Boarstall Tower, Bucks

Boarstall Tower - front
Boarstall Tower front
National Trust.
A 14th century moated gatehouse tower, once part of a fortified manor house. The tower is fairly small but quite interesting, and there are some views from the roof. The gardens are attractive.
Restricted opening – see NT guidebook or website. Worth a visit if you are in the area.
The Boarstall Duck decoy is nearby, and it’s possible to visit both the same afternoon.
Roof view
Roof view
Roof & grounds view
Roof & grounds view
Tower - garden side
Tower - garden side

Boughton House, Northants.

An imposing house “The English Versailles” notable for looking a bit like a French palace. The contents include fabulous treasures – a large collection of fine art including paintings, furniture, porcelain, weapons, textiles, claiming to be one of the major treasure houses of England. It has seven courtyards and a wing which remains as an unfinished shell, revealing details of the construction. The gardens and estate are also notable. The 17th century design features of the gardens are being restored. The house is open during August and a few other dates, the gardens more often. Suggested visit time: at least a half day.

Chastleton House, Oxfordshire

A Jacobean country house, left almost unchanged by its increasingly impoverished owners, and preserved as a time-warp site by the NT. There is no shop or tea-room. Externally, it’s an attractive building, and the contents are also of interest. The gardens include some unusual topiary. Admission is by timed ticket, and there is a cap on daily visitor numbers.

Cotehele, Cornwall

A historic estate on the banks of the Tamar. The Tudor house and its contents have changed little over the years and are well worth seeing. Most rooms have extensive catalogue notes provided. The house has no electricity, so it might be worth bringing your own torch on a dull day to better see objects in some rooms. Many of the rooms are lined with tapestries.
Outside are two orchards, gardens, a folly tower, walks, and a little further off, Cotehele Quay with its museum, and restored Tamar sailing barge Shamrock. Half a mile from the Quay is Cotehele Mill, a working mill.
There is a lot to see in the house in various rooms spread over three floor levels. Around the house are attractive gardens. The triangular folly tower, in a field with inquisitive cows, can be climbed for a view of the surrounding country. The Mill has a working watermill and several displays of old workshops.
There is enough to see to make it an all-day visit. Road access is by narrow twisty hilly roads. It is possible to arrive by water from Plymouth.
For visitors not over keen on walking, a minibus runs between the house, Quay and Mill. It is also possible to park by the house and then move one’s car to the lower car park at the quay. There is a restaurant at the house and another at the Quay.

Cottesbrooke Hall, Northants

A Queen Anne house in extensive grounds. Two flanking pavilions are joined to the main house by curving corridors. There is a noted collection of sporting pictures. If I remember correctly, the house is notable for being exceptionally well maintained: everything inside looks like new. The house is open to visitors on limited dates during the warmer months, and admission is by conducted tour.

Deene Park, Northants

Private
A substantial house, with crenellations, and built of honey-coloured stone around a central courtyard. The earlier parts date from the 16th centurey or earlier, with 18th and 19th century additions. The contents include relics of Lord Cardigan of Balaclava fame, and of the scandalous Adeline Horsey de Horsey. The house is open on limited dates during the summer months.
The contents are of considerable interest and rooms downstairs and upstairs are opened for visitors.
The grounds are worth seeing and include a number of feature garden areas as well as woodland walks and an expanse of lawn. Not accessible to visitors are the former walled gardens and an intriguing circular building.
If you want a leisurely visit to the house, the grounds, and the tea-room you are advised to arrive soon after the grounds open as the total opening time is only 4 hours.
If using satnav, look for brown car park signs, as the satnav may direct you to a back entrance by a longer route.
Note that there are other grand houses in the Corby area which could be visited on the same day. Kirby Hall is nearby.

East side
Courtyard, east side
Golden Garden
White Garden
Four Seasons Garden
Parterre
Rose Garden
Lake near Judea

Dyrham Park, South Gloucestershire

National Trust
The grounds are of substantial size and drop dramatically down towards the William & Mary period house, with its long east front. Behind the house there are gardens. The interior is furnished in a Dutch style. The house is worth a visit and besides the main rooms one can look at rooms in the basement, and an orangery. Outside there is a large park, and behind the house some formal gardens with ponds. The church can be visited but the access route was not obvious.
The main car park is next to the road, some 500 yards from the house. The property is only a few minutes drive from the M4, and is a handy break point on journeys to the far south west and South Wales.
Revisited May 2022.

Dairy in basement
West side
Ponds
Formal garden

Stourhead, Wiltshire

National Trust.
Noted for its world-famous 18th century landscape garden. There’s a lake, with temples, follies, exotic trees etc, set in a 2650 acre estate with downs, woods and farmland. The house has furniture and paintings. Around two miles away, Alfred’s Tower stands on part of the wider estate. Suggested as half-day to all-day destination.

Library windows
pietra dura Cabinet
Picture Gallery
Triptych
Garden
Garden
Garden temple interior