During our trek through London last weekend we purchased annual memberships with English Heritage, giving us free or discounted entry into a whole heap of historical sights. So come the following weekend, we figured we'd make the most of our memberships and hit up an English Heritage property.
We picked Coombe Conduit, up on Coombe Hill because it's not too far away and it's right next door to Richmond Park so we could head over there for a squiz afterwards. While Shannae could best be described as indifferent towards the Conduit, I was actually very interested in seeing it, but as it turns out, it's only open on the second Sunday of each month.
We picked Coombe Conduit, up on Coombe Hill because it's not too far away and it's right next door to Richmond Park so we could head over there for a squiz afterwards. While Shannae could best be described as indifferent towards the Conduit, I was actually very interested in seeing it, but as it turns out, it's only open on the second Sunday of each month.
No harm done however, Coombe Hill is a beautiful part of Surrey and we got to walk through some lovely streets - and ridiculously expensive-looking houses - on our way to Richmond Park.
Richmond Park is the largest park in Greater London covering around 2400 acres. Being that large we only had chance to see a fraction of it - but what we did see was amazing.
Richmond Park is the largest park in Greater London covering around 2400 acres. Being that large we only had chance to see a fraction of it - but what we did see was amazing.
A mixture of bracken-covered open fields, beautiful green woodlands, and winding dirt pathways, Richmond park is probably as close to rural England as you can get within the bounds of the city.
We barely spoke a word to one-another as we quietly explored, climbing trees and following twisting paths between the trees. The highlight for us both was when we saw our first deer.
We barely spoke a word to one-another as we quietly explored, climbing trees and following twisting paths between the trees. The highlight for us both was when we saw our first deer.
They roam freely in Richmond Park and are quite used to humans. So while not as skittish as their rural counterparts; you still need to be quiet and slow to get a good look. A little-known fact about Shannae is that on the dance floor she moves with the grace and majesty of a peregrine falcon riding the thermal currents; but in the forest she sneaks like a herd of elephants wearing parachute pants. In spite of this we managed to follow a small group of stags around for quite a while.
It was a really lovely day.