08 June 2026

Avoiding the cows and a swan at Nostell Priory

We have had two visits to Nostell Priory this week. Now that the cows are back in the fields, we prefer to avoid whichever field they are grazing in. We don’t see the point of taking any unnecessary risks when walking Ruby, especially as there are plenty of other routes that still provide a good, lengthy walk.

We had been told about a way of bypassing the field with the cattle, so on our second visit, we decided to give it a try. It worked well and allowed us to avoid entering the main field in front of the house. The only hazard was negotiating a few fresh cow pats along the way—something that Ruby finds particularly attractive!

As we approached the lake, we could see the swans resting on the grassy bank with their cygnets. It was the first time this year that we had seen the young birds out of the water. However, one of the adult swans was clearly not happy about our presence. It kept approaching us, prompting us to back away a little each time. Whether it was wary of Ruby, hoping for food, or simply encouraging us to move on, I’m not entirely sure. Whatever the reason, we decided it was best to respect its wishes and give the swan family plenty of space.