Stourton Things to Do

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Some of the mature trees that grace the 1.072 hectares (2,650 acres) in the vast garden. The furthest point of note is King Alfred's Tower which is nearly a 4km hike from the house. Time not permitting, we weren't able to get there but the views, when the weather is favourable (which is certainly wasn't when we were there), are reportedly vast and well worth the climb up the 49 metre high tower.
We simply had to put up with walking around the spectacular trees.

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Stourhead is pre-eminent among English landscape gardens. Horace Walpole described it in 1762 as, 'one of the most picturesque scenes in the world'. The footbridge shown here, along with the Pantheon, would grace more than half the photos you ever see of the place, so well placed are they.
The garden is primarily the creation of Henry Hoare II, although later members of the family, in particular Sir Richard Holt Hoare, added to the range of shrubs and trees and thus broadened the scope of the foliage. For 40 years Henry II was smitten by the garden and its possibilites.
The design is a direct expression of the classical tastes of the 18th century and the reaction against the formal landscapes of the preceding century. It's a mix of ordered classical architecture with rambling English country garden and it works a treat.

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Doesn't matter which critic of gardens you discourse with, this is in the top five in England, many rate it number one.
The sight (of a photo) of that Palladian architecture reflected in the waters of the lake proved too much for me when I was planning my itinerary. Of the ten things I had to see, this was one.
A couple of hundred years ago, the grand European tour was the thing for the gentry to do, and that grand tour would never be complete without calling in to Italy. This is where Henry Hoare II found himself in the 1730's.
Some returned to the mother country and only spoke about their travels, flaunting a momento here and there, pointing to a recently acquired work of art on the wall. Henry was not satisfied with that. No, he went the whole hog. Decided to create a garden of immense proportions and adorn it with things classical. Thus he begat Stourhead.
Influenced by Palladian architecture he placed follies discreetly around the forest and, in the main one, placed classical statuary; but that is only a small part of Stourhead.
The garden was designed to be approached by a shady walk from the house. That path today suddenly emerges on the edge of the combe providing a wonderful view of shining water through the trees.
Contrived vistas, marked by the occasional classical temple, change according to your aspect along the path. In the spring there is a carpet of daffodils, in the summer rhododendrons colour the upper slopes and in the autumn Japanese maples bring a flash of fire to the woods.
The architect Henry Flitcroft, who designed the classical eyecatchers, was the only professional employed in the creation of the garden. His circular Temple of Apollo sits high up on a knoll overlooking the island-studded lake and his Pantheon crowns a rounded slope above the water.

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The carpark, when you arrive after following the signposts on the country roads, is handily placed. Just a short walk off to the right takes you the grand entrance gateway that sits adjacent to the walled garden and Pelargonium House.
Should you choose to head left you'll find yourself at the art gallery (interesting, but not great) or the Spread Eagle Inn, a not inapt description of the position Rosemarie found herself in after a tummy upset at the end of our tour.

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At the head of the lake, stands the 1373 Bristol High Cross, given to Henry Hoare in 1780. It formally stood in the city of Bristol itself.

Also in the grounds is a giant obelisk. We did not have the time to get up there, but admired it from afar.

Amongst the many other features around the lake, they have also managed to include a splendid waterfall.

Stourhead was always a self contained community, and you can still see some of the original, cute, stone cottages.