by Helen Kain | Jun 8, 2025 | Castles & Stately Houses, England, Featured, Georgians (1714–1837)
Nestled in the rolling countryside of Norfolk, Houghton Hall is a testament to the grandeur of 18th-century Palladian architecture. It’s easy to be dazzled by the symmetry, the scale, and the sheer elegance of it all. But behind every arch and column lies a mind—and a...
by Helen Kain | May 27, 2022 | Castles & Stately Homes, Featured, Medieval (1066–1485), Recent, Scotland
Castles have a long and complex history, much more so than stately homes. Fortified structures built during the middle ages by the nobility or royalty, their primary purpose was defence—keeping those inside the castle walls safe and keeping the violent attackers out....
by Helen Kain | Sep 29, 2019 | Castles & Stately Houses, England, Featured, Georgians (1714–1837), Great Gardens of England, Treasure Houses
“Where shall we go today?” was the question. Our three weeks in England were almost at an end, and we – Glenn, that is – had done a lot of driving already, so I hesitated to suggest Harewood House, nearly two hours from our self-catering cottage in...
by Helen Kain | Jul 22, 2018 | Castles & Stately Houses, England, Featured, Tudors (1485–1603)
If a thousand-year-old manor house could possibly be described as comfortable, Haddon Hall would fit the bill. Its history is mild; little violence, no Cromwellian slighting, just a Ducal manor passing gently down the centuries accompanied by only a bit of skirmishing...
by Helen Kain | Jun 3, 2017 | Castles, Featured, Spain, Unique Places to Stay
After leaving Toledo, we made our way south towards Granada. Destination: Alhambra, a fortress and palace of breathtaking exterior austerity and interior intricacy. We stayed at the Parador Granada, one of the Paradores series established by the Spanish government to...
