Local Area
There are a great many things to do around Fonthill Gifford...
On the doorstep:
The Fonthill Estate 
Ten thousand acres of outstanding beauty in the heart of Wiltshire and right on the Beckford Arm’s doorstep.
www.fonthill.co.uk
Pythouse Kitchen Garden
Stroll around the stunning walled Victorian kitchen garden and visit the Cafe in a former potting shed which is open from 9am to 5pm. Everything is home
made using their own fresh fruit and vegetables straight from the garden. The Cafe overlooks the garden. In fine weather you can sit out on a terrace under parasols
or at tables under the fruit trees in the garden itself. In bad weather you can enjoy the warmth of the cafe's wood-burning stove.
www.pythouse-farm.co.uk
In the local area:
Stonehenge – 20 minutes away
Stonehenge was erected between 3,000 BC and 1,600 BC by no less than three different cultures and its orientation on the rising and setting sun has always been one of its remarkable features. Whether this was simply because the builders came from a sun worshipping culture, or because - as some scholars believe - the circle and its banks were part of a huge astronomical calendar, remains a mystery to this day.
Now designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stonehenge is surrounded by the remains of ceremonial and domestic structures, some older than the monument itself. Altogether, the site covers some 2,600 hectares and comprises over 400 scheduled monuments.
Thanks to Stonehenge's shaped stones, unique jointing and perfect geometry, this amazing feat of engineering is not only the most sophisticated stone circle in the world, it is also unique in that it is the only one to have lintels around the top. The name Stonehenge - literally 'hanging stones' - is thought to originate from Anglo-Saxon times.
The Stones themselves came from two sources: the smaller bluestones from the Preseli Mountains in South Wales, and the larger Sarsen stones from the Marlborough Downs some twenty
miles away. Interestingly, what we see today is only about half the original monument - some stones have fallen down, while others have been taken away to be used for building elsewhere.
www.stonehenge.co.uk
Old Wardour Castle – 10 minutes drive
Beautifully sited beside a lake, Old Wardour Castle was built in the late 14th century by John Lord Lovel as a lightly fortified but showy and luxurious residence. A hexagonal tower house ranged round a central courtyard, its form is very unusual in England.
Substantially updated by the staunchly Roman Catholic Arundell family after c.1570, the castle saw much fighting during the Civil War. In 1643 the 60 year old Lady Arundell was forced to surrender it to Parliament. But the new garrison was almost immediately besieged in turn by Royalist forces led by her son. After an eventful 10 months of bombardment and undermining, they finally capitulated in March 1644.
The badly damaged castle became a romantic ruin, and was incorporated in the 18th century into the landscaped grounds of Lord Arundell's New Wardour House (not managed by English
Heritage, no public access). The castle's setting in a Registered Landscape enhances the significance of this hidden jewel.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.16439
Salisbury Cathedral – 20 minutes drive
or 15 min train from Tisbury
The thirteenth century cathedral boasts both the tallest spire in Britain and the best preserved of only four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta. The finest example of an early cathedral, it offers guided tours and hosts many events.
Stourhead Gardens – 15 minutes drive
The World-famous 18th-century landscape garden and Palladian mansion. Enchanting temples, two Iron Age hill forts to explore, monuments and rare planting around a tranquil lake,
Chippendale furniture and fine paintings, woodland and chalk downland walks and spectacular views across three counties from the top of King Alfred's Tower, one of the finest follies
in Britain.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-stourhead
Longleat – 20 minutes drive
The perfect day out for both adults and children alike. The grounds, landscaped by Capability Brown, include the Hedge Maze; the House is one of the best examples of Elizabethan
architecture, and the Safari Park lets visitors get close to animals form the smallest to the tallest and most ferocious.
www.longleat.co.uk
City of Bath – 30 minutes drive
Britain’s finest Georgian city has around 5000 listed buildings because of their architectural merit. The city boasts a remarkable range of museums, galleries and exhibitions.
Visit the famous Roman baths and bathe in the natural waters at Thermae Bath Spa. The Jane Austen Centre will appeal to literature lovers.
www.cityofbath.co.uk
Gold Hill – 15 minutes drive
Gold Hill is a beautiful street in Shaftesbury. It is a steep cobbled street featured on the cover of many books. At the top of the street is the 14th century St Peter’s church,
one of the few remaining pre-18th century buildings in Shaftesbury. This ancient street, running beside the walls of King Alfred’s abbey is perhaps most famous for featuring in
the Hovis bread advertisement directed by Ridley Scott.
www.shaftesburydorset.com
Wilton House – 20 minutes drive
Wilton House, home to the 18th Earl of Pembroke, provides a fascinating insight into British history. Built on the site of a 9th century nunnery but now set in 21 acres of landscaped parkland, with water and rose gardens beside the River Nadder and Palladian Bridge.
