It's National Heritage Week this week, so most of the National Trust properties are offering free admission. I also have my father staying with us so we were all able to take advantage of this generous offer and spend a few hours exploring Antony House together.
This is currently home to a young family and has a nice feel to the place. There are little reminders around the house such as modern books on bedside tables, board games and family photographs in the library. Past generations of the Carew Pole family can be seen in the many portaits hanging in the house.
The grounds are not too large to walk around, and we did enjoy reading the markers on several of the trees. Some of these are quite unusual and well worth closer inspection. There are lovely views down the lawn towards the River Lynher and across Antony Woodland Garden which borders the estate*.
The walled garden is lovely too with ornamental beds and seating areas. The peony garden has a fascinating sculpture of spiralling rings. Another sculpture is the water cone with cascading water near the garden entrance. The shape mirrors the nearby yew cone, the inside of which just has to be explored whatever age you are!
There is no shop at Antony apart from the second hand book sale, but the Colonnade Cafe offers cakes, scones, soup and pasties in addition to the usual beverages.
Antony House was also used as a film location for Tim Burton's 2010 adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.
* Antony Woodland Garden is open to the public but there is a separate admission charge and the entrance is further down the lane past the car park to Antony House.
For more information about Antony House, please check out the National Trust website. The house and gardens are only open between April and October each year, and only on certain days of the week.
Why not combine your visit with a walk around the neighbouring Antony Woodland Garden? Directions, opening times and admission costs can be found here.