Self-guided holidays : Self-guided short break walking holidays : Hidden gems
The Deverills Valley and Stourhead
The Deverills Valley in Wiltshire lies close to the convergence of three counties and three distinct landscapes, which makes for a walking break full of interest and contrast. The hills above the Deverills valley form the last dramatic sweep of the West Wiltshire Downs as they meet the ancient royal hunting ground known as the Selwood Forest, which continues westward to the historic Somerset town of Bruton. To the south lies the Blackmoor Vale and the valley of Dorset's River Stour. At the convergence lies the Stourhead estate; a 'jewel in the crown' of the National Trust.
Along the Deverills Valley a string of unspoilt villages and hamlets cling to the banks of the River Wylye. The water meadows, watercress beds and lush pastures which border the river give way to high downland ridges which make for airy walking and great views. Scattered tumuli mark this out as a landscape inhabited since prehistoric times. The area is rich with wild flowers, larks, butterflies and birds of prey.
The National Trust’s Stourhead estate encompasses many different landscapes. To the east lies the high chalk downland of Whitesheet Hill with its Iron Age hillfort, and to the west lies an area of open sunny woodland teeming with wildlife. Below the woodland lies Six Wells Bottom a verdant hanging valley where an ornate monument, St Peter’s Pump, marks the source of the River Stour. At the very heart of the estate stands a Palladian mansion, a superb 18th century garden surrounding a tranquil lake, and the estate village of Stourton with its attractive cottages, church and pub.
The first of your walks will take you along the river from the attractive village of Kingston Deverill and up onto Cold Kitchen Hill and Brimsdown Hill for an exhilarating walk along a grassy ridge. A descent through the light woodland which covers the flanks of the hill will bring you to the hamlet of Newbury, a rural idyll tucked away in a grassy coombe. A walk up through the woodland above Newbury leads to a wonderful surprise. The handsome beechwoods give way to an avenue of azaleas - an unbelievable dazzle of colour in season - to emerge at Heaven’s Gate, a ‘Capability Brown’-designed viewpoint which looks down onto Longleat House and the Somerset countryside beyond. A walk through parkland leads down to the delightful Longleat estate village of Horningsham (familiar to followers of the BBC documentary series 'Animal Park') with its attractive thatched cottages and welcoming inn.
Your second walk will take you from the charming village of Kingston Deverill across pasture and downland to Whitesheet Hill where the ground drops away on three sides to give you a jaw-dropping panorama of the Wiltshire Downs, Mendip Hills, Blackmoor Vale and Somerset Levels, a sight worth the trip all on its own. The walk finishes at Stourton where a wander around the gardens make a fitting end to a great day out. The cost of the tour includes entrance to Stourhead Gardens, with the added bonus that you will have access outside the normal hours of opening to the public.
This area has something to offer all year round, but is renown as a 'hot spot' for bluebells during early May and for orchids in June. The flowering trees and azaleas at Heaven's Gate mean that it is at its best from April to June.
You will stay at the historic Spread Eagle Inn in the estate village of Stourton. The attractive bedrooms are furnished with items from the National Trust's antique collection which combine seamlessly with modern comforts. The food at the Spread Eagle is excellent, with the vast majority sourced from the Stourhead estate itself, other local producers and other National Trust estates. In summer you can round off dinner by joining the resident peacocks for a walk around the lake, and in winter enjoy the warmth of a roaring log fire in the comfortable and welcoming bar.
Holiday options
| Code: SBDVS |
| Nights: 3 |
| Price: £375 |
- All of the above prices are per person, and based upon two guests sharing a double or twin-bedded room.
- Single traveller supplement; £150
(More about single supplement). - Discounts available for parties of three or more guests.
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