Adult Only Touring Caravan Park & Camping
Self-catering Holiday Lodge Accommodation For hire
Sparkford Somerset
NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES IN SOMERSET, DORSET AND WILTSHIRE
Our touring caravan park, campsite and holiday lodges are in a perfect location if you're looking to visit National Trust properties during your stay. The National Trust look after many houses, buildings and gardens to coast and countryside locally and we make an ideal base for you to visit them all. Take a look to see what National Trust properties in Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire are must-sees during your stay with us!
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MONTACUTE HOUSE
Built in the 16th century, Elizabethan Montacute house is one of the few remaining examples of compartmentalised gardens. The house is made of locally quarried yellow Ham stone, which is very typical of houses in the surrounding area.
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The original owner, Sir Edward Phelips, was key in the prosecution of Guy Fawkes and was a speaker at the House of Commons in his day. Montacute was built to display his wealth, with statues of Julius Caesar and King Arthur in the grounds.
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Montacute is used as the South West post of the National Portrait Gallery and features the longest "long gallery" in England. Montacute house gardens are dog friendly.
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Montacute is 11 miles away, near Yeovil.
STOURHEAD
The 2,560 acres of gardens at Stourhead are some of the most recognisable National Trust gardens in their collection. Home to the Bristol Cross, which is the oldest known structure in the National Trust's care, you can also visit a grotto, a Roman-inspired Pantheon, The Temple of Apollo and The Temple of Flora.
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At its opening in 1740, the garden at Stourhead was described as "a living work of art" and is renowned for its collection of rhododendrons.
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Stourhead is 15 miles away, in Stourton.
GLASTONBURY TOR
This iconic monument is one of Somerset's most famous landmarks, boasting a 15th century church of St Michael at the top. Known as one of the most spiritual sites in the country, you'll often find people celebrating pagan beliefs and giving musical performances at the top.
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There are two ways of climbing the Tor and the pinnacle gives views of the Somerset Levels, Dorset, Wiltshire and Wales.
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Glastonbury is 15 miles away.
LYTES CARY MANOR
Home to the medieval herbalist Henry Lyte, Lytes Cary features a 14th century chapel and a 15th century Great Hall, as well as an Arts and Crafts inspired garden. The garden is listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special interest in England.
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Lytes Cary features a large croquet lawn on the south front of the house, known as the "Sparkford plain".
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Lytes Cary is 5 miles away, near Somerton.
BARRINGTON COURT
Whilst Barrington Court has stood on this spot for over 450 years, there is evidence to show it has been occupied since the Roman era, with a villa thought to have been present from 43AD to 410AD. This was particularly important in Roman times, with links to the Fosse Way; a straight Roman road linking the south west and the north east.
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The famous garden designer, Gertrude Jekyll, was consulted on the layout and best planting schemes for the garden "rooms", which feature in the walled garden.
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Barrington Court is 17 miles away, near Ilminster.
TINTINHULL GARDENS
Tintinhull Gardens surround a Grade 1 listed, 17th century house, which is visible from all areas of the gardens. The Arts and Craft style garden features a pool garden, kitchen garden and very colourful mixed borders.
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If you're looking to visit Tintinhull, locals pronounce this "tint-null".
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Tintinhull Gardens are 8 miles away, near Yeovil.
THE PRIEST'S HOUSE MUCHELNEY
The Priest's House is a medieval hall dating from 1308 to house the priest of the church sited opposite. It has had very few changes made since the early 17th century.
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As part of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, funds were raised for repairs by Jane Morris, Thomas Hardy and George Bernard Shaw.
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The Priest's House at Muchelney is 12 miles away, near Langport.
WELLINGTON MONUMENT
The Wellington Monument is a 175 foot high triangular tower and is the tallest three-sided obelisk in the world. The monument was built to celebrate the Duke of Wellington's victory in the Battle of Waterloo.
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Following his successes, the Duke of Wellington was awarded £100,000 by the government and proceeded to purchase two manors in the town of Wellington. The monument was inspired by an Egyptian obelisk, but in the shape of the bayonet used by Wellington's armies.
Wellington Monument is 32 miles away, in Wellington.
