Terrace Ride walk at Stourhead
Enjoy a walk along the eighteenth-century Terrace Ride created by Henry Hoare II. This circular walk passes Stourhead and the Obelisk before walking along Six Wells Bottom, the source of the River Stour. As you reach the top of the valley, the walk takes you towards your half-way point at Alfred’s Tower. Return along the Terrace Ride enjoying views of the parkland and Six Wells below. This route may contain livestock including cattle, please follow the countryside code.
Near to
StourheadStart point
Stourhead visitor reception, near Mere, Wiltshire BA12 6QD. Grid ref: ST778340. You can start the walk from Alfred’s Tower car park (grid ref grid reference ST749354): please head to the tower and start from point 7.Trail information
Difficulty
Full trail
DistanceMiles: 8.8 (km: 14.08)Short trail
DistanceMiles: 5.5 (km: 8.8)Total stages: 9
Total stages: 9
Start point
Stourhead visitor reception, near Mere, Wiltshire BA12 6QD. Grid ref: ST778340. You can start the walk from Alfred’s Tower car park (grid ref grid reference ST749354): please head to the tower and start from point 7.
Stage 1
From the main car park, walk past visitor reception, following the zig zag path down and cross the bridge over the road. Walk through the walled garden and turn left to follow the drive past the front of Stourhead house.
Stage 2
Take the gate next to the cattle grid and turn left onto the track (18th century carriage ride). Go through two gates next to another cattle grid and then cut diagonally across the Great Oar Meadow to the Obelisk.
Stage 3
Walk down the short slope on the other side of the Obelisk, and through a gate. Continue down the woodland track until you reach a second gate.
Stage 4
Walk diagonally downhill to the right, continuing past ponds on your left.
Stage 5
Walk up Six Wells Valley and bear slightly left after St. Peter’s Pump, which marks the source of the River Stour.
Explore the St Peter's Pump at Stourhead | © National Trust Images/Tamsin Holmes Stage 6
At the top of the valley, turn left at the fence and cross the stile leading to Alfred’s Tower which is the half-way point of the walk.
Stage 7
From Alfred’s Tower, head back along the Terrace, walking parallel to the road. Pass through two gates and stay on the Terrace Ride as it bears to the right. Notice the bank on the left-hand side, which is a medieval deer park boundary. Continue along the Terrace to the Terrace Lodge.
Stage 8
Follow the track from the Terrace Lodge to the Obelisk, and pass it on your right. The area around the Obelisk is managed as an unimproved hay meadow, providing a habitat for butterflies, ground nesting birds, and bats.
Stage 9
Continue along the track and go through the iron gate beside the cattle grid. Walk past Stourhead house and into the walled garden. Cross the bridge to the visitor reception building in the main car park.
End point
Stourhead visitor reception, near Mere, Wiltshire BA12 6QD. Grid ref: ST778340. You can start and finish the walk from Alfred’s Tower car park (grid ref grid reference ST749354): please head to the tower and start from point 7.
Trail map
Map of the Terrance Ride walk | © Crown Copyright and database right 2024 Ordnance Survey AC0000825588
Get in touch
Our partners
We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.
Bonham Wood walk at Stourhead
This gentle walk takes you behind the Temple of Apollo through the picturesque Bonham Wood, and returns along a WWII airfield. A springtime hotspot also for daffodils and bluebells. Follow the pink way markers from visitor reception for this livestock free walk.
Alfred's Tower walk at Stourhead
This historic circular walk takes in an Iron Age hillfort and a tower named for King Alfred the Great, with impressive views over three counties. Follow the blue way markers from visitor reception for this walk.
Stourhead White Sheet Hill walk
Look out for an array of wildflowers & wildlife and take in the wide views of Stourhead estate on this challenging walk up White Sheet Hill, a site of great archaeological interest. Follow the orange way markers for this walk.
Stourhead Park Hill Camp walk
This picturesque circular walk takes in Park Hill Camp Iron Age hillfort and the Six Wells Valley, with plenty of birdlife to look out for and carpets of bluebells in spring. Follow the red way markers from visitor reception for this walk.