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HESTERCOMBE

120 ha

📷 Ashley Dace · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

BirdsHeritageWildlife
Public accessDogs welcome120 ha

Getting here

51.05429, -3.08389

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About HESTERCOMBE

Hestercombe Gardens is a garden complex situated on the grounds of Hestercombe House in the southwestern English county of Somerset. The entire garden complex comprises three individual gardens from different stylistic periods. Notably, the Edwardian Garden from the early 20th century holds national significance as the first collaborative effort between gardener and artist Gertrude Jekyll and architect Edwin Lutyens.

Read more on Wikipedia →
ParkGrade I listed park and garden

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🐦62+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Mallard and Moorhen
  • ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
  • ☕Stables Café — makes this an easy full-day family visit without needing to pack food

Good to know

  • 🐕Dogs welcome
CaféToilets

Best for

11 activities

Bird watching

Birds — Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan +59 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds

Free

Heritage

Grade I listed building: GARDEN WALLS, PAVING AND STEPS ON THE SOUTH FRONT OF HESTERCOMBE HOUSE; Historic site with public access

Free

Wildlife

Birds — Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan +59 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown +247 more · last seen 2026; Traditional orchard — specialist orchard insects and lichens

Free

Picnic day out

café, toilets

Free

Foraging

Traditional orchard — seasonal fruit, fungi and wild plants

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

5 signed routes nearby · 24 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Somerset Space WalkWalking route
Named routeLocal walking route
Taunton Heritage TrailWalking route
Named routeRef THTLocal walking route
Quantock GreenwayWalking route62.5 km
Named routeLength 62.5 kmLocal walking route
East Deane WayWalking route
Named routeRef EDWRegional walking route
West Deane WayWalking route
Named routeRef WDWRegional walking route
🚴

Cycling

53 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Route 3Cycling route527.7 km
Named routeRef 3Length 527.7 kmNational Cycle Network
Route 33Cycling route
Named routeRef 33National Cycle Network
EuroVelo 1 - Atlantic Coast Route - part United Kingdom 2Cycling route
Named routeRef EV1International cycle route
Main RouteCycling route599 m
Named routeRef 3Length 599 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface asphalt
Main RouteCycling route1.5 km
Named routeRef 3Length 1.5 kmNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
Main RouteCycling route85 m
Named routeRef 3Length 85 mNational Cycle NetworkTraffic-freeSurface unsealedfirm
🐴

Horse riding

1 public path nearby

Public paths

No named routes yet. Public paths are shown on the map.

Wildlife to spot

Photos

Hestercombe Gardens - Barracks

📷 Ashley Dace · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Hestercombe Gardens - Barracks

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Weather for this location

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Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

🌱Children's WoodUrban park3.4 km→🌱Victoria ParkUrban park4.1 km→🌱Goodland GardensUrban park4.5 km→🌱Goodland GardensUrban park4.5 km→🌱Castle GreenUrban park4.6 km→✦Taunton Castle: a motte and bailey castle, part of the outer bailey, an Anglo-Saxon cemetery and a Civil War artillery platformHistoric site4.6 km→