Dog Day at Stowe Gardens

Stowe House and Garden

A Welshie Big Adventure in England

On Sundays in the UK many people sit down for a special family meal.  Usually referred to as the Sunday Roast, it can be chicken, pork, beef or lamb.  In addition to the roast with gravy, you get roasted potatoes, some cooked veggies, a Yorkshire Pudding and quite often cheesy cauliflower.  It’s dinner in the afternoon.

We had reservations at The Fox Inn located in Broadwell at 3 PM so activity needed to be in the morning.  Thanks to my friend Andrea, who suggested we spend a dog day at Stowe Gardens, we headed there for an outstandingly beautiful and relaxing stroll around Stowe’s 250 acres of paths, lakes and rolling scenery.

One of the many lovely views at Stowe Garden.

Stowe House and Gardens was owned by the Temple-Grenville family for over 300 years.  As happened to many aristocratic families, they could not afford to maintain the house in the way they were accustomed and had to sell off the contents of Stowe in 1848 to fulfill their debts.

But before Stowe fell, it was seen as tourist destination in the 1800s and anyone going on the Grand Tour of England would make a stop here to take in the gardens filled with temples and sculptures.

Stowe School and Stowe as a Movie Set

In 1923 Stowe House was bought and turned into Stowe School.  The school still teaches students to this day.  While we walked around the 11 Acre Lake we saw the school’s crew sculls.  Notable graduates of Stowe School include Richard Branson, Henry Cavill, and David Niven.

Stowe has also been used in several movies and productions including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Bridgerton, Stardust,  and James Bond in The World is Not Enough and Tomorrow Never Dies to name several.

The Gardens Today

The gardens are maintained and run by the National Trust.  As is common at Trust properties, they are actively trying to restore and preserve the grounds and the architectural features originally installed.  What we saw was incredibly dog and human friendly.

With so many architectural monuments to visit we saw only a fraction during our visit.

With a variety of trees and shrubs, rolling hills of grass and crushed stone paths, it was available to everyone regardless of physical ability.  We saw so many parents pushing prams or strollers, people navigating paths in wheel chairs and so many dogs.

Maisie taking a rest.

Winston having a rest.

It was hot out today and the dogs were hot but happy sniffing each bush or hole in the ground.  We had a portable water bottle for Maisie and Winston and would stop periodically to keep them hydrated.

Taken at the Shell Bridge with the dogs considering a swim.

We all had to adjust from the normally cool and rainy weather to an 80 degree day.  Brian and I had to break out our shorts and t-shirts for the first time.

A little bit hot but very happy at Stowe Gardens.

It hit us all pretty hard, but with plenty of shady places to stroll at Stowe, and several temples or buildings to stand in and cool off, we were able to keep wandering around.   

A shady walking trail to cool off on.

I wish we could have stayed until the garden closed.  But we had a reservation at The Fox Inn so we needed to leave enough time to drive the hour back to our cottage and change.  During the several hours we enjoyed at Stowe Gardens we made the most of every moment we had.

If You Go

Plan on an entire day at Stowe.  They have a nice cafe which can serve as a mid-way break during your visit.  Stowe has multiple trails to follow of varying distances.  Make sure to get the free map they provide and review it before you head out.  It can be easy to wander in almost circles only to realize you haven’t made much forward progress.

This structure may be rented out for events.

Bring water, sunscreen, and even a picnic if you would like.  We saw plenty of people with blankets spread and everyone lazing about snacking.  There are restrooms at the start but none in the garden itself.

A sculpture that the Trust has replicated at Stowe.

And if you choose to go with your dogs please remember to bring water, waste bags and money to buy the dogs an ice cream at the end of the day.  All dogs must remain on leads at all times.

Maisie and Winston got an ice cream each as a treat for the long hot walk.

Stowe Gardens - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/stowe-gardens

The Fox Inn - Broadwell

Simple, straight forward food, at a lovely old inn not far from our cottage in Stow. We found this place by chance while walking the dogs along the Monarch's Way. The staff are warm and friendly, quick to smile and willing to laugh at a joke, while the inside of the tiny old buidling is cozy and lit by candles.

A humorous fox carrying both a rifle and a dead pheasant.

With a large backyard for outdoor seating, there is plenty of room for couples, families, and hen parties to all have a delicious Sundary Roast and a pint.

The roast chicken here was the juciest I have had, and my search for the best Sticky Toffee Pudding may now be over.

Yes please, bring your dogs here for a pint and a meal!

We may just walk here for drinks and dinner for the remaining four days that we are in Stow!

The Fox Inn - https://www.thefoxbroadwell.com