Claythorpe Watermill

I went on an adventure with Dean this weekend and adventuring we did! It was my first time visiting Claythorpe Watermill and immediately I fell in love with the place, it's beautiful... even in the dreary weather.

As soon as we entered the grounds we had ten thousand chickens and roosters crowing and wandering around our feet. I don't know about you but I love these guys, they're so adorable and full of character. I took tons of photographs that day with my Pentax SLR and Instax 210, using my mobile for general other photographs.

Claythorpe Watermill is home to a range of small animals from marmosets and chipmunks to a lovely little red squirrel. It was entertaining enough in itself just to watch Dean react to the marmosets to be honest! He was pretty much besotted with them and I was a little bit worried I'd find them hidden in his coat on the drive home. We went through to the Wildfowl Garden and fed the ducks, black swan and the incredibly inquisitive crane. There were some absolutely gorgeous birds in there and it was nice to see them all just waddling around, quite contently. I wish I had taken a look at what the breeds were but I was far too distracted at the time by their adorable little faces and waddling feet.

There's a family of otters as well that came down to peer at us through the fencing after a while - they really do make the cutest noises! I love how it took one of them to get the courage to curiously come closer before they all then trotted along after one another.

Claythorpe Mill is such a lovely little place, I really do love it. The staff were so friendly and welcoming, the food was fantastic and the animals and birds were adorable - and well looked after! I really can't wait to go back in the Summer when it's a bit warmer. It would also make for a lovely family day out as well with the huge play area across the road (believe me, if it hadn't been raining, I would've been frolicking through it quite contently).

We went for a walk afterwards and strolled past a line of about 12 tractors, the drivers of which all saying hello. Everyone was so friendly! Following little signs we made our way across fields, over bridges and through tons of mud, feeling like little Hobbits going on an adventure the whole way. I'm proud that we didn't get lost to be honest! My sense of direction is atrocious but we made it back to the car eventually (after being pelted in the face by hailstones that is). I don't know what happened to Spring but it was bloody cold on Sunday, that's for sure!