In an English Country Garden

We stayed up there, somewhere, around 20 of us in varying waves over the week, for a long-planned family reunion.

The cousins practiced their best gurns and zombie faces in front of Hardwick New Hall, the monogrammed monument that Bess of Hardwick built as a huge F.U. to her fourth and richest husband.

Not that cousin Evie gurns. My, cousin Becky, you make beautiful children!

In the Hall, there’s a historical detective zone, complete with costumes.

Below it, there are fields of wildflowers that lead you down to an old mill, with a stream, and flour, and all.

There is also the ruined old hall, Bess’ father’s pride and joy, in front of which one can refuse to pose for photos.

There are fields to run through, with adoring grandparents to watch.

And stables to visit, and tip-and-run cricket, with proper cricketers, and Twister, and Monopoly — just like we played as children — and even the rare non-gurning photo.

The adults? We mainly cooked. And drank wine. And went to the pub. And sat in the sun.

Isn’t that how it’s always been? Well, in my family, anyway.

I can’t recommend National Trust Cottages highly enough. The National Trust is a charity that looks after historic buildings and gardens in the UK, and the cottages are typically on their grounds. We stayed at 6 High Hazels and 4 Stable Yard.

If you’re looking to stay somewhere even more historic, the Landmark Trust rents out historic, quirky buildings, from forts to follies to railway carriages.