Cothay Manor ... you'll never want to leave!

Deep in Somerset, there is a garden so wonderful, you'll never want to leave! It's Cothay Manor near Taunton and it's quite exquisite. I was there earlier this week with another well-known blogger visiting from abroad (whose identity I'll reveal later this month) who agreed this was a truly remarkable garden.

To get to Cothay, you must drive down winding country lanes with high hedges and few passing places, and even though the journey will leave your heart in your mouth, nothing can prepare you for the idyllic scene you see when you arrive at the Manor. First glance of this incredible property is the ancient gatehouse overlooking the moat (top) and then you access the main house and garden through a meadow dotted with wildflowers, with different views of the manor across the long grass (above).

Then the magical garden unfolds before your eyes - sweeping vistas across large expanses of greenery, with immaculately clipped hedges, and a series of garden rooms at the rear of the manor. Perhaps the most impressive sight at this time of year is the Unicorn Garden (below), where the stone statue presides over drifts of white tulips, but in reality, it doesn't matter where you wander because you will be amazed at each new scene you see here.

Cothay is an ancient property, well-documented in the history books, and you get wonderful glimpses of the house and adjoining buildings as you stroll through the gardens. But it is the foresight of former owner, Lt Col. Reginald Cooper, who planted a 200-metre yew walk, when he purchased the property in 1925 that makes the gardens so exceptional today, combined with the skill and commitment of today's owner, Mrs Mary Anne Robb, who we encountered in the garden when we visited this week.

Cooper was great friends with Nigel Nicholson (of Sissinghurst fame) and Lawrence Johnstone (Hidcott and Serre de la Madonne) and he planted a series of garden rooms off the yew walk. The real joy of Cothay is that each garden room brings new surprises and you will find yourself gazing in amazement at each new vista you encounter, thanks to the talent of today's lady of the manor, Mrs Robb. She loves her garden dearly and works with a team of gifted gardeners to maintain the high standards that make Cothay such a joy to visit.

This is definitely a summer garden, best enjoyed between May and September, where each new month will bring more flowers into bloom. And if you lived nearby, I suspect you would return every week to see what is flowering, and soak up the magic of this ancient country idyll. I live too far away to do this, but still had to tear myself away at the end of my visit because time had stood still for me here!

The Bog Garden (above) is another delight not to be missed, made from the old river course and complete with giant stepping stones. But the real truth of Cothay is that it doesn't matter where you wander here - you will be delighted. The garden is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11.00 and last entry is at 16.30, but DO make the effort to get here - you will be amazed! There are many other wonderful gardens nearby that I'll be reviewing in the next few weeks, but this is the jewel in the crown!!