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Monday 19 October 2009

Stourhead Gardens

First of all a big thank you to all those who have visited and left me more lovely comments. I can't believe that I have been blogging now for less than 3 months and seem to have made so many blogging friends - isn't technology wonderful?!!

I think I told you that we were planning a visit to Stourhead on Saturday - so for those of you who enjoy some of our English scenery here are a few of the photos I took - couldn't believe when I got home that I had actually taken about 150!!! Don't worry I won't show you all of them!
As the weather was so lovely we set of on Saturday morning and can you believe it this was the A303 at about 10.15 on a fine Saturday morning! Now tell me we should have stayed in France since British roads are always jam packed with vehicles!!


Stourhead is a National Trust property and is an absolutely stunning garden at any time of the year but on a crisp sunny October morning it was really beautiful.

Scuffling along through the leaves...


Round every corner another lovely scene

The lake calm as a millpond and those reflections are amazing aren't they?

I don't think you need me to comment on all of the photos so I'll let you wander along by yourselves.






After our walk round the lake we had lunch in the village pub - the Spread Eagle - which was full of character and served a delicious ploughman's lunch which we chose though it was hard to decide whether to have that or the home made soup or any of the other enticing sounding choices.


After lunch we took a look round the house - no photographs allowed inside - which was interesting and which we hadn't seen before. Imagine living here and having the carriages arriving up this splendid driveway! No I don't think I would like that at all - I'd have to be in my best finery and not mucking about in my comfy stuff playing about in the garden wouldn't I?!


Then a further stroll round the upper gardens which seemed to be less well known and there were fewer visitors up here. This is the village viewed from the upper garden and the red brick building is the Spread Eagle where we had lunch.





Finally a cup of tea in the cafe and a look round the farm shop before we left having enjoyed a wonderful day. We were so glad we had gone in the morning though as by the time we left the place was heaving with visitors and it wouldn't have been nearly so enjoyable sharing it with so many others.

Hope you enjoyed your stroll round.? I will keep some of the other pictures I took for another time as you have probably had enough now!!

16 comments:

  1. Oh so stunningly beautiful! I love your english country views. My favorite must be the one looking down on that village!

    Anna x

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  2. It looks like Netherfield at Pride and Prejudice. So beautiful!

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  3. Hi Jane, ah the beauty of the English Countryside, splendid blog tour for me!
    Looks like a very special place to restore
    the soul...
    Linda x

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  4. Better than a travel brochure - a terrific set of photographs and it looks like a beautiful location.

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  5. Stunning photos Jane, I particularly like the ones where you can just glimpse a folly through the trees and across the lake. It's been some years since I visited Stourhead and you have definitely inspired me to make a return visit. Gorgeous!

    Jeanne x

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  6. Great pictures and beautiful place to visit. I felt like I was right there. Thanks for sharing your day.

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  7. Lovely to see 'real' photos of a place like this, rather than the stage-managed ones on advertising literature. Enjoyed the walk round... and it was Free!!
    Just to say, I am organising (hopefully) a Christmas-themed swap over on my Three R's blog. I know you are relatively new to this blogging lark, but lots of bloggers organise swaps on one kind or another. I have no idea if someone else has already had this idea or not, there's not enough hours in the day to read all the blogs is there? But I have taken part in a couple this year, the best by far was the letter-writing swap, getting people back into the habit of writing real letters, and making new friends hopefully. This happened for me and my swap partner... they can be great fun. Anyway, if you're interested, you know where my blog is!!!

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  8. Such beautiful, beautiful autumnal pictures they are truly amazing and have to be my favourite this Autumn so far.

    Have a lovely day,

    Nina x

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  9. I just love the photo looking down over the village. Thank your for another lovely walk through the english countryside!
    I was excited to read your comment on my last post that you had been over to my neck of the woods!
    Have a lovely day.

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  10. Hello!

    What beautiful pictures...you had a lovely visit out!

    Thank you for your comment....I have always had this fascination with the 40's...odd I guess as I realise it must have been hard during that time...but still it appeals to me!xxx

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  11. Beautiful; gorgeous!!! Thanks so much!

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  12. This is totally lovely! What a dream garden!

    I so would like to drink a coffee with you in that little shop! :)

    The lake is very nice with the fall leaves and everything!

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  13. I love Stourhead, its just stunning, isn't it? Been a while since I was there last, so I shall have to start dropping hints.. x

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  14. Christmas swap cancelled, please see blog post just done (21st lunchtime) for explanation.

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  15. I have always wanted to go to Stourhead ever since I did a landscape, art and literature course when I did my MA. It all looks so beautiful - what a lovely day out!

    Pomona x

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  16. Oh, so what I needed! A bit of rest and relaxation as I've been working on a post for my other blog--it can be stressful. What a lovely, peaceful walk. The area is beautiful, and I am jealous of where you live! And you take great shots, I enjoyed them all, did not get bored!! What a great day you had. thanks for sharing. What does your husband think of your blog and you recording trips, etc.?

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