The step-free route - 45 mins to 1 hour
To help you make the most of your visit, we've created several suggested routes across the estate. This route avoids steps across the estate, and loops around the house, the lower 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: while we have made every attempt to make this route accessible, there are some uneven surfaces and slopes throughout.
Map
Start:
Home Farm
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
When you reach a junction of five paths, known as Fiveways, head straight across, and down the slope. After 300m, you have the option to stop at the Pavilion cafe to make use of the toilets. You will need to double-back on yourself to return to the route and avoid steps in the Kitchen Garden.
Brash rings
The field to the left as you pass down the slope is known as Rock Field. You may notice halos of sticks and branches around the trees. This is to prevent our resident cattle from resting under the trees, which can damage the root system.
5
At the four way junction, turn right into the field (along the cobbled path). Where possible, gates will be left open, but where you find a gate closed, please close it behind you, as livestock may be present. Continue through the gate and follow the path up to the front of the house.
Ha-ha
Not a joke - you'll notice a ditch as you enter the walled garden. This is a feature of landscape gardening, intended to make gardens look more expansive, but keeping livestock out without interrupting sightlines with fencing. So called because of the noise you're likely to make upon encountering it.
6
As you approach the house, past the monkey puzzle tree, take a left turn in front of the steps down the yew walk. About halfway down, take the right hand path up to the holly walk (ahead of the tennis courts).
Time for boating?
You may be able to spot Tyntesfield's empty lake to ahead and to your left. This has sat empty since WWII, when all ornamental lakes and ponds were ordered to be drained to prevent Nazi mapping of Britain. As much as we'd love to have it filled, it has a leak which we hope one day to repair.
7
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