This afternoon the weather was absolutely perfect for a trip to the stunning, Forde Abbey near Chard, with its spectacular fountain and 30 acres of gardens, not to mention a lovely tea room in the undercroft, a large and very tempting gift shop and a plant nursery.
It is just a 35 minute drive from home and the drive itself was a lovely way to start the trip. I am familiar with the route to Chard which, from where I live is mainly country roads, with a very quick "hello" to the A303 and A30! Someone I spoke to this morning said that they had often driven it in the summer and it had reminded them of being in the South of France. I can quite see what they mean on a day like today!
It was once described as " the most perfect monastery in England", Forde Abbey is a beacon of elegant antiquity, set within exquisite countryside.
It was built 900 years ago by Cistercian monks. It still embodies the serenity and philosophy of the monks who lived and prayed there.
Now Forde Abbey is a stunning home to the Kennard family and has been for many years. They continue to live and work there in an informal style. Aswell as the house and gardens there is a working farm and a pick your own fruit farm.
Here are a couple of my first glimpses of Forde Abbey
No doubt about it...the satnav definitely took me to the right place this time!
I felt very grand driving down this entrance driveway with the house in all its glory at the bottom
Tickets are sold in the gift shop. Today was the last day of the special discounted winter rate, so I paid £5.
I think it is usually around £7.50 and slightly more if you want to see around the house which opens at the beginning of April. If you are in the area though you may find some leaflets at Tourist Info places with vouchers in for £2 off per person for up to a maximum of 4 people.
A very helpful and friendly ticket seller gave me a map and talked me through the opening times of the tea rooms and the switch on times of the fountain and he pointed out the various attractions on the map.
I took some time just to orientate myself with these surroundings and then headed to the tearoom. I had missed lunch which finished at 2pm (I have heard that their food is very good and mainly uses local produce, including many things grown on the Forde Abbey farm and in their kitchen garden).
| I did not get a picture of the inside of the restaurant as my phone camera is not too good at taking indoor snaps, but this is a picture of the outside of the restaurant! I quite like the snail quote on the bin, seen all over the estate. |
After a nice, huge homemade flapjack lunch and coffee I headed for a proper stroll around the gardens, heading first to the Centenary fountain, England's tallest powered fountain. I took so many pictures, but here are just a few of them:
The house in the background with the spectacular fountain and a lovely swingy seat!
A beautiful rainbow appeared to the right of the fountain!
The fountain like a firework, went far higher than this tall tree!
This one I took right into the sun light, but I quite like the effect! Looks like the figure is skating on the shimmering water beneath the sun!
Now, I will show you some more of the gardens. I did not get around the whole estate and will definitely return again, in a different season to see it again and to see some of the gardens that I missed.
Me on the swingy seat overlooking the Centenary fountain pond
Cute pony grazing in the grounds
Everywhere I looked there were daffodils and crocus'!
Unplanned, my top and cardigan matched their surroundings! Pink, purple and yellow flowers and green leaves!
2 stone dogs guard the entrance to the large kitchen garden
The kitchen garden where much of the food for the restaurant is grown
Well, that's about as much of the gardens as I saw today. There were a lot of the 30 acres that I did not get a chance to see. Another day!
Alan Titchmarsh has described the gardens as "One of the greatest gardens in the West Country"
It has also been listed as one of the ten best places in England.
If you want to read more about the place or plan a visit, click on this link
See you next time from somewhere beginning with G!
Continuing to enjoy your trips - you've had some lovely weather for them!
ReplyDeleteYes! I have been really lucky with the weather! The only day it has rained (and really badly at that!) was the day that I could not find the place I was looking for anyway! Long may sunny Sundays continue!
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