Montacute brings together walks through parkland and apple orchards, one of the few Elizabethan houses in England that still has a compartmented garden, and a medieval priory site. These themes suggest different ways to plan your stay: outdoors, the focus is on routes; at Montacute House, on the garden’s layout; and at Abbey Farm, on the priory remains. This lets you choose what to visit based on the experience that interests you most, rather than treating the different sites as interchangeable attractions.
Walks through parkland and apple orchards
The St Michael’s Hill Walk near Montacute is 2 miles long and passes through parkland and apple orchards at Montacute House. The Parkland Walk follows a circular route through the parkland at Montacute House. The walks therefore differ both in form and in their described surroundings: the first route passes through orchards and has a stated distance, while the second highlights a circular route through the parkland. When choosing, it may help to decide between a route with a specific distance and a circular walk. Details of the St Michael’s Hill Walk may change; check the latest information before your walk.
The garden and orangery at Montacute House
Montacute House is one of the few Elizabethan houses in England that still has a compartmented garden. The North Garden is bordered by raised walkways and yew hedges. A compartmented garden draws attention to individual garden rooms; in the North Garden, walkways and hedges mark the boundaries of a specific area. The orangery at Montacute House had been built by 1840 at the latest. The garden’s appeal therefore combines a rare form of layout with specific design features and a historical point of reference.
Montacute Cluniac Priory
The well-preserved site of Montacute Cluniac Priory lies immediately east of Abbey Farm. The Mortain family founded the priory in 1102. The monument includes the remains of a medieval priory, an associated fishpond and a dovecote. Unlike the garden at Montacute House, the focus here is a historic complex with several components. The foundation date of 1102 also provides a clear chronological reference point for the priory’s history.
An older connection to the landscape
St Michael’s Hill also lies within the parish of Montacute; it forms part of the Iron Age hill fort at Ham Hill. Compared with the priory’s foundation in 1102, the hill points to a much earlier historical period. Montacute can therefore also be understood through the chronological contrast between an Iron Age association and a medieval monastic foundation.
A place to eat
The Courtyard Café at Montacute House offers a wide selection of freshly prepared snacks, meals and drinks. If you plan to eat at the café, check the current offering before your visit, as information about visitor facilities may change.
Discover more destinations: Chiselborough, West Huntspill, Clatworthy, Mark, Burnham-On-Sea, Stawley, Staple Fitzpaine, Ashcott
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