Things to do and see on the estate at Barrington Court

The Avenue with long grass at Barrington Court, Somerset — The Avenue at Barrington Court | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

The estate at Barrington Court is a patchwork of different spaces. There are orchards, avenues and parkland, as well as spots for recreation, such as the tennis court and cricket pitch. Most of the different areas across the estate are still used today, including the farm buildings where you will find artisan workshops, and the tenanted, private cottages.

The avenues

The avenues form an axis through the estate, with one arm leading up to Court house. The meadows along the avenues (and in the orchards) are left to go a bit wild during the early summer, not only creating a home for wildlife but also a soft and beautiful display of long waving grasses, orchids, clover and buttercups. These are normally cut in the middle of the summer months using traditional methods to make hay.

The orchards

There are plenty of apples at Barrington Court and the trees in the orchards are a joy year-round. They are filled with blossoms in the spring before the apples come through. With several orchard areas (Front Orchard, Goose Orchard and East Orchard) harvesting starts at the end of August and takes up to 12 weeks to complete.

Visitors helping to collect apples in the orchard at Barrington Court — Apple harvest at Barrington Court | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

The cricket pitch

You'll find the cricket pitch by passing through Goose Orchard and over the moat. It's no longer used for cricket, but it makes the ideal spot for having fun and games, and the steps of the old pavilion are a useful resting spot after lots of running around. You can find some shade in the small woodland adjacent to the pitch where there's space for den building.

The parkland

The parkland at Barrington Court can be accessed via the cricket pitch. Although not the biggest park, a walk to the top affords a wonderful view back down to the South Lawn and the house.

In early spring the parkland is home to sheep and cattle graze there through the summer and autumn months. There are a few fallen trees in the parkland, which have been left as deadwood to help encourage insects which make it a home. It also provides food and shelter for a wealth of wildlife such as bats and birds.