26.09.2018: Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey), England

On the 25th we went back to Burghclere from Snowdonia and spent the night so that we could do our tour of Highclere Castle, which for those of you that aren't fans, is the set of the TV drama Downton Abbey. Casey and I both really wanted to do this tour so we agreed it was worth the backtracking.

Our tour was with roughly 50+ other people, which is quite intimate as during the summers it is usually around the 1400 mark making their way through. We had the most beautiful day for it as well, which permitted us to eat the lovely lunch they provided us outside. Unfortunately for us though, no pictures of any type were allowed to be taken in the castle, as it is a private residence and they do not want their home photographed... Major upset for us. But, nonetheless we had a great experience and got some great shots of the outside.

Some interesting facts about Highclere Castle (as told to us by our tour guide and the lady of the house, Countess of Carnarvon):

• There has been an estate here for over 1300 years (since roughly 700 AD)
• She fancies being a "farmer's wife" and looking more into using their estate for farm-to-table initiatives
• Note: I know a few farmer's wives that wouldn't mind living in a castle...
• There are approximately 300 rooms in the castle, but they're not really sure as they are constantly happening upon more that are filled with antique furniture, etc.
• The Canadian Constitution was drafted by John A. Mcdonald and the Earl of Carnarvon in 1866 at the castle and through correspondence between the two of them
• All of the furniture and decor as seen in the Downton series is how it is in their home; the only things replaced are the lampshades that are too modern for the time period
• They are in possession of Napoleon Bonaparte's writing desk and chair (really wish we could've taken a photo of this) 

All in all our favourite rooms were the library and the dining room. We were upset to learn that Lady Mary's room is filmed in a studio in London and so are the kitchens (which is what I wanted to see most, as that's where majority of the sh*t went down with the waitstaff haha!) After our tour, we drove 4.5 hrs back north to Bangor, Wales where we caught a train to Holyhead and jumped on a ferry to Dublin, where we landed today in the rain.

*cue Downton Abbey theme song

Side note: we had time for brunch in Newbury, and went to a place by the wharf called Bill's. Highly recommend if anyone is ever in that part of the world!