The National Trust opened up all their properties for free this weekend, so to save ourselves
£50 or so, we came to Montacute House in Somerset. It is an Elizabethan mansion built at the end of the 16th Century. It houses a large Gallery where they exhibit a collection of Tudor portraits. Since Oliver is studying the Tudors at school and is completely fascinated by it we thought it would be good to show him the pictures. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos inside the house and in usual National Trust style, there were plenty of Stewards around to make sure we didn't! It is a beautiful house with amazing views of the 25 acre garden and 300 acre parkland. The Library was an amazing room which the children thought was fantastic. It had nothing to do with the exquisite furniture, book collection or the huge windows to let in the light, but because they found a large nest of ladybirds on the window ledge and spent ages watching them all!
View from the bottom of the garden.
Studying the map to find the front door. At least Jacob was on the ball!
Picnic time! It had to wait until Oliver and Bethany had played a game of snakes and ladders, which was printed onto the picnic table. This was the family picnic area but there was also a quiet picnic area. We know our place!
Climbing frame antics.
A Redwood Totem Pole. Not even Muir Woods has one of those! A Woodland gnome dancing round the bottom.
House and garden.
Beautiful view in the garden.