Hestercombe Gardens
Latest Reviews
A delightful set of gardens and estate to wander around on a summers day, very pretty in Spring too with naturalised bulbs everywhere. Excellent tearooms ,although picnics are in evidence in the valley setting, not the easiest paths for disabled or senior citizens, but if time is no problem it is just a place of beauty to enjoy.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely place for walking, meals good value for money. Need to book for The Afternoon Tea, well worth it.
Source: google.com
The gardens and grounds are really lovely and worth a visit. We would recommend that you wear fairly stout footwear and do not wear sandals because the paths are gravel and you would spend time emptying your sandals!
We would also advise taking a picnic as the cafes are dog friendly and the main restaurant had nothing we could eat. Fortunately we took a picnic.
There are dog treats available on the entrance and other places and we nearly didn't go in as we had to wait for the dogs to get their treats and cuddles. Although we used to have a lot of dogs we don't like dogs in restaurants. However, the grounds are big enough for dog owners not to be a problem. And it is the dog owners who are the problem, not the dogs.
Totally recommend visiting but take a picnic.
We would also advise taking a picnic as the cafes are dog friendly and the main restaurant had nothing we could eat. Fortunately we took a picnic.
There are dog treats available on the entrance and other places and we nearly didn't go in as we had to wait for the dogs to get their treats and cuddles. Although we used to have a lot of dogs we don't like dogs in restaurants. However, the grounds are big enough for dog owners not to be a problem. And it is the dog owners who are the problem, not the dogs.
Totally recommend visiting but take a picnic.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Intriguing history and stunning sunsets
Source: google.com
Nice valley walk past lakes and follies. Lovely formal gardens,, nice cafe and gift shops. A little underwhelming after the big build up on their website but a pleasant place to visit nonetheless.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Nice place for a walk but needs a bit of work on the gardens around the house.
Source: google.com
The Victorian garden was stunning and the walks through the grounds by the lakes easy to walk and attractive with great vistas.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Awesome gardens. One of the most beautiful places around. Gorgeous flowers everywhere and historical house. Been there as a photographer for weddings and the venue and reception was really amazing, if could bring time back would consider getting married there!
Source: google.com
beautiful... went for an Easter egg hunt with my three year and it was super
Source: google.com
Great lunch with friends, self
Service, friendly staff, good parking, good cakes, great and place for tea and cake
Service, friendly staff, good parking, good cakes, great and place for tea and cake
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Hestercombe is one of my favorite places i am a annual member of the gardens and spend hours there it changes so much through the seasons which also makes it a great place for weddings with days of photo opportunities the staff are very organised and friendly, highly recommended!!!
Source: google.com
Just love it
Source: google.com
We really enjoyed visiting Hestercombe Gardens today even though it was raining. I would recommend going on a sunny day but it was still nice even with the clouds.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Didn't go into the House or Garden this time but enjoyed time with our grandson on the play equipment one day and a delicious hot chocolate on another
Source: google.com
Hestercombe is one of our favourite places to escape too.
The staff are extremely friendly, the grounds are fantastic and you can always get a good cup of tea or coffee at the end.
I am always amazed about how close to Taunton you are but feel so far out and in paradise.
The staff are extremely friendly, the grounds are fantastic and you can always get a good cup of tea or coffee at the end.
I am always amazed about how close to Taunton you are but feel so far out and in paradise.
Source: google.com
Lovely day out, pleasant walk around gardens followed by afternoon tea.
Source: google.com
Another great afternoon walking around the gardens. Nice to see all the flowers in bloom.
Source: google.com
We spent hours here with our 11 year old son who was NOT happy to be visiting another country house. Once he had seen the chickens and paddled under the cascade he actually seemed to be enjoying himself, especially when he aquired a large stick. Lots of points of interest in the landscape garden and the formal gardens are gorgeous, but probably more about the hard landscaping and water features than the planting and the boy enjoyed poking his stick in all of them. The house does not offer a great deal but worth a pop in to see the art exhibitions, staircase and roof light. The cafe was a bit pricey but happily a bowl of chips and some cake was the cheaper option.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The most beautiful gardens . A must to go there
Source: google.com
we went in Spring on a 2 for 1 deal which made it even better value. The rhodendron display is beautiful, as were the bluebells and the 'wilder' wood walks are lovely if a little steep and uneven in a few places. So nice to be able to wander at will without being limited to where we could go with the dog. A good half day well spent. Definitely going again.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The gardens are a magnificent design. We were continually surprised by the views as we wandered the paths! Really a worthwhile visit.
Lots of steps without handrails, so this visit is not for those who have difficulty walking.
Lots of steps without handrails, so this visit is not for those who have difficulty walking.