The magnificent Inigo Jones Staterooms include the famous Double Cube Room - the finest surviving 17th century stateroom in England - which was designed to display the family portraits by Van Dyck. This is the greatest collection of paintings by the artist still to be seen in its original setting. For younger visitors there is an exciting adventure playground and quizzes in the house and grounds.
Wilton House has many feature film and television credits including The Young Victoria, Sense & Sensibility, The Madness of King George, Mrs Brown and Pride & Prejudice.
www.wiltonhouse.com
The Larmer Tree – 20 minutes drive
Created by General Pitt Rivers in 1880 as pleasure grounds for "public enlightenment and entertainment" the Larmer Tree Gardens are an extraordinary example of Victorian extravagance and vision. The garden contains a wonderful collection of ornate buildings, majestic trees and intimate arbours, retained in an enchanted timeless atmosphere.
The Larmer Tree once represented an ancient boundary between Dorset and Wiltshire and tradition states King John (1189-1216) hunted in this area many times and met with his huntsmen
under the branches of the "Larmer Tree".
www.larmertreegardens.com
Activities
Deer Stalking & Shooting
The Estate Office
Fonthill Bishop
Salisbury, Wiltshire
SP3 5SH
Tel: 01747 820246
www.fonthill.co.uk
Simulated Game Shooting
Fonthill’s simulated shoot days use some of the Estate’s main Pheasant and Partridge drives. Each day is run just like a normal Pheasant day but with clays rather than live game birds. Days take place from the end of April to July.
Tel: 07778 844746
www.fonthill.co.uk/events/simshoot.html
Fly Fishing
David Griffiths is an Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructor and accredited member of the Hardy Greys Academy of Instructors (view accreditation). He provides tuition in all aspects of fly fishing for the absolute beginner to advanced fly fishers.
Trout and salmon casting instruction is undertaken from their own platforms on the beautiful private lake on the Fonthill Estate opposite The Beckford. Chalk stream guided days continue to be extremely popular and they can now offer new beats on local rivers.
“Catch it and cook it” weekends are planned for the near future at The Beckford.
Download flyer:Tel: 01747 871856
Web: www.totalflyfishing.co.uk
Email: david@totalflysishing.co.uk
Horse racing
| Salisbury | www.salisburyracecourse.co.uk |
| Wincanton | www.wincantonracecourse.co.uk |
| Bath | www.bath-racecourse.co.uk |
| Taunton | www.tauntonracecourse.co.uk |
Golf
The Rushmore Golf Club is an 18 hole championship golf course located within one of England's most historic estates.
Rushmore Golf Club
Tollard Royal, Salisbury
Tel: 01725 516326
www.rushmoregolfclub.co.uk
Rambling and Cycling
For rambling, horse riding and cycling there is a good network of bridle and footpaths in the area. We can even lend you a map and later in the year we hope to lend out our own bicycles.
Famous Fishing
Chalkstream fly fishing specialists with access to the best privately owned water in England, including stretches of the Test, Itchen, Kennet, Avon and most of their tributaries. The most famous chalkstream flyfishing in the world.
Single days tuition is available for individuals and groups of up to twenty people. Tuition is available for all levels of experience and Famous Fishing can provide the best equipment and qualified guides. Or you can just buy a river beat and fish unguided if you prefer.
In Room Massage
We have two highly qualified masseurs, both with their individual specialties, that provide a relaxing, pampering in room massage. Prior booking is strongly advised but not always essential.
See below for more details:
Angela Parsons
Anouchka
Wilderness Survival Skills Joe O'Leary
e: joe@wilderness-survival.co.uk
t: 0771 8078619
Specialist Wilderness Survival Courses:
Wilderness Survival Skills runs a selection of courses packed with information and practical experience gathered together from an array of different sources and personal backgrounds.
All courses are held in a woodland setting of hazel coppice, twisted moss covered oaks and silver birch and are spent entirely outdoors however there are plenty of covered areas
within the woods to enable lessons to carry on regardless of weather conditions. You will spend your nights under canvas or in a shelter you have made from the woodlands around
you. Close neighbours will be Roe and Muntjac deer, foxes, badgers and buzzards.
www.wilderness-survival.co.uk