A grand day out!

Scott’s Grotto is... well, a grotto, and this one was built by the 18^th century poet John Scott in the town of Ware, neighbouring Hertford. It’s open every Saturday and bank holiday from April to September, for just two and a half hours. It has an interesting history which has led to it now being situated between two modern houses in a residential street. Passing through a gateway in a tall, wooden fence, you go down steps to the grotto entrance.

It’s not a huge grotto, and it only takes about fifteen minutes to walk around it slowly with lots of stops to admire the seashell-studded walls in the chambers. You then go around it again because you can. A torch is essential!

It’s fascinating and beautiful.

There’s a summerhouse nearby where Scott chose to write his poetry, though he also worked inside the grotto on occasion – an odd, dark choice, I would have thought!

Grace and I went there on Saturday with Nome and Jess. It’s only a half-hour drive from St Albans. Before we went, however, we paid a visit to Aylett Nurseries’ Dahlia Celebration. I’ve not really been a dahlia aficionado before, but their garden changed my mind entirely. The rows of so many different varieties were quite stunning.

It was indeed a grand day out!