Beyond Limits in the rain

Sunday was the only rainy day of the weekend, and we decided to go to Chatsworth with some friends. Two reasons -it was a day when season ticket holders could bring a friend in for free, and we wanted to see the Beyond Limits sculpture exhibition in the gardens. Despite the rain we had a great time, and bought season tickets while we were there, so can go back anytime during the year. We got fairly wet walking round the gardens, but it was worth it. The sculptures ranged from pots and pans in the Orangery:

to some hares by one of my favourite sculptors, Barry Flanagan:

Despite the rain, the colours in the gardens are lovely at this time of year.

and we took the chance to look at some of the artworks that are there all year, and not part of the exhibition, such as the willow woven inside a yew tree.

If you've been to Chatsworth before you'll know that there's a fantastic cascade in the grounds, and for the exhibition, it has some contemporary chinese warriors on it. They were great, and made me smile a lot. Looked really cheeky.

The other water features, including the Emperor Fountain also had sculptures near them, but it was getting rather wet by then! All of the water features are gravity fed - no engines - from reservoirs at the top of the hills. A great place to walk if you get the chance.

My favourite sculpture was called Visitor by David Breur-Weil. It was great, you were almost on it before you noticed it, and so atmospheric in the rain.

Came home very muddy and damp, but worth it.