Stourton in Wiltshire
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
A parting Autumnal view of the central lake at Stourhead as you leave the formal gardens behind, on the way back up the valley to Peter's Pump and Alfred's Tower. Image cannot be loaded
Stourton in Wiltshire
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
'New Lake' Gasper is the lowest lake in the valley, which runs through the Stourhead Estate. It is worth the detour that has to be made to view it before heading back up the lane towards Stourton. Image cannot be loaded
Stourton in Wiltshire
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
There are a series of lakes in the valley that forms the basis of the Stourhead Estate. The walk back to Alfred's Tower gives ample opportunity to view all of them. Image cannot be loaded
Stourton in Wiltshire
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
In 1768 two years after it was removed from Bristol, the dome shaped St Peter's Pump was erected near the top of Six Wells Valley to mark the source of the River Stour. It is this natural spring that feeds Stourhead lakes before flowing on through Dorset to the coast.
When standing in front of Peter's Pump there is a footpath to the left, which leads up through the top of the forest and back to Alfred's Tower. Image cannot be loaded
Stourton in Wiltshire
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
After emerging from the forest, a glance back will indicate your progress from Alfred's Tower, which can be seen just over a mile away, above the trees on the horizon. Image cannot be loaded
Stourton in Wiltshire
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
A walk up the valley past the Devon Red Limousin Cattle towards Peter's Pump. The monumental well head that marks the subterranean spring, which is the true source of the River Stour. Image cannot be loaded
Stourton in Wiltshire
© Graham Rains (view gallery)
King Alfred's Tower stands high on a ridge, which over looks the village of Stourton in the 2,650-acre Stourhead Estate.The tower is a folly: it is a building that arguably serves no purpose. Nevertheless its size and beauty make it an imposing addition to the landscape, and the views from the top are breathtaking.
The project to build the tower was conceived in 1762 by the banker Henry Hoare II (1705-1785), owner of Stourhead and creator of its famous garden, known to his family as 'the Magnificent'. The tower was intended to commemorate the end of the Seven Years War against France and the accession of King George III, and supposedly stands near the location of 'Egbert's stone' where it is believed that Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, rallied the Saxons in May 878 before the important Battle of Ethandun (now Edington, south-east of Trowbridge) where the Danish army was defeated
The tower is a good place to begin a circular walk of about 6 miles down to Gasper and back through Stourhead Gardens. Image cannot be loaded
A Slideshow of Autumn Walk
