Hestercombe Gardens
Latest Reviews
This garden is immense with beautiful formal garden rooms, topiary and a longer walk through the heavily treed undulating hills behind the property. Along the walk there are many and varied viewing structures built many years ago to capture significant views of the garden and lake. This walk is not difficult, its enjoyable and very tranquil.
There are refreshments available and you can also tour the house which is as it was when acquired by the National Trust approx. 3 years ago. Parking was plentiful and only a short walk from the grand house. Well worth a visit if you like to wander in beautiful surroundings.
There are refreshments available and you can also tour the house which is as it was when acquired by the National Trust approx. 3 years ago. Parking was plentiful and only a short walk from the grand house. Well worth a visit if you like to wander in beautiful surroundings.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Visited with a group returning from Devon. Well signposted from Taunton. Parking close to the entrance. Plenty of paths to walkaround the lakes and formal gardens,well signed and easy to follow maps. The house is now open for viewing however much restoration is ongoing so not too much to see other than pictures of the estate history. A small but very busy Stables cafe served a large variety of food and snacks, many made to order. A plant and gift shop was also worth a visit. On a sunny day this is a very good place to enjoy, relax, picnic, or walk around.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Fabulous mix of informal and formal gardens PLUS great place to eat.
Source: google.com
Cost is quite expensive but lovely walks through the gardens and plenty of places to rest and just enjoy your surroundings. The main gardens near the house were lovely and we spent quite a bit of time there. The house was a huge disappointment, run down and empty except for a few bits of art on the walls. Take your own food as cafe is very expensive and there are lovely places to have a picnic.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The formal gardens are beautiful and the landscaped valley is a pleasure.
A lovely place to spend a summers afternoon!
A lovely place to spend a summers afternoon!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Wonderful for the children to run around and burn off some energy! Great "trails and hunts" and lovely helpful staff!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautiful and tranquil. A really good cafe too. We like to go here on clear days. A good variety of plants, walks and buildings.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Beautiful formal gardens, lovely country walks and changing exhibitions in the house. This would be a lovely venue for a formal event such as a wedding. We have bought season tickets which is really good value and gives us a lovely place to go on the spur of the moment, just outside Taunton.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely gardens, only slightly marred by us being there during a thunder storm. Went to the cafe for lunch and it was very, very good food, well prepared by a gifted chef. Wish I could talk to Hestercombe direct to congratulate him. Very well worth a visit.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
The gardens were absolutely stunning and we spent a fabulous 4 hours here as it takes a long time to walk around everywhere.
The long walks up to the tops of the slopes are worth it for the stunning views but the hills are steep if you're of limited mobility. Paths unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs are clearly marked though.
The easily accessible formal gardens are worth the entry fee alone if you can't manage the slopes.
There's a lovely cafe and shop selling plants as well as the usual gift wares but it can get very busy at the weekends.
Hestercombe house houses a nice restaurant and a very odd 'gallery' - maybe we weren't 'arty' enough to appreciate it but I found some of the art a bit distasteful.
I would definitely return to the gardens but I wouldn't bother with the house.
The long walks up to the tops of the slopes are worth it for the stunning views but the hills are steep if you're of limited mobility. Paths unsuitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs are clearly marked though.
The easily accessible formal gardens are worth the entry fee alone if you can't manage the slopes.
There's a lovely cafe and shop selling plants as well as the usual gift wares but it can get very busy at the weekends.
Hestercombe house houses a nice restaurant and a very odd 'gallery' - maybe we weren't 'arty' enough to appreciate it but I found some of the art a bit distasteful.
I would definitely return to the gardens but I wouldn't bother with the house.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Wonderful gardens and scenery, much of which had wheelchair access. There were wheelchair so for hire and could be booked in advance. Lovely lunch in the stable cafe, reasonable prices. Shame the restaurant in the main house was small and therefore full, advise you book now advance.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
When we arrived, we had some yummy lunch at the cafe.
We walked around the gardens on the easter weekend, when they have an easter egg hunt for the children. The gardens were absolutely lovely, and you could even see the old water mill. I think that the gardens would look a lot better in summer, as the flowers would be in full bloom.
