Updated with extra photos from Andrew and Fiona.
While it was rainy and cold in London, it was sunny and toasty when we swam around Broughton Castle’s moat, writes Laure Latham. With daffodils and spring flowers lining the banks, the scouts marching on the bridge for St George’s Day, the swim was memorable in every way. The water was very clean and pleasant and the owner of the castle even joined us for the swim, which added an extra flavour to swimming the moat as he was able to point to various features along the swim and even harvested three freshwater clams at a spot where the bottom was so silty that it felt like comfy slippers. Where else do you get guided moat swims?
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do the whole tour of the castle because of a nesting swan (and because we value our lives) but most of us doubled back and returned, saying hello to late swimmers on the way back. Once dried and wrapped up in all the layers we had (it was a proper fleece hat- and coat-fest), we headed to the castle for a private visit. Broughton Castle being one of the finest and most complete medieval houses in the country, we felt extremely privileged to have the castle “to ourselves” during the tour. My 12-year-old even got “lost" after going through the wrong door on the way out but we found her minutes later. After the tour, we enjoyed a fabulous picnic in the tea room (with the heating on, just for us). It was the best of Serpentine buffets, with quiches, veggie tarts, cheeses and saucissons, as well as a Bakewell tart, marrons glaces, Anzac biscuits and fresh strawberries. Can you tell that summer is coming?
It was quite magical and we are incredibly grateful to Martin Fiennes, of Broughton Castle, who allowed us to swim in his moat with him. At the end, he extended an open invitation for us to come back and swim when the garden is at its best in the summer months. I know that we’ll be back!
[Photos: Nora Fowler & laure Latham]
