Gone Walkabout: Littledale B&B

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Littledale B&B

For this trip North, I added “vacation” elements to our trip. We spent a few days before and after visiting to do some sight-seeing. Also put a full day between visits so we could travel at a slower pace.

Another thing I did was to look for B&Bs to stay at instead of motels. Found a delightful one in Richland Center, WI. “Littledale” (www.littledalefarm.com ) is a working sheep farm and border collie kennel run by Graham and Margaret Phillipson. Graham and Margaret are originally from Manchester, England.

There are four upstairs guest rooms in the Victorian farmhouse, plus use of the front sitting room and dining room. Guests are also free to wander about the property… just please make sure to shut the gates behind you!

The Phillipson’s were wonderful hosts. We were warmly welcomed and shown around the house. Then we were left to relax and enjoy on our own.

You could say the B&B is “in the middle of nowhere”. An occasional car goes down the road but other than that all you hear is the sound of the breeze, sheep bleating and a bit of barking by the border collies. So peaceful!

Himself and I wandered out into the lawn and stretched out on the gentle slope where we could see the Milky Way. We watched shooting stars and satellites cross overhead. We were treated to see a pass of the Space Station too!

The next morning I was up early to go out and take some dawn shots of the valley as the fog lifted. It was so beautiful. And I got a bit of “puppy love” as Maggie the border collie came over to say ‘hello’ as she took her morning run.

At 8am we came in for our “proper English breakfast” served by Margaret on her lovely English china.

Too soon it was time to leave for our next destination… Taliesin in Spring Green, WI. But we are already making plans to stay next year when we travel north again. And this time we will stay a bit longer!