Discovering Hinton Ampner

It’s always exciting discovering National Trust sites we’ve not previously visited although we love all the ones we’ve explored so far. Located in Hamphire, Hinton Ampner is an elegant country house with distinctive gardens and woodland sprawled across 1600 acres. 

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The Hinton Ampner House is current closed due to structural damage from the recent storms. The gardens and estate are open though so you can still explore the grounds which are steeped in 700 years of history.

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At the back of the house there are superb views across the South Downs,

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many sheep and this little fella – captured on a 250mm lens.

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The garden at Hinton Ampner is widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of 20th century garden design.

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It’s a wonderful mix of the formal and informal with fine vistas

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and beautifully kept lawns.

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The rhododendron garden is an abyss of colour with wax-like varieties

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and these veined beauties.

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A nearby church is surrounded by hundreds of daffodils and trees of blossom. It’s a beautiful area located next to Hinton Ampner’s magnificent walled garden. If you read Spring at Polesden Lacey last week, you’ll know I love them.

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The walled garden is lined with 19th century apple and pear trees and is currently used to grow fruit and vegetables. The produce is often used in the tea room and flowers in the house.

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There were tulips aplenty lining the greenhouse,

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many varieties of plant

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and numerous flowers including these yellow ones that look like peppers.

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Not forgetting the final treat – a carpet of daffodils along the ancient walls of the garden.

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Linking up with #HDYGG over at Mammasaurus.

If you enjoy PODcast, please vote for us in the photography category. Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚ 

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  • Leanne @suggys.co.uk/Leanne April 4, 2014 at 12:23 am

    Beautiful!!! This looks like such a stunning place and those yellow flowers certainly do look like little peppers :)… I wish we had lots of lovely places in the north x

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:30 pm

      Thank you Leanne. We are spoilt in Surrey and nearby Hampshire, so much to see ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Susie Dove April 4, 2014 at 9:56 am

    Wonderful photos again, Charly. I particularly like the mass of tulips with the tiny forget-me-nots peeping through.

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:32 pm

      Thank you Susie, such a beautiful place and lovely to see tulips!

  • Actually Mummy... April 4, 2014 at 10:05 am

    Aw that lamb can’t be more than a few days old! Gorgeous. Love the reflection of the house too – I’m keeping an eye out for some reflection shots too ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:33 pm

      It was tiny the lamb! I had to swap lenses as I wanted to keep my distance. So lovely together. It’s a wonderful place to visit, so pretty ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Mammasaurus April 4, 2014 at 10:59 am

    Oh this looks lovely – it’s the place I was due to go on an Autumnal Colour walk but the event got rained off ๐Ÿ™ I so need to visit there soon as it’s close to me, well in the scheme of NT properties! Those fancy daffs are something special aren’t they? Even those who don’t like daffodils can’t fail to love those. Privet hedges and walled gardens do it for me everytime.
    So excited that the hols are nearly here! Thank you so much for sharing xxx

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:35 pm

      I’ll bet an Autumnal walk would be awesome there. Hopefully it will happen this year, it’s a beautiful place – about 30 miles from me I think. Needed to take the car for a burn! Love a walled garden x

  • Rollercoaster Mum April 4, 2014 at 11:17 am

    Beautiful pictures. That tulip is just gorgeous. We haven’t actually been to Hinton Ampner although it is probably one of the closest properties to us! Have you been to Uppark? That’s fabulous and there are tunnels for POD to run to, a massive doll’s house and all sorts of exciting little buildings. My girls loved it – there’s a post on my blog about it somewhere. They have those funny yellow flowers there too!

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:44 pm

      Thank you very much, so nice to see tulips – they’re lovely and cheerful! You must go visit Hinton Ampner, it’s fabulous and surrounded by stunning scenery too. Must have a look into Uppark, thank you for that – POD will love it ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Mummy of Two April 4, 2014 at 11:35 am

    That looks so beautiful. Very peaceful and tranquil.

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:48 pm

      Thank you – it really is a great location, so beautiful at this time of year too ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Mummy Glitzer April 4, 2014 at 1:38 pm

    I need to find someone to take me to visit some NT properties and gardens since my husband cannot think of anything he’d like to do less!

