Stourhead House & Gardens, Stourton, Warminster, Wiltshire
This Palladian house in Wiltshire was home to the Hoare's banking family for generations but is now owned by the National Trust. Stroll through the breath taking landscaped gardens and you'll see enchanting temples and folllies reflected in the lake; daffodils nodding their heads and rhodedendrons bursting with colour in springtime, a myriad of coppery gold and yellow leaves in the autumn; it really is beautiful and it makes you sigh. Gaze out over the lake from the Grotto, pause on the seat outside the Gothic Cottage, go up through the caves in the side of the hill to the Temple of Appollo for a panoramic view of the gardens; wander out to the Obelisk. If the house is open,it's worth a peek to see the Picture Gallery and the Pope's Cabinet, and you can see the sculleries and kitchens beneath the house; there's a family trail, tracker packs and an explorers activities tick list. On your way back to the car, stop off at the cafe in the courtyard or at the Spread Eagle Inn for refreshments.
Opening times vary throughout the year/dogs allowed in the gardens after 4pm Mar - Oct, after 3pm Nov and all day Dec-Feb
All information correct at the time of writing.