Grantchester

lunch at the orchard

We've finally managed to have a quieter day.
Susan suggested we go out to lunch at Grantchester (a suburb of Cambridge) at a place called The Orchard. This used to be Susan and John's father Don's favourite place to go out for lunch. You can sit out in the open air under the trees in the orchard in deck chairs to enjoy the dappled sunshine whilst eating lunch. Also it is a dog-friendly venue so Daisy and Bella could come along with us.

Grantchester is a quaint and pretty place. An obviously wealthy area judging by the gorgeous homes. We drove past beautifully restored thatched roof cottages amongst larger mansions behind high gates. Jeffrey Archer, novelist and disgraced ex MP lives right next door to The Orchard in a rather grand house.

cute church at Grantchester

We were fortunate to get a carpark at this popular place on such a mild weathered day. We soon found a table in the shade and ordered lunch. Daisy and Bella were not the only dogs there with their owners. It seems to be a pooch haven with plenty of space for the dogs to loll around while their owners were eating and then a big field and nearby river to romp in later.

deck chairs at the orchard

John with his girlfriend Bella dog

Geoffrey Susan and Barb at lunch

The food was simple nutritious fare; but yummy and afterwards we succumbed to the hopeful plea of the dogs and headed off for a walk. We climbed over a stile into a field. Barb was careful not to fall into the large stand of stinging nettles right beside the stile. The dogs were let off their leads and bounded joyfully into the long grass heading straight for the river. All you could see was a head or tail bobbing out of the swirling grass as the chased each other through the long grass. Barb declined to walk through the knee to hip high grass as she wasn't wearing walking boots and quickly returned to Susan at the Orchard where they sensibly ordered pots of tea and cake to await the men and dogs return.

John and Geoffrey walk the dogs

stile with stinging nettles

Bella loving the freedom of off-leash time in a field

dogs have disappeared into the long grass

Daisy returned completely saturated after a swim in the river. She was chased out of the river by an angry swan who was none too happy to have its space invaded. Fortunately she managed to scramble up the bank to safety. Swans can be vicious!
We returned home and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing in the back garden reading books and drinking Pims

We are revived.