Yesterday our Thursday outing took intrepid Farrell Safaris over the Shropshire border and into Hereford. Our destination was Croft Castle in the wonderfully named village of Yarpole. The house is a castellated fifteenth to eighteenth century fantasy with magnificent turrets (only for show) –the whole set in glorious parkland of veteran trees. The present house replaced an 11th century castle, and the Croft family who occupied it then, continued to preside over this corner of England for nearly a thousand years. All is now in the care of the National Trust. And if anyone reading this intends to visit, then take a good tree book. And also your walking shoes as there are several long walks including one to the Iron Age hillfort of Croft Ambrey.
I’ll post more about Croft another time. For now I’m trying to keep on theme with Paula’s Thursday’s Special. This week it is ‘scattered’ so please pop over there for more renditions.
Now for a scattering of tulips in the walled garden:
And oh well, I know you really wanted to see the Castle, so here it is framed by the branches of a very ancient conifer. There’s some good cloud-scatter too.
Tish Farrell 
Looks like Farrell Safaris found another great place!
Years since I visited Croft Castle. Your post has made me realise I must go again!
Defintitely worth a visit, or maybe several, Rebecca. There’s a nice tea-room too 🙂
Well that clinches it Tish. I shall definitely be going!
Tish I actually gasped at that last photo. So beautiful. As I’ve mentioned before here in Canada such scenes and history just don’t happen. Lovely!
Yes, but you do have a gasp-making natural environment 🙂
We do indeed Tish. 🙂
I always enjoyed visiting Croft castle, though never made it to Croft Ambrey, attempted it once but the route was too muddy. Great framing of the ‘castle’ Tish 🙂
Well, as I said before, was thinking of you while we were there. Lots of nice benches of course. The NT had put deck chairs out in the walled garden. It was blissful.
The walled garden has just got better and better over the last few years as has the one at Berrington – you must go there too, nice walk in the park as well.
I love castles, but I would trade them for conifers any time ;). I love all these superb images, Tish. The one with the trunk caressed by the sun is my favourite.
Mauve skies too – a lovely place.
Very handsome in the sunshine, but I wonder if it’s a bit foreboding on a gloomy day.
We’ll have to go and see, Gilly. The other side past the church seems to be built of limestone which reflects the light, and that has much less brooding potential.
Whoa. That castle. A real marvel. I’m putting a visit to it in my bucket list. Thanks for these images, Tish.
You’re most welcome, Joseph
I envy you having all those amazing historical places and gardens to stroll around and all that you can get to within a day’s outing. That castle is magnificent
We are amazed at where we haven’t been, and how much there is still to see. I’ve lived in Shropshire for quite a lot of my life, but we’ve hardly scratched the surface. So yes, we are very lucky, Pauline.
Never run out of inspiration for posts then Tish. Lots more posts to come still…
Wow, I love the photo of the tree, of course, Croft castle sounds wonderful to visit, but I truly enjoy trees.
Connie
What a grand old structure. A lovely place for a spring outing.
What a beautiful castle! And love the tulips and #cloudporn.