Romsey is a wonderfully friendly (esp. those lovely people in Tourist Info.) quintessentially english market town in Hampshire, handy for the New Forest and South Coast. It is dominated by a large Norman Abbey.
you can also travel through time at King Johns House -
and in the secluded gardens see an amazing memorial terracotta army of War Horses -
In the near surround there are a number of gardens of note -
Hillier Gardens
The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is a 72 hectare arboretum with over 42,000 trees and shrubs notably a collection of oaks, camellia, magnolia and rhododendron.
Mottisfont
Mottisfont Abbey Gardens are set in the delightful Test Valley, where the River Test, famous for its trout which can be seen in large numbers in its clear waters. Mottisfont Abbey is famous for its rose gardens set within a walled garden, with lovely lavender walks and colourful herbaceous gardens and a small lavender parterre close to the Abbey.The historic Abbey is also open with many superb rooms, furniture and decorations.
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| Circle of Life trees |
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| fishermans hut |
Some gardens are made for planting, others should be left as natural as possible - Houghton Lodge is one such garden. Wonderful walks through fields, woodland and along the picturesque River Test. Houghton also has a hydroponicum, in which plants are grown without soil, and a wonderful orchid collection with many rare varieties.
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| fire breathing topiary dragon! |
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| the alpacas - Tom, Dick n Harry |
The question now is - are we to have a late 'Indian' summer or is this the onset of autumn?
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