A country house and grounds a little off the beaten track well worth a visit at this time of year particularly is Cannon Hall near Barnsley.

Why particularly at this time of year? Well for my money they have one of the best displays of rhododendrons around, with hundreds of mature specimens dotted around the gardens in multiple shades of reds, pinks, yellows and purples.

I was often taken to Cannon Hall in my youth, and the one thing that always stuck in my mind was the rhododendrons, even though in those days I was more interested in playing around and hiding in them rather than admiring their spectacular blooms.

There’s lots more to Cannon Hall than its plants, though, with several acres of parkland that are great for strolls, taking a picnic or enjoying ball games. The house itself is home to two museums, and around the back of the house is an award-winning working farm and farm shop where youngsters will love getting up-close with a whole range of animals.

Cannon Hall is located just outside the pretty village of Cawthorne, five miles west of Barnsley off the A635. It should take you less than an hour to get there by car from Bradford.

The hall, set in 70 acres of parkland, was home for about 300 years to the Spencers and Spencer-Stanhopes, the iron industrialist family. The building you see now was enlarged and redesigned in the late 18th century.

It has been a museum for more than 50 years, housing a collection of Old Master artworks (including a Constable), ceramics, furniture and glassware in its elegant Georgian and Victorian rooms. All areas are accessible to wheelchair-users, with a lift to the first floor.

You can find out more about the hall and local history from books and pamphlets in the museum shop, which also stocks greetings cards, gifts and refreshments.

Added interest is provided by an additional regimental museum of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars, Queen Mary’s Own and the Light Dragoons. Entitled ‘Charge’, it is a must for anyone interested in military history and includes fascinating information on the part played by the regiment in battles such as the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War in the 1850s. Heritage Lottery Fund assistance recently enabled Charge to be refurbished, making it well worth a look around.

The parkland and gardens are a superb place for walking and family activities, with plenty of space to stride out and enjoy the grounds, landscaped in the 1760s by Richard Woods. The walled garden next to the hall dates from the same period, with colourful roses through the summer, a great variety of pears grown up the walls and a greenhouse which houses the 200-year-old Cannon Hall vine.

The vine was grown from a seed brought back from the continent in 1802 by John Spencer-Stanhope. A cutting of this vine was later taken to Australia, where it was cultivated and its descendants now produce some of that country’s finest wines.

In and among the rhododendrons in the gardens are numerous interesting follies built by the Spencer-Stanhopes, and there is also the remains of a walled grass tennis court.

Adjacent to the car park at the bottom of the parkland is a stream and lakes, home to many ducks and geese – take care not to feed the birds as the geese in particular can become rather over-enthusiastic! This area is also the location of a recently-improved climbing playground which should keep younger members of the family entertained, and there’s a pavilion cafe for refreshments.

Just behind the hall is Cannon Hall Farm and farm shop. The farm is a great family destination, with a huge selection of animals that young and old can enjoy getting to know about.

The farm is famed for its baby animals, in particular the lambs, with around 750 born this year. Piglets arrive all year round and there are always baby pigs on display, along with pygmy goat kids, donkeys and Shetland pony foals. Breeds of cattle at the farm include Highland cattle with their huge horns and shaggy coats.

There are also llamas, with four or five baby llamas born each year, young rabbits and guinea pigs are always popular with children, many varieties of pheasants and cage birds, and rare but friendly kune kune pigs from New Zealand.

While you’re at the farm, do drop in at the farm shop, always well-stocked with a great range of fresh meats and vegetables, as well as jams, marmalades, chutneys, sauces, biscuits, cakes and excellent teas and coffees.

There are several decent pubs nearby which are good to drop in at for a drink or food. Try the Spencer Arms in Cawthorne village for a tasty, well-priced selection of meals, or the Cherry Tree Inn at nearby High Hoyland which has superb views over Cannon Hall’s grounds.

The village of Cawthorne is always interesting to walk around, and adjacent to the Cannon Hall car park is a super little garden centre with a recently extended and improved cafe.

Factfile

  • Cannon Hall is at Cawthorne
  • The hall and museum are open Saturday to Wednesday, 11am-5pm (last admission 4.15pm) to end of October. Entry is free, but there can be charges for special events l Parking: £3 for all day, 8am to 8pm. A traffic flow system allows vehicles to exit the car park after closing time
  • For details, call (01226) 790270, or e-mail cannonhall@barnsley.gov.uk