Doric Temple
At the Doric Temple, the river valley turns through an astonishing 300 degrees, so that the temple appears to sit on a promontory and here you will discover another great terrace setting off westwards and providing a south facing limestone slope, the ideal habitat for wild flowers.
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The
Doric Temple is surrounded by wonderful wild flowers. |
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Before the First World War all the grass cutting was carried out by a machine pulled by a donkey, fitted with leather boots to protect the turf. As this south facing terrace was furthest from the house invariably it was cut last and less frequently, the right management from the point of view of a wild flower. Unfortunately, in recent times and with the advent of the motor mower this bank has been mown too frequently. A more traditional laissez faire policy for cutting this slope has now been adopted in order to encourage once again the establishment of the flora.
From the Doric Temple you may elect to set off
along the curved terrace returning you to the Ionic Temple,
or you can return towards the house along the South
Terrace.
If you can survive the temptations along this
route you will arrive, shortly before the end of the terrace
on your right, at the southern end of the Broad Walk which
leads you north, back across the east Front of the house and
the exit to the Parkland Centre.
However, before arriving at the Broad Walk,
it is likely that you will be lured along another walk
into the woods by the sight of an ancient building at the end
of it. Those who have succumbed to this temptation without the
foresight to purchase a guidebook will soon be lost
and will be fetched back to the Parkland Centre after nightfall
with tracker dogs. Armed with your guidebook, however, you will
have little to fear and may proceed with confident step to the
Conservatory. |
