The garden in winter

Snowdrops at Stourhead, Wiltshire

As the leaves depart the trees and many shrubs lie dormant waiting for spring, winter is the perfect time to appreciate the design of the garden and how Henry ‘the Magnificent's’ vision created something spectacular.

Winter highlights

The garden temples take pride of place during the winter months offering wonderful view-points (and shelters from the rain) before you continue on the circular walk of the lake.

The winter light and low sun cast shadows throughout the day allowing the garden to be seen in a new perspective. As well as creating the beautiful vistas, the absence of leaves on the trees amplifies sound in the garden too. At this quieter time of year you are more likely to see some of Britain’s native species of bird exploring the garden in winter.

Temple of Apollo at Stourhead
Morning sunlight coming through the columns of the Temple of Apollo at Stourhead
Temple of Apollo at Stourhead

Throughout the winter months look out for the fiery orange of the willows on the island closest to Pantheon as they defy winter’s normal colour scheme and add a pop of colour as you look across the lake. Several varieties of hellebore will be flowering in the garden borders adding a welcome splash of colour in mid-winter and offering a good source of early food for pollinating insects. In late January and throughout February look for the bright white blooms of several varieties of snowdrops as they appear in many of the garden borders – heralding the forthcoming arrival of spring.

With fewer visitors in the garden and no limit to the length of time you can stay, take time to enjoy the tranquillity of this special time of year.

Explore Stourhead estate

A wildflower meadow surrounding King Alfred's Tower at Stourhead, Wiltshire

Stourhead King Alfred’s Tower walk 

This is a circular walk of historic interest which takes you up through beautiful woodlands to King Alfred’s Tower and returning through Park Hill Camp Iron Age Hill Fort and Turner’s Paddock.

Stourhead, Wiltshire

Stourhead Park Hill Camp walk 

A short circular walk, with some steep ascents, taking in Park Hill Camp Iron Age hill fort and returning along Six Wells Valley.

A view from Whitesheet Hill

Stourhead Whitesheet Hill walk 

Look out for tree sparrows and other interesting birds and take in the panoramic views over the Stourhead estate and surrounding countryside on a walk of considerable archaeological interest.