Monday 20th June - our mooring at Maidenhead was quiet enough ...
... considering that we were only a few yards from the busy A4094 ...
... and after the kind Mr Tesco bought us our provisions we upped sticks ...
... and headed for Boulters Lock with its pretty bridge parapet ... we're not going far today (again)
... and again we pass by ...
... executive ++ homes ...
... we soon see in the distance at the top of the hill our destination -
Cliveden House
The first house was built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham. A notorious rake, schemer and wit, he created Cliveden as a hunting lodge where he could entertain his friends and mistress. Since then it has twice been destroyed by fire, only to emerge, phoenix-like, more stunning than before. The house has played host to virtually every British Monarch since George I and has been home to three Dukes, an Earl and Frederick Prince of Wales.
(http://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/default.asp?Page=history)
The National Trust moorings are great ... water deep enough to stay off the bottom ...
... and easy enough to get to the bank - and that footpath looks so inviting.
Once safely tied up we set off - the hill is clearly made of chalk as you can see from below the roots of this tree ...
... after just a few minutes we come across this interesting ...
... property ...
... with it's pretty balcony ... this is Spring Cottage ...
the Duchess of Sutherland used the enlarged cottage to entertain her great friend Queen Victoria ...
Queen Victoria, a frequent guest, was not amused in 1893 when the house was bought by William Waldorf Astor, America’s richest citizen.
Stephen Ward and Christine Keeler were staying in Spring Cottage when they triggered the infamous Profumo scandal. So, even the cottage is not without its share of colourful Cliveden history.
(http://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/default.asp?Page=history)
The Boathouse...
Beautiful balustrading on what must have been a bridge leading up to the top of the hill to the big house - we shall walk up the hill tomorrow - looking forward to that.
Hi carol.. Just bought a boat and would like to visit cliveden.. How far from cliveden did you have to moor and was there a footpath all the way to cliveden itself on the cliveden side of the river? Many thanks.. J
ReplyDeleteHi J,
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly there was in island in the middle of the river and we went to the right of it and moored on the right going upstream just before the lodges in the pictures on the blog you were looking at. Clivedon House is of course at the top of the hill and it is quite a steep climb but the paths are ok if it's not been too wet. Take any of the paths up the hill passing above the lodges and keep going to your left as you climb, I think it took us about 20minutes to get to the gardens. As I say in the posting we couldn't actually get close to the house because we had the dog with us but I'm sure it's worth the effort of the walk.
Hope you have as much enjoyment from your boat that we do on Rock n roll - Happy Cruising!