Kingston Lacy

This house was discovered by a great Dorset family who turned a " black lead" fortune into an Italian dream" . The Bankes family has owned it for Moore than 300 years, it is a striking 17th century house noted for it's lavish interiors ( unfortunately ) the house wasn't open but the gardens were lovely and very spacious , it has a stable restaurant , shop and children's play area , the 8,500 acre estate has a fine herd of North Devon cattle and is dominated by the Iron Age hill fort of Badbury Rings, home to 14 varieties of Orchid. Tho' it was somewhat inclement weather we enjoyed our stroll around the gardens. Well worth a visit but try and go when the house is open.