Trip to Forde Abbey and Gardens

The House is home to the stunning Mortlake tapestries, woven from the famous Raphael cartoons. Its rich history spans 900 years. It has housed Cistercian monks, 19th-century philosophers and politicians implicated in the Monmouth Rebellion. More recently, the Hollywood adaptation of Far From the Madding Crowd’, was filmed here. Even now, a 12th-century Cistercian monk would recognise their quarters, kitchen and refectories, and chapter house: a rare preservation of a medieval monastery within a private dwelling.

The Kennard family inherited the house in 2009 and continue to live here, farming as the Cistercians did over five hundred years before them.

The Gardens: Home to the highest powered fountain in the country, the award-winning gardens include topiary-lined vistas, colourful herbaceous borders, an arboretum, and a bog garden, which provide all year-round interest. Designed to incorporate both the formal and informal aspects of garden design, the straight lines give way to meandering pathways the further you head away from the house, with plenty of benches and seating to admire the views along the way, and to picnic if you wish

Depart: Frome Rugby Club at 8:45am; Memorial Theatre at 8:50am

Return: Leave Forde Abbey by 4:00pm; arrive Frome about 5:00pm

Website: http://www.fordeabbey.co.uk