m very much a take in your surroundings kind of walker, with occasional pauses to take it all in. This can frustrate MOH who likes to walk to get there, at a much quicker pace than I. But at times I can get him to stop and take stock of the views, and just as well as otherwise I might have missed the urn hidden amongst the greenery.

Looking down through bushes to the lake with an urn-like sculpture on the water's edge partially obscured

With paths leading invitingly off the main route, we left this one for another visit on another day.

A brick path, stepped leading to who knows where, the lake in the distance

Our visit was full of autumn colours, and spotting further excerpts along the way was a genius touch.

A quote stamped into an iron plaque mounted on a wooden board (which looks like a floorboard) — AND ROUND ABOUT SOFT MEADOWS OF
VIOLETS AND PARSLEY WERE BLOOMING.
THERE EVEN AN IMMORTAL, WHO CHANCED
TO COME, MIGHT GAZE AND MARVEL,
AND DELIGHT HIS SOUL…
*ODYSSEY,* HOMER

yellow, golden autumnal fern leaves in the foreground

It introduced me to poems I’d not read before, though I’m sure many have and they are well known and much loved.

a quote etched on glass in a wooden frame/stand in front of the lake — NOT DISTANT FAR FROM THENCE A MURMURING SOUND
OF WATERS ISSU’D FROM A CAVE AND SPREAD
INTO A LIQUID PLAN, THEN STOOD UNMOV’D
PURE AS TH’ EXPANSE OF HEAV’N, I THITHER WENT
WITH UNEXPERIENC’T THOUGHT, AND LAID ME DOWNE
ON THE GREEN BANK, TO LOOK INTO THE CLEER SMOOTH LAKE,
THAT TO ME SEEMD ANOTHER SKIE.
*PARADISE LOST,* JOHN MILTON

As you can see from the photos, we were really lucky with the weather and it was a real treat to capture the sunlight on the trees and enjoy the blue skies.

a usual view of stourhead with the arched bridge over the lake autumnal colours with the sun shining

a quote punched into an iron plaque mounted on a wooden post — NOTHING IN ENGLAND COULD COMPARE
WITH STOURHEAD… WE WERE IN SUCH
ECSTASY WE HAD THE UTMOST
DIFFICULTY IN TEARING OURSELVES AWAY
FROM THIS CHARMING SPOT…
BARON VAN SPAEN VAN BILJOEN, 1791

Looking back towards the lake and the arched bridge in the centre of the picture with trees around the lake

We made it round the lake, with plenty of stops for photos and to take in the views and much more - at some point I’ll share more from our short stop off at Stourhead, which is always a welcome stop as we head to Devon to visit family - and yes, I know it’s not the most direct route, but with views like this that’s not such a bad thing, is it?

It was great to head down to Devon last weekend to see family. Family that we’d not seen since before lockdown - we were due to visit in April 2020, but clearly that didn’t happen. When we’re there we have a few favourite National Trust properties which we visit in turn. On this visit we headed over to Greenway, Agatha Christie’s holiday home in Brixham. It’s a great house, and the gardens are pretty spectacular too.

Today I’m sharing pictures from the library, and unusually there’s relatively few books in my photos.

During the Second World War Greenway was requisitioned by the US Coast Guard and one of the men stationed there left ‘a unique momento’ in the Library. It’s not the first time I’ve seen the frieze, but it’s something that doesn’t disappoint on any visit.

The freeze is on all four walls and there’s 13 murals in what was the ‘mess room’ with a bar set up in the alcove. The murals are painted using just four colours - blue, khaki, black and white and shows incidents that occurred during their eleven months’ journey to Greenway.

When the house was decommissioned and returned to Agatha Christie, she was pleased to see that little damage had been done but was “somewhat surprises to find the graffiti left in the library.”

The commander wrote offering to have ‘the fresco’ painted out and, as her autobiography records, she quickly wrote back that “it would be an historic memorial” that she was delighted to have.

It’s really quite special, so if you’re in the area it’s definitely worth a visit. But make sure to book your parking in advance.