Today we had glorious sunshine and warmth so I just had to get on the road and head over to Hestercombe. I think this is my shortest trip so far - just 15 minutes from home, in Cheddon Fitzpaine in Taunton, a beautiful countryside drive minutes from the centre.
Hestercombe is a collection of 3 gardens - a Georgian Landscape garden (40 acres of woodland, lakes and temples), a Victorian Terrace and an Edwardian Formal garden all of which surround a beautiful house.
A lovely long driveway led to the house with a field of ewes and lambs all along the right hand side. A really beautiful spring scene!
And here is the house at the end of the drive
As it was lunchtime and I had not had any lunch I started off my trip with a visit to the Al Fresco cafe' which boasts fabulous homemade food using the best local and seasonal ingredients. I was not disappointed with my lunch, perfect for a sunny Sunday afternoon - smoked chicken and mango salad. Here is a picture of it!
Very tasty!
After lunch it was time to explore the gardens. I have visited Hestercombe once before. During my first week in Taunton several years ago a friend took me there, but I have not driven there before and I did not take many photos last time, so thought it was high time for another visit!
So here are a few photos of my very pleasurable afternoon strolling through the different gardens. So difficult to choose which of the 56 photos I took to include! Its a very photographable place! Again, all these pictures are taken on my mobile phone.
......through the oval window a field of lovely Somerset cows!
and through the other oval window a lovely Somerset country view!
A lake lies through this window
This duck has the best view over Somerset!
The Orangery
Inside the Orangery
Me lying in a field of primroses!
More primroses and woods
Swan on the Mill pond
Pear pond
Octagon Summerhouse
Mausoleum
View of the Pear Pond from the Mausoleum
Gothic Alcove
Looking accross the Great Plat to the house
So that is just a little glimpse of the lovely Hestercombe - definately somewhere to return to on my doorstep. It was a little pricey -£9.50 entry for an adult. You can get annual tickets which are quite good value if you go alot and family tickets too. Its pushchair friendly and the place was teeming with people from tiny babies to pensioners. If you are in the area its well worth a visit!
See you sometime soon from somewhere beginning with I!
Lovely Louise glad you enjoyed the sun shine I did wonder where H would take you. Thanks for give us a glimps of our home area. Looking forward to enjoying next weeks I. Love Chris.x.
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