We were quite disappointed with the house, we were expecting it to have been restored to it's former glory, however since the fire brigade used it as their station, they haven't bothered to restore it, and were using it as a modern art gallery (most of the art that we saw was not to our taste either). The only bits that we were interested in were the original portraits that were left in the house.
I wouldn't come here again, unless I desperately wanted to view the gardens.
We walked around the gardens on the easter weekend, when they have an easter egg hunt for the children. The gardens were absolutely lovely, and you could even see the old water mill. I think that the gardens would look a lot better in summer, as the flowers would be in full bloom.
We were quite disappointed with the house, we were expecting it to have been restored to it's former glory, however since the fire brigade used it as their station, they haven't bothered to restore it, and were using it as a modern art gallery (most of the art that we saw was not to our taste either). The only bits that we were interested in were the original portraits that were left in the house.
I wouldn't come here again, unless I desperately wanted to view the gardens.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Picture perfect garden. Must visit.
Source: google.com
Wonderful visit, culturally and visually really impressed. Superb facilities on site, loved the Cafe / Shop
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Top quality roast beef lunch with perfect homemade Yorkshire puddings, sitting out in the sunshine. Huge and delicious Creme brûlée. Wish I lived nearby and was not just on holiday.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovely place to visit...😃
Great for all family's, a grand house to look inside and out....
There's a restaurant and shop...
Also a small garden shop....
Children play area to...
Disabled facilities as well...👍
Great for all family's, a grand house to look inside and out....
There's a restaurant and shop...
Also a small garden shop....
Children play area to...
Disabled facilities as well...👍
Source: google.com
Visiting with my cousin who had been before, this venue was an ideal place for us both to meet being approximately half way in distance between Bristol and Devon. This was my first time and I wasn't disappointed. The grounds were beautiful, especially the bluebell wood. We had coffee and cake in the cafe which was delicious. The house was not as impressive as I'd of expected but the gardens were a delight. Plenty of seating to sit and rest or just relax. Approx £11 entry fee I felt was justified especially if you stay and enjoy the facilities all day.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Always at hestercombe as have an annual pass. Doesn't matter what time of year there is always something to see and do here. Recently went on the bluebell trail and it was simply stunning. Younger Children loved walking along the top of the waterfall and teenage daughter was able to take plenty of photos for her gcse photography.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Great walks through gardens with wonderful formal gardens
cafe does great soup of the day, homemade
good day out
cafe does great soup of the day, homemade
good day out
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Pottered down to Hestercombe with my wife. What a lovely house and gardens. It really is a must see if you are in the area. The renovated gardens are truly magnificent, my wife and I would have happily spent all day wandering the site, however we did not have the time.
Recommended.
Recommended.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Lovingly restored and well laid out. Very relaxing location. Annual pass is great value. On site shop and cafe. Shop is a bit naff but cafe does a nice range of food.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
An excellent place to visit to see a range of gardening styles, with some lovely plants - some good ideas to take home!
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Went with a group including people with disabilities, lovely gardens to explore not too big.lovely restuarent inside or out under a large canopy , food first class plenty of choice, staff very friendly and helpful, nice little gift shop selling bits and pieces and pot plants, I would recommend it either just to walk the gardens, pretty good for wheelchairs, or just a coffee or light lunch .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Today we had our daughters 21st surprise lunch here and many thanks ho to Joe and his staff for managing the event and serving our food promptly and professionally
We had a lovely time without a hitch and when you consider there were 23 of us that takes some doing
The roast was great and the cheesecake desert was fantastic
Many many thanks to all .
We had a lovely time without a hitch and when you consider there were 23 of us that takes some doing
The roast was great and the cheesecake desert was fantastic
Many many thanks to all .
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
Such a lovely place to go for a wander on your own or a stroll with a friend. If you've time to stay longer there's a nice cafe and shop. At the moment the Bluebell woods are heavenly. Well worth having membership with a guest. Two trips and it's paid for and if you are local you can pop in just for coffee! Definitely worth supporting and enjoying.
Source: tripadvisor.co.uk
