Downton Abbey, Season 4, will premier stateside on PBS January 5th, 2014, and will run 8 weeks before concluding on February 23rd. The news of it was already buzzing in England when we left mid-September. It premieres in the UK tonight, September 22nd on ITV at 9PM (that’s 4pm in the states on the east coast)!

This summer, we finally did a side trip to Highclere castle, home to the Downton Abbey Clan. It was worth the ride through twisted roads and beautiful countryside to find it.

It was just as lovely as I suspected, and surprisingly My Beloved Brit decided to go with me on the house tour.

Even though it was gloomy outside, inside the rooms were bright and just like the tv set.  They didn’t allow photography of the interior, but many of the rooms were very familiar from the television screen.  After the full tour of the downstairs and many of the bedroom suites on the first floor, we headed outside just in time for the misty rain to roll in.

It didn’t matter at all.  I had my rain gear on, so out I went.  MBB returned to the car to read his paper as I explored the lawn and gardens.

The trees on the way to the secret garden are magnificent.

I don’t remember seeing the white border or secret garden very much in the show.  I’ll have to look out for it this season.

Downton Abbey or not, it is a beautiful house and garden.

Let the season begin!