Stourhead

Posted on April 7, 2021

by Cool Places Britain

Lying in a beautiful secluded valley, Stourhead on the Wiltshire/Somerset border features one of the world’s finest landscape gardens.

Stourhead was bought in 1717 by Henry Hoare. Hoare and his heirs created a garden inspired by the great landscape painters of the 17th century.

The magnificent lake is central to the design at Stourhead, with the lakes edge being adorned with classical temples, enchanting grottos and rare and exotic trees.

These eye-catching features are all mirrored vividly in the water of the lake.

The most impressive of the lakeside monuments is the Pantheon, based on the Pantheon in Rome.

The Hoare family kept adding neoclassical ornaments to the garden. The famous five-arched bridge was made in 1762 and the Temple of Apollo in 1765.

In 1772, the folly of King Alfred’s Tower was added at the far western end of the park.

Today, Stourhead is one of the National Trust’s most prized possessions. It attracts many visitors from all over the world.

Walking

Explore the 1,072-hectare (2,650 acre) Stourhead Estate on foot.

There are many waymarked National Trust walks to explore.

A short 3-mile circular walk will take you around the lake. This walk takes you up the Park Hill Camp Iron Age hill fort and returning along Six Wells Valley.

Or you can walk towards King Alfred’s Tower.

This beautiful 5,5-mile circular takes you up through beautiful woodlands to King Alfred’s Tower and returning through Park Hill Camp Iron Age Hill Fort and Turner’s Paddock.

If you want to explore the area around Stourhead then we would recommend walking towards Whitesheet Hill.

The panoramic views over the Stourhead estate and surrounding countryside along this 6-mile circular walk are simply stunning.

Stour Valley Way

The Stour Valley Way is a designated footpath that follows almost all of the 64-mile course of the magnificent River Stour.

The River Stour rises at the lakes at Stourhead in Wiltshire but most of its course is within the boundaries of Dorset.

With 64 miles to cover, you will find plenty of different walks to explore. There are circular walks along the Stour Valley Way if you are looking to start and finish in one place.