May 16, 2018 — Montacute House
The day we didn't go the Exmoor National Park . . .
16.05.2018 - 17.05.2018
View
Southwest England and Northern England
on Beausoleil's travel map.
Wisteria at Montacute House
We were thinking of an Exmoor National Park tour today but woke to clouds and fog and threat of rain. On to Plan B . . . We quickly consulted our National Trust book and decided on Montacute House. We started into Tiverton to fool our GPS onto the M5 via the A261. It worked and we were soon zipping along good roads to Montacute.
Montacute House from the side walkway
We arrived as they were opening and got in the first guided tour with Maria who was excellent. She gave us a history of the Elizabethan Manor House and took us around the outside explaining what it would be like to arrive as a guest in Elizabethan times. This involved walking through a meadow full of sheep with many lively and very cute lambs. Great fun! Of course you had to watch where you walked . . .
Montacute House from the Front Pasture
Gate tower at Montacute House
Sheep in front of Montacute House
Sheep at Montacute House
Montacute House from the front pasture
Gate Tower at Montacute House
Montacute House Gardens - the famous wibbly wobbly hedges
Middle Street walking from Montacute House to the Kings Arms Inn
After the tour we walked into town for lunch and following Maria’s directions, soon arrived at The King’s Arms Inn beside the church. We opened the restaurant and ordered a confit duck, noodles, bok choy and something else in a soy-ginger sauce. It arrived in a big bowl and was very oriental in style. It was good but not something I’d order again. The Chilean cabernet we got with it was very good. Ed got a sorbet and crème brûlée of some kind and I got a chocolate brioche in crème anglais with coffee-walnut ice cream. It was very good. The Kings Arms Inn, 49 Bishopston, Montacute TA15 6UU; +44 (0)1935 822255; Click here for the Kings Arms Inn web site
Wisteria in Montacute
St. Catherine next to the Kings Arms Inn
The Kings Arms Inn in Montacute
The Kings Arms Inn in Montacute
St. Catherine's Church in Montacute
After lunch we checked the ancient church next door then walked back to Montacute House to visit the inside. We clambered through the house and checked the “longest covered gallery in England” with their portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery. It was very well organized and displayed. The docents were good as all the National Trust people seem to be. Montacute House, Somerset TA15 6XP; tel: +44 (0)1935 823289; Click here for the Montacute House web site
Phelips Monument in St. Catherine's Church
Organ and Wagon Roof at St. Catherine's Church
Montacute House
Montacute House
Montacute House
Montacute House
Montacute House Library
Montacute House
Montacute House Portrait Gallery
Montacute House
Antique Rolls Royce cars in the Montacute House parking lot
Afterward we walked to the car park and quickly noticed some very unusual cars. There were five antique Rolls Royces in the parking lot so I whipped out my camera for photos!
We found our way back to the M5, drove to Tiverton to get bread for supper and are relaxing by the canal now.
Posted by Beausoleil 17:33 Archived in United Kingdom Tagged sheep uk devon devonshire montacute_house montacute
Looks beautiful.
by irenevt