Tulips Arundel Castle
Sussex Castles 9 & 10 April 2024
The prime reason for this expedition was to see the tulips at Arundel Castle where for some years they have been holding a tulip festival to show off the grounds where they have planted huge numbers of the said flowers and have been producing a riot of colour.
A secondary reason is that following write-ups some years ago staying at Amberley Castle has long been something we have wanted to do. And the two castles are within about 5 miles of each other – so it is possible to cover two targets with a single return journey over some very potholed roads. One of the latter was so large in Petworth that if the car had gone into it the TT would have vanished. It is round a corner so is not visible – but it is very deep. I also found out about some others not so deep – but still capable of shaking the car badly.
it is not quite warm enough to have the top down but it is a pleasant drive down to West Sussex and the TT’s satnav takes us along a narrow village road before delivering us to the first castle at Amberley. Originally the Palace of the Bishop of Chichester there has been an excellent conversion to a hotel and our room was well appointed but oddly (as far as I could find) lacking a ‘fridge. However we can for once sit down and catch up on some reading and the wifi certainly seems to be working.
Drinks before dinner are slightly marred by the waiter slipping in some way and covering his lovely bright blue suit with sherry and probably some beer. Not a great start to the evening. The menu looked interesting but for reasons best known to others there was a distinct lack of taste. On departing for our room Jackie was asked for feedback and the following morning the Restaurant Manager came to see us at reception, acknowledged her concerns and indicated that steps were underway to change the menu and the offering with improvement being the aim. The surroundings are superb and at the time we both felt that the food did not match, so hopefully it soon will. Breakfast is excellent.
Fitzalan Chapel Arundel Castle
Our destination is soon reached and we park across the road from the entrance to Arundel Castle. The secret for people of our age is to take the golf buggy to the gardens which are at the highest point (apart from the historic Castle Keep) and to go around the gardens and then slowly descend visiting the other parts of the castle as you walk back down the hill. Of course we only find out about this service as the buggies descend the hill whilst we walk up it!
Tulip display Arundel
The beds and displays are simply magnificent. The festival dates are always slightly variable and we had booked on guesswork that by now they would be in bloom – the commencement date this year was 1 April and it runs for around three weeks – so it would have been disappointing if it was not happening now.
Private Chapel Arundel Castle
Once we have walked around the gardens we start back down the path and into the main house. To my memory despite it not being that far from home I do not think that I have ever visited the Castle and we do the complete tour – including the Keep and the bedrooms. The Dukes of Norfolk have for a very long time been important in the Royal Court and the current Duke was deeply involved in planning the King’s Coronation.
I had not perhaps realised how magnificent Arundel Castle is – it is on a par with Castle Howard in many respects and that comes as a little of a surprise to me as I had assumed Howard stood alone – but seemingly not.