Hestercombe House & Gardens, Hestercombe, Taunton, Somerset
Hestercombe House and Gardens isn’t far from the holiday cottages at Stonehayes Farm in Devon – just a short hop over the county border and certainly well worth visiting.
The 50 acre gardens span three centuries of garden design, including a Georgian Landscaped Garden, a Victorian Shrubbery and Edwardian Formal Gardens. The gardens are beautifully designed with interesting follies, and the framing of the vistas is perfect, drawing your eye, making you stop and admire.
Regular visitors seem to have their favourite parts of the gardens; some love the tranquillity of the Box Pond and the Pear Pond, others adore the stroll along the terrace walk to the Chinese Seat and the Valley of Cascades. People are intrigued by the Witch House and Mausoleum, fascinated by the 17th century water mill, and blown away by the fragrant air and timeless charm of the rose garden.
At the heart of the estate the historic house is now home to a contemporary art gallery, a gift shop, second hand bookshop and function room. The former stables and carthouse are where you’ll find the restaurant, serving brunch, lunch and afternoon tea, and the café where you can stop for light bites, cakes and ice cream.
Special rates are available for parties of 15 or more.
Open every day 10am-5pm
T: 01823 413923 All information correct at the time of writing