KING ALFRED'S TOWER
King Alfred's Tower was built to commemorate the stay of King Alfred the Great, the Anglo Saxon King who hid from Danish invaders in 878 AD. During this time, he was scolded by a swinherd's wife for allowing her cakes to burn, as he was too focused thinking about defeating the Vikings.
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The tower is situated on the edge of the Stourhead estate.
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King Alfred's Tower is 11 miles away, in Bruton.
STONEHENGE
Undoubtedly one of the most iconic monuments in the whole world, you'll have likely spotted Stonehenge on your drive to our caravan park in Somerset. Stonehenge is thought to have been built around 3000 BC to 2000 BC and may have been an important burial ground.
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The stone circle aligns with the sun for the summer and winter solstice, but it is still unknown what the exact purpose of the monument is. Stones used are from the chalk downs of Southern England, the Presli hills of southwestern Wales and others from east Wales, with some also originating from a woodland 16 miles away.
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Stonehenge is 35 miles away, in Salisbury.
STEMBRIDGE TOWER MILL
Stembridge Tower Mill is the last remaining thatched windmill in England, and one of five which were originally in Stembridge. The mill was used for grain until 1908, but is now used as a roost for lesser horseshoe bats and long-eared bats.
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The windmill is a type of Tower Mill, which means the whole mill does not need to move for the sails to move, as these are on a separate cap. This means there is more room for machinery storage inside.
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Stembridge is 14 miles away, in Martock.
CHEDDAR GORGE
Cheddar Gorge is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The gorge is the site of the Cheddar show caves, where Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, was found and was estimated to be 9000 years old.
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The gorge is a great area for hiking and climbing, with the caves still regularly used to mature Cheddar cheese. It has been named one of the most scenic drives in the UK.
Cheddar Gorge is 26 miles away, in Cheddar.
KINGSTON LACY
Kingston Lacy was once an opulent family home designed to look like a Venetian Palace. The house isn't the only rare thing at this National Trust property: you'll also find a Japanese garden; pedigree Red Ruby Devon cattle and rare breed Portland sheep here. A gallery also features the largest private collection of Egyptian artifacts in the UK.
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The 8500 acres of the site also features Iron Age hillforts and one of the largest remaining areas of heathland in Dorset.
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Kingston Lacy is 37 miles away, in Wimborne.
CERNE GIANT
Visit Britain's largest, and possibly most brazen, chalk hill figure at 180ft tall. Well - as you're staying at an adult only caravan park - there's no reason not to visit!
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The giant is thought to have been constructed in Saxon times, with a rectangular earthwork enclosure above him dating from Iron Age times. It's still used today by Morris Dancers to celebrate May Day.
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The National Trust acquired the giant in 1920 and, on the most part, leave him alone! We think that's quite a good idea, given the size of his club - after all, he has got quite a large one!
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Cerne Abbas is 19 miles away, in Dorchester.
BATH ASSEMBLY ROOMS
The city of Bath is the largest city and settlement in Somerset and became a World Heritage Site in 1987. The Georgian Assembly Rooms were built in the traditional Bath style in 1769 and are a Grade 1 listed building.
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In its heyday, "polite society" congregated at The Assembly Rooms, including Charles Dickens and Jane Austen.
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Bath is well worth a day trip during your stay, with trains departing frequently from Castle Cary station, or several park and rides available on the outskirts of the city.
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The Bath Assembly Rooms are 38 miles away, in Bath.
THE HISTORY OF SOMERSET
If you are interested to learn more about the history of Somerset, take a look at our King Arthur's Camelot page. The nearby Cadbury Hillfort is thought to be the stronghold of the legendary King Arthur and the entrance to the West Country.
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Our King Arthur page has information on Somerset from the Mesolitic Era, all the way through to modern times and the best places to explore.
THE NEWT
If you've exhausted your National Trust membership for the week, try The Newt estate instead. Featuring a Georgian manor house and 300 acres of formal gardens and woodland to explore, you'll never run out of new areas to explore.
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The Newt is the sponsor of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and RHS memberships are accepted for visits on Tuesdays. Membership to The Newt also allows you access to a range of other gardens including the Eden Project and Kew Gardens.
The Newt is 5 miles away, in Hadspen.