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:50 pm

      Oh you really should – will he do the gardens and grounds? POD enjoys running around and I love taking photos so it’s a bit of a win win. We’re hoping to get in some houses this year now she’s a bit bigger ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Stephs Two Girls April 4, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    Absolutely gorgeous photos! Especially those yellow peppers! You’ve made me want to go ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:51 pm

      Thank you very much – it’s a beautiful place to visit ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Jen aka The Mad House April 4, 2014 at 3:30 pm

    I love National Trust gardens, they really make my heart sing. It looks like a lovely place to visit

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:52 pm

      They’re fabulous aren’t they Jen. We have so many not far from us, always such a treat ๐Ÿ™‚

  • YouBabyMeMummy April 4, 2014 at 5:07 pm

    Great pictures and it looks like a lovely place. Probably not too far from us, I will have to investigate x

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:53 pm

      Ooh you really must, it’s a fabulous place to explore. Lots of woodland too. Thank you ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Emma (My Little 3 and Me) April 4, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    Looks beautiful! We do Belton House in South Lincs quite regularly. I do love the National Trust.

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:54 pm

      The National Trust are great aren’t they. We’re lucky to be in Surrey and have so many places to explore – including nearby Hampshire ๐Ÿ™‚

  • wendy April 4, 2014 at 6:05 pm

    Beautiful and gorgeous pictures xx

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:54 pm

      Thank you Wendy ๐Ÿ™‚

  • lisa prince April 4, 2014 at 6:32 pm

    wow what gorgeous pictures and stunning scenery too

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:54 pm

      Thank you very much Lisa ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Jo Bryan April 4, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    Stunning photos, I adore NT properties, always a great day out and I need to visit this one for the gardens alone!! Daffodils always make me smile!!

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:55 pm

      You really must Jo, the gardens are fabulous and that’s before you have the woodland and the views! Daffodils are such great flowers, always raise a smile!

  • Louisa April 4, 2014 at 7:12 pm

    I love to sit back and watch your picture slide shows. So beautiful!

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:56 pm

      Thank you so much Louisa – not sure what I’d do without it!

  • Kate Williams April 4, 2014 at 8:24 pm

    I want to live in that house. In fact I think I need to. Do you think that would be ok?!

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 7:56 pm

      I’m sure it would be fine Kate, looks big enough doesn’t it. Maybe a whole group of us could just stay for a little while ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Jenny from Cheetahs In My Shoes April 4, 2014 at 9:27 pm

    Beautiful – I’m really enjoying your National Trust adventures so I can plan where we can go next

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 8:02 pm

      That’s so kind of you Jenny. We were just up the road from where you were today ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Bek April 4, 2014 at 10:13 pm

    These gardens are beautiful! It looks like a great place to visit. I love tulips. Great photos-thanks for sharing!

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 8:03 pm

      Thank you Bek, really kind of you to say. It’s a beautiful location – always great exploring new places ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Kirsty Hijacked by Twins April 4, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    We love to visit places like this and exploring the gardens. Looks like a lovely place to visit x fb #HDYGG

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 8:03 pm

      We do too, it’s just great isn’t it. Always enjoy exploring and photographing the flowers. I can’t imagine what I’d be like if I were inside the house too!

  • Steph @MisplacedBrit April 5, 2014 at 4:30 am

    Gorgeous! I love that I have a new ‘go to’ when it comes to National Trust day trips when we’re in UK
    ๐Ÿ™‚ Love your reviews & your pics!

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 8:04 pm

      You most certainly do Steph – must be like some kind of addiction. A good one of course ๐Ÿ™‚

  • older mum in a muddle April 5, 2014 at 8:44 am

    Beautiful as always! X

    • Charly Dove April 5, 2014 at 8:05 pm

      Thank you very much Sarah. We love the National Trust ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Jenny April 5, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    That looks like a really beautiful house and gardens to visit.

  • Kara April 6, 2014 at 8:50 am

    Stunning – I love the picture where the house is reflected in the pond!

  • Emma @ Tales of a Greenwood April 6, 2014 at 3:14 pm

    It looks like a really beautiful place. You seem to be very icky having a great selection of NT properties close by. The walled garden looks to die for, beautiful.

  • Fritha Strickland April 7, 2014 at 5:43 pm

    you always take the loveliest pictures of flowers! x