cameras at the ready and our walking boots on

Haigh Ho , Let's Go....

30/12/2016

Haigh Hall has been a country park serving Wigan for a very long time. Back in the 70’s, when we were young, the park was somewhere we often visited to ride the miniature train and the tractor train, visit the zoo, mini golf etc. Over the past decade, it had become run down and a little bit sad although it remained a popular place for walking especially with dogs! It is currently undergoing somewhat of a transformation with some quite wonderful changes!

We visited on a cold but sunny December day at 3.30pm and were amazed at the crowds of people enjoying the weather and the beautiful surroundings.

The play area was the first to be transformed and it is easy to see what a good job they have done with it. It sits next to another new feature the Haigh Hall High ropes – another fine looking feature, but one I think we may give a miss!

The Hall itself which has always been a popular venue for weddings and events is currently undergoing its own transformation and rumour has it that it is turning into a spa hotel ! Let’s hope local residents get a free trial of the facilities!

As well as shaking off the post-Christmas lethargy by having a good bracing walk we also wanted to use the great lighting and weather conditions to give our new camera a Fuji X-T1 a good work out. As you can see from the images below it didn't disappoint.

Perhaps the biggest change has been the transformation of the stables into the Haigh Hall Kitchen Courtyard which now contains a selection of quality shops.

A M Flowers – a personal favourite – run by the wonderful Angela and Julie who provided the flowers for our daughter's wedding, used to be quite lonely in the courtyard but have been joined by a bakery, chocolatier, ice cream shop, foragers meat and veg shop and even a brewery!

Julie & Angela create the most beautiful floral arrangements for every occasion at a very reasonable cost. Their creations for Lucy’s January wedding were beautiful and we have been frequent visitors since. One of their Christmas creations was so lovely it stayed up in our house all year! Too nice to put away!

We sampled the ice cream from Holden’s Ice Cream shop for the first time this Christmas. We went in to get an accompaniment for some Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, but were unable to agree on a flavour! Luckily the lady who served us was very accommodating and we came home with four flavours in two tubs! Brandy butter for Grandad, Gingerbread for Mum and a chocolate and vanilla for anyone who was feeling less adventurous. Strangely some of the people who did not want to try the brandy butter flavour decided that was their favourite! The ice cream was delicious and on our late afternoon visit the shop was packed with people eating ice creams and drinking hot chocolate!

Shortly after it had opened we had lunched with the Grandparents in the All You Knead Bakery and Coffee Shop and had a delicious lunch of home made pies and sandwiches – all freshly made on delicious bread. They sell their own artisan breads and will even make you a posh picnic!

Luisco Chocolates we popped into and once again they were doing a roaring trade in hot chocolates – lovely smells and lots of smiling faces! We sampled their salted caramel dark chocolate which was delicious.