A Wiltshire estate rated as one of the best sites for autumn walks in the UK has been praised for its “breathtaking” viewpoint and “stunning gardens”.
Stourhead Estate was named a top place for seeing autumn leaves by CN Traveller and is known for its Palladian-style villa, landscape garden and 2,650 acres of countryside.
Stourhead Estate, first opened in the 1740s, has a world-famous garden with a lake in its centre.
Visitors can explore the classical temples, grottoes, and rare trees, before learning about the history of Stourhead house with its Regency library and fascinating furniture and paintings.
Visitors can also explore Alfred’s Tower, a triangular, 160ft folly that offers panoramic views across three counties, or the Palladian Bridge, which was built in 1792 and was inspired by the work of Palladio, the 16th-century architect.
The gardens also have the Gothic Cottage, Rock Arch, and Stourhead’s Pantheon. The latter is a temple filled with statues of gods including a marble work of Hercules by Rysbrack. History lovers can enjoy the Temple of Flora which is dedicated to the Roman goddess of flowers and spring and was built between 1744 and 1746.
The parkland at Stourhead spans three sides of the Palladian villa and includes an area called the Great Oar Meadow. The hay meadow is a habitat for rare, native orchids and other flora, and roe deer are often seen in the area.
Stourhead is free to visit for National Trust members, otherwise it costs £24.20 (with Gift Aid) for adults over the age of 18, and £12.10 for 5-17-year-olds. Meanwhile, the wider estate is completely free to access. Over the coming months, the estate is running an autumn adventure trail with activities and challenges for children to enjoy. It says that this is a “great way to explore Stourhead and enjoy the beautiful falling leaves”.
One visitor wrote on Trip Advisor that the gardens are “simply stunning in the autumn”, while another said: “The grounds were beautifully landscaped by Capability Brown in the eighteenth century and are utterly unique. We lost ourselves in the grotto walk by the lake. It was a stunning autumnal vista that stays with you long after you leave.”
A third wrote: “Second year visiting Stourhead. It is such a wonderful walk, the viewing point overlooking the lake and the temple is breathtaking.” Someone else said that it would be a “stunning place to visit in the autumn” as there are “lots of lovely trees”, and another posted: “A wonderful place to explore for the whole family. Acres of woodland walks, beautiful autumn colours, shrubs and trees of every description and a lake.”