The house route - 30-45 minutes
To help you make the most of your visit, we've created several suggested routes across the estate. This is the shorter of the available routes, and loops around the house, the front terraces and up the Holly Walk. You are welcome to roam freely in the garden. You may like to load this on your phone in advance of your visit, or to print at home. Please note: this route includes steps.
Map
Start:
Home Farm, Tyntesfield, Wraxall, BS48 1NX
1
On arrival to the car park, enter the Home Farm area by visiting the visitor welcome building. There is an accessible loo and baby change available at Home Farm, under the covered barns in the upper courtyard.
Maps and information
To minimise cross-contamination, we won't be giving out maps. You can see printed versions at Home Farm and the Pavilion cafe.
2
Follow the path up to the left, past the Piggery.
The Piggery
The Piggery is home to Tyntesfield's biomass boiler. This provides heating and hot water for Home Farm. There are solar panels behind the Piggery, which with our two biomass boilers provide almost half the energy use on site.
3
At the top of the slope, turn right onto the asphalt road. Continue on this road along the drive. You'll pass the path to the Sawmill on your left, and the Chapel and house will be on your right shortly after.
The Sawmill
Built in 1889, the Sawmill used to be known as the Gaswords, and was the former power house of the estate - previously home to powerful steam engines and batteries which provided electricity for the house. It's now an events and learning space. As you pass the house on your right, look across the rooftop for views reaching across Somerset on a fine day.
4
As you come to a junction of paths (known as Fiveways) turn right down the main gravel drive in front of the house.
Approaching the house
The way you are now approaching the house is the way the Gibbs family would have originally intended. You'd have seen the clock tower, which was taken down in 1935 over fears it was unsafe.
5
As you approach the house, take a left turn through the black gates and down the steps onto the terraces. Continue to and up the next set of steps (on your right).
Looking bare?
You may be missing the usual summer flowers in the beds along the terrace. During lockdown, the remaining gardeners have been focused on maintaining, rather than improving the formal garden, and we think you'll agree they've done a brilliant job with the limited resources available.
6
As you reach the Holly Walk, turn left and follow the path to return to Home Farm. Continue through the first gate, through the field, turning left through the final gate and down the slope.
Paradise
The arboretum that you return through was named 'Paradise' by the family. We believe the name might be because some of the cedars are grown from seeds from the Holy Land in 1858. As you pass through the final field, you'll notice a small pond to your left. This is home to many newts, including the rare and protected great crested newt.
End:
Home Farm, Tyntesfield, Wraxall, BS48 1NX