Susan Calman's Grand Day Out

Susan celebrates the countryside and all it has to offer, enjoying an adventure at Hopetoun House - billed as Scotland's finest stately home - and recalling highlights from her country trips over the years.

Hopetoun House nestles on the South Queensferry coast, with views to the Forth Bridges. Here, Susan gets to try out country house life in all manner of ways – whether it's upstairs, downstairs or outdoors.

Susan enjoys a glamorous drawing room as it as it was intended, by parading around the edges so the art hung on French red silk-lined walls can be shown off to its best; but she also discovers the ornate ceiling is best enjoyed lying down on the floor.

Downstairs, she meets Fiona who explains the role of the country house maids of old and puts Susan to work making butter with paddles. It's something Susan is very keen to get right - but she's not sure she's pleased with the results.

Then, in the glorious landscaped gardens, she helps in the important job of tending to the ponds. It turns out that a few of the stately home's residents need a bit of help to get around, and the job requires setting out ladders to help baby toads get out of the water. As she reflects, it may be one of the most worthwhile jobs she's ever done.

Through it all, there's a memorable collection of Grand Days Out where Susan recollects some of her wonderful countryside trips. Whether they've taken her to The Eden Project or to a gloriously sunny Dartmoor and whether it involves walking alpacas or running down hills after cheese, her adventures with Helen have always been filled with joy.