Source: google.com
Welcome place to go for 60mins of peace and quiet in a lovely setting. Good food and drink too.
Source: google.com
We had not heard of Hestercombe until watching one of Michael Portillo's railway journeys earlier this year and it looked intriguing. In the flesh, and on a sunny Spring day, it proved well worth the visit. This is an estate that almost went under due to the dreaded death duties and the landscape itself was clear felled in the 60's before being rediscovered around 20 years ago, since when it has undergone extensive restoration. Originally built for the privileged few and now enjoyed by the many.
The Georgian landscape gardens with their woodland, steep slopes and ponds provide a number of carefully constructed and picture card vistas.While the Great Cascade was closed for maintenance it was as interesting to see the underlying scale and construction without the water flowing. The contrasting formal Edwardian gardens felt peaceful and also somewhat atmospheric with the wider valley view seen above and through the stone pergola at its southern edge. The Victorian house has only fairly recently been re-acquired from public use and, without any original contents, is no beauty: however, the 20 old pictures and photos summarising the history of Hestercombe are fascinating and helpful. The modern art exhibits upstairs were largely forgettable.
Nice cafe area with excellent home made cakes and a more formal lunch/afternoon tea restaurant (which we didn't visit) in the main house.
The Georgian landscape gardens with their woodland, steep slopes and ponds provide a number of carefully constructed and picture card vistas.While the Great Cascade was closed for maintenance it was as interesting to see the underlying scale and construction without the water flowing. The contrasting formal Edwardian gardens felt peaceful and also somewhat atmospheric with the wider valley view seen above and through the stone pergola at its southern edge. The Victorian house has only fairly recently been re-acquired from public use and, without any original contents, is no beauty: however, the 20 old pictures and photos summarising the history of Hestercombe are fascinating and helpful. The modern art exhibits upstairs were largely forgettable.
Nice cafe area with excellent home made cakes and a more formal lunch/afternoon tea restaurant (which we didn't visit) in the main house.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Our first visit to Hestercombe Gardens and we were highly impressed. We broke off our journey to the West Country for a walk and a spot of lunch, and were glad we made the decision on both counts. It is close to the M5, and although access involves a number of twists and turns it is both well signposted and easy to find using Satnav.
We didn't visit the house (which frankly looked a little unprepossessing from the outside) but I guess most people come for the gardens and the walks through the extensive grounds, which are both superb. There's a beautiful horseshoe shaped walk from the entrance which sees you climbing through trees, with vantage points down to the lakes and across to the distant hills. Although the car park was reasonably full for our visit, the grounds are big enough to absorb people and we saw a limited number of other visitors on our walk, which is punctuated with a number of quirky follies, and information about both the history of the estate and future plans.
A very pleasant surprise was the cafe ('The Stables') where we chose delicious and very reasonably priced sandwiches from an extensive menu. It was, I have to say, a cut above the kind of fare you can expect to find at the equivalent National Trust establishment - the sandwiches were for instance freshly prepared rather than prepacked.
All in all a very enjoyable experience, and we left suitably refreshed and more than a little jealous of those lucky people who have Hestercombe Gardens on their doorstep.
We didn't visit the house (which frankly looked a little unprepossessing from the outside) but I guess most people come for the gardens and the walks through the extensive grounds, which are both superb. There's a beautiful horseshoe shaped walk from the entrance which sees you climbing through trees, with vantage points down to the lakes and across to the distant hills. Although the car park was reasonably full for our visit, the grounds are big enough to absorb people and we saw a limited number of other visitors on our walk, which is punctuated with a number of quirky follies, and information about both the history of the estate and future plans.
A very pleasant surprise was the cafe ('The Stables') where we chose delicious and very reasonably priced sandwiches from an extensive menu. It was, I have to say, a cut above the kind of fare you can expect to find at the equivalent National Trust establishment - the sandwiches were for instance freshly prepared rather than prepacked.
All in all a very enjoyable experience, and we left suitably refreshed and more than a little jealous of those lucky people who have Hestercombe Gardens on their doorstep.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
First visit to Hestercombe for many years and I was very impressed. The Georgian Landscape Garden is extensive has a variety of pathways to explore, some more accessible than others. There are a lot of features to explore and dogs are allowed on a short lead. There are plenty of places to stop and rest and take in the panoramic views across the lakes. Nearer the house are the Edwardian Formal Gardens that were designed by Gertrude Jekyll and have been restored to their former glory. The house is now open to the public with a display of the history of Hestercombe, a gallery, second-hand book shop and restaurant. It isn't the prettiest house but it does have some history. There is also a coffee shop, shop and plant sales. There is a lot to see for the £11.80 entrance fee.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
