Somerset
Somerset is a truly rural county with varied scenery and some outstanding National Trust properties including Elizabethan Montacute House and Dunster Castle with its dramatic location and breathtaking views over Exmoor and the Bristol chanel. Tyntesfield, the extraordinary Gothic Revival house, saved for the nation by the Trust in 2002, stands in north Somerset.

Barrington Court
This 16th-century Tudor manor house constructed of honey-coloured Ham Hill stone was purchased by the National Trust in 1907, the first sizeable country house to come into its possession. It was restored in the 1920s by the Lyle family and is now let to Stuart Interiors as showrooms with antique furniture for sale, offering visitors a different kind of visit. The Stableblock dominates the enchanting formal garden created in the 20th-century which was influenced by Gertrude Jekyll and is laid out in a series of walled rooms, including the White garden, the Rose and Iris Garden and the Lily Garden and still reflects the original colour schemes. The working garden has espaliered apple, pear and plum trees trained along high stone walls. Holiday Cottage guests have free access to Barrington Court during opening hours.

National Trust places nearby: Fyne Court, Lytes Cary Manor, Montacute House, Tintinhull Garden, Treasurer's House. Shop and pub: pub within walking distance. Tea-room/shop/café/restaurant: Barrington Court. Other attractions: Taunton and Yeovil - ideal for shopping and sightseeing. Bath and West Showground popular venue for antique fairs, agricultural and garden shows. Activities: walking, cycling.

